News from February 2021
Calif. court lets mom keep pushing wrongful death suit over bicycle accident
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A woman whose son was killed while riding his bicycle in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., will get a chance to prove the city failed to warn riders about the lack of a bicycle lane in the area of the accident.
Lack of choice of surgeons could cost Florida Hospital in lawsuit over infection
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Legal Newsline) – A man who seemingly predicted complications from his surgery can sue Florida Hospital, as a state appeals court has found there may be a relationship between it and the surgeon it claims was an independent contractor.
Organic hard seltzer wars begin over Michelob ULTRA ads
PORTLAND, Ore. (Legal Newsline) – An Oregon brewery says Anheuser-Busch’s claims that its new organic hard seltzer is unique are false and are intended to squeeze competitors out of that market.
HP's Argentine subsidiary demanded bribes from distributors, lawsuit says
MIAMI (Legal Newsline) – HP Inc. is accused of racketeering in a lawsuit that says it threatened and extorted distributors of their computers and printer products.
Ninth Circuit rules for man suing over P.F. Chang's menu; He claims krab means crab
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – Some of the highest-ranking judges in the country have decided to let a class action lawsuit brought by a man allegedly confused about whether “krab” means real crab go forward.
Clients of crooked lawyer lose effort to get attorneys fees from feds
CINCINNATI (Legal Newsline) – The federal government had reason to exclude medical reports from doctors involved in a lawyer’s social security scam, a federal court of appeals has ruled even though the attorney’s former clients have been given the chance to prove the reports are accurate.
Lawyer rebelling against Flint water crisis settlement told to cool it by judge
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Legal Newsline) - The federal judge overseeing a proposed settlement of Flint water claims has ordered a local lawyer to cease communicating with class members after he sent out letters urging residents to opt out of the $641 million agreement.
Toothpaste company fights scope of lawsuit over activated charcoal
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline) – A class action lawsuit over toothpaste containing activated charcoal is too ambitious, lawyers for the defendant are alleging.
Is a motorized wheelchair on the road a vehicle? Court makes decision
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) – A motorized wheelchair on the street is a “motor vehicle” under state law, the Alabama Supreme Court has ruled.
TCPA suit filed against online lingerie seller
DETROIT (Legal Newsline) – A Michigan woman says a lingerie retailer is bothering her with unwanted text messages.
Churchill Downs, horse owners at odds over split from California bets
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – Churchill Downs says its future in the California horseracing industry is jeopardized by the state’s thoroughbred owners association.
Judge protects DOJ from Walmart's lawsuit over opioid litigation
SHERMAN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge in Texas dismissed Walmart’s lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment that the Justice Department’s interpretation of federal drug laws is incorrect, saying he lacked jurisdiction because the government failed to waive its sovereign immunity from suit.
Suicide on the hands of health care providers, court rules in million-dollar case
HOUSTON (Legal Newsline) – A Texas appeals court has affirmed a $1.35 million judgment against health care providers involved in the treatment of a girl who eventually committed suicide.
Librarian run over by snow plow loses lawsuit against town
NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – Getting run over by a snowplow is not a work-related injury, a New Jersey appeals court has ruled.
Tacoma cops storm wrong apartment, Supreme Court affirms $250K verdict
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) – The Washington Supreme Court has reinstated a verdict in favor of a nurse who was awakened by cops and forced to wait outside in her nightgown while they searched her apartment instead of the one they were supposed to.
Peloton fights New York claims made by Michigan woman over shrinking content
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – Peloton says class action lawyers have failed in a “do-over” to make claims under New York law as they push a lawsuit over the slashing of Peloton’s content library.
Seattle's move to give raisers to grocery workers met with lawsuit
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) – Grocery associations are suing the City of Seattle over an ordinance that would require stores to pay employees $4 more per hour as hazard pay during the COVID-19 pandemic.
DINSMORE & SHOHL LLP: Dinsmore Completes One of Largest Legal Mergers of COVID-19 Pandemic by Opening 3 Offices in Indiana
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP continues its upward growth trajectory by merging with Wooden McLaughlin LLP in Indiana, adding offices in Indianapolis, Evansville and Bloomington to its national footprint.
Maryland Judiciary announces winners of annual bookmark art contest
The Maryland Judiciary’s Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO) has announced the winners of its 15th annual bookmark art contest.
Navient asks for permission to appeal judge's decision to let CFPB restart lawsuit
SCRANTON, Pa. (Legal Newsline) – The nation’s largest student loan servicer wants an appeals court to review a ruling against it, as it continues its fight against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.