John O'Brien News
Judge awards PFAS lawyers almost $100M from Tyco, BASF settlements
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - It's nearly $100 million for lawyers pushing PFAS lawsuits on behalf of public water systems, as a federal judge has approved their request for fees from settlements with BASF and Tyco.
'Judicial Hellholes' report: Philly No. 1, but South Carolina asbestos court moving up
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - South Carolina's asbestos court is now the No. 3 "Judicial Hellhole" in the country, the American Tort Reform Association announced, handing the docket its highest ranking since it first appeared on the annual report in 2020.
Ala. Supreme Court won't let lawyer charge contingency fee in alimony case
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - An attorney hoping to extend contingency-fee agreements to areas of the law they aren't allowed has received an adverse ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court.
'Wrecking ball' class action lawyer might be in mess in Kroger case
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Kroger wants a controversial class action lawyer punished for bringing a case over "farm-fresh" eggs that was recently thrown out by a Chicago federal judge.
DOL probe gets green light as company argues it would ruin its business
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Legal Newsline) - A company hoping to show the Department of Labor is wrecking its business with an investigation that would involve its clients has gotten very little help from a federal judge.
$97M brain damage verdict struck; Plaintiff lawyer's 'rhetoric paints attorneys in a poor light'
DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - Iowa's highest court has struck a nearly $100 million verdict in favor of a family who blamed doctors for a baby's brain injuries, and its chief justice delivered a smackdown of the plaintiffs' lawyer for ridiculing the defendants' arguments to the jury.
Airlines' teamwork won't help customers, First Circuit rules in DOJ antitrust case
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals court has affirmed a ruling that put an end to the so-called "Northeast Alliance" between American Airlines and JetBlue - an arrangement the companies claimed would help customers.
Class action lawyer, facing penalty, says Ricola was the one keeping case alive
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - A class action lawyer called a "wrecking ball" by a federal judge is defending his choice to continue his cough drop case, as he faces a potential $60,000 penalty for doing so.
Dem Pa. AG candidate: Litigation not part of addressing climate change
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - The Democrat hoping to replace Michelle Henry as Pennsylvania Attorney General doesn't seem to be willing to push climate change lawsuits against the oil industry, like some local officials have.
Man's estate can't sue Dept. of Defense over COVID vaccine claims
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The Department of Defense has defeated a lawsuit that blamed it for the death of a man who took the COVID-19 vaccine.
Complaint against Wis. Democrat asks if work as lawyer violates legislator ethics
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - A Wisconsin Democrat faces the possibility of an ethics investigation, as a complaint has been filed regarding his connection to lobbying firms ahead of what could be an Election Day that leaves the State Assembly looking much different.
$2 million settlement for pickle-eaters gets final approval
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - The $2 million pickle settlement has received approval from a Chicago federal judge.
Another loss, another possible penalty for prolific class action lawyer
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - Ricola wants the class action lawyer who sued it and lost to fork over $60,000 because he allegedly continued to pursue claims over ingredients in the lozenges he knew were wrong.
Indiana law providing buffer zone for cops blocked by federal judge
INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge has blocked an Indiana law that requires onlookers, including members of the press, to stand at least 25 feet away from cops when they are told to do so.
Judge: No, Ricola doesn't trick people into buying its cough drops
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - The lawsuit over Ricola cough drops has failed, as a federal judge says the plaintiff who used them for 20 years before finding a lawyer on Facebook hasn't shown she was harmed by claims they are "Made With Swiss Alpine Herbs."
Dave's Killer Bread case graduates to a class action
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A lawsuit over protein in Killer Bread cleared a major hurdle, with a federal judge certifying it as a class action.
Boeing not to blame for murder-suicide, fends off reworked lawsuit
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - A woman has lost her second chance at blaming Boeing for a murder-suicide that was carried out by an employee, but not on company property.
Judge grants an extra dozen depositions for the FTC in case against Amazon
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - The Federal Trade Commission can interview 22 witnesses from Amazon, a federal judge has ruled in allowing the agency to exceed the usual maximum.
Troubles with Fosamax label lead to troubles in court for Merck
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - State law claims were wrongly tossed from plaintiffs in a multidistrict litigation proceeding over the drug Fosamax, the Third Circuit has found.
Rent-to-own company says CFPB has no authority over it
SHERMAN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau wants a Texas federal judge to throw out claims it lacks the authority to prosecute a company offering lease-to-own financial products.