Product Liability

  • August 29, 2024

    GM Can't Shake Off Shuddering-Transmission Class

    General Motors must face class allegations that it knowingly sold vehicles with defective transmissions that cause the vehicles to shake and shudder while being driven, a Sixth Circuit panel ruled Wednesday, finding no reason to undo class certification for the drivers.

  • August 29, 2024

    5th Circ. Says Pot Use Doesn't Bar Gun Ownership

    The Fifth Circuit on Wednesday ruled that a federal law barring firearm possession by marijuana users is unconstitutional specifically as it pertains to a nonviolent user who was not actively intoxicated at the time of her encounter with law enforcement.

  • August 28, 2024

    Calif. Assembly OKs 1st-Of-Its-Kind AI Safety Bill

    California lawmakers on Wednesday approved a groundbreaking proposal that would set safety and security standards for large artificial intelligence models.

  • August 28, 2024

    Telegram CEO Indicted In France Over Crimes On Platform

    Paris prosecutors on Wednesday unveiled wide-ranging criminal charges against Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of encrypted messaging-platform Telegram, accusing him of aiding illegal child-pornography, fraud and other crimes and obstructing investigations, and barring him from leaving the country.

  • August 28, 2024

    Mich. Pot Co. Says Court Can Hear Suit Against IP Atty

    A Michigan cannabis company can maintain its lawsuit against an attorney and his wife who it claims badmouthed it on social media, a federal judge ruled, after the business showed the court has jurisdiction over the couple.

  • August 28, 2024

    6th Circ. Frees Mich. City, Mayor From Lead Pollution Suit

    The Sixth Circuit on Wednesday tossed all but one remaining defendant from a proposed class action filed by residents of Benton Harbor, Michigan, over elevated lead levels found in the city's tap water, finding allegations that the mayor misled the public to be vague and conclusory.

  • August 28, 2024

    'Smoking-Gun' Flaw Found In New Ark. Hemp Law, Say Cos.

    In a legal fight over a recent Arkansas state law restricting hemp-derived intoxicants, the hemp companies who brought the challenge told a federal judge Wednesday they found "smoking-gun evidence" from regulators showing the 2023 law is unconstitutionally vague.

  • August 28, 2024

    J&J Spinoff Beats Suit Over Tylenol 'Rapid Release' Labels

    A New York federal judge tossed Tuesday a proposed class action accusing a Johnson & Johnson spinoff of misleading consumers by falsely claiming Tylenol's "Rapid Release" gelcaps relieved pain faster than alternative acetaminophen pills, finding the consumer's state claims are preempted by federal regulations.

  • August 28, 2024

    9th Circ. Rejects Brady Violation Claim In CWA Conviction

    The Ninth Circuit on Wednesday upheld a Seattle barrel cleaning company owner's conviction for dumping chemical-laden wastewater into public sewers, rejecting his argument that federal prosecutors kept information from the jury about the immigration status of a key witness who worked for him.

  • August 28, 2024

    Injured Driver Asks 6th Circ. To Revive Hyundai Car-Theft Suit

    An Ohio motorist who was injured in a crash involving a stolen Hyundai vehicle driven by a teenager told the Sixth Circuit on Wednesday that the automaker must be held liable for knowingly selling defective theft-prone vehicles, and ineffectively combating a viral TikTok trend that launched a car-theft "epidemic."

  • August 28, 2024

    Calif. Couples Drop FujiFilm Suit Over Destroyed Embryos

    California couples who sued a manufacturer of oil used in the in vitro fertilization process claiming the product killed their embryos are looking to drop their federal suit.

  • August 28, 2024

    Ford Buyers Fight Arbitration Bid In Faulty Transmission Case

    A class of car buyers who claim Ford Motor Co. sold vehicles with bad transmission systems asked a Massachusetts federal judge to deny the carmaker's bid to arbitrate some of the claims, arguing Ford is trying to "dramatically expand the scope" of arbitration agreements with dealerships.

  • August 28, 2024

    Del. Justices OK Mid-Case Appeal In Zantac Class Suit

    The Delaware Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would hear a mid-case appeal in mass tort litigation over claims that the heartburn drug ranitidine, widely sold under the name Zantac, caused cancer.

