Try our Advanced Search for more refined results
Product Liability
-
October 11, 2024
Pharmacist Gets Up To 15 Years In Mich. For Fatal Outbreak
A pharmacist charged for the deaths in a 2012 fatal fungal meningitis outbreak was sentenced Friday afternoon in Michigan state court to 7½ to 15 years in prison, concluding the state's case that had been pending for six years, the pharmacist's attorney has announced.
-
October 11, 2024
Ill. Judge Trims Labeling Suit Over Coca-Cola's Soda Water
An Illinois federal judge essentially halved on Friday two consumers' false advertising suit targeting artificial sweeteners allegedly found in Coca-Cola's Fresca soda water, cutting one plaintiff and one focus of their consumer fraud claims from the case.
-
October 11, 2024
Up Next At High Court: CBD Injuries & The Clean Water Act
The U.S. Supreme Court will be closed Monday, but the justices will return to the bench Tuesday to hear arguments over whether the federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act allows litigants to pursue claims of economic harm tied to personal injuries, and how specific pollutant discharge limits have to be under the Clean Water Act.
-
October 11, 2024
Monsanto Inks $35M Deal With LA For Waterway Cleanup
Los Angeles announced Friday it inked a $35 million settlement with Bayer AG's Monsanto Co. and two other companies over their alleged contamination of the city's bodies of water with toxic chemicals, ending the 2½-year-old lawsuit, with the companies agreeing to various cleanup efforts and reimbursement for previous costs.
-
October 11, 2024
Sleep Machine Maker Sued Over Recalled Baby Devices
A New Yorker hit a California-based sleep product manufacturer on Thursday with a proposed class action alleging that one of the company's products for babies — which has been recalled — has a defective power adapter that can cause shocks.
-
October 11, 2024
Court Allows Calif. Hemp Ban To Remain In Effect
A California state judge on Friday ruled that the Golden State's new ban on hemp products with THC will remain in effect, rejecting a bid by a leading hemp industry trade organization and the cannabis brand fronted by stoner comedians Cheech and Chong to halt the emergency rules.
-
October 11, 2024
Bellwether Plaintiffs Let Halliburton Escape Pollution Dispute
Two bellwether plaintiffs in litigation seeking to hold the owners and operators of a former pipe manufacturing facility liable for contamination have agreed to permanently drop their claims against Halliburton Energy Services.
-
October 11, 2024
J&J Should Pay $30M For Developer's Cancer, Conn. Jury Told
Attorneys for a western Massachusetts real estate developer on Friday urged a Connecticut jury to award $30 million for past and future suffering to a lifelong Johnson & Johnson baby powder user diagnosed with mesothelioma, but the company's attorneys suggested $4 million was a more reasonable figure while contesting liability whatsoever.
-
October 11, 2024
Justices Will Evaluate RICO Scope In Trucker's CBD Case
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear a case brought by a trio of CBD companies asking the justices to establish whether a trucker can bring a personal injury claim under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO.
-
October 11, 2024
Asbestos Claimants Say Kaiser Ch. 11 Plan Should Stand
Asbestos injury claimants in Kaiser Gypsum Co.'s bankruptcy case have asked the Fourth Circuit to uphold the company's Chapter 11 plan, saying the arguments against it by Kaiser's primary insurer are based on speculative harms.
-
October 11, 2024
Lyft Algorithm Defect Claim Dismissed In Sex Assault Suit
A Pennsylvania federal judge has thrown out a products liability claim in a woman's suit against Lyft Inc. over a sexual assault by a man posing as one of its drivers, saying she didn't seek leave from the court to add the claim and it was filed too late.
-
October 11, 2024
Stellantis Defeats Utah Class Cert Bid In Gearshift MDL
A Michigan federal judge declined to certify a class of Utah drivers seeking to hold Stellantis North America liable for defective gearshifts in certain Dodges, Chryslers and Jeeps, reasoning that each of the claims would have to be evaluated to determine if drivers noticed issues in the vehicles but purchased or leased them nonetheless.
-
October 11, 2024
DOJ Tells Judge Boeing Plea Is 'The Best The Gov't Could Do'
The federal government told a Texas federal judge Friday that its proposed deal with The Boeing Co. over allegations that it lied to safety regulators about the 737 Max 8's development is "the best the government could do," pushing back against vehement objection from crash victims' families, who called the deal "rotten" and "morally reprehensible."
