John Sammon News
Washington State attorneys pound on 'irresponsible' theme in suit against opioid distributors
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - Attorneys for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office in their lawsuit against three major opioid drug distributors continued to hammer down on the theme the companies irresponsibly flooded the market with pills, causing an overdose epidemic.
Former DEA official testifies in Washington AG's case against opioid distributors
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - State of Washington officials led by Attorney General Bob Ferguson are pressing their case against prescription opioid drug distributors McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health Inc. and AmerisourceBergen Corp., saying the companies irresponsibly promoted drugs for profits.
United Healthcare against Fremont Emergency Services alleges insurance short-paying
LAS VEGAS (Legal Newsline) - Day one of a three-week trial saw attorneys for Fremont Emergency Services of Las Vegas accuse United Healthcare Insurance of deliberately under-paying medical emergency room claims, to save money and maximize profits.s.
Nevada jury selection made in reimbursement dispute pitting Freemont Emergency Services v. United Health Insurance
Defense attorneys for United Healthcare Insurance the country’s largest health insurance company appeared to have their work cut out for them in a lawsuit launched by Fremont Emergency Services.
Coca-Cola sued by environmental group for use of plastics, company spokesman no comment
Coca-Cola is being sued by an environmental group for the plastic bottles the company uses to dispense its soft drinks, the environmentalists claiming the company is deceiving the public while polluting land and oceans with plastic.
Justice Department could intervene in suit to reveal donors to conservative American Action Network
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – A federal court document revealed that the U.S. Justice Department could intervene in a “citizen suit” launched by the watchdog foundation Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) against the American Action Network (AAN).
Groups attack Wisconsin governor's stay-home extension, say he overstepped authority
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Legal Newsline) – Business interests are lining up behind a lawsuit filed by the state Legislature opposing Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ extension of a stay-at-home order through May 26, intended to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Kentucky's governor and attorney general at odds over church restrictions during coronavirus
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Legal Newsline) — The Kentucky attorney general filed an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court for Western District of Kentucky on Wednesday asking Gov. Andy Beshear to withdraw restrictions on how many people can attend religious-related events during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Arizona business owner reopens with essential items after police handcuffed him
WINSLOW, Ariz. (Legal Newsline) – Police in Winslow, Arizona, say they handled properly a case in which a man refused to close his shop after being ordered to because of the COVID-19 pandemic and was taken into custody.
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Alabama Supreme Court tells court to reverse denial of summary judgment in shooting
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of Alabama told the Jefferson Circuit Court to void its July 2019 decision denying a partial summary judgment to the owners of a bar named as defendants in a lawsuit because a two-year statute of limits to do so had expired.
Krab vs. crab: Man loses lawsuit against P.F. Chang's but is appealing
PASADENA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – A California federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit in which a plaintiff alleged fake crab ordered at P.F. Chang's was fraudulently misrepresented as real.
Delaware judge says $500K punitive damages award likely caused by juror passion and prejudice
GEORGETOWN, Del. (Legal Newsline) - The Superior Court of Delaware has denied a request for judgment from an insurance company but ordered a new trial because a $500,000 punitive damages award against it "shocks the court's conscience."
Ninth Circuit hears jurisdiction arguments in landmark global warming lawsuits against Big Oil
PASADENA, Calif. – A potentially precedent-setting hearing on Wednesday saw Northern California communities seeking relief against oil companies whose fossil fuel emissions plaintiff attorneys contend are damaging residents with rising sea levels and environmental degradation.
Having lost climate change lawsuits, Oakland and San Francisco will plead cases to Ninth Circuit this week
PASADENA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Two potentially precedent-setting hearings Wednesday, Feb. 5 involving Bay Area communities will seek to decide who has jurisdiction, federal or state courts, in appealed lawsuits over allegations that oil companies Chevron and Exxon Mobil Corp. injured plaintiffs by promoting fossil fuel emissions.
Big Oil to urge Ninth Circuit this week to let federal courts hear cities' climate change lawsuits
PASADENA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is set on Feb. 5 to hear an appeal by oil companies asking it to overturn a ruling in favor of San Mateo and other California cities and counties that let them pursue their climate change lawsuits in state court.
Ninth Circuit says 'Kids Climate Case' has to seek redress through government or voters, not court
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Jan. 17 turned back a lawsuit filed by a group of youth climate activists suing the federal government over alleged inaction on climate change, saying the court lacks jurisdiction in the matter.
Michigan sues DuPont, 3M and others over PFAS presence
LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) – The state of Michigan is suing DuPont, 3M and 15 other defendants for allegedly contaminating water supplies with PFAS chemicals used in applications including firefighting retardant and Teflon nonstick cookware, causing a widespread health hazard.
Oklahoma asks for a half-million in costs after opioid trial against Johnson & Johnson
NORMAN, Okla. (Legal Newsline) – The state of Oklahoma is asking the Cleveland County District Court to levy nearly a half-million dollars against pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson for court costs after winning a $465 million victory over the company in August for allegedly causing the state’s opioid crisis.
Ohio Supreme Court rules 21-year statute of limitations applies in dispute over oil and gas lease
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) – The Ohio Supreme Court has sent a dispute over an oil and gas lease back to the trial court after determining which statute of limitations applied to the case.
Corrections officer to get disability after prisoner fell on her
ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – The New York Court of Appeals on Nov. 25 reversed a lower court's decision and concluded that an injury to a corrections officer while transporting a prisoner did qualify for performance-of-duty disability benefits because it was an accident and not deliberate.