News from May 2019
Consumer advocates, business interests form rare alliance to block American Law Institute project
WASHINGTON - An unusual coalition of consumer advocates and business interests joined to delay and possibly defeat a controversial “restatement” of consumer contract law that critics said presents a misleading picture of how courts are actually deciding cases in the rapidly evolving area of “clickwrap” and “browsewrap” agreements.
J&J faces $25M-plus verdict in NYC talcum powder case, says key witness made 'falsities in his testimony'
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – The first result for plaintiffs lawyers banking on talcum powder lawsuits in New York City’s controversial asbestos court is a positive one, as a jury has hit Johnson & Johnson with a $25 million verdict.
HOLLAND & KNIGHT: Holland & Knight Partner John Pritchard Honored as “Aviation Finance Lawyer of the Year”
John Pritchard, the global chair of Holland & Knight's Transportation Finance Team, has been named the 2019 "Aviation Finance Lawyer of the Year" by Law Business Research Limited as part of its Who's Who Legal Awards program. It is the fourth time that he has been honored with this award.
BRADLEY ARANT BOULT CUMMINGS: Davis Smith Joins Bradley's Montgomery Office as a Corporate & Securities and Tax Partner
Bradley is pleased to announce that Davis H. Smith has joined the firm’s Montgomery office as a partner in the Corporate and Securities and Tax practice groups.
Massachusetts Supreme Court rules employees working on commission were entitled to Sunday pay, overtime
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of Massachusetts has found that retail employees who are paid via commission or draws are entitled to Sunday pay or additional overtime.
Judges overseeing giant Roundup verdicts have been 'derelict in their duty,' law prof says
OAKLAND, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Following the more than $2 billion awarded to a California couple who claimed the use of Monsanto's Roundup weed killer caused their cancer, one legal expert is arguing that the judges presiding over the cases were "derelict in their duty" for not granting summary judgment against the plaintiffs.
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Massachusetts Supreme Court reverses judgment in negligence case filed by injured cyclist
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of Massachusetts has reversed a lower court's ruling that granted judgment to an energy company in a negligence suit filed against it by an injured cyclist.
It's up to the Kansas Senate to reject a judicial nominee over his social media posts
TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) – The Kansas Supreme Court recently determined the state Senate will have to reject the appointment of a judge to the Kansas Court of Appeals after the governor’s appointee withdrew following a controversy over the appointee's posting on social media.
Capito sponsors another bill to regulate widely used industrial PFAS chemicals
West Virginia Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito has sponsored three bills in recent months would regulate the use of widely used industrial chemicals known as PFAS.
Alabama Supreme Court reverses $75,000 award to victim of dog attack in Montgomery
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of Alabama recently reversed a $75,000 award granted by the Montgomery County Circuit Court to the victim of a three-dog attack.
Idaho Supreme Court affirms more than $32,000 settlement in man's dispute with former lawyer
BOISE, Idaho (Legal Newsline) – On May 14, the Supreme Court of Idaho affirmed in part and reversed in part a lower court’s ruling to award attorney fees and sanctions in a man’s dispute with his former lawyer.
Granddaughter isn't proper claimant in grandmother's wrongful death case, Louisiana Supreme Court says
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) – A “claimant” status for a decedent’s granddaughter attempting to file a request for a medical review panel was improperly determined, the Supreme Court of Louisiana said.
Attorney general has the right to sue medical corporations on behalf of the state of Louisiana, Supreme Court rules
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) – While a lower appellate court in Louisiana said the state's attorney general didn’t have the right to sue a group of corporations that double as Louisiana’s economic mediator for the Medicaid program, the Supreme Court of Louisiana disagreed and reversed the lower court’s ruling on May 8.
Latest project from American Law Institute 'an abandonment of important principles,' 23 state AGs feel
WASHINGTON – The attorneys general of 23 states, led by the State of New York, have sent a letter to the American Law Institute (ALI) opposing a proposed Restatement of Consumer Contract Law, set to be voted on at the ALI’s annual meeting this week.
CLARK HILL: Joann Needleman to Speak at the National Creditor’s Bar Association Spring 2019 Conference on May 17th
Clark Hill Member, Joann Needleman, spoke at the National Creditor’s Bar Association Spring 2019 Conference on Friday, May 17th.
BRADLEY ARANT BOULT CUMMINGS: Bradley Awards 2019 Diversity Scholarships to Ole Miss and Vanderbilt Law Students
Bradley is pleased to announce that it has awarded 2019 diversity scholarships to first-year law students Briaunna Buckner from the University of Mississippi School of Law and Adora Olisaemeka Onyiuke from Vanderbilt University Law School.
BRADLEY ARANT BOULT CUMMINGS: Bradley's Charlotte Office and Robert Cox Jr. Recognized for Pro Bono Support of Victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Bradley is pleased to announce that Safe Alliance, a North Carolina community organization, has recognized Bradley’s Charlotte office and Robert A. Cox Jr., a partner in the office, for their pro bono work with Safe Alliance’s Victim Assistance/Legal Representation Program that helps victims of domestic violence who seek Domestic Violence Protective Orders (DVPOs).
New York AG compares climate lawyer to whistleblower in fight over emails
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - The New York Attorney General has compared Matt Pawa, the private attorney suing ExxonMobil and other oil companies over climate change, to a whistleblower in filings seeking to seal the record of private emails between Pawa and former New York AG Eric Schneiderman.
West Virginia, four other states filing suits against Purdue Pharma for opioid marketing
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced a lawsuit May 16 against Purdue Pharma and its former CEO for the marketing of opioids. West Virginia is one of five states to sue Purdue for its actions.
Judge tosses North Dakota's opioid lawsuit against Purdue Pharma; Appeal coming
BISMARCK, North Dakota (Legal Newsline) – A North Dakota judge has tossed the state attorney general's claims against Purdue Pharma that blame it for the opioid crisis - a decision that will be appealed.