News from May 2019
Tensions run high in OK opioid trial Thursday; State focuses on risk data J&J relied on
NORMAN, Okla. (Legal Newsline) - Tensions ran high in court Thursday as the Oklahoma opioid trial continued, with defense attorney Larry Ottoway objecting throughout the day to opposing counsel's line of questioning directed at defense witness, business director for Janssen Pharmaceuticals Kimberly Deem-Eshleman.
J&J top corporate rep grilled in Oklahoma opioid trial - state focuses on 'Norman' poppy strain
NORMAN (Legal Newsline) – A corporate spokeswoman for Johnson & Johnson and its drug subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals on Thursday faced questioning by lawyers for the State of Oklahoma who attempted to link the company’s quest for profits to an opioid epidemic in the state.
Smaller crowd on hand second day of Oklahoma opioid trial; Father of OD victim testifies
NORMAN, Okla. (Legal Newsline) - Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman overruled several objections made by Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Pharmaceuticals (J&J) as the second day of trial unfolded in the state's pursuit of abatement in what it calls a man-made opioid crisis.
Father recounts loss of son in Oklahoma Johnson & Johnson opioid trial
NORMAN, Okla. (Legal Newsline) – Fighting back tears, a father who lost his son to an opioid overdose recounted the nightmare during testimony in a trial alleging that Johnson & Johnson flooded the state with addictive drugs for profit.
N.J. company fights possible arbitration clause, say written agreement never existed
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – A New Jersey company alleges that there is no written agreement between it and a Tennessee company that requires disputes to be resolved by arbitration in Tennessee.
Milberg LLP seeks to vacate arbitration award over denial of attorneys fees
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – A New York law firm is seeking to vacate a portion of an arbitration award regarding attorneys' fees.
Center for a Sustainable Coast files suit over dock constructed at national park in Georgia
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (Legal Newsline) – A nonprofit organization concerned with the conservation of Georgia's coast and one of its members allege a dock constructed at a national park in the state adversely impacts the park's ecology.
Eater alleges La Choy noodles contain 'substantial and dangerous amount' of trans fat
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – A Chicago man alleges that a La Choy noodle product is falsely labeled as having no trans fat.
Annie's Homegrown falsely advertises products as preservative-free, consumer alleges
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – A California woman alleges Annie's Homegrown products are falsely advertised as containing no preservatives and she relied on this claim when making purchases.
Man alleges lawsuit was dismissed because Chicago firm routinely failed to appear in court
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – A Michigan man alleges his lawsuit was dismissed because a Chicago-based lawyer and law firm routinely failed to appear in court.
Delaware judge calls out lawyers' tendencies to exaggerate, inability to be brief
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) – A lawsuit between a Swiss holding company and a Delaware-based manufacturer isn't as simple as the companies keep claiming, and a Delaware judge recently let them know it.
Customers allege Mott's mislead them about flavors of soft drinks
BROOKLYN — A group of women is suing Mott's, alleging the defendant misled them about the flavors of a number of soft drinks
Customer accuses Trader Joe's of misleading packaging, labeling of products
LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles County man is suing Trader Joe's, alleging the defendant is misleading in the packaging and labeling of its products.
Class action alleges General Mills misrepresented cereals
SAN FRANCISCO — A customer is suing General Mills, alleging the cereals produced by GM were misrepresented.
Brooks County hires its own county attorney for opioid suit, law prohibits paying fees to salaried officers
SOUTH TEXAS – David Garcia, the county attorney for Brooks County, signed a contingency fee agreement with his employer to represent the county in an opioid lawsuit – a relationship that seemingly comes into conflict with the Texas Local Government Code.
Hunter: Case is about abating 'worst' man-made crisis; J&J: Case is about damages - not abatement
NORMAN, Okla. (Legal Newsline) - Admitting there is a high potential for abuse in opioid medications, Johnson & Johnson attorney Larry Ottaway said during opening arguments on Tuesday that physicians prescribing its medications Nucynta and Duragesic know this risk and have to know it to be licensed.
Colorado Supreme Court upholds decision that university meal plans not subject to tax
DENVER (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of Colorado has upheld a decision made by the Colorado Court of Appeals in favor of Sodexo, the food service provider for the Colorado School of Mines, regarding a sales tax dispute.
North Carolina residents allege TitleMax of South Carolina charged excessive interest rate
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Legal Newsline) – A group of North Carolina residents has filed a suit against three title loan lenders over allegations that liens were illegally placed on their vehicles.
South Dakota court rules for restaurant in slip-and-fall lawsuit
PIERRE, S.D. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of South Dakota has upheld a lower court's ruling that a restaurant was not negligence in a patron's slip-and-fall case.
New Jersey Supreme Court upholds denial of Merck shareholder's request for documents regarding Cubist purchase
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of New Jersey affirmed an appellate court’s decision to deny a shareholder of an American pharmaceutical company to inspect documents and records outlying the company’s purchase of Cubist Pharmaceuticals.