John Sammon News
Advertising works: Plaintiff in N.J. talc trial says he learned of possible link between mesothelioma, baby power from commercial
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – Plaintiff Ricardo Rimondi described for a jury on Wednesday what it was like to find out he had a deadly incurable form of cancer and having to live with the disease every day.
Plaintiff's expert takes stand in N.J. talc-asbestos trial; Has made $30M testifying during career
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – A microscope researcher told a jury on Tuesday the testing methods employed by Johnson & Johnson to detect possible asbestos in talc-based baby powder were not sensitive enough to find lower amounts, referring to it as similar to looking for a needle in a haystack.
J&J corporate witness and plaintiff attorney spar over asbestos powder samples at N.J. trial
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – Johnson & Johnson’s top corporate spokesman John Hopkins told a jury on Monday the company had spiked samples of baby powder with asbestos to see which asbestos detection testing method would work best.
J&J's decision to stick with talc instead of switching to corn starch discussed at N.J. meso trial
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – A salesman for Johnson & Johnson proposed in the early 2000s abandoning talc powder in favor of corn starch but also warned it would hit the company financially, according to evidence presented in a case against the consumer products company in the fourth day of a trial.
Talc lawyer wants to show J&J passed on needle-in-haystack asbestos-detection method
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – Attorneys for plaintiff Richardo Rimondi in his lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson sought to portray the baby powder maker as missing a chance to use an asbestos detection method that could spot the “proverbial needle in a haystack."
J&J witness says company never considered warning label for baby powder
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – A witness for Johnson & Johnson testified Tuesday in a lawsuit alleging the company’s baby powder caused a man to develop mesothelioma, saying the company never considered putting a warning label on their baby powder bottles.
J&J says talc lawyers are playing the 'race card' in latest try at giant verdict
Opening arguments began Monday in the lawsuit launched by a man claiming that asbestos-tainted baby powder made by Johnson & Johnson caused him to develop mesothelioma.
Former owners of medical marijuana business file fraud suit against Washington attorney
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) – The former owners of a medical pot-growing business that went belly-up are asking the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington for a jury trial and more than $2 million in damages, claiming they were fleeced by an attorney and his client.
Nev. newspaper to get docs relating to allegations of hostile behavior by Clark County School District trustee
LAS VEGAS (Legal Newsline) – The Nevada Supreme Court on Oct. 25 affirmed a district court decision ordering release of documents to a newspaper reporter investigating allegations of abuse by a school trustee, but ruled further names of victims to be redacted.
AbbVie asks California court to dismiss case over allegations of Humira kickbacks
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – Attorneys for a Chicago-based biopharmaceutical company on Oct. 26 asked the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to drop a lawsuit over allegations that the company concocted a kickback scheme to help sell its drug Humira.
Fort Lauderdale considers suing Big Oil amidst federal court rulings rejecting climate change theories
FORT LAUDERDALE (Legal Newsline) – The Fort Lauderdale City Commission is considering suing oil companies over the climate change activists say could raise sea coastal levels to catastrophic proportions.
More info on Donziger released; Lawyer gained multibillion-dollar verdict against Chevron through fraud, judge has ruled
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – Attorneys for Chevron on Oct. 24 asked the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to hold disbarred attorney Steven R. Donziger in contempt for his alleged continued efforts to personally profit off a pollution scam in the South American country of Ecuador.
Supreme Court case to decide issue of class action funds directed to 'pet causes'
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 31 will hear arguments in what could become a landmark case to decide whether attorneys in class action lawsuits can send class funds under the cy pres doctrine to the causes of their choosing.
Meritless claims clog courts, lawyers’ group calls for more teeth amending Rule 26
WASHINGTON D.C. (Legal Newsline) - A new report issued on Oct. 4 by the Lawyers for Civil Justice (LCJ) said pending meritless product liability claims backing up like a logjam in the multi-district litigation (MDL) court system, unfairly puts the onus of cost on defendants and their attorneys and needs reform.
Dept. of Justice objects to appointment of asbestos trust fund protector, calls for greater scrutiny
WASHINGTON D.C. (Legal Newsline) – Officials of the U.S. Dept. of Justice on Sept. 26 objected to the appointment of Lawrence Fitzpatrick as a “future claim representative” (FCR) trustee to protect trust funding designed to help pay damages for future victims of asbestos exposure----stating the New Jersey-based attorney had potential conflicts of interest from relationships with plaintiff attorneys in asbestos litigation.
New Jersey man fights to keep his house, seeks reversal of $12.5M ruling in junk fax suit
A New Jersey man whose business is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy and who might lose his home is fighting a $12.5 million judgment against him in an Arkansas court because of what he maintains was the innocent sending of a single fax.
Whistleblower's lawyer asking for more than $400K from $10.6M judgment against BestCare Laboratory Services
HOUSTON (Legal Newsline) – A whistleblower who brought suit resulting in a $10.6 million partial judgment against a medical laboratory for allegedly charging false mileage fees to pick up medical specimens is seeking $424,370 in attorney fees, which includes $4,335 in out-of-pocket expenses.
Federal judge cuts vaginal mesh punitive award; Woman must take lesser amount or go through new trial
HAMMOND, Ind. (Legal Newsline) – An Indiana federal judge on Aug. 8 gave a choice to a woman who won a case that alleged the pelvic mesh device made by Johnson & Johnson caused her severe injury. She could submit to a lesser amount of punitive damages or face a new punitive damages trial, the judge ruled.
Ag and state reps say nuisance lawyers trying to put farmers out of business
RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) – Representatives of agriculture in North Carolina accuse lawyers and their plaintiffs of attempting to put farmers out of business in the wake of a lawsuit targeting a hog ranch.
Sheldon Silver sentenced to jail, but asbestos system still invites shenanigans, attorney says
While the recent sentencing to prison of a once-powerful politician should help discourage abuse in the realm of asbestos litigation, an attorney following the issue says reform of the system is ultimately necessary.