News from March 2017
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.
Racketeering case against Lending Club moved to arbitration
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – A federal judge has ordered a class action lawsuit targeting online loan to arbitration on Jan. 30.
Widow loses out on $6M verdict; Attorneys fees can't be recovered on top of $1M agreement
TRENTON, N.J (Legal Newsline) – An appellate court rejected a New Jersey widow’s request for attorneys fees on Feb. 16, stating it was not part of an agreement negotiated by her attorneys that cost her a $6 million verdict.
Ga. SC overturns $3.7M verdict of girl sexually assaulted at dentist's office
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) – Is a dental practice liable if a patient is sexually assaulted by a contractor while under anesthesia? The Georgia Supreme Court recently decided, in the case of Goldstein Garber & Salama v. J.B., that it is not.
Missouri Supreme Court has no jurisdiction over events that occurred in Indiana
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of Missouri has determined that Missouri has no specific or general personal jurisdiction over Norfolk Southern Railway Co. in a case filed by an employee alleging injuries.
Man loses case after blaming employer for being rear-ended by drunk driver
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) – The Illinois Supreme Court has reversed an appellate court finding in a case where a Union Pacific employee was injured on the job.
Drug company alleges Hewlett Packard violated phone harassment laws
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) — A drug company has filed a class action lawsuit against Hewlett Packard, alleging violation of telephone harassment statutes.
Six consumers file class action over sheets against TJ Maxx, Macy's, others
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (Legal Newsline) — Six consumers have filed a class action lawsuit against textile companies, alleging breach of warranty, fraud and negligent misrepresentation.
Ferrara Candy misrepresents amount of candy in boxes, lawsuit says
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — A California man has filed a class action lawsuit against an Illinois candy company, alleging negligent misrepresentation and violation of state law.
Class action filed over 'natural' shampoo claims
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — Two consumers have filed a class action lawsuit against Procter & Gamble, alleging fraud and negligent misrepresentation.
Chief Judge Barbera hosts Montgomery County students at Maryland's appellate courts
Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera recently welcomed 16 students from The Heights School in Potomac to the state's appellate courts.
Ala. SC rules expert witness not always necessary to prove medical negligence
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of Alabama has ruled that in cases in which a layperson can understand the consequences of medical negligence, an
expert is not needed, reversing a summary dismissal of a medical malpractice case.
Stockholder alleges Arctic Cat, board of directors violated law
MINNEAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) — A stockholder has filed a class action lawsuit against Arctic Cat and its board of directors, alleging violation of federal law.
Alcohol monitoring system doesn't work, class action claims
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — Two California consumers have filed a class action lawsuit against a Los Angeles company, alleging fraud and negligent misrepresentation.
Sponsor of asbestos ‘double-dipping’ bill seems confident he has Trump’s support
A spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas, says the president doesn’t have “a reason not to” support the Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency, or FACT, Act.
EPA announces settlement in Oregon with Nygaard Land
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Feb. 8 that Martin Nygaard and Nygaard Land LLC will begin a major wetland restoration effort on 72 acres of formerly wooded property that Nygaard owns and cleared.
Arizona court dismisses more than 1,000 lawsuits brought by alleged serial litigator
PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) — Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced Feb. 17 that a judge has dismissed more than 1,000 allegedly frivolous lawsuits filed by a serial litigator.
D.C. successfully defends inclusionary zoning program after challenge from developer
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine announced Feb. 15 that his office has won a case against a developer that challenged the constitutionality of the district’s inclusionary zoning (IZ) program.
Florida works with FTC to shut down alleged illegal robocall scheme
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) — Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and nine other state attorneys general announced Feb. 21 the final consent judgment shutting down an allegedly illegal robocall scheme selling Florida cruise line vacations.
Wash. high court upholds lower court decision in LGBT discrimination case
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) — Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Feb. 16 that the state’s Supreme Court has upheld a lower court decision in Ferguson’s lawsuit against a Richland Florist for alleged LGBT discrimination.