News from February 2019
Quora user affected by data breach alleges he faces a risk of fraud and identity theft
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – A social media company is alleged to have failed to protect its users information from a data breach.
California court upholds motions to strike cartoonist/blogger's wrongful termination suit against LA Times, others
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – Political cartoonist and blogger Frederick Theodore Rall III lost his appeal against Los Angeles Times Communications as the publication and its related entities were granted their motions for an anti-SLAPP to strike his lawsuit altogether.
Court didn't abuse discretion in instructing jury in medical malpractice case, Maryland court rules
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Legal Newsline) – The Court of Appeals of Maryland determined that a couple of instructions given to a jury in a medical malpractice case in which the doctor was found negligent was not an abuse of a lower court’s discretion.
Med-mal case tossed because plaintiff's experts lacked 'foundation in the medical literature'
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) – A judgment in favor of a Mississippi hospital has been affirmed by that state's highest court in a medical malpractice case.
Texas Supreme Court grants motion to dismiss in dispute between insurance company, law firm
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) – The Texas Supreme Court has conditionally granted relief to an insurance company and has directed a trial court to grant a motion to dismiss a law firm's claims in a legal malpractice case.
Texas Supreme Court tosses defamation suit against Glassdoor for lack of jurisdiction
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) – A lawsuit involving job website Glassdoor has been dismissed by the Texas Supreme Court.
Tenn. SC rules property management company communications protected by attorney-client privilege
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of Tennessee has affirmed a trial court's ruling that granted an interlocutory appeal to a property owner in an unlawful detainer case.
Judicial Data Center scheduled for maintenance on February 10
The Judicial Data Center will undergo scheduled system maintenance on Sunday, February 10, 2019.
Illinois attorney general: Federal consent decree mandates major reforms for Chicago police
CHICAGO — A recently approved federal consent decree that mandates major reforms for the Chicago Police Department (CPD) is receiving praise from the Illinois Attorney General's Office.
Alaska accuses nation's largest opioid manufacturer of fraudulent marketing
JUNEAU — The state of Alaska has filed a lawsuit against the United States' largest opioid manufacturer alleging the company and its subsidiary fraudulently marketed its opioid drugs to prescribers.
New Jersey court affirms decision that ambulatory surgical centers cannot receive payment for certain coded procedures
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – An insurance company that was sued by two clinics regarding the reimbursement of medical procedures for insured clients injured in car accidents has obtained a victory in court.
Mississippi Supreme Court partially grants Hyundai's motion to clarify order in wrongful death case
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) – The Mississippi Supreme Court has issued an en banc order granting a motion to clarify in a wrongful death case filed against an auto manufacturer.
An illegally employed minor can't sue for on-the-job injuries
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of Louisiana determined Austin Griggs, an illegally employed and injured minor who committed a prohibited task while working at a party rental business, was only owed remedies via Workers’ Compensation, not a lawsuit against his employer.
Colorado court: If you sue your lawyer for a lost judgment, you must prove it would have been collectible
DENVER (Legal Newsline) – On Jan. 28, Justice Monica Márquez of the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that a plaintiff bears the burden of providing evidence that a lost judgment in an attorney malpractice case is collectible.
Court program educates Anne Arundel students on legal consequences
Approximately 135 students from Broadneck High School and Glen Burnie High School in Anne Arundel County will participate in the "Schools in the Court" program.
Trump DOJ punishes hedge fund manager who sued drug companies and shorted their stocks
The Trump Justice Department, following a tougher policy toward dubious False Claims Act lawsuits by private citizens, has moved to dismiss a pair of lawsuits by a former hedge-fund manager who shorted stock in pharmaceutical companies he accused of a wide-ranging price-fixing conspiracy.
Suit states Walmart's Great Value graham crackers are 'graham-flavored' crackers because of flour content
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – A New York consumer alleges Walmart misrepresents its Great Value brand graham crackers.
Consumer alleges Godiva's 'Belgium 1926' labeling is false advertising
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – A consumer alleges a chocolate maker "intentionally plays on the false impression" that its chocolates are made in Belgium when they are made in the U.S.
California law firm alleges New York firms failed to return more than $300,000 after bitcoin sale failed
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A Los Angeles County law firm alleges a New York law firm failed to return money wired to its account after a bitcoin sale failed to close.
Pennsylvania alleges Delaware County man posed as immigration attorney
PHILADELPHIA — A Pennsylvania man who allegedly posed as an attorney and provided fake immigration assistance faces a lawsuit by the state's Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection.