News from October 2020
New York never investigated, prosecuted opioid distributors - but still says they're liable
New York has admitted in advance of a trial over whether drug distributors caused the “public nuisance” of opioid addiction that the state never investigated the defendant companies for diverting narcotics and none of the pharmacies they served were prosecuted for illegal sales.
Secrecy around inaccurate photo not enough for new trial against Notre Dame
INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) – There will be no second chance for a woman who sued the University of Notre Dame after falling at a basketball game.
Court: Plaintiff wrongfully called a liar and fraud by defense attorney
MIAMI (Legal Newsline) – Counsel for a defendant blamed for a man’s alleged 10-foot fall claimed he had not called the fire department – a mistake that will grant the plaintiff a new trial.
Former employee sues AIRBUS under False Claims Act
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Legal Newsline) – A former employee who managed contracts with the federal government says he was effectively fired for reporting misconduct at AIRBUS U.S. Space & Defense.
Philadelphia pension, law firm get in on FirstEnergy bribery litigation
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) – Two more law firms have filed a lawsuit over a scandal in Ohio in which it is alleged FirstEnergy funneled more than $60 million to Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder.
Firms leading Flint water settlement say disgruntled colleague is masking confusion with rage
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Legal Newsline) – A motion seeking to remove them from their leadership positions in the Flint, Mich., water crisis case is an assassination of character, two major plaintiffs firms recently said.
Jury's $16M punitive damages award in smoker's trial was out of proportion, court rules
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Legal Newsline) – A trial judge will either reduce a $16 million punitive damages award or order a new trial on the issue as a result of a Florida appellate court ruling in a tobacco case.
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Prospective jurors said cigarettes should be outlawed but were dismissed too soon from smoker's trial, court rules
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Legal Newsline) – The judge handling a tobacco trial in Florida was wrong to let eight possible jurors go when trying to get the jury pool down to 100 – the maximum capacity of the courtroom.
Lawsuit: Curamin pain reliever doesn't help with tired muscles
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – Terry Naturally is accused of not providing the pain relief it promises.
Canadian personal injury lawyers come to Atlanta court over search engine results
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) – A Canadian personal injury law firm is suing a Tennessee company it says ruined its search engine results.
Purdue Pharma creditors object to Sackler family's deal with DOJ
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - Unsecured creditors of bankrupt OxyContin manufacturer Purdue Pharma have objected to the Sackler family’s $225 million settlement with the U.S. government, saying the agreement as proposed could allow the feds to keep the money even if the Sacklers are forced into bankruptcy.
Student denied bathroom break who wet self in class gets chance to sue teacher
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Legal Newsline) – A Missouri teacher is forced to fight the lawsuit brought by a student he wouldn’t allow to go to the bathroom, which resulted in the student wetting himself in class.
Flint lawyer wants big firms negotiating $600M water crisis settlement stripped of power
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Legal Newsline) – Prominent personal injury firms should lose their leadership positions in the Flint, Mich., water crisis litigation, a lawyer involved in the litigation is arguing as he complains they are trying to "corner the market" on compensation to boost their fees.
Walmart hopes old law will block feds' suit over opioid 'unwritten expectations’
SHERMAN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Walmart is betting on an 86-year-old law that companies most commonly use to fend off lawsuits over insurance coverage or trademarks to block an expected government suit over how its pharmacists filled opioid prescriptions.
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Milwaukee says Allianz lost almost $300M of its money because of poor investment strategy
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – An investment firm is again accused of squandering money during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vanilla lawyer takes on Trader Joe's over cereal
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – There is not enough real vanilla in cereal at Trader Joe’s for it to call it a characterizing flavor.
Mich. election officials can keep private funds but case alleging Democratic influence far from over
A Michigan judge has denied a group of voters their emergency relief request that local election officials in heavily Democratic areas return funds they received from a private source, or redistribute the money equally among all election officials.
Hershey defeats class action over white Reese's cups
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – Calling Reese’s cups “white” doesn’t mislead customers into thinking they are made of chocolate, a federal judge has ruled in the latest blow to class action lawyers who have sued over other white products.
Tootsie Roll says class action lawyers trying to avoid CAFA to find favorable courtroom
OAKLAND, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Class action lawyers complaining about candy don’t deserve anything but it’s clear they want more than $5 million, Tootsie Roll Industries is arguing.
Judge to QVC: Quit complaining about Suzanne Somers' family or be more specific
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) – QVC recently took a squabble with Suzanne Somers to a federal judge who authored a short, sharp rebuke a few days later.