  • August 28, 2024

    The Biggest Enviro Cases To Watch In 2024: Midyear Report

    Environmental attorneys can expect to see several developments in pending litigation during the remainder of 2024, including two cases that the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear about Clean Water Act regulations for San Francisco and the extent of the federal government's authority as part of environmental reviews for projects. Here are some of the biggest cases to watch in the rest of 2024.

  • August 28, 2024

    TikTok Lawsuit, Kids' Privacy Bills Push Cos. 'Back To Basics'

    The federal government's lawsuit challenging TikTok's policing of kids on its platform and mounting efforts to boost online protections for teens is ramping up pressure on a broad range of website operators, highlighting the importance for companies to think beyond existing legal frameworks to avoid growing legal scrutiny.

  • August 28, 2024

    Attys Duel Over Fees After $12.8M Deal In Chiquita MDL

    Attorneys for different sets of plaintiffs in long-running multidistrict litigation over Chiquita Brands International Inc.'s funding of Colombian paramilitary groups are facing off over attorney fees after a settlement in the case.

  • August 27, 2024

    No Section 230 Shield For TikTok's Algorithm, 3rd Circ. Says

    The Third Circuit Tuesday revived a lawsuit alleging TikTok's algorithms recommended a "blackout challenge" to a 10-year-old Pennsylvania girl that led to her unintentional hanging death, saying the social media platform curates recommendations through its "For You Page" algorithm, which is not protected by a law shielding traditional publishers.

  • August 27, 2024

    Miss. Seafood Co. Pleads Guilty To 'Fish Substitution' Scheme

    The largest seafood wholesaler in the Mississippi Gulf Coast and two of its managers pled guilty Tuesday to scheming with others to market and sell cheap frozen fish imports as premium and locally sourced, federal prosecutors in Mississippi announced.

  • August 27, 2024

    Wells Fargo Says 'Good Faith' Efforts Ax Investors' Bias Suit

    Wells Fargo & Co. urged a California federal judge Tuesday to toss a derivative lawsuit filed by a putative class of shareholders claiming the bank's board of directors failed to address its discriminatory lending and hiring practices, saying there's evidence of "good-faith" efforts to monitor compliance in those areas.

  • August 27, 2024

    Cherokee Nation's Opioid Suit Sent Back To State Court

    An Oklahoma federal judge has adopted a magistrate judge's recommendation to send a Cherokee Nation opioid lawsuit against pharmaceuticals distributor Morris & Dickson back to state court, agreeing that the negligence case isn't predicated on a duty arising out of the federal Controlled Substances Act.

  • August 27, 2024

    Baby Sound Machine Co. Sued Over Shock Hazard Recall

    A parent has launched a proposed class action against Hatch, a California-based manufacturer of sound machines for sleeping, claiming its plugs can shock users.

  • August 27, 2024

    Self-Driving Truck Co. Inks $189M Deal To End Investor Suit

    Self-driving trucking company TuSimple Holdings Inc. has agreed to pay $189 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging it misled investors about its safety record and payments to a Chinese rival that opened it up to U.S. government investigations, according to a filing in California federal court.

  • August 27, 2024

    Clark Hill Adds Atty In NYC From Schoeman Updike

    Clark Hill PLC said Tuesday that it is bringing a litigator to its New York City office as a member, one with a focus on financial services and business disputes as well as experience ranging from intellectual property to real estate issues.

  • August 27, 2024

    Asbestos Claimants Tell 4th Circ. Bestwall Isn't Distressed

    The official committee of asbestos claimants in the Chapter 11 case of Georgia-Pacific unit Bestwall told the Fourth Circuit that the company's bankruptcy should be tossed because commitments to fund asbestos liabilities by the parent mean the debtor isn't facing financial distress.

  • August 27, 2024

    Car-Sharing Co. Turo Accused Of Shirking Own Arb. Terms

    California-based car-sharing company Turo has been hit with a proposed class action in Illinois federal court claiming it violated its own terms of service by refusing to arbitrate consumers' disputes or pay its required portion of the arbitration filing fees.

Expert Analysis

  • Opinion

    Industry Self-Regulation Will Shine Post-Chevron

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's Loper decision will shape the contours of industry self-regulation in the years to come, providing opportunities for this often-misunderstood practice, says Eric Reicin at BBB National Programs.

  • 3 Ways Agencies Will Keep Making Law After Chevron

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    The U.S. Supreme Court clearly thinks it has done something big in overturning the Chevron precedent that had given deference to agencies' statutory interpretations, but regulated parties have to consider how agencies retain significant power to shape the law and its meaning, say attorneys at K&L Gates.

  • Roundup

    After Chevron

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    In the month since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Chevron deference standard, this Expert Analysis series has featured attorneys discussing the potential impact across 26 different rulemaking and litigation areas.

  • Opinion

    Atty Well-Being Efforts Ignore Root Causes Of The Problem

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    The legal industry is engaged in a critical conversation about lawyers' mental health, but current attorney well-being programs primarily focus on helping lawyers cope with the stress of excessive workloads, instead of examining whether this work culture is even fundamentally compatible with lawyer well-being, says Jonathan Baum at Avenir Guild.

  • Parsing Justices' Toss Of Purdue's Controversial Ch. 11 Plan

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's recent nixing of OxyContin manufacturer Purdue Pharma's Chapter 11 proposal prevents the Sackler family from settling thousands of civil opioid lawsuits without the consent of all of the plaintiffs, and holds profound implications for bankruptcy cases, say attorneys at MoloLamken.

  • Calif. Long-Tail Ruling Continues Policyholder-Friendly Trend

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    The California Supreme Court's recent ruling in Truck Insurance Exchange v. Kaiser Cement & Gypsum, rejecting horizontal policy exhaustion, was the latest in a string of its decisions involving insurance coverage for continuous or progressive injury claims that favor policyholders, say Billie Mandelbaum and David Goodwin at Covington.

  • FTC Focus: Competition And The Right To Repair

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    If the Federal Trade Commission includes commercial and industrial products as part of copyright exemptions that allow consumers to modify or repair products, then businesses and affected rights holders will need to consider copyrights' impact on infringement issues, say attorneys at Proskauer.

  • Series

    Skiing And Surfing Make Me A Better Lawyer

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    The skills I’ve learned while riding waves in the ocean and slopes in the mountains have translated to my legal career — developing strong mentor relationships, remaining calm in difficult situations, and being prepared and able to move to a backup plan when needed, says Brian Claassen at Knobbe Martens.

  • Unpacking The Circuit Split Over A Federal Atty Fee Rule

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    Federal circuit courts that have addressed Rule 41(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are split as to whether attorney fees are included as part of the costs of a previously dismissed action, so practitioners aiming to recover or avoid fees should tailor arguments to the appropriate court, says Joseph Myles and Lionel Lavenue at Finnegan.

  • 4 Steps To Repair Defense Credibility In Opening Statements

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    Given the continued rise of record-breaking verdicts, defense counsel need to consider fresh approaches to counteract the factors coloring juror attitudes — starting with a formula for rebuilding credibility at the very beginning of opening statements, says Ken Broda-Bahm at Persuasion Strategies.

  • Del. Bankruptcy Ruling Will Give D&O Insureds Nightmares

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    In Henrich v. XL Specialty Insurance, the Delaware Bankruptcy Court recently found that a never-served qui tam claim had been "brought" before a D&O policy's retroactive date, thereby eliminating coverage, and creating a nightmare scenario for directors and officers policyholders facing whistleblower claims, says David Klein at Pillsbury.

  • Prejudicial Evidence Takeaways From Trump Hush Money Trial

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    The Manhattan District Attorney's Office's prosecution and conviction of former President Donald Trump on 34 felony counts provides a lesson on whether evidence may cause substantial unfair prejudice, or if its prejudicial potential is perfectly fair within the bounds of the law, says Reuben Guttman at Guttman Buschner.

  • Opinion

    No Matter The Purdue Ruling, Mass Tort Reform Is Needed

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    The U.S. Supreme Court will soon issue its opinion in the bankruptcy of Purdue Pharma LP, and regardless of the outcome, it’s clear legal and policy reforms are needed to address the next mass tort, says William Organek at Baruch College.

  • After A Brief Hiccup, The 'Rocket Docket' Soars Back To No. 1

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    The Eastern District of Virginia’s precipitous 2022 fall from its storied rocket docket status appears to have been a temporary aberration, as recent statistics reveal that the court is once again back on top as the fastest federal civil trial court in the nation, says Robert Tata at Hunton.

  • Recruitment Trends In Emerging Law Firm Frontiers

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    BigLaw firms are facing local recruitment challenges as they increasingly establish offices in cities outside of the major legal hubs, requiring them to weigh various strategies for attracting talent that present different risks and benefits, says Tom Hanlon at Buchanan Law.

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