News from September 2021
New Shareholder Rafael A. Santos-Hernández Joins Polsinelli’s Real Estate Finance Practice
New Shareholder Rafael A. Santos-Hernández Joins Polsinelli’s Real Estate Finance Practice.
States join in support in federal lawsuit calling Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act unconstitutional
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Several states have joined in an amicus brief asking the federal court to hold the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020 as unconstitutional.
Parents fail to drag university into lawsuit over frat suicides
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Parents who accused a Missouri university of consumer fraud for failing to provide a safe environment for their sons after the two young men committed suicide in their fraternity house have no basis to sue, an appeals court ruled.
Lawsuit says man was forced to work in 107-degree temps on paving job, died from hyperthermia
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) -- A lawsuit has been filed against a man's employer after he overheated and died during work.
Man sues site for using his photos and likeness to advertise without permission
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - Jason Fry filed a federal class action complaint on September 7 in the Western District of Washington against PeopleConnect, Inc. for violation of Indiana's Right of Publicity Statute and violation of Indiana Common Law Tort - Misappropriation of Name and Likeness.
Drug company must face lawsuit from hired investigators who ended up in Chinese prison
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - A couple who were hired by GSK’s China unit to investigate an executive who disclosed a corporate bribery scheme in that country can proceed with their lawsuit in Pennsylvania state court accusing the drug company of misleading them into an assignment that landed them in jail.
Minn. Supreme Court paves way for cities to vote on defunding police departments
MINNEAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that a proposition that would let Minnesota cities vote to defund their police departments will stay on the ballot for the upcoming Nov. 2 election.
Boeing's shareholders can pursue lawsuit over 737 MAX crashes, but to what end?
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) — In a Sept. 7 ruling, Delaware Court of Chancery granted permission to Boeing stockholders, suing on behalf of the company, to pursue allegations the board of directors caused two deadly 737 plane wrecks through a lack of oversight.
Agave seltzer drinkers sue Anheuser-Busch
PEORIA, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - Anheuser-Busch faces a class action lawsuit over claims its Agave Spiked Seltzer can't contain claims it is made from 100% blue agave.
A class action has been brought against NYC for vaccination mandate for teachers
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - Mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations are at the center of a new class action lawsuit against New York City.
Most West Virginians think Manchin should fight for the filibuster
For the Freedom to Vote Act to avoid the same fate as the For the People Act, the 50 Senate Democrats need 10 Republicans to support it to avoid another filibuster. That seems unlikely, so the other option for Democrats is to eliminate the legislative filibuster to allow the measure to pass on a party line vote.
Judge rejects class action over sugar content in 'Sorta Sweet' Snapple
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – Lawyers’ attempt to recover millions of dollars from Snapple has been thrown out by a federal judge who rejected claims the term “Sorta Sweet” on bottles of tea is misleading to customers.
Walmart beats Greenpeace in suit over recyclable products
OAKLAND, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Greenpeace can’t sue Walmart over whether its recyclable products actually benefit the environment.
Alleged cover-up not grounds for extra money for student who says janitor molested him
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Victims of sexual assault can’t pursue damages in court against public agencies above what would compensate them for their injuries.
Himalayan salt not from the Himalayas, class action lawsuit against Morton says
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - Victoria Brown and Heather Blum filed a federal class action suit on September 2 in the Northern District of California against Morton Salt, Inc. for violation of Consumers Legal Remedies Act, violation of Unfair Competition Law, violation of False Advertising Law, breach of expressed warranty and breach of implied warranty.
Hospital, funeral home blamed in court for damage to dead body's face
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) -- An Arkansas medical center and a funeral home face a lawsuit over the handling of a corpse.
Asbestos liability possibly spreading to insurer that inspected W.R. Grace mine
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - An insurance company that inspected W.R. Grace’s Montana asbestos-mining facilities and provided industrial hygiene services to workers might be liable for their injuries, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, keeping alive long-running litigation over who pays for the manufacturer’s asbestos liabilities.
Site of plane crash will be site of ensuing lawsuit, over company's objections
RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) - The Alabama subsidiary of a Chinese aerospace company can be sued in North Carolina over the crash of a private airplane there, an appeals court ruled, citing a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision clarifying the extent of state court jurisdiction over out-of-state companies.
Flight attendant's lawsuit says she suffered carbon monoxide poisoning aboard plane
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) -- A Massachusetts woman is her suing former employer, an aircraft company, for permanent disability caused to her allegedly by toxic chemical exposure.
Man sues after woman dies from alleged fall at restaurant
MOUNTAIN HOME -- A man is suing a restaurant, claiming the death of his loved one was the direct result of her falling at the establishment. Joseph Patterson, as personal representative of Mildred L.