Try our Advanced Search for more refined results
Product Liability
-
June 24, 2024
US DOT Final Rule Ups Freight Rail Hazmat Disclosures
Freight railroads must provide more detailed, real-time information on trains transporting hazardous materials to state and local first responders, under a new U.S. Department of Transportation final rule announced Monday that was largely spurred by last year's fiery derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
-
June 24, 2024
$12.8M Deal Ending Some Chiquita MDL Claims Gets Approval
A Florida federal judge said Monday he would sign off on a proposed $12.8 million settlement between Chiquita Brands International Inc. and some of the victims suing the banana company over its funding of Colombian paramilitary groups.
-
June 24, 2024
Altria Subsidiary Allowed To Sell Menthol-Flavored Vapes
Altria Group Inc. subsidiary NJOY has secured permission from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to sell four menthol-flavored vapes, marking the first time any kind of flavored e-cigarette has secured federal approval.
-
June 24, 2024
6th Circ. Won't Rethink Partial Revival Of Sanofi Pollution Suit
The full Sixth Circuit has declined to review a split panel's decision reviving parts of a Sanofi unit's lawsuit against a Tennessee landfill owner it accused of improperly shuttering the dump, which then led to the contamination of water at its property.
-
June 24, 2024
Justices Won't Hear Atty's Appeal Of DQ From Product Case
An attorney who allegedly made false statements about a magistrate judge that subsequently got him booted as plaintiff's counsel in a suit against a handheld torch manufacturer can't appeal his disqualification after the Supreme Court declined to review his bid Monday.
-
June 24, 2024
Justices Affirm 6th Circ. Decision Allowing Bump Stocks
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected the government's appeal of a Sixth Circuit decision blocking the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' ban on so-called bump stocks, after finding in a separate case that the ATF rule went beyond the agency's authority.
-
June 21, 2024
Apple Won't Offer AI Tools In EU Due To Regulatory Concerns
Apple confirmed Friday that the tech giant isn't planning on releasing new artificial intelligence features in the European Union this year due to "regulatory uncertainties" involving the bloc's new Digital Markets Act and the potential security risks that complying with the DMA could pose to Apple users.
-
June 21, 2024
Kenyan Firm Says Chicago Attys Blocked Ethiopian Air Fees
A Kenyan law firm wants an Illinois federal judge to help it get attorney fees after Chicago counsel allegedly shut it out of a former client's Ethiopian Air crash settlement, a request the Chicago attorney blasted Friday as apparent retaliation for aiding an investigation into theft of that client's money.
-
June 21, 2024
Google Ditches Wiretap Suit Over AI Customer Service Calls
A California federal judge has tossed, for now, a proposed class action accusing Google LLC of using a "human-like" customer service product powered by generative artificial intelligence to illegally eavesdrop on Verizon users' calls, finding that Google was exempt from liability because it was acting as Verizon's agent.
-
June 21, 2024
Vape Co. Settles With FDA Over Denied Product Applications
The maker of Juno brand e-cigarettes is just weeks away from settling a dispute with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over allegations that the agencies violated the Administrative Procedure Act by refusing to review the manufacturer's applications on 12 products.
-
June 21, 2024
Texas Fines Major Carriers $10.2M For Deceptive Advertising
Some of the nation's biggest mobile carriers — including AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon — have inked a $10 million deal with Texas to end the state's probe into what the Lonestar State says are the carriers' "deceptive and misleading" advertising practices.
-
June 21, 2024
Meta's Child Porn Defense 'Disingenuous,' MDL Judge Says
A California federal judge appeared skeptical Friday of Meta's bid to cut child pornography possession allegations from sprawling multidistrict litigation over social media platforms' allegedly addictive designs, telling defense counsel that Meta's claim it didn't know about the illegal content on its platforms is "a bit disingenuous."
-
June 21, 2024
Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems Say Blowout Suit Not Fit For Calif.
The Boeing Co. and Spirit AeroSystems Inc. are asking a California federal judge to throw out a suit from a group of passengers from Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, which experienced a midair door plug blowout in January, saying the California courts don't have jurisdiction over their claims.
-
June 21, 2024
Costco Sued Over PFAS In Kirkland Brand Baby Wipes
Costco is facing a proposed class action over its fragrance-free "natural" baby wipes, which consumers claim are made with toxic levels of forever chemicals, rendering them unsafe for use on children.
-
June 21, 2024
Wolverine Inks Deal To End PFAS Coverage Fight
Footwear company Wolverine and one of its insurers have told a Michigan federal judge that they have reached a settlement in a coverage dispute over underlying chemical exposure actions, saying they "have agreed to a signed, confidential term sheet to resolve this action."
-
June 21, 2024
Justices Keep Domestic Abusers Disarmed, Clarify Bruen
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a Texas man's constitutional challenge to a federal law prohibiting people subject to domestic violence restraining orders from possessing firearms Friday, providing limited guidance to lower courts on how to apply the high court's Second Amendment historical analogue test.
-
June 20, 2024
TikTok Says Alternatives To 'Dangerous' Ban Were Ignored
TikTok said Thursday that federal lawmakers likely didn't even consider its "exhaustive, multi-year efforts" to address national security concerns before deciding to ban the social media platform, slamming the law as "unprecedented" and warning that it sets "a dangerous precedent."
-
June 20, 2024
BMW Escapes Suit Over Leaky Coolant Lines, For Now
BMW drivers seeking to sue the automotive maker over allegedly defective engine cooling lines will have to get more specific in their allegations, a New Jersey federal judge said in a dismissal order, giving the consumers another chance to correct the issue and refile.
-
June 20, 2024
Eli Lilly Launches Round Of Diabetes Drug Suits
Eli Lilly on Thursday hit various compounding pharmacies and medical spas in five states and the District of Columbia with suits saying that they trick consumers into thinking that they sell Eli Lilly medications that treat diabetes and obesity when actually they are copycats and are untested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
-
June 20, 2024
Attys In Chiquita Case Say Victims Can't Proceed Together
A long-standing rift among plaintiffs' attorneys for victims of violence committed by paramilitary groups funded by Chiquita Brands International Inc. has reached a fever pitch, as attorneys have now told the court they cannot proceed together in a second bellwether trial of the multidistrict litigation set to start next month.
-
June 20, 2024
GM's Cruise To Pay Calif. $112K Fine Over Robotaxi Crash
Cruise LLC agreed to pay a $112,500 penalty for mishandling its response to an October accident involving a pedestrian and one of its autonomous vehicles, and promised to disclose additional data on any collisions to California regulators under a settlement agreement approved Thursday.
-
June 20, 2024
Judge Backs Virgin Over Boeing In Clash Over IP Injunction
A Virginia federal judge on Thursday ruled that Virgin Galactic can share allegedly proprietary Boeing documents with partner companies to help develop a space plane carrier aircraft, amid Boeing's breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets suit against Virgin.
-
June 20, 2024
11th Circ. Upholds $2.5M Pelvic Mesh Verdict, Rules Suit Timely
The Eleventh Circuit on Thursday refused to throw out a woman's $2.5 million victory against Coloplast Corp. in a suit alleging she was implanted with defective pelvic mesh, saying the evidence does not support a conclusion that her claim was filed too late.
-
June 20, 2024
Fireball Maker Must Still Face Claims It Duped Whiskey Lovers
A Florida federal judge has trimmed allegations that Sazerac Co. duped consumers into believing miniature bottles of malt beverage were whiskey by selling them under the Fireball brand name, but said a consumer can pursue claims that the beverage's bottle and their display case are nevertheless deceptive.
-
June 20, 2024
Ga. Jury Awards $2.35M To Victim Of Sig Sauer Misfire
A Georgia federal jury awarded over $2.35 million Thursday to a man who was shot when his Sig Sauer handgun accidentally fired in its holster, finding the company was negligent when it failed to put a trigger-mounted safety on its popular P320 pistol.
Expert Analysis
-
Series
Writing Thriller Novels Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Authoring several thriller novels has enriched my work by providing a fresh perspective on my privacy practice, expanding my knowledge, and keeping me alert to the next wave of issues in an increasingly complex space — a reminder to all lawyers that extracurricular activities can help sharpen professional instincts, says Reece Hirsch at Morgan Lewis.
