News from August 2019
Southeastern U.S. employment lawsuits over past decade 'overwhelmingly favor employers,' report says
MENLO PARK, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Employment litigation cases are on the rise in the Southeastern U.S. where tens of thousands have been filed in federal court since 2009, but employers are largely winning, a California-based litigation data research company said in a recent report.
JUUL sued by mom over teenage son's nicotine addiction
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Legal Newsline) – A Missouri woman alleges her teenage son became addicted to using JUUL e-cigarette products because JUUL makers misled and defrauded minors about the attributes and health benefits of using the product.
JustCBD overstates amount of CBD oil in products, class action alleges
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) – A New York man alleges the makers of a CBD oil brand overstate the amount of CBD in their products.
Opioid judge limits plaintiffs' key evidence as first trials loom
CLEVELAND (Legal Newsline) - The federal judge overseeing nationwide litigation against the opioid industry stripped plaintiffs of potentially important evidence when he prohibited three witnesses from testifying that drug-company marketing and educational programs caused physicians to prescribe too many opioids to their patients.
Purdue Pharma reportedly offers deal to settle opioid MDL claims; Judge recently OK'd plaintiffs experts to testify
CLEVELAND (Legal Newsline) – Purdue Pharma, the maker of the pain drug OxyContin, has reportedly offered a settlement in a lawsuit filed by more than 1,500 counties and municipalities over claims that it helped ignite the opioid crisis that has left hundreds of thousands dead over two decades.
She quit, then sued for wrongful termination; New Jersey courts aren't buying her lawsuit
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – The Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey has upheld the dismissal of a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by a woman who resigned from her position.
Mississippi Supreme Court rejects appointment of special master in AG Hood's Hurricane Katrina lawsuits
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) – The Mississippi Supreme Court has ruled a circuit court abused its discretion in the assigning of a special master and in the reassignment of a case involving Hurricane Katrina insurance and the state's Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP).
Delaware judge: Not enough evidence provided by widow in asbestos lawsuit against Union Carbide
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) – A Delaware court has ruled that a woman whose husband allegedly died from asbestos exposure injuries did not offer enough proof in her case against Union Carbide Corp. (UCC) and granted UCC's motion for summary judgment.
Contract confusion costs former cosmetic company VP in Delaware lawsuit
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) – Delaware's Court of Chancery has ruled that a former cosmetics company vice president of sales and business development failed to prove there is a valid contract in an equity dispute case that involves the parties allegedly each signing two different drafts of a contract.
Maine Supreme Court rules woman's slip-and-fall lawsuit against therapy facility is not medical negligence claim
PORTLAND, Maine (Legal Newsline) – The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has agreed with a lower court's ruling that a woman's premises liability personal injury suit against the owners of a therapy facility where she slipped and injured herself is based on negligence and is not a health care services claim.
Oklahoma judge feeds the 'monster' with $572M opioid ruling against Johnson & Johnson
Sixteen years ago in a case involving gunmaker Sturm, Ruger & Co., a New York appeals court refused to apply public nuisance law against the manufacturer of a legal product, saying that doing so would transform nuisance law “into a monster that would devour in one gulp the entire law of tort.”
Defamation lawsuit must move forward even though criminal case pending, Md. court rules
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Legal Newsline) – The Court of Appeals of Maryland has reversed a Court of Special Appeals ruling that allowed a former Maryland dental office manager to stay her defamation civil suit until the end of her related criminal case.
After sexual assault case, lawyers fight for sanctions against clients who allegedly didn't pay their fees
LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) – A Michigan law firm has been denied its appeal for sanctions in a fee dispute involving the case of a couple whose family member sexually assaulted several of their foster and adoptive children.
Michigan court rules injured bus passenger failed to establish Detroit was negligent
LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) – The Michigan Court of Appeals has reversed a trial court's denial of a partial summary disposition in favor of the city of Detroit in a case involving a woman who fell while getting on a city bus and alleged the driver's efforts to help her caused additional injuries.
BRADLEY ARANT BOULT CUMMINGS: Leah Campbell Joins Bradley's Banking and Financial Services Practice Group in Charlotte
Bradley is pleased to announce that Leah M. Campbell has joined the firm’s Charlotte office as a senior attorney in the Banking and Financial Services Practice Group.
School union reps can't be paid with taxpayer funds, New Jersey appeals court rules
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – A state appeals panel has ruled that a contract calling for a school board to pay salaries and benefits for two teachers elected to serve as union leaders is unenforceable.
BRADLEY ARANT BOULT CUMMINGS: Bradley Partner Alex Purvis Accepted as American College of Coverage Counsel Fellow
Bradley is pleased to announce that Alex Purvis, a partner in the firm’s Jackson office, has been accepted as a Fellow in the American College of Coverage Counsel (ACCC).
BRADLEY ARANT BOULT CUMMINGS: Bradley Attorney Emily Ruzic Appointed Chair of DRI’s Young Lawyers Membership Subcommittee
Bradley attorney Emily Ruzic has been appointed Chair of DRI’s Young Lawyers Membership Subcommittee for 2019-2020.
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP: Foley Adds Finance Partner Jamie Class in Boston
Foley & Lardner announced that Jamie Class has joined the firm’s Business Law Department and Finance Practice Group as a partner in its Boston office.
Johnson & Johnson will appeal $572 million verdict: 'Can't sue your way out of opioid crisis'
“We are disappointed and disagree with the judge's decision. We believe it is flawed,” said attorney Sabrina Strong, a partner at O'Melveny and Myers during a press briefing after the verdict was read.