News from March 2020
New Virginia law resets clock for asbestos plaintiffs, overturns Supreme Court decision
RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) – Virginia legislators have passed a bill in the wake of a state Supreme Court decision over when a lawsuit can be filed in relation to asbestos-connected conditions and injuries.
Tolerance 'is a two-way street': Professor punished for not acknowledging transgender pronoun switch appeals
CINCINNATI (Legal Newsline) - A professor is appealing a federal judge’s decision to dismiss his lawsuit against his college after he was disciplined for not addressing a male transgender student with feminine titles and pronouns because he says it violated his religious beliefs.
Hapi Products. up against class action for allegedly selling fake wasabi
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A class action against JFC International and Hapi Products, Inc. for allegedly having misleading food labeling was filed in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California on March 6.
Supreme Court of Delaware irons out key questions over dissolution of partnership
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of Delaware has answered a handful of questions arising from a partnership dispute in federal court.
Southwest flight attendants sue Boeing for lost wages in wake of 737 MAX grounding
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – Several Southwest Airlines employees have filed a class action against The Boeing Company, claiming they have lost significant income because of Boeing’s alleged misconduct.
Texas personal injury lawyers sued by feds to recover part of settlement
In an attempt to recover a payment made for a Medicare program, the U.S. government sued Carrigan & Anderson PLLC of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Stephen P. Carrigan on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR: U.S. Department of Labor Adds to Guidance for Workers and Employers Explaining Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave Benefits Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) published more guidance to provide information to employees and employers about how each will be able to take advantage of the protections and relief offered by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) when it goes into effect on April 1, 2020.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION: GNT Foods to Pay $60,000 to Settle EEOC Racial Harassment and Retaliation Suit
G.N.T, Inc., doing business as GNT Foods, a grocery store located in East Point, Ga., will pay $60,000 and furnish other relief to settle a racial harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced.
REED SMITH LLP: Reed Smith adds depth to broker-dealer and investment adviser practice with the return of partner Kiran Somashekara
Reed Smith announced that Kiran Somashekara has rejoined the firm as a partner in the firm’s Financial Industry Group, based in Princeton, NJ.
HOLLAND & KNIGHT: Coronavirus Preparedness for Health Plans
Healthcare & Life Sciences Partner Melissa Wong will moderate a webinar panel offering guidance for government and commercial health plans, specifically health insurance and managed care plans, as they respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION: EEOC Answers Questions about the Pandemic and Antidiscrimination Laws in Recorded Webinar
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) posted a webinar addressing questions arising under any of the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Laws and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coal company sues Kentucky's Public Service Commission over new policy
A coal company has taken its issues with Kentucky Public Service Commission officers and the state’s attorney general to the U.S.
Political groups push for Federal Election Commission to respond to claims against Jeb Bush
Campaign Legal Center and Democracy 21 are urging the Federal Election Commission to take action on its Federal Election Campaign Act lawsuit.
DNC requests absentee voter changes during coronavirus
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the Democratic National Committee and Democratic Party of Wisconsin are pushing for changes in absentee voting to make it easier to cast a vote while social distancing.
American Law Institute 'at a crossroads' as it works on newest Restatement, member says
PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia-based American Law Institute continues its work on a Restatement meant to give legal clarity to the arena of consumer contracts - a project that has been put on the back-burner and serves as a "litmus test" as to how the influential group will be perceived, a member says.
First-of-its-kind asbestos litigation reform held up by coronavirus
DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - Iowa legislators have passed a bill addressing the naming of too-many defendants in asbestos lawsuits.
Law firm successfully defends self from lawsuit over $67M mistake, but plaintiff still pushing
DOVER, Del. (Legal Newsline) - Texas-based software company ISN Software Corporation has twice in two years failed to convince Delaware courts that the toll on legal malpractice lawsuit over bad advice that cost the company $67 million should begin when it found out about the cost.
They wanted to cripple 3M, but in midst of pandemic, Dem senators now want to take it over
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Senators who supported legislation that would have possibly bankrupted 3M are now hoping to take over the company in order to control the distribution of its products that can help treat the coronavirus pandemic and prevent its spread.
Taco Bell says people suing over price of Chalupas ignored the cost on menu
NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - Briefing is complete as to whether Taco Bell will successfully defend itself against a proposed class action lawsuit from plaintiffs who complained their $5 Chalupa boxes actually cost $6.
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Urgent care clinic wins malpractice appeal over flesh-eating disease
DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - An urgent care clinic won its appeal of a medical malpractice lawsuit it initially lost to a couple complaining of an alleged misdiagnosis that resulted in unnecessary amputation.