-
What Lawyers Must Know About Calif. State Bar's AI Guidance
Initial recommendations from the State Bar of California regarding use of generative artificial intelligence by lawyers have the potential to become a useful set of guidelines in the industry, covering confidentiality, supervision and training, communications, discrimination and more, say attorneys at Debevoise.
-
Industry Must Elevate Native American Women Attys' Stories
The American Bar Association's recent research study into Native American women attorneys' experiences in the legal industry reveals the glacial pace of progress, and should inform efforts to amplify Native voices in the field, says Mary Smith, president of the ABA.
-
How Color Psychology Can Help Tell Your Trial Narrative
Research shows that color is a powerful sensory input that affects memory and perception, so attorneys should understand how, when and why to use certain shades in trial graphics to enhance their narrative and draw jurors’ focus, says Adam Bloomberg at IMS Consulting.
-
And Now A Word From The Panel: Tracking MDL Geography
In recent years, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has predominantly selected states east of the Mississippi River as venues for new MDLs — but with half of the proceedings it has created in recent months venued in Arizona and California, the panel is not neglecting the western part of the country, says Alan Rothman at Sidley.
-
Understanding Discovery Obligations In Era Of Generative AI
Excerpt from Practical Guidance
Attorneys and businesses must adapt to the unique discovery challenges presented by generative artificial intelligence, such as chatbot content and prompts, while upholding the principles of fairness, transparency and compliance with legal obligations in federal civil litigation, say attorneys at King & Spalding.
-
Opinion
FDA And Companies Must Move Quickly On Drug Recalls
When a drug doesn't work as promised — whether it causes harm, like eyedrops recalled last month by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or is merely useless, like a widely used decongestant ingredient recently acknowledged by the agency to be ineffective — the public must be notified in a timely manner, says Vineet Dubey at Custodio & Dubey.
-
The Case For Post-Bar Clerk Training Programs At Law Firms
In today's competitive legal hiring market, an intentionally designed training program for law school graduates awaiting bar admission can be an effective way of creating a pipeline of qualified candidates, says Brent Daub at Gilson Daub.
-
Attorneys Have An Ethical Duty To Protect The Judiciary
The tenor of public disagreement and debate has become increasingly hostile against judges, and though the legislative branch is trying to ameliorate this safety gap, lawyers have a moral imperative and professional requirement to stand with judges in defusing attacks against them and their rulings, says Deborah Winokur at Cozen O'Connor.
-
AI Can Help Lawyers Overcome The Programming Barrier
Legal professionals without programming expertise can use generative artificial intelligence to harness the power of automation and other technology solutions to streamline their work, without the steep learning curve traditionally associated with coding, says George Zalepa at Greenberg Traurig.
-
Transparency And Explainability Are Critical To AI Compliance
Although there is not yet a comprehensive law governing artificial intelligence, regulators have tools to hold businesses accountable, and companies need to focus on ensuring that consumers and key stakeholders understand how their AI systems operate and make decisions, say Chanley Howell and Lauren Hudon at Foley & Lardner.
-
Preparing Law Students For A New, AI-Assisted Legal World
As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms the legal landscape, law schools must integrate technology and curricula that address AI’s innate challenges — from ethics to data security — to help students stay ahead of the curve, say Daniel Garrie at Law & Forensics, Ryan Abbott at JAMS and Karen Silverman at Cantellus Group.
-
How Social Media Can Affect Trial Outcomes
With social media’s ability to seize upon an issue and spin it into a specifically designed narrative, it is more critical than ever that a litigation communications strategy be part of trial planning to manage the impact of legal action on a company's reputation, say Sean Murphy and Steve Wood at Courtroom Sciences.
-
General Counsel Need Data Literacy To Keep Up With AI
With the rise of accessible and powerful generative artificial intelligence solutions, it is imperative for general counsel to understand the use and application of data for myriad important activities, from evaluating the e-discovery process to monitoring compliance analytics and more, says Colin Levy at Malbek.
-
Opinion
Civil Litigation Against Gun Businesses Can Reduce Violence
With mass shootings skyrocketing, and gun control legislation blocked by powerful interest groups, civil litigation can help obtain justice for victims by targeting parties responsible beyond the immediate perpetrator — including gun manufacturers, dealers and retailers, says Tom D'Amore at D'Amore Law Group.