News from May 2019
Iowa SC beats back union challenge to new law regarding dues
DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) – The Iowa Supreme Court recently affirmed a county court’s summary judgment in favor of the state Legislature in response to claims from two Iowa labor unions that several 2017 amendments to the state's Public Employment Relations Act violated the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution.
Vermont Supreme Court rules for nurse who told cop about patient planning to drive drunk
MONTPELIER, Vt. (Legal Newsline) – The Vermont Supreme Court has affirmed a lower court's judgment in a case involving a nurse's disclosure to a police officer that the plaintiff was intoxicated and intending to drive home after receiving treatment from an emergency room.
With just one defendant left, Oklahoma struggles to blame J&J for opioid crisis
NORMAN, Okla. (Legal Newsline) – Lawyers for the State of Oklahoma opened a closely watched trial seeking to hold Johnson & Johnson responsible for $17.5 billion in damages over the opioid crisis with a simple refrain: “something happened.”
Opening remarks in opioid case against Johnson & Johnson alleges greed created drug epidemic
NORMAN, Okla. (Legal Newsline) – Opening arguments began Tuesday in a first-ever trial in attempt to hold drug manufacturers accountable for an opioid over-dose crisis, accusing Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary company Janssen Pharmaceuticals of providing medications for profit that destroyed thousands of lives.
Defense: Oklahoma threatening expanded public nuisance theory in this week's high-profile opioid case
NORMAN, Okla. (Legal Newsline) – As the opioid crisis spotlight turns to Norman, Oklahoma, where the state's high profile case against drug companies is expected to get underway tomorrow, defendants in that case are questioning the state's public nuisance theory that has failed dramatically elsewhere.
Amusement park doesn't find immunity from lawsuits in state's recreational use statute
PHOENIX – The Arizona Supreme Court recently unanimously reversed an appellate court’s decision regarding a negligence lawsuit against Encanto Adventures, the operator of Phoenix’s Picnic Island amusement park, saying Encanto is not immune from liability under the state’s recreational use statute.
BRADLEY ARANT BOULT CUMMINGS: Bradley Partner Chris Lam Installed as President of Mecklenburg County Bar
Bradley is pleased to announce that Christopher C. Lam, managing partner of the firm’s Charlotte office, has been installed as president of the Mecklenburg County Bar (MCB) for 2019-2020.
LITTLER MENDELSON: Littler Shareholder Ryan Hammond Appointed Seattle Office Managing Shareholder
Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has appointed Ryan Hammond as office managing shareholder (OMS) of the firm’s Seattle office, effective May 23.
LITTLER MENDELSON: Littler Adds Shareholder Jeremy Sosna in Minneapolis
Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has added Jeremy D. Sosna as a shareholder in its Minneapolis office. Sosna, who joins from Maslon LLP, practiced as an attorney at Littler from 1998 to 2003.
BRADLEY ARANT BOULT CUMMINGS: Bradley Attorney Alé Dalton Among 2019 Nashville Emerging Leaders Awards Finalists
Bradley is pleased to announce that Alé Dalton, an attorney in the firm’s Nashville office, is among the finalists for the 2019 Nashville Emerging Leaders Awards (NELA).
CLARK HILL: Clark Hill Attorney Linda M. Watson to Speak at the MICPA’s Anti-Fraud Issues and Litigation | Business Evaluation Conference
Linda M. Watson, Member in the firm’s Litigation group, will co-present alongside Brian Bakker, CPA, CFA, Senior Manager, Stout, at the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants.
40 Under 40 winner Chris Stoy helps client to $1.3 million settlement in injury claim
Imagine waking up after a blow to the head with little visible damage but the uncanny feeling something isn’t right.
Mass Roundup settlement could test the limits of tort law
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) In a court hearing earlier this week, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria announced he had hired Kenneth Feinberg to oversee mediation talks between Bayer AG and lawyers for thousands of plaintiffs claiming the popular herbicide Roundup causes cancer.
Amazon seeks confirmation of $26K arbitration award against man who allegedly abused Kindle platform
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) – Amazon Digital Services has submitted a request to the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Washington for confirmation of an arbitration award against Nilmer Rubio, a Filipino man who the company alleges abused the Kindle platform to increase reviews and royalties on a number of ebooks.
Texas Supreme Court tosses defamation suit against Dallas newspaper
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of Texas has reversed an appellate court's ruling and dismissed a defamation case against The Dallas Morning News.
Heartland Institute: North Carolina's lawsuit against e-cigarette maker is 'frivolous' and 'grandstanding'
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (Legal Newsline) – North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein's lawsuit filed last week against e-cigarette manufacturer JUUL isn't all it seems, a government relations expert for an Illinois-based free-market think tank said during a recent interview.
Same day, different verdicts: Why do some juries think there is asbestos in talcum powder and others don't?
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – Judges continue to play a crucial role in the sprawling, possibly multibillion-dollar talcum powder litigation facing Johnson & Johnson by choosing how jurors will view the plaintiffs’ key expert.
New York's highest court reverses $1 million ruling involving death of Bobcat skid steer operator
ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – The New York Court of Appeals has reversed a lower court's ruling that found a rental center and equipment manufacturer liable for a man's death after he rented a Bobcat skid steer loader.
Court says Ohio gun owner cannot be subjected to litigation over New York shooting
ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – The New York Court of Appeals has ruled that an Ohio gun dealer cannot be subjected to litigation in New York after a gun he sold was involved in a New York shooting.
Oklahoma's opioid case heads into trial after similar public nuisance argument fails in North Dakota
OKLAHOMA CITY (Legal Newsline) – The nation's leading manufacturer of prescription opioids, including OxyContin, got some breathing room earlier this month when a federal judge in North Dakota dismissed one of dozens of cases against it, a university law school chair said during a recent interview.