Federal Court
Federal judge allows some NAS claims to move forward
SAN FRANCISCO – A California federal judge has denied parts of a motion to dismiss some Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome claims against a management consulting company, allowing the claims of some West Virginia children to move forward.
Attorneys & Judges
Lawyers hit with $10K in sanctions over 'schoolyard bullying'
Campaigns & Elections
North Carolina lawmakers eye citizen-only voting amendment
North Carolina soon could join a host of other states in letting voters decide if only American citizens should be allowed to vote in all state elections.
From St. Louis Record
Class action targets internet game addiction
JEFFERSON CITY — Several companies that create video games are being sued in a federal class action lawsuit alleging they fueled an addiction to video games with things like "micro-transactions."
In the wake of escalating auto insurance rates in Georgia, a small but significant legal reform could signal the beginning of relief for drivers across the state - if the House would take action…
From WV Record
From WV Record
Arizona Estate Law Firm Unveils New Brand, Website
Chandler, Arizona (AZ) attorney Bernard M. Strass is excited to announce fresh branding and a new website for his AZ estate law firm, Desert Rose Estate and Elder Law. The law firm’s new name reflects a full concentration on estate and life planning that enables Strass to provide focused and dedicated legal services for these matters. It also honors Strass’s father, Luke, who owned Desert Draperies and Interiors in Phoenix for many years and Strass’s mother’s family, the Roses.
Coash Court Reporting & Video Announces Acquisition, Rebrand, New Website
The team at Coash Court Reporting & Video is excited to announce the acquisition of the court reporting agency by Cristina and Jerry Coash Jr. The company’s transition kicked off with rebranding and the debut of its new, user-friendly website.
State Supreme Court
New Jersey court rejects contractor's claim he was an employee
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - The New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled against a real estate salesperson who entered into an agreement as an independent contractor but then sued under the theory he was an employee of the company.
Lawsuits
Feds accuse PHEEA, student loan trusts of botching pandemic
SCRANTON, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has filed suit against the trusts that administer student loans, arguing they failed to grant forbearance to debtors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lawsuits
Law firm wants client data back from debt-settlement company
CLEVELAND (Legal Newsline) - Following a split, a law firm representing clients troubled by debt has gone to court to retrieve their information from a settlement company.
Climate Change
Arizona Legislature sues Environmental Protection Agency over new rules pushing switch to electric vehicles
The Arizona Legislature has filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency, after the group issued pollution emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles that will require a speedy, costly transition to electric-powered vehicles and potentially tax the state’s power grid.
Lawsuits
Solar company faces shareholder lawsuit over stock drop
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - An Oklahoma public pension system has filed a securities class action lawsuit against a solar power company over a drop in its value.
Lawsuits
Dollar Tree cinnamon has lead in it, lawsuit alleges
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Dollar Tree is facing a class action lawsuit brought over cinnamon it buys from a co-defendant and sells and allegedly contains a dangerous amount of lead.
Lawsuits
Lawyer tries New York for lawsuit over 'reef-conscious' sunscreen
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - Big Lots sunscreen purporting to be reef-friendly is the subject of a New York class action lawsuit that alleges the coral reef around the state's coast has become damaged.
Federal Court
'Raw' honey lawsuit: Walmart again victorious against class action lawyer
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - A class action lawyer's second chance at suing Walmart over whether it can label its honey as raw has failed.
Lawsuits
Lawsuit: HP customers never received refunds they were promised
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A class action lawsuit alleges HP, Inc., offered sort-of warranties with the promise of a full refund if no issues arose with its computers but failed to pay up.
Feds accuse PHEEA, student loan trusts of botching pandemic
SCRANTON, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has filed suit against the trusts that administer student loans, arguing they failed to grant forbearance to debtors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Law firm wants client data back from debt-settlement company
CLEVELAND (Legal Newsline) - Following a split, a law firm representing clients troubled by debt has gone to court to retrieve their information from a settlement company.
Solar company faces shareholder lawsuit over stock drop
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - An Oklahoma public pension system has filed a securities class action lawsuit against a solar power company over a drop in its value.
Dollar Tree cinnamon has lead in it, lawsuit alleges
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Dollar Tree is facing a class action lawsuit brought over cinnamon it buys from a co-defendant and sells and allegedly contains a dangerous amount of lead.
Lawyer tries New York for lawsuit over 'reef-conscious' sunscreen
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - Big Lots sunscreen purporting to be reef-friendly is the subject of a New York class action lawsuit that alleges the coral reef around the state's coast has become damaged.
Nevada drivers pay more than average for increasing insurance costs
The cost of motor vehicle insurance rose 22.6% over the last year, according to the latest Consumer Price Index summary from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In comparison, the overall rate of inflation for the last year was 3.4%.
Report finds number of 'nuclear' verdicts increased 27% in 2023
A report published on May 3 by Marathon Strategies, an independent public relations firm, revealed a significant increase in the number of "nuclear" verdicts, or jury verdicts exceeding $10 million. The report showed a rise of 27% in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Nevada ballot initiative to cap attorney contingency fees withstands legal challenge
Carson City District Court Judge James Russell dismissed arguments against a ballot initiative in Nevada that would cap attorney contingency fees at 20%, ruling that the initiative complies with state requirements. The ruling was disclosed in a May 10 court filing in the First Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada.
Study finds lawyers concerned about AI
CHARLESTON — A recent study that looked at different careers found that lawyers are the most cautious regarding artificial intelligence technologies.
Court affirms death benefits for likely COVID victim who worked during outbreak at nursing home
DENVER, Colo. (Legal Newsline) - Another court has ruled COVID-19 can be considered an occupational disease, clearing the way for Workers' Compensation benefits to be paid to employees who suffered from it.
Lawyers hit with $10K in sanctions over 'schoolyard bullying'
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - A California law firm must pay $10,000 in sanctions for behavior an appellate judge likened to “the adult equivalent of schoolyard bullying,” including refusing to respond to requests for evidence and sending sneering emails to opposing counsel.
North Carolina lawmakers eye citizen-only voting amendment
North Carolina soon could join a host of other states in letting voters decide if only American citizens should be allowed to vote in all state elections.
Ohio AG squares off with social media companies over state's parental consent law
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is pointing at addiction statistics as he tries to hold together a state law targeting youth usage of social media websites.
Asbestos lawyers lose effort to change Vermont rule
MONTPELIER, Vt. (Legal Newsline) - The Vermont Supreme Court won't change the window for asbestos claimants to sue, rejecting a call from a Dallas plaintiffs firm to do so.
J&J's $6.5B talc settlement comes as plaintiff lawyers fear losing their experts
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - An offshoot of Johnson & Johnson is paying nearly $6.5 billion to settle almost all lawsuits alleging its talcum powder contained asbestos and caused certain cancers - two months before the company could question the findings of highly paid experts who drove tens of thousands of lawsuits.
Ky. court wipes away $23M defamation verdict for two W.Va. chiropractors suspected of fraud by CSX
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - An appeals court has found several problems with a $23 million Kentucky verdict against CSX and its chief medical officer, who were accused of defaming two West Virginia chiropractors they thought were fabricating worker injuries.
Class action targets internet game addiction
JEFFERSON CITY — Several companies that create video games are being sued in a federal class action lawsuit alleging they fueled an addiction to video games with things like "micro-transactions."
Atlanta business owner: Lawsuits are ‘causing auto and commercial rates to explode’
Chris Hellgeth, owner of the Atlanta-based fuel-hauling company Vi-Mac, has called for "tort reform" to prevent lawsuits from "causing auto and commercial rates to explode." Hellgeth made this statement in an April 16 post on X.