John Sammon News
Plaintiff recounts cancer ordeal in Monsanto Roundup trial
The plaintiff suing Monsanto who claims its weed killer Roundup caused him to develop cancer described for a jury the ordeal of his medical treatments.
At Roundup trial, Monsanto official says company did necessary toxics testing
A regulations compliance official for Monsanto testified the company had done extensive testing of its weed killer Roundup to make sure it was safe for use by humans.
Trial begins in Missouri accusing Monsanto weed killer Roundup of causing man’s cancer
A trial in which a man claims that his use of the Monsanto weed killer Roundup caused him to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer, while defense attorneys claimed the chemical is harmless and the plaintiff just unlucky.
'Better than imports:' Oil producers say CAL Supreme Court correct to strike down local drilling bans, allow essential continued local production
A California Supreme Court ruling says counties can't shut down oil and gas drilling. Activists vowed to continue fighting to hinder local oil and gas extraction, which the industry said is misguided, will leave U.S. more dependent on foreign, dirtier energy sources
Asbestos filings projected to remain flat for 2023; Illinois courts remain destination for plaintiffs
A webinar hosted in Washington D.C. to discuss trends in asbestos litigation reported a slight decrease last year in cases compared with 2021, with Illinois the most popular lawsuit location.
High tech, chemicals, privacy, identity theft class action suits on the rise for 2023, panel says
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - A panel of litigation experts on Sept. 13 held a discussion via Zoom on trends they see developing in the filing of class action lawsuits, most commonly litigation brought by large groups of plaintiffs against companies or organizations for consumer product defect, misleading advertising claims, privacy violations and insurance actions.
COVID causes mistrial in Georgia opioid lawsuit against distributors
Just three days after it started, a trial in Georgia accusing three distributors of oversupplying prescription opioid pills and recklessly causing public harm was shut down because of an outbreak of the COVID virus in the courtroom.
Former DEA investigator calls opioid distributor anti-diversion programs 'fatally flawed' in Georgia trial
BRUNSWICK, GA (Legal Newsline) - Former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigator James Rafalski told a courtroom in Georgia that the in-house anti-drug diversion programs of opioid distributors were “fatally flawed” in that they failed to report suspicious orders.
Trial opens in Georgia with private citizens taking aim at opioid distributors; McKesson says it complied with law
BRUNSWICK, GA (Legal Newsline) - Trial began Tuesday in a case accusing opioid drug distributors McKesson and Cardinal Health of recklessly flooding the state with pills, and for the first time, private citizens are the plaintiffs instead of a state or local government.
State attorney accuses defense witness of being opioid industry mouthpiece and dishonest
CHARLESTON – An attorney for the state of West Virginia attempted to pin down an expert defense witness, accusing him of being a pro-opioid-industry hireling and also less than honest on his resume in a trial accusing drug makers of causing an epidemic.
State attorney grills economist who said opioid marketing caused no harm in West Virginia
CHARLESTON – State attorneys attempted to discredit a defense expert witness as unreliable during May 18 testimony in the Mass Litigation Panel opioid trial.
Cephalon sales rep tells court Actiq, Fentora opioids were not viable sellers in W.Va.
CHARLESTON – A sales rep manager who worked for defendant Cephalon testified that opioid drugs Actiq and Fentora were not viable sellers in the state during the 2005-07 time period.
Kadian opioid reps say guidelines followed pitching drugs, not expanding market in West Virginia trial
CHARLESTON — Sales reps for opioid suppliers accused of causing an epidemic in West Virginia say they sold drugs only in the confines of what Food & Drug Administration labeling would allow, and did not attempt to expand a market but to simply “maintain it.”
Defense witness researcher said Allergan opioid products Kadian and Norco left small imprint in epidemic
CHARLESTON — An expert witness called by defense attorneys in a trial to decide if opioid drug suppliers caused an epidemic in West Virginia said two products Kadian and Norco made by a defendant Allergan did not increase overall drug prescribing in the state.
Opioid judge asks lawyers to break to reconsider arguments
CHARLESTON -- A circuit judge asked attorneys to take a temporary break to reconsider their arguments in the state trial for drug companies accused of irresponsibly flooding West Virginia with pain pills and causing an epidemic.
Defense witness refutes testimony of plaintiff witnesses in W.Va. opioid trial
CHARLESTON – Attorneys defending opioid drug companies accused of causing an epidemic in West Virginia brought in a pain specialist doctor to refute the testimony of witnesses for the state who claimed doctors had become reckless in over-prescribing pain pills.
Witness in W.Va. opioid trial says DEA provided little guidance to defendants
CHARLESTON – Defense attorneys in the West Virginia opioid trial sought to portray the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency as providing no guidance on how drug-producing companies could comply with regulations.
Walgreens settles Florida opioid case mid-trial for $683 million, denies wrongdoing
After three weeks of trial accusing the country's largest chain drug store of contributing to an opioid epidemic in Florida, Walgreens Phamacy on May 4 agreed to settle the case for $683 million. It also includes a one-time payment of $63 million for attorneys’ fees.
Washington State to receive a half-billion from opioid drug producers in trial settlement
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - Three weeks after closing arguments were postponed until July at the request of lawyers for defendants, three opioid drug producing companies accused of causing an epidemic agreed on May 3 to settle with Washington State for $518 million.
Former DEA agent portrays opioid defendants as lax on suspicious orders
CHARLESTON — A former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officer testified that the defendant opioid suppliers took lightly their responsibility to prevent drug diversion.