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Product Liability
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October 03, 2024
NJ Contractors Accused Of $10M Fraud In Lead Removal Work
A New Jersey construction company billed the city of Newark $10.2 million for replacing 1,500 lead water service lines but never did the work, instead concocting false evidence to show new copper pipes had been installed, federal authorities said Thursday in announcing the arrests of the chief executive and a foreperson.
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October 03, 2024
Mine Can't Toss CSX's Suit Over Derailment After Hurricane
A North Carolina federal judge won't throw out claims from CSX Transportation Inc. against a North Carolina sand and gravel mine over a 2018 derailment, finding there's sufficient evidence for a jury to conclude the mine was negligent in its water management, leading to erosion following Hurricane Florence that washed out a section of track.
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October 03, 2024
Cos. Want Federal Rule On Litigation Funding Disclosure
The federal courts should adopt a uniform process for the disclosure of third-party litigation funding in federal cases, a host of companies, including Johnson & Johnson and Google, told the judiciary's Rules Committee.
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October 02, 2024
Bard Agrees To Individualized Deals In Hernia Mesh Litigation
Tens of thousands of plaintiffs alleging they were injured by hernia mesh implant devices could resolve their claims against C.R. Bard Inc. under a settlement process unveiled Wednesday, a "decisive step" toward addressing the claims in both state and federal courts, counsel for the plaintiffs said in their announcement.
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October 02, 2024
Nipple Cover Co. Can't Nix 'Grippy, Not Sticky' False Ad Suit
A California federal judge on Wednesday declined to nix a proposed class action claiming Cakes Body falsely touts its reusable pasties as stay-in-place but that they don't work the way they're advertised, finding the plaintiff plausibly alleges the "grippy, not sticky" representations describing the product are misleading to consumers.
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October 02, 2024
Pfizer Didn't Warn Of Tumor Risks In Depo-Provera, Suit Says
Pfizer Inc. faces a product liability and negligence suit filed Tuesday in California federal court alleging it distributed the hormonal contraceptive drug Depo-Provera without adequately warning patients and doctors about the risk of brain tumors associated with its use, a danger that has been widely published in scientific journals for years.
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October 02, 2024
Gordon Rees Atty Asks Judge To Rethink Malpractice Ruling
A Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP attorney urged a Washington state court to reconsider a recent ruling denying the dismissal of legal malpractice claims brought by the insurer for a climbing equipment manufacturer, saying the assignment and subrogation of professional liability claims is improper.
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October 02, 2024
Hyundai, Kia Drivers' $145M Car-Theft Deal Wins Final OK
A California federal judge has signed off on a $145 million settlement that closes out consolidated consumer claims alleging Hyundai and Kia knowingly sold defective vehicles with design flaws that spawned a car-theft crime wave following a viral TikTok trend that popularized tips for breaking into their cars.
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October 02, 2024
14 States, DC Urge 11th Circ. To Uphold Train Crew Size Rule
A coalition of 14 states and the District of Columbia urged the Eleventh Circuit to reject the railroad industry's attempt to vacate the U.S. Department of Transportation's final rule requiring all trains to be operated with at least two people, saying doing so would make rail operations less safe nationally.
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October 02, 2024
This Is L Can't Toss Tampon Misleading Labeling Suit
A New York federal judge on Wednesday declined to toss a suit alleging that This Is L. Inc. misleads consumers by advertising its tampons as having no "chlorine bleaching, dyes or fragrances" when it includes a pigment.
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October 02, 2024
3rd Firearms Co. Settles Conn. AG's 'Ghost Gun' Suit
Another firearm firm has settled with Connecticut Attorney General William Tong to resolve his claims it was selling "ghost gun" components unlawfully in a deal that involves the company dissolving itself, handing over its web domain and deleting all of its social media, Tong announced Wednesday.
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October 02, 2024
Sikorsky Must Face Chopper Crash Suit In US, Pa. Judge Says
A Pennsylvania federal judge on Tuesday ordered a lawsuit against Sikorsky Aircraft by the estates of Canadian military personnel who died in a helicopter crash to remain in the U.S., finding the allegedly defective copter was designed, developed and upgraded here and litigating it in Pennsylvania would expedite resolution.
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October 02, 2024
GM Must Face Auto Part Co.'s Raid Conspiracy Counterclaim
General Motors can't slip an aftermarket car parts company's accusation that the auto giant was behind a government raid of its warehouses, a Michigan federal judge ruled Tuesday, allowing two of Quality Collision's counterclaims in a GM-filed patent infringement suit to stand.