-
October 11, 2024
Nintendo, Epic Games Dropped From Addictive Gaming Suit
Nintendo of America Inc. and Epic Games Inc. have been dropped from a lawsuit filed against them and other well-known companies by a gamer who alleged they intentionally got users addicted to boost profits.
-
October 11, 2024
More Ga. PFAS Suits Are Coming. Here's How Attys Prepare
Leading attorneys in PFAS litigation say new regulations and ever-increasing lawsuits require attorneys to think carefully about proactive measures clients can take to limit PFAS use, and about the latest scientific research into how the so-called forever chemicals impact humans and the environment.
-
October 10, 2024
Social Media Apps Don't Need User Warnings, MDL Judge Told
A lawyer for TikTok urged a California state judge on Thursday to cut failure-to-warn claims from multidistrict litigation over social media's alleged effects on youth mental health, saying this theory is akin to suing newspapers for "not including a warning that reading the news could put you in a bad mood."
-
October 10, 2024
Trade Group, Enviros Clash Over EPA Methylene Chloride Rule
American Chemistry Council and the Sierra Club are taking aim at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's methylene chloride rule, with the industry group telling the Fifth Circuit the agency overstepped when it outright banned most applications of the chemical for no valid reason and the conservation organization arguing it didn't go far enough.
-
October 10, 2024
Wash. Judge Condemns Monsanto's Bid To Delay PCB Trial
A Washington state judge grew frustrated on Thursday with Monsanto's eleventh-hour attempt to shelve a PCB poisoning tort headed to trial next week until the state Supreme Court weighs in on a similar case, calling out the chemical giant for taking stances on "both sides of the fence" about the stakes on appeal.
-
October 10, 2024
Tobacco Cos. Push To Move Dozens Of Cases Out Of Boston
Several tobacco companies asked a Massachusetts judge Thursday to send more than 30 pending liability cases to other venues in the state, arguing that the plaintiffs have no ties to Suffolk County and that the volume of cases is burdening judges in the Boston courthouse.
-
October 10, 2024
Eli Lilly Tells Mich. Justices It's 'Wrong Time' For Insulin Case
A lawyer for pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly has urged the Michigan Supreme Court to reject a call to shake up the state's consumer protection precedent, saying during oral arguments Thursday that the attorney general is asking the court to do "by fiat" what Michigan lawmakers could soon accomplish with a bill package that got a hearing earlier this week.
-
October 10, 2024
Animal Medication Co. Sued Over Dog Arthritis Treatment Risks
New Jersey-based animal medication company Zoetis Inc. was hit with a proposed class action Wednesday alleging that a drug used to treat osteoarthritis in dogs has harmful effects such as seizures, inability to walk, organ damage and even death, which the company has failed to warn about.
-
October 10, 2024
Faulty New Balance Shoes Killed Olympian's Career, Suit Says
An athlete, who previously competed in two Summer Olympics, claims she missed this year's Paris Games after suffering a "career-ending injury" due to defective runnung shoes provided by her sponsor, New Balance, according to a lawsuit filed in Rhode Island federal court.
-
October 10, 2024
Norfolk Southern Says Tank Car Cos. Should Help Pay $600M Deal
Norfolk Southern and tank car companies sparred in Ohio federal court over key questions of liability related to the February 2023 East Palestine derailment and toxic chemical spill, as the rail giant seeks to offload at least some damages, including a recent $600 million settlement to affected residents and businesses.
-
October 10, 2024
3M Can't Put Pause On Conn. Firefighters' PFAS Suit
A Connecticut federal judge on Thursday declined to let 3M Co. and other companies put a stay on a proposed class action by firefighters alleging their turnout gear contains so-called forever chemicals while the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation decides whether to roll it into a South Carolina MDL.
-
October 10, 2024
3M, Other Cos. Hit With PFAS Contamination Class Action
Nantucket, Massachusetts, residents seek to hold the 3M Co., The Chemours Co. and other companies liable for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances that allegedly contaminated their properties, their drinking water and the residents themselves.
Expert Analysis
-
Deadline Extension Highlights PFAS Reporting Complexities
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recent extension of reporting and recordkeeping timelines for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act offers relief to the regulated community, but the unprecedented volume of data required means that businesses must remain diligent in their data collection efforts, say attorneys at Alston & Bird.
-
6th Circ. Preemption Ruling Adds Uncertainty For Car Cos.
