John Severance News
Exxon uses revived Helms-Burton law to sue Cuban companies for holdings confiscated in the 1960s
The first prominent company to take legal action against the Cubans is Exxon. In a suit filed May 2 in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, Exxon is seeking damages in the amount of $71,611,002.90 plus interest of 6 percent since July 1,1960.
More customers sue over litigation finance agreements, allege illegal interest rates in Missouri
ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) – Two Missouri residents have filed suit against a litigation finance company in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Missouri on April 17 over claims the defendant charged exorbitant interest rates.
Legal woes continue for multi-level marketing women's clothing company LuLaRoe
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – Legal problems continue for LuLaRoe, a multi-level marketing company that sells women's clothing.
Mikal Watts defeats competitor's lawsuit that claims he misled farmers who wanted to sue Syngenta
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Legal Newsline) – A federal judge in Kansas has dismissed a lawsuit brought against plaintiffs attorney Mikal Watts by one of his competitors who cried foul over the recruitment of farmers to sue Syngenta.
SCOTUS punts on cy pres issue; Millions would be paid to lawyers and causes of their choosing, while class members get nothing
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Supreme Court on March 20 sent an internet privacy case back to the lower courts, refusing to rule on the merits of an appeal that questioned why class members received nothing in a multimillion-dollar settlement
Class action lawyers lose $2.5M Mo. ruling after Supreme Court takes case
ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) – The Missouri Supreme Court has overturned a $2.5 million verdict against Nissan North America Inc., which had been sued by a class of plaintiffs that alleged the automaker had produced vehicles with dashboards that became defective when there was heat or high humidity.
Arizona's high court clarifies expert witness qualifications in malpractice case
PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) -- The Arizona Supreme Court has clarified questions about the qualifications of expert witnesses in deciding a medical malpractice case involving a patient who sustained bedsores after undergoing a surgery in 2011.
Judge rules against Ferrara Candy Co.'s motion to dismiss class action suit over slack-fill claims
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – A class action lawsuit against an Illinois candy company will continue after a U.S. district court judge ruled against a motion to dismiss July 25.
Former Gonzaga employee who complained about lack of padding on basketball court can't sue for wrongful termination, court rules
SPOKANE, Wash. (Legal Newsline) – The dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a man who claims he was wrongfully terminated by Gonzaga University was upheld by the Washington Court of Appeals in an opinion that was released Sept. 7.
Appellate court orders San Diego Union Tribune carriers' $10M award to be recalculated
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) – The California Court of Appeal, Fourth District has affirmed most of a ruling in favor of delivery drivers of the San Diego Union Tribune in an employee classification case, but has asked the trial court to recalculate damages and attorneys fees.
Canada Dry Ginger Ale makers seek dismissal of fifth false advertising complaint
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – The maker of Canada Dry Ginger Ale has faced a bevy of amended complaints from a class action plaintiff concerning the authenticity of the ginger in their products.
Abbott seeks dismissal of Similac GMO allegations
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – A federal judge will consider a motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit against Abbott Laboratories on Aug. 24 in San Francisco.
Judge dismisses case alleging Blistex used deceptive packaging for lip product
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – A U.S. District Court judge has ruled in favor of lip product manufacturer Blistex, which filed a motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit that alleged Blistex had used deceptive packaging in selling one of its products.
Court: Resignation stands; Woman claims side effect caused it
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – Ruth Featherstone resigned from her job at the Southern California Permanente Medical Group back in 2013. A couple of days later, she decided she wanted her job back.
New York firm seeks to lead, as plaintiff, TCPA class action over fax
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) – Time Warner Inc. was given an extension until May 16 to answer to allegations of a class action lawsuit brought forward by a law firm that is also seeking to represent a proposed class.
Ninth Circuit rules in favor of shipping company in arbitration case
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has ruled for a shipping company in a lawsuit brought by a former employee.
Fresno artist whose Civil War painting was banned challenges California's Confederate flag law
FRESNO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) -- A Fresno man created a Civil War painting and exhibited it at his county fair this year, but the painting prompted fair officials to contact the office of California Attorney General Kamala Harris because of concerns about it containing a Confederate flag.
Two Austin drivers accuse Uber of wrongful termination, face uphill battle
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – In May thousands of drivers lost their jobs when Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. removed their services from Austin, Texas.
Potential there for wrongful death lawsuit over fatal Tesla autocar accident
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – On May 7, Ohio resident Joshua Brown was driving his Tesla in semi-autonomous mode when a tractor-trailer pulled in front of him in Williston, Florida.