Legal Newsline

Monday, April 6, 2020

John Breslin News

New Virginia law resets clock for asbestos plaintiffs, overturns Supreme Court decision

By John Breslin | Mar 31, 2020

RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) – Virginia legislators have passed a bill in the wake of a state Supreme Court decision over when a lawsuit can be filed in relation to asbestos-connected conditions and injuries.

First-of-its-kind asbestos litigation reform held up by coronavirus

By John Breslin | Mar 26, 2020

DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - Iowa legislators have passed a bill addressing the naming of too-many defendants in asbestos lawsuits.

Pipeline scores court win as Virginia county unable to block construction

By John Breslin | Mar 19, 2020

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge has ruled a Virginia county can't block the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline, a project that is at the center of another dispute recently heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Industry reps argue U.S. Forest Service, not National Parks Service, should determine route of natural gas pipeline

By John Breslin | Mar 9, 2020

WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – An appeals court made a judgment contrary to the wishes of Congress and the Executive Branch when it effectively barred the construction of a natural gas pipeline, according to a group of trade associations.

Unions ask SCOTUS to approve pipeline route under Appalachian Trail

By John Breslin | Mar 6, 2020

WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Unions representing pipeline workers have thrown their support behind the construction of a pipeline that will cross a national forest and under the Appalachian Trail.

In pipeline/Appalachian Trail case, law prof tells SCOTUS natural gas is needed to fight climate change

By John Breslin | Mar 5, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. – An abundant supply of natural gas is crucial to the United States' ability to combat the effects of climate change, a leading expert in energy law argued in a brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court.

SCOTUS hears arguments in fight over pipeline under Appalachian Trail; 18 AGs support project

By John Breslin | Mar 4, 2020

WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court last week heard oral arguments over whether a 605-mile natural gas pipeline can be constructed under parts of the Appalachian Trail.

AGs unite to oppose opioid lawyers' attempt to take 7% of possible multibillion-dollar settlement

By John Breslin | Feb 29, 2020

CLEVELAND (Legal Newsline) – Attorneys general from dozens of states are objecting to an attempt by attorneys litigating on behalf of various local government entities suing over the opioid crisis to secure a fee based on a global settlement that could be worth close to $50 billion.

Broad, vigorous opposition to lawyers' move to secure billions from opioid settlement

By John Breslin | Feb 29, 2020

CLEVELAND (Legal Newsline) - Drug companies, state attorneys general and some local government entities are vigorously opposing an attempt by certain lawyers to secure a significant percentage of a probable multibillion-dollar global settlement stemming from nationwide opioid litigation.

Fox News backs Tucker Carlson's 'hyperbolic opinion' in libel suit brought by alleged Trump mistress

By John Breslin | Feb 28, 2020

NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Fox News host Tucker Carlson's hyperbolic opinion cannot be characterized as sober factual reporting, the network argues as it seeks the dismissal of a slander suit filed by a woman who claims to have been the longtime mistress of President Donald Trump.

Atlantic Richfield wants clean-up costs paid by former owner of Colorado mine

By John Breslin | Feb 13, 2020

DENVER (Legal Newsline) - A company has filed suit against the former owner of a Colorado mine seeking to recover costs relating to an Environmental Protection Agency-ordered clean-up.

Consumer protection agency sues bank over allleged failures to right unauthorized use, billing errors

By John Breslin | Feb 13, 2020

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline) - A federal consumer protection agency has filed suit against a bank over claims it failed to investigate and reimburse credit card holders following unauthorized use and billing errors.

Lawsuit targets hockey's Florida Panthers for sending unwanted texts

By John Breslin | Feb 13, 2020

MIAMI (Legal Newsline) - Marketing executives for the Florida Panthers devised a campaign that sent multiple unwanted messages to cell phones in violation of a federal communications act, a lawsuit is alleging.

Tax prep firm doesn't respond to demands for information from consumer protection agency

By John Breslin | Feb 13, 2020

ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) - A tax preparation firm that also offers checks in anticipation of refunds has failed to respond to requests for information from a federal consumer protection agency, according to a filing in federal court in Atlanta.

Class action over PFAS in New York will move ahead, thanks to recent ruling

By John Breslin | Feb 10, 2020

A class action claiming a company that manufactures products containing teflon contaminated the groundwater in and around a town in upstate New York has largely survived a challenge to dismiss the claims.

Former N.Y. political heavyweight Sheldon Silver to be re-sentenced on corruption convictions

By John Breslin | Feb 6, 2020

Former New York State Assembly leader Sheldon Silver will be re-sentenced after an appeals court upheld four of seven counts of bribery, extortion and money laundering.

Delaware Supreme Court deciding case of law firm's alleged $66 million mistake

By John Breslin | Jan 30, 2020

DOVER, Del. (Legal Newsline) - Delaware's full Supreme Court has heard oral arguments in a dispute between a software company and a law firm accused of delivering wrong advice that caused the firm to overpay by $66 million in a share buy-back - with a notable disagreement occurring between one justice and the law firm's attorney.

Harvard Law's Exxon protestors could have trouble getting jobs at large law firms

By John Breslin | Jan 27, 2020

BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Harvard University law students protesting against a firm that represents Exxon are unlikely to be hired by any large practice if they are picking and choosing which clients to work for, according to one lawyer who argues she would never hire them.

Jury instructions key to Alabama Supreme Court opinion in medical malpractice case; Verdict affirmed

By John Breslin | Jan 22, 2020

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) – Instructions to a jury in a medical malpractice case were front and center in a recent decision by the Alabama Supreme Court.

Lawsuit challenging 'unconstitutional' New Jersey donor law moves forward

By John Breslin | Jan 21, 2020

TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – A legal action over a New Jersey statute ordering the disclosure of donors to organizations involved in a wide range of political activities and information-gathering is moving forward with a status conference due to take place next month.