John O'Brien News
Lawyer fight breaks out in PFAS case with huge settlement on the line
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - The lawyers who negotiated a $1 billion-plus settlement with DuPont and stand to take $95 million in fees want a federal judge to punish lawyers trying to stand in the way.
Lawyer who sued over exclusion from L.A. trial attorney group loses lawsuit
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge not only threw out the lawsuit of a lawyer kicked out of a Los Angeles trial attorney group but has ordered him to pay the other side's attorneys fees.
Class action over mini-Southern Comfort might be certified
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - Having defeated some of a motion to dismiss, lawyers are now asking for class action status in a case alleging malt miniature bottles of Southern Comfort trick customers into thinking they are buying whiskey.
Pellet maker attacks class action, questions attorneys' use of the word 'exact'
DENVER (Legal Newsline) - A maker of air gun pellets is asking a federal judge to dismiss a proposed class action complaint that alleges the measurements on their ammunition is off.
Kentucky circuit clerk removed from office after complaints of sexual harassment, hostility
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - The Kentucky Supreme Court has found it appropriate to remove one of the state's circuit court clerks from office after investigating claims of sexual harassment and hostile work environment brought by two women in the office.
Schwan's beats another class action over Mrs. Smith's pie crust
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge has refused the claims of a class action lawyer called a "wrecking ball" by a colleague that alleged Schwan's didn't use enough "real butter" in its pie crust.
EPA sidesteps challenge to favorable scientists reviewing its formaldehyde study
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge has rejected calls to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from having its work reviewed by a favorable, supposedly independent panel to boost its effort to regulate formaldehyde.
House members criticize new rules from 'rogue' federal agency, warn of harm to consumers
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Republicans in Congress are growing frustrated with the actions of a "rogue" federal agency that is passing new rules for financial institutions without the approval of lawmakers.
Government's opioid blame-game with Walmart takes huge hit
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - Walmart recently scored a big win in a lawsuit brought by the federal government that attempts to blame the retail giant for the nation's addiction crisis.
Autism plaintiffs rejected from Florida Lockheed Martin toxic tort
ORLANDO, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Autism is among the disorders that lawyers can't prove to be caused by a Florida Lockheed Martin plant.
Houston-area chiropractors get good news in RICO case alleging they ripped off insurance companies
HOUSTON (Legal Newsline) - Insurers who footed the bill for personal injury settlements shouldn't succeed in recouping their losses from health care providers they alleged conspired to inflate the cost of care, a federal magistrate judge says.
Almost $1M taken off big verdict against former owner of Ashford University
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - The former owner of an online university's quest to reduce a $22 million verdict has barely made a dent.
New trial as widow claims ghost-hunting show defamed her late husband
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - A TV show-maker that insisted its ghost-hunting series wasn't serious journalism will get a new trial after a first one returned a $3 million verdict against it.
Sixth Circuit won't touch ruling that ended huge PFAS class action
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - The bold class action lawsuit that once hoped to include virtually every American has officially ended.
Litigation funder to take $1.8 million from lawyers it gave money to
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - A seven-figure judgment has officially been entered against lawyers who tried to do business with a litigation funder but ended up having their house in jeopardy.
Court rules against booted USC football player in his fight against disciplinary process
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - It's more bad news from California courts for a University of Southern California player kicked off the team who claimed the disciplinary process to hear intimate violence charges against him was unfair.
Museum of Sex counts receipts, says class action can't be in federal court
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - The Museum of Sex says a lawsuit against it is too small to be heard in federal court.
CFPB takes on 'risky' loans but won't tell industry what that means
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A federal agency tasked with regulating lenders refuses to actually explain its rules, causing uncertainty that can choke consumers' access to credit.
Wrongful death case against Riverside County trimmed but moving forward
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - A California federal judge has allowed three of nine claims to move forward in a lawsuit alleging prison staff in Riverside County helped cause the murder of an inmate.
Bankruptcy plan to avoid asbestos lawsuits approved despite company's massive value
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Legal Newsline) - The contested strategy of a Georgia-Pacific unit created to clear asbestos claims will continue in bankruptcy court, a judge has ruled much to the dismay of plaintiff lawyers hoping to get their clients bigger paydays in civil courts.