News from September 2020
Mark Zuckerberg beneficiaries promoting fair elections not exactly non-partisan as advertised
Earlier this month, media reports announced that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan donated $300 million to non-partisan, good government groups devoted to ensuring that the November elections are conducted safely and fairly.
Judge tosses class action after law firms defy order not to team up
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge decertified a class action against Allergan after discovering plaintiff lawyers had agreed to split fees even after she had explicitly told them only one law firm should represent the class.In a 26-page decision, U.S.
Delaware court says winner can claim costs without a fall from grace
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - A Delaware court awarded costs of litigation to Burlington Northern Railway after the company won a lawsuit over bladder cancer, rejecting language from prior decisions suggesting defendants should walk away without seeking money from the losing side.
Shareholder wants to press pause on Rosetta Stone sale
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – A shareholder is suing Rosetta Stone and its board of directors over a proposed merger.
Instagram is going through your phone, class action lawsuit says
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – Instagram is “constantly accessing” the cameras of its users’ phones, a new class action says.
Fairlife's Core Power brand faces class action lawsuit over vanilla flavor
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – Fairlife’s vanilla protein drink uses artificial vanilla, a class action lawsuit alleges.
Drunk driving liability extended to underage house parties in New Jersey
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – Underage hosts of house parties can be held liable for the actions of their guests, the New Jersey Supreme Court has decided.
Jury awards $2.6 million In Zoom asbestos trial
ALAMEDA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - A California jury awarded $2.6 million to a former Navy admiral in an asbestos case that featured a trial over Zoom that the defendant tried to stop after the plaintiff engaged in an online conversation with jurors.
Law firm defends no-money Navient settlement as `leap forward’
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - The law firm that negotiated a settlement of student-loan claims against Navient that pays class members nothing but yields lawyers $500,000 in fees defended the deal as providing non-monetary benefits for borrowers in a case that stood almost no chance of success.
Maryland courts resume full operations with safety measures as jury trials restart
The Maryland Judiciary is set to advance into Phase V of its COVID-19 reopening plan on October 5, 2020.
New Mexico wants pro-Trump group's challenge to state law thrown out
SANTA FE, N.M. (Legal Newsline) – The State of New Mexico says a pro-Trump group has no argument in its challenge of campaign reporting laws.
Zero-calorie Arnold Palmers the subject of class action lawsuit
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – AriZona Beverages’ zero-calorie Arnold Palmers actually have 15 calories, a new class action lawsuit complains.
NutraClick settles marketing lawsuit by FTC for $1M
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – The Federal Trade Commission has settled with a company called NutraClick over allegations it violated a four-year-old court order.NutraClick, also known as Force Factor, will pay $1.04 million to settle the FTC’s recently filed lawsuit, it was announced Sept. 22.
Lawsuit over suicide of inmate fails; No indication he wanted to hurt himself, court rules
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) – Two jail employees won’t held liable for the suicide of an inmate in 2012 who was apprehended hiding in a freezer.
Navient makes move against Pa. AG's lawsuit, says he lacks authority to assert federal claims
SCRANTON, Pa. (Legal Newsline) – The nation’s largest student loan servicer is asking a federal judge to throw out the “pointless” lawsuit filed by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro.
Judge sends opioid case back to state court to avoid Motley Rice’s `pile’
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge granted law firm Motley Rice’s wish and remanded an opioid lawsuit against Wal-Mart back to state court in Arkansas, rejecting the company’s attempt to keep the case in federal court.
LITTLER MENDELSON PC: Massachusetts Paid Family And Medical Leave Law Mini-Series to be held on September 30, 2020
The benefits under the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law go in effect on January 1, 2021.
TROUTMAN PEPPER HAMILTON SANDERS LLP: United Way Recognizes Troutman Pepper’s Sarita Henry With Community Champion Award
Sarita Henry, a human resources manager at Troutman Pepper, has received the Community Champion Award from the United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg as part of the national nonprofit’s Steps to Success Awards program.
Plaintiffs give up on class action over Krispy Kreme's apple pies
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – A class action lawyer and his client are dismissing their lawsuit over fruit filling in Krispy Kreme apple pies rather than fight the company’s motion to dismiss.
P.F. Chang's tells Ninth Circuit krab vs. crab lawsuit is 'cash grab'
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – A federal appeals court could soon be hearing arguments on whether P.F. Chang’s customers would read “krab” on the menu and expect real crab to be in those dishes.