News from October 2014
Death on the High Seas Act applies in part to former sailor’s asbestos case
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Legal Newsline) – A Florida federal judge has concluded that because a former sailor in the U.S. Navy was exposed to asbestos while on the high seas and in port, the Death on the High Seas Act only applied in part.
A look back at Braley: Senate-hopeful mixed in defense work during trial lawyer career
WATERLOO, Iowa (Legal Newsline) – During his career as a trial lawyer, U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley worked as both a personal injury attorney and, occasionally, a defense attorney for a Budweiser distributor, among others.
Milwaukee Tool suing Snap-On, seven others for infringing on patents for battery packs
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. is suing eight companies, including Snap-On Inc., for patent infringement.
Compensatory damages slashed by 80 percent but $18M punitive damages award not reduced in asbestos case
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A California appeals court has affirmed a jury verdict in favor of an asbestos claimant, supporting the trial court’s refusal to disturb the $18 million punitive damages award even though it reduced the compensatory damages award by 80 percent.
Class action says union violated constitutional rights
SANTA ANA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - Four Los Angeles Unified School District workers have filed a class action lawsuit against Service Employees International Union Local 99 for allegedly violating their constitutional rights.
Frequency, regularity and proximity not established in asbestos case
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) – A federal judge in the nation’s asbestos multidistrict litigation court has held that summary judgment was proper in a case that, he says, failed to establish the frequency, regularity and proximity standards in proving causation.
EPA awards $124K grant to help reduce asbestos exposure in Texas schools
DALLAS (Legal Newsline) – In honor of Children’s Health Month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the Texas Department of State Health Services a $124,741 grant to help reduce asbestos exposure in schools.
Class members say Bernalillo County commissioners violated FLSA
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Legal Newsline) - Former and current employees are suing the Board of County Commissioners of Bernalillo County, N.M., for violating the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
IP lawyer: U.S. SC ruling has become a ‘viable tool’ in battle against patent trolls
ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) - Rudy Telscher, a principal at intellectual property law firm Harness Dickey, says more federal district court judges are awarding attorneys’ fees to prevailing parties in patent infringement cases.
Jury sides with Apple in non-practicing entity’s lawsuit over mobile technology patents
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - A federal jury this week found in favor of Apple Inc. in a patent infringement lawsuit filed against the electronics giant by a Hawaii-based non-practicing entity.
Iowa AG negotiates $122,000 Amazon Prime settlement
In an agreement with Attorney General Tom Miller announced on Thursday, Amazon will reimburse $122,000 to Amazon Prime customers in Iowa who were enrolled without their knowledge.
Pa. AG settles with fireworks sellers
Attorney General Kathleen G.
Federal Circuit upholds Actavis’ patent for birth control pill
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Pharmaceutical company Actavis confirmed Thursday that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has upheld a ruling finding its patent for a popular low-estrogen birth control pill to be valid.