News from July 2020
Lawyers leading opioid litigation to negotiate their payday; Judge rejects request for 7%
CLEVELAND (Legal Newsline) - Saying it is almost inevitable they will negotiate their own slice of a multibillion-dollar settlement before it is done, the judge overseeing federal multidistrict opioid litigation refused to order the parties to set aside a set percentage to pay the fees of plaintiff lawyers leading the MDL.
White Kit Kats are white: Another court uses dictionary to turn back class action lawyers
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit against Hershey that claimed customers who expected white chocolate in white Kit Kats are being misled – becoming at least the second court to recently cite the dictionary while rejecting the creative claims of class action lawyers.
Eric W. Schaffer named district administrative judge for Frederick and Washington counties
Frederick County District Court Judge Eric W. Schaffer has been appointed as the administrative judge for District 11, covering Frederick and Washington counties in Maryland.
After confusing San Diego arrest with Portland, Oregon AG lacking evidence to prove police misconduct
PORTLAND, Ore. (Legal Newsline) – Evidence has become a problem for Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, who initially used footage of an arrest in San Diego to prove federal authorities are arresting protesters in Portland without reason.
BRADLEY ARANT BOULT CUMMINGS: Bradley Attorneys Named to 2020 Who's Who Legal: Product Liability Defence
Bradley is pleased to announce that nine of the firm’s partners have been named by Who’s Who Legal as among the world’s leading product liability defense practitioners.
ORRICK HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE: Orrick Receives Beacon of Justice Award for Pro Bono Effort for Immigrants at U.S. Border
The National Legal Aid & Defender Association has recognized Orrick as a 2020 Beacon of Justice Award winner for our pro bono work protecting the rights of immigrants along the U.S. southern border.
ARMSTRONG TEASDALE: Live Webinar - What’s Your Case Worth? Analyzing the Cost of Litigation
Large corporations have increased their outside counsel litigation spending by 20% over the last four years, and it’s expected to top $24 billion in 2020.
NELSON MULLINS: IADC Elects Jim Rogers to its Board of Directors
The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) has elected Columbia partner James F. “Jim” Rogers to its Board of Directors for 2020-21.
HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP: Husch Blackwell's Anderson Named Denver Bar Association 2020 Pro Bono Star
Husch Blackwell is pleased to announce that Sonia Ramirez Anderson has been named a 2020 Pro Bono Star by the Denver Bar Association.
'Do at least some work': Ruffles fights class action over cheddar and sour cream flavor
SANTA ANA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Class action lawyers griping about bags of potato chips forgot to include evidence to support their lawsuit, the maker of Ruffles says.
Greyhound says Wash. AG's lawsuit over border patrol searches should stay in federal court
SPOKANE, Wash. (Legal Newsline) – Why should a dispute over the access given to federal officials be heard in a state court, Greyhound is asking as it fights a lawsuit by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson.
Six Flags beats harassment case despite HR's 'boys will be boys' response
ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) – Six Flags has defeated a St. Louis lawsuit from a teenage girl who alleged sexual harassment from co-workers who pulled down their pants and showed her a sexually explicit video.
Court: Pursuing a separate class action not a way of opting out of settlement
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) – Ohio’s Supreme Court has stopped a class action lawsuit against Mercedes-Benz because the plaintiff was included in the class for a previous settlement and failed to opt out.
Pharmacies get access to data key to defending themselves from opioid lawsuits
CLEVELAND (Legal Newsline) - Ohio must turn over the names of pharmacies and physicians that filled millions of opioid prescriptions in the state but haven’t been named as defendants in litigation over the narcotics, the judge overseeing federal multidistrict opioid litigation has ruled.
Indiana AG says governor can't force face masks under threat of criminal penalties
INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) – Indiana’s governor has no authority to require the residents to wear face masks, the state’s lawyer says.
New Jersey officer found liable for false arrest of Black man by appeals court
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – A New Jersey police officer has been found liable for false arrest after an appeals court overturned a jury verdict in favor of him.
Private Attorney General claims trump arbitration agreement, Calif. court rules
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – An employer can’t defeat one of California’s Private Attorney General Act lawsuits by relying on an arbitration agreement its former employee signed.
Discounts at Eddie Bauer exaggerated, lawsuit says
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) – Eddie Bauer is accused of a false discount scheme at its outlet stores in a new class action lawsuit.
Hagens Berman redacts entire ethics report in failed thalidomide litigation
A special master investigating how the prominent class action firm Hagens Berman handled failed lawsuits over the banned morning sickness drug thalidomide has chastised the firm in unusually strong terms for redacting the entire report it commissioned from an ethics expert, down to the letterhead and page numbers.
With consolidated trial looming, asbestos judge continues individual case for a year
WHEELING – The circuit judge who says an upcoming consolidated asbestos trial will be “a dreadful experience” because of the Coronavirus pandemic has postponed another asbestos case until August 2021.