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October 02, 2024
Co. Nixes 2nd Insurer From Chemical Leak Defense Suit
A subcontractor facing consolidated personal injury claims over a chemical leak at a LyondellBasell facility in La Porte, Texas, voluntarily tossed its coverage claims against a second insurer in Texas federal court, leaving one insurer remaining in the dispute.
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October 02, 2024
Tesla Sued By Driver Shocked At NJ Charging Station
A Garden State woman alleged that a design defect in the Tesla Supercharger caused her to be shocked while attempting to unplug her Tesla from a charging station at a southern New Jersey shopping center, according to a suit filed in New Jersey state court.
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October 01, 2024
Meta Must Face Bulk Of Social Media Harms Securities Suit
A California federal judge on Monday trimmed but refused to throw out a proposed securities class action claiming Meta Platforms Inc. and its executives misled investors about the harmful effects of social media, finding that the investors pointed to plausibly misleading statements regarding mental health and keeping children safe.
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October 01, 2024
From AI To Enviro: The Top Biz Bills Calif. Gov. Inked Into Law
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed hundreds of bills into law ahead of an Oct. 1 deadline, meaning major changes are on the horizon for employers, tech companies, healthcare providers and others doing business in the Golden State.
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October 01, 2024
Oxygenation Doesn't Show Water Quality, Texas Justices Hear
Texas Supreme Court justices prodded the Save Our Springs Alliance's argument that a permit to release treated wastewater would degrade water quality, questioning whether the advocacy organization's argument that a drop in levels of dissolved oxygen shows water degradation during oral arguments Tuesday.
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October 01, 2024
Data Brokers Decry 'Ill-Tailored' NJ Judicial Privacy Law
Data brokers such as Equifax, Thomson Reuters and Zillow urged a New Jersey federal judge Tuesday to toss a suit accusing them of violating Daniel's Law, arguing the state's judicial privacy measure is unconstitutionally broad and unevenly applied.
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October 01, 2024
9th Circ. Cites 'Sunscreen' Song In Reviving Banana Boat Suit
The Ninth Circuit on Tuesday revived a proposed class action claiming Banana Boat sunscreen contains unsafe levels of benzene, citing a one-hit wonder from an Academy Award nominated director and saying a lower court judge erred by prematurely resolving disputed issues of fact and the merits of the consumer case.
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October 01, 2024
Judge Stays Calif. Locomotive Emissions Rule Challenge
A California federal judge halted litigation brought by rail industry groups challenging a regulation requiring railroads to transition to zero-emission locomotives in the Golden State over the next decade, finding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's upcoming authorization decision will greatly impact the case.
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October 01, 2024
Water Firm Can't End Flint Children's Negligence Claims
The federal judge presiding over Flint, Michigan, water crisis litigation again ruled on Tuesday that an engineering firm won't be able to avoid professional negligence claims related to its consulting work with the city, issuing the 70-page opinion days before jury selection for a bellwether trial begins.
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October 01, 2024
Georgia-Pacific Tells 6th Circ. Rivals Liable In CERCLA Row
Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP on Tuesday asked the Sixth Circuit to affirm a Michigan federal judge's ruling that International Paper Co. and Weyerhaeuser Co. can be sued for future cleanup costs of a Michigan Superfund site.
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October 01, 2024
Tesla Dodges Investor Suit Over Self-Driving Tech Claims
A California federal judge has released Tesla Inc. from litigation accusing it of deceiving investors about the capabilities and safety record of its self-driving technology, granting it at least a temporary reprieve from the class action litigation because suing shareholders hadn't shown that CEO Elon Musk knew his statements about the technology were false.
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October 01, 2024
Ford Must Face Trimmed Suit Over Alleged Truck Roof Defects
A Michigan federal judge trimmed a proposed class action alleging Ford Motor Co. knowingly sold defective trucks with weak roofs that collapse in a rollover, tossing certain claims brought on behalf of unrepresented states, but rejecting other defense arguments — including Ford's statute-of-limitations defense — for being premature.
Expert Analysis
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Cos. Must Prepare For Calif. Legislation That Would Ban PFAS
Pending California legislation that would ban the sale or distribution of new products containing intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances could affect thousands of businesses — and given the bill's expected passage, and its draconian enforcement regime, companies must act now to prepare for it, say attorneys at Alston & Bird.
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FDA Warning Letter Tightens Reins On 'Research Only' Labels
A recent warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to Agena Bioscience alleged the company’s diagnostic devices were labeled for research use only, but improperly promoted for human clinical purposes, signifying a reinforcement — and a potential narrowing — of the agency's policy on products labeled “research only,” say attorneys at Sheppard Mullin.
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Assigning Liability In Key Bridge Collapse May Be Challenging
In the wake of a cargo ship's collision with Baltimore's Key Bridge last month, claimants may focus on the vessel's owners and the agencies responsible for the design and maintenance of the bridge — but allocating legal liability to either private or governmental entities may be difficult under applicable state and federal laws, says Clay Robbins at Wisner Baum.
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Strategies For Challenging A Fla. Grand Jury Report's Release
A Florida grand jury’s recent report on potential wrongdoing related to COVID-19 vaccines should serve as a reminder to attorneys to review the myriad legal mechanisms available to challenge the lawfulness of a grand jury report’s publication and expunge the names of their clients, says Cary Aronovitz at Holland & Knight.
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NC Rulings Show Bankruptcy Isn't Only For Insolvent Debtors
Two recent rulings from a North Carolina bankruptcy court show that lack of financial distress is not a requirement for bankruptcy protection, particularly in the Fourth Circuit, but these types of cases can still be dismissed for other reasons, say Stuart Gordon and Alexandria Vath at Rivkin Radler.
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Series
Whitewater Kayaking Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Whether it's seeing clients and their issues from a new perspective, or staying nimble in a moment of intense challenge, the lessons learned from whitewater kayaking transcend the rapids of a river and prepare attorneys for the courtroom and beyond, says Matthew Kent at Alston & Bird.
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AI In The Operating Room: Liability Issues For Device Makers
As healthcare providers consider medical devices that use artificial intelligence — including systems to help surgeons make decisions in the operating room — and lobby to shift liability to device manufacturers, companies making these products must review potential product liability risks and important design considerations for such equipment, say attorneys at Troutman Pepper.
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3 Lessons From Family Dollar's Record $41.7M Guilty Plea
Family Dollar's recent plea deal in connection with a rodent infestation at one of its distribution facilities — resulting in the largest ever monetary criminal penalty in a food safety case — offers key takeaways for those practicing in the interconnected fields of compliance, internal investigations and white collar defense, says Jonathan Porter at Husch Blackwell.
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This Earth Day, Consider How Your Firm Can Go Greener
As Earth Day approaches, law firms and attorneys should consider adopting more sustainable practices to reduce their carbon footprint — from minimizing single-use plastics to purchasing carbon offsets for air travel — which ultimately can also reduce costs for clients, say M’Lynn Phillips and Lisa Walters at IMS Legal Strategies.
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Circumstantial Evidence Requires A Pointillist Approach
Because complex cases with sophisticated defendants are unlikely to reveal much, if any, direct evidence, attorneys must aggregate many pieces of circumstantial evidence into a cohesive narrative — much like the painting technique of pointillism, says Reuben Guttman at Guttman Buschner.
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Benzene Contamination Concerns: Drugmakers' Next Steps
After a citizen petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and a flurry of class actions over benzene contamination in benzoyl peroxide acne products, affected manufacturers should consider a thoughtful approach that includes assembling internal data and possibly contacting the FDA for product-specific discussions, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.
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Opinion
States Should Follow Federal Lead On Expert Evidence Rules
The recently amended Federal Rule of Evidence 702 will help ensure expert testimony in federal courts reflects adequate data and reliable methods properly applied to a given case, and state courts — home to the overwhelming majority of U.S. litigation — should adopt similar changes, says retired attorney Michael Harrington.
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Back Labels In False Ad Cases Get Some Clarity In 9th Circ.
Courts in the Ninth Circuit have recently delivered a series of wins to advertisers, making clear that any ambiguity on the front of a product's package can be resolved by reference to the back label — which guarantees defendants a powerful tool to combat deceptive labeling claims, say attorneys at Patterson Belknap.
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Opinion
Federal MDL Rule Benefits From Public Comments
The new Federal Rule of Civil Procedure concerning multidistrict litigation that was approved this week by the Advisory Committee on Civil Rules incorporates ideas from public comments that will aid both plaintiffs and defense attorneys — and if ultimately adopted, the rule should promote efficient, merits-driven MDL case management, say Robert Johnston and Gary Feldon at Hollingsworth.
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Practicing Law With Parkinson's Disease
This Parkinson’s Awareness Month, Adam Siegler at Greenberg Traurig discusses his experience working as a lawyer with Parkinson’s disease, sharing both lessons on how to cope with a diagnosis and advice for supporting colleagues who live with the disease.