Automakers and their suppliers need uniformity under the law to create sufficient scale and viable markets — but the Sixth Circuit's recent decision in Fenner v. General Motors creates more uncertainty around the question of when state law consumer claims related to violations of federal vehicle emissions and fuel economy standards are preempted, say attorneys at Sidley.
-
State Of The States' AI Legal Ethics Landscape
Over the past year, several state bar associations, as well as the American Bar Association, have released guidance on the ethical use of artificial intelligence in legal practice, all of which share overarching themes and some nuanced differences, say Eric Pacifici and Kevin Henderson at SMB Law Group.
-
Cos. Face Increasing Risk From Environmental Citizen Suits
Environmental citizen suits stepping in to fill the regulatory vacuum concerning consumer goods waste may soon become more common, and the evolving procedural landscape and changes to environmental law may contribute to companies' increased exposure, say J. Michael Showalter and Bradley Rochlen at ArentFox Schiff.
-
Defining All-Risk: Despite $30M Loss, Loose Bolt Not 'Damage'
A Massachusetts federal court’s recent ruling in AMAG Pharmaceuticals v. American Guarantee and Liability Insurance Co., denying coverage for $30 million in damages claimed when a loose bolt caused an air leak, highlights an ongoing debate over the definition of “direct physical loss or damage,” say Josh Tumen and Paul Ferland at Cozen O'Connor.
-
8 Childhood Lessons That Can Help You Be A Better Attorney
A new school year is underway, marking a fitting time for attorneys to reflect on some fundamental life lessons from early childhood that offer a framework for problems that no legal textbook can solve, say Chris Gismondi and Chris Campbell at DLA Piper.
-
3rd Circ. Hertz Ruling Highlights Flawed Bankruptcy Theory
The Third Circuit, in its recent Hertz bankruptcy decision, became the latest appeals court to hold that noteholders were entitled to interest before shareholders under the absolute priority rule, but risked going astray by invoking the flawed theory of code impairment, say Matthew McGill and David Casazza at Gibson Dunn.
-
Opinion
This Election, We Need To Talk About Court Process
In recent decades, the U.S. Supreme Court has markedly transformed judicial processes — from summary judgment standards to notice pleadings — which has, in turn, affected individuals’ substantive rights, and we need to consider how the upcoming presidential election may continue this pattern, says Reuben Guttman at Guttman Buschner.
-
The Complex Challenges Facing Sustainable Food Packaging
More and more states are requiring recycled content to be used in product packaging, creating complex technological and regulatory considerations for manufacturers who must also comply with federal food safety requirements, say Peter Coneski and Natalie Rainer at K&L Gates.
-
Series
Playing Diplomacy Makes Us Better Lawyers
Similar to the practice of law, the rules of Diplomacy — a strategic board game set in pre-World War I Europe — are neither concise nor without ambiguity, and weekly gameplay with our colleagues has revealed the game's practical applications to our work as attorneys, say Jason Osborn and Ben Bevilacqua at Winston & Strawn.
-
How Multifamily Property Owners Can Plan For The EV Future
As the electric vehicle market expands, and federal and state incentives and mandates intended to promote EV use come into effect, owners and operators of multifamily residential properties should be prepared to meet the growing demand for onsite EV charging infrastructure, say Sydney Tucker and Andreas Wokutch at Frost Brown.
-
Conn. Court Split May Lead To Vertical Forum Shopping
As shown by a recent ruling in State v. Exxon Mobil, Connecticut state and federal courts are split on personal jurisdiction, and until the Connecticut Supreme Court steps in, parties may be incentivized to forum shop, causing foreign entities to endure costly litigation and uncertain liability, says Matthew Gibbons at Shipman & Goodwin.
-
Mental Health First Aid: A Brief Primer For Attorneys
Amid a growing body of research finding that attorneys face higher rates of mental illness than the general population, firms should consider setting up mental health first aid training programs to help lawyers assess mental health challenges in their colleagues and intervene with compassion, say psychologists Shawn Healy and Tracey Meyers.
-
Enviro Policy Trends That Will Continue Beyond The Election
Come October in a presidential election year, the policy world feels like a winner-take-all scenario, with the outcome of the vote determining how or even whether we are regulated — but there are several key ongoing trends that will continue to drive environmental regulation regardless of the election results, say J. Michael Showalter and Samuel Rasche at ArentFox Schiff.
-
Series
Collecting Art Makes Me A Better Lawyer
The therapeutic aspects of appreciating and collecting art improve my legal practice by enhancing my observation skills, empathy, creativity and cultural awareness, says attorney Michael McCready.