John O'Brien News
Litigation funders score win in Minnesota; Usury issue best left to lawmakers, court says
MINNEAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Companies that front lump sum payments to plaintiffs in exchange for a percentage of what is recovered in their lawsuits can continue to charge whatever interest rate they want, the Minnesota Supreme Court says.
Rutgers turns back class action over its business school rankings
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - Rutgers University has defeated a class action lawsuit that accused it and its business school of lying to obtain higher rankings.
Judge blocks Ark. law requiring ID check for social media accounts
EL DORADO, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - An Arkansas federal judge has stopped a new law that would require social media companies to inspect documents like the driver's licenses of would-be users to verify their ages.
DoD fights lawsuit blaming it for COVID vaccine-related death
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Department of Defense is confused as to why it is named as a defendant in a lawsuit alleging a 24-year-old man's death was a result of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
Court reinstates PAGA case against Marshalls thanks to COVID extension
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - The COVID pandemic will help a former Marshalls employee sue under California's Private Attorneys General Act.
Paralyzed man loses lawsuit against Newport Beach over headfirst dive into shallow water
SANTA ANA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - A California city can't be sued by a man who was paralyzed when he dove headfirst into shallow water in Newport Bay, an appeals court has ruled.
Parent company of Ben & Jerry's defeats class action over Israel boycott
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge in New York has thrown out a lawsuit brought on behalf of the parent company of Ben & Jerry's over the ice cream giant's decision to boycott the market in Israeli-occupied territories.
Massive PFAS settlement gets preliminary approval from judge
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge in South Carolina has given preliminary approval to 3M's $12.5 billion plan to settle lawsuits over chemicals known as PFAS.
Want money? Better be injured, Delaware court says in toxic tort class action
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - Delaware law doesn't allow people who think they will become sick to sue before it happens, the state's highest court has ruled.
Court won't reinstate millions for man who says tree stand failed while hunting
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - A year after its initial ruling, the Kentucky Supreme Court announced it won't change its mind to order a new trial in the case of a man who fell out of a tree stand.
Plaintiff can't link his Hepatitis A to Super Bowl pizza, court rules
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - A Kentucky court has rejected a man's attempt to blame a pizza restaurant for his Hepatitis A, finding no link between his Super Bowl dinner and the illness.
Ford might have to face former lawyer in court; Hearing will decide if he knows too much
LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) - An attorney who performed work for Ford Motor Company and now wishes to sue it will get a chance to show why he shouldn't be disqualified from the case.
LIV Golf to argue why court docs from fight with PGA should stay sealed
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - LIV Golf will try to convince a federal judge that previously sealed court documents should stay that way, as the New York Times fights for access.
Virginia State Police, facing lawsuit, says speeding suspect shot himself
NORFOLK, Va. (Legal Newsline) - The Virginia State Police says there is no way its troopers should be liable for the death of a man who led them on a high-speed chase then shot himself with his own gun.
Huge verdict affirmed for family of woman pinned under dump truck
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - A Kentucky appeals court has affirmed a $32 million verdict in a lawsuit over a fatal crash involving a dump truck hauling asphalt.
Hospital defeats battery accusations after keeping woman alive
INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - An Indiana hospital has defeated the lawsuit of a family upset that it provided life-prolonging care to their 91-year-old mother whose living will had do-not-resuscitate provisions.
Class action lawyers win judge's respect - and $266 million
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - Securities class action lawyers are rejoicing at a recent ruling that gives them 26.7 % of the largest cash recovery in the history of the Delaware Court of Chancery.
Michigan PFAS limits struck after 3M's challenge successful
LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) - A Michigan appeals court has struck down the state's limits on chemicals known as PFAS in drinking water, finding regulators failed to show how much it would cost businesses to comply.
Judge's recusal doesn't offer new shot for lawyer crying foul on arbitration proceeding
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - Despite a switch in judges, the federal court in San Francisco won't interfere with state court proceedings in which a personal injury lawyer says court officials have improperly aligned with an insurance company he sued.
South Carolina to pay $79K after legislative caucus wins case
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - A caucus of South Carolina lawmakers will have their legal fees paid by the State after successfully challenging a prohibition on its activities.