News from March 2019
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION: Stanley Black & Decker Will Pay $140,000 to Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination Suit
Stanley Black & Decker Inc., a global diversified industrial company, will pay $140,000 and furnish significant equitable relief to settle a federal disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced.
'Easy grandstanding': Congress backs trial lawyers' effort to condemn chemicals, win lawsuits while science debated
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – As Congress vilifies chemicals known as PFAS, some question whether the research upon which lawmakers – and trial lawyers – are relying shows that anyone has actually been harmed by them.
Law firm Morrison Foerster says lawsuit alleging overbilling has 'no merit'
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) – An international law firm sued over allegations of "egregious overbilling" while representing a number of companies in the process of liquidating assets argues the complaint has no merit.
Tennessee attorney seeks fees from Akin Gump from Food Lion case; He says he was ripped off while recovering from heart transplant
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) – A Tennessee attorney has filed a complaint against the Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Field law firm and two others over allegations he is owed attorneys' fees from a settlement.
Associated Press, other news organizations seek records relating to Roger Stone
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – A group of news organizations has requested access to warrants from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.
EPA sued as groups seek to initiate rules regarding asbestos reporting
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – Several nonprofit public health and environmental groups have filed an amended complaint for relief in a federal district court in California asking that the EPA require companies to submit reports on potential amounts of asbestos in products.
House urges EPA to regulate PFAS, but chemist warns 'lawyers are trying to grab onto this'
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Alleged risks to water supplies posed by chemicals commonly used by firefighters and the military were discussed at a House subcommittee hearing Wednesday as lawmakers sounded anxious for a regulatory measure.
Advertising works: Plaintiff in N.J. talc trial says he learned of possible link between mesothelioma, baby power from commercial
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – Plaintiff Ricardo Rimondi described for a jury on Wednesday what it was like to find out he had a deadly incurable form of cancer and having to live with the disease every day.
Fitbit's Charge 2 device screens allegedly prone to cracks
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) — An Illinois woman has instituted a class action lawsuit against Fitbit, Inc., alleging its devices were manufactured with screens that are prone to crack over time.
Plaintiff's expert takes stand in N.J. talc-asbestos trial; Has made $30M testifying during career
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – A microscope researcher told a jury on Tuesday the testing methods employed by Johnson & Johnson to detect possible asbestos in talc-based baby powder were not sensitive enough to find lower amounts, referring to it as similar to looking for a needle in a haystack.
Pennsylvania opioid lawsuits are homeless while trial lawyers take shots at each other
Seven appeals and plenty of in-fighting have Pennsylvania counties behind schedule in their quest to hold dozens of companies liable for the nation's painkiller crisis
Proposed California law expands attorney general's role in consumer privacy
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — New California legislation that will add to the state's current data privacy law and expand the role of the state attorney general guidance on consumer privacy has been introduced in the state legislature.
Massachusetts alleges online electronic cigarette retailer did not verify ages
BOSTON — A California online electronic cigarette devices retailer has been issued a cease and desist order by the state of Massachusetts for alleged violation of the state's tobacco sales and advertisement regulatory laws.
Nebraska alleges Bellevue University misled students about program accreditation
LINCOLN, Neb. — The state of Nebraska has filed a lawsuit against Bellevue University, alleging the school made false and misleading statements regarding its bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) and registered nurse (RN) programs.
Purdue Pharma calls Massachusetts opioid suit 'oversimplified scapegoating,' seeks dismissal
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Purdue Pharma is asking a Massachusetts court to dismiss the state’s lawsuit against it, calling sensational allegations of wrongdoing by company executives and members of the founding Sackler family “oversimplified scapegoating based on a distorted account of the facts.”
Fiat Chrysler, Bosch vehicle emission fraud settlement worth more than $171 million
MONTGOMERY — A nationwide settlement agreement involving Fiat Chrysler's and Robert Bosch Company's alleged vehicle emissions fraud will result in the state of Alabama receiving approximately $2.7 million in civil penalties and fees from the companies and more than $171 million going to 52 jurisdictions nationwide, according to state Attorney General Steve Marshall's Office.
J&J corporate witness and plaintiff attorney spar over asbestos powder samples at N.J. trial
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – Johnson & Johnson’s top corporate spokesman John Hopkins told a jury on Monday the company had spiked samples of baby powder with asbestos to see which asbestos detection testing method would work best.
FTC reaches settlement in first case regarding dietary supplement 'fake paid reviews'
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline). — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reached a settlement in its first-ever case regarding a dietary supplement manufacturer's alleged use of "fake paid reviews" to market a weight-loss supplement.
California urology practice to pay $1.85 million over alleged false Medicare claims
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A California urology practice has reached a $1.85 million settlement with the federal government over allegations of submitting false Medicare claims for evaluation and management services.
Coalition of states supports transgender high school student told to only use gender-neutral restroom
ALBANY — New York state's attorney general, along with a coalition of 20 other attorneys general, has filed an amicus brief in support of a Florida transgender high school student who was denied use of the boys' restroom.