Laura Halleman News
Navient says it is the victim of a pointless, copycat lawsuit from Pennsylvania's AG
HARRISBURG – Student loan provider Navient has filed a motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit brought by the state of Pennsylvania, calling it a copycat lawsuit that is "pointless" and legally deficient.
Trucking company that rejected veteran with service dog looks for way out of EEOC lawsuit
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) – CRST Trucking has petitioned the Florida federal court in Jacksonville to either change the venue or dismiss a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for allegations of failing to accommodate a job candidate who used a service dog.
Court won't transfer lawsuit over '8' on bottles of Old Charter bourbon
ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. District Court of Eastern District of Missouri has denied a motion for change of venue to distilleries named in a class action lawsuit that claims they falsely labeled their Buffalo Trace Bourbon.
Company loses lawsuit against former employees; N.J. court ruled no agreement existed
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – The New Jersey Superior Court Law Division has found in favor of two former employees of Technology Dynamics Inc., doing business as Nova Battery Systems (NBS), in a lawsuit brought by NBS that alleged a scheme to steal employees away from the company.
Law group files appeal after judge rules no on restraining order against Election Integrity commission
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is appealing a ruling made against it that it alleges violates the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), which requires posting notices of meetings of advisory committees so discussions will be open to the public.
Texas Supreme Court grants take-nothing judgment in case of pipefitter injured in scaffolding fall
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) – A scaffolding company has won a take-nothing judgment in a lawsuit over the fall of a pipefitter from scaffolding.
Woman who sued Chipotle over being in picture settles; Court records showed she had $100 to her name
DENVER (Legal Newsline) – A lawsuit against Chipotle Mexican Grill involving a California woman who alleged unlawful use of a photo has reached a settlement.
Appellate court rules class action against China Agritech Inc. was not untimely
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has reversed a lower court ruling, finding that plaintiffs are not time-barred from bringing a class action lawsuit under the Securities Exchange Act.
Soda maker wants dismissal of 'copy-cat' complaint over Canada Dry Ginger Ale
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – The makers of Canada Dry Ginger Ale have filed a motion to dismiss a second complaint brought by consumers alleging false advertising by using the phrase “made from real ginger” on the product.
Garden of Light Inc. files motion to dismiss Missouri woman’s granola lawsuit
ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) – Garden of Light Inc. has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri brought by a woman who alleges the packaging of its granola snack is deceptive and misleading.
Advance Registered Nurse Practitioners can offer expert testimony in Wash. med-mal cases
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) – The Washington Supreme Court has ruled that medical malpractice litigants can offer the expert testimony of advanced registered nurse practitioners.
Alaska high court rules jury trial should have been awarded in stolen prescription case
An elderly woman whose jewelry and prescription medication was stolen after hiring an in-home care company had her case heard on appeal by the Alaska Supreme Court, who annulled the superior court’s decision and remanded the case back to the lower court for further proceedings.
New expert witness guidelines signed into law by Missouri Gov. Greitens
Missouri has taken a step to move St. Louis off the top spot of the American Tort Reform Association's 2016 Judicial Hellholes list. Gov. Eric Greitens recently signed into law a bill that would raise the standard of expert witnesses allowed to testify in cases in the state.
Arizona SC overturns ‘prevailing party’ definition in contract case
The state's highest court has redefined the term, altering a lower court's decision and allowing for attorney fees to be awarded.
Texas SC upholds part of lawsuit filed by church alleging lawyer took millions
The Texas Supreme Court upheld and reversed part of a lawsuit involving millions of dollars allegedly being taken from the First United Pentecostal Church of Beaumont by Leigh Parker, an attorney with Lamb Law Firm PC, after the church entrusted the money to the firm for safekeeping.
Texas Supreme Court upholds decision on sovereign immunity in contract breach case
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) – The Texas Supreme Court has upheld an appeal from the 13th District of Texas and negated a judgment on grounds that the law has changed regarding the entity’s sovereign immunity.
Mo. SC rules underinsured motorist coverage was not ambiguous in fatal accident case
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of Missouri on March 14 reversed a lower court’s opinion, finding in favor of an insurance company following the death of a woman in a motor vehicle accident.
Flightsafety International Inc. loses appeal, ex-employee awarded $83,000 in back pay
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – A flight instructor who filed a disability discrimination and retaliatory discharge claim against his employer, Flightsafety International Inc., was awarded back pay of $83,000 by a New Jersey trial court.
Sheriff discovers that work-hugs can lead to litigation
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has overturned a lower court in ruling that hugs and kisses between co-workers may create a sexually hostile work environment.
Fla. SC keeps Frye standard for expert testimony
TALLAHASSEE (Legal Newsline) – The Florida Supreme Court declined the opportunity to change the standard for the admissibility of expert testimony, leaving in place a procedure favored by plaintiffs attorneys.