Charmaine Little News
BP gas station doesn't qualify for Maryland's Four Cent Rule because of agreement with wholesaler
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Legal Newsline) – Thanks to a branded jobber contract, a man selling BP gasoline at a service station isn’t entitled to the Four Cent Rule, the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland held on Jan. 2.
Cedars-Sinai doesn't owe millions in prejudgment interest in $5.5M medical malpractice case, Cal. court rules
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – Because of a lack of notice and information in an offer, the California 2nd District Court of Appeal, Division Two affirmed a lower court’s ruling that denied a woman’s motion for prejudgment interest in her lawsuit against Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
California court affirms that Save Mart Supermarkets cannot compel former employees into arbitration
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Save Mart Supermarkets Inc. was unable to convince the California 3rd District Court of Appeal to compel three individuals to arbitration in suits over alleged violation of state law statutory employment claims.
Del. court keeps lawsuit over Ception-Cephalon merger alive; Pursuit of eosinophilic esophagitis drug at issue
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) – The Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware on Dec. 28 granted in part and denied in part pharmaceutical companies' motions to dismiss a case over allegations of a breach of merger agreement.
Alabama court rules insurance company did not have duty to advise manufacturer concerning coverage before fire
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) – On Dec. 21, the Supreme Court of Alabama sided with an insurance company in a lawsuit over insurance coverage for a fire at a factory.
Arizona Supreme Court upholds dismissal of suit against Medtronic, citing preemption under federal law
PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court for the State of Arizona held on Dec. 18 that federal law does block a lawsuit arising from allegations concerning the state’s common law failure-to-warn claim after a medical device company allegedly didn’t inform the Food and Drug Administration about unfavorable conditions in a medical device.
Arizona Supreme Court says law of state where Workers' Comp was paid determines assignment rights
PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) – Because a woman was awarded Workers’ Compensation benefits in a different state that doesn’t have automatic assignment provision, on Jan. 2, the Supreme Court for the State of Arizona reversed the decisions of two lower courts.
Supreme Court of Ohio reverses $800,000 judgment in defamation case, rules caps on damages apply
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) – On Dec. 7, the Supreme Court of Ohio reversed an $800,000 judgment in compensatory damages in a defamation case.
New Jersey Supreme Court reverses dismissal of discrimination suit filed by owner of group home
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – In a case where a group of people allegedly attempted to interfere with the purchase of a group home for autistic individuals, the Superior Court of New Jersey reversed an order that dismissed the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) case on Dec. 10.
Mississippi Supreme Court reverses order requiring attorneys' signatures on settlement
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) – On Dec. 13, the Supreme Court of Mississippi decided that a lower court abused its discretion when it enforced an order that required the signatures of two attorneys on a settlement agreement.
Delaware court denies Fitbit's motion to dismiss insider trading suit
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) – A handful of Fitbit stockholders’ breach of fiduciary duties case against members of the company’s board of directors survived dismissal in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware on Dec. 14.
Alabama Supreme Court reverses summary judgment ruling in case over fire at body shop
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) – On Dec. 7, the Supreme Court of Alabama reversed a decision for summary judgment in a case over a fire at an auto body shop.
Michigan court gives green light to physician's testimony in malpractice case
LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) – A physician’s expert opinion in an ongoing medical malpractice lawsuit following a diagnosis got the green light in the State of Michigan Court of Appeals on Dec. 3.
Alabama Supreme Court upholds dismissal of state's case against Volkswagen AG over tampering claims
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of Alabama determined one of the state of Alabama’s claims against Volkswagen AG was blocked by the Clean Air Act and affirmed a lower court’s dismissal of the complaint on Dec. 14.
Florida Supreme Court justice 'strongly' urges judges to get off Facebook
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) – A Facebook friendship between a judge and an attorney isn’t enough to legally disqualify the judge from ruling on the case, the Supreme Court of Florida decided on Nov. 15.
Court finds SciMedica Group, Cephalon did have permission to send faxes
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled that the defendants in a case over a fax sent to a doctor did in fact have permission to send it and granted their motions for summary judgment.
Washington Supreme Court reinstates ruling in favor of school in student's saw injury case
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of the State of Washington ruled on Nov. 1 that since school districts aren’t expected to fulfill a heightened duty of care, a jury’s verdict that found the school district negligent but not the cause of the woman’s injuries should be reinstated.
Wash. SC allows asbestos claim to proceed against Pfizer, adopts apparent manufacturer doctrine
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) – On Nov. 1, the Supreme Court of the State of Washington adopted the apparent manufacturer doctrine in a case concerning a man’s exposure to asbestos products that allegedly ultimately led to his sickness and passing.
Virginia Supreme Court says vicarious liability claim should not have been dismissed in Carilion Clinic suit
RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of Virginia has only partially agreed with a woman who accused a health care group of revealing her confidential medical information to other parties.
Ohio SC reinstates lawsuit against NCAA, Notre Dame over concussions
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) – On Oct. 31, Justice Judith L. French of the Supreme Court of Ohio wrote that a family’s negligence claims against the University of Notre Dame are not time-barred.