News from January 2021
West Virginia newspaper company accuses Google, Facebook of digital advertising antitrust violations
HUNTINGTON – The state’s largest newspaper company has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against Google and Facebook alleging the tech giants have monopolized the digital advertising market.
Court rules for Sofia Vergara in case said to be brought by unborn children
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) – Actress Sofia Vergara has received a favorable ruling in Louisiana in a lawsuit brought by a former boyfriend who says he’s acting on behalf of their unborn children.
New York appeals court revives sexual assault lawsuit against doctor
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – The alleged victim of sexual assault by her doctor will get another chance to hold him and his practice liable.
Wisconsin governor's PFAS 'Action Plan': Call the lawyers
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has announced his “Action Plan” for the chemical family known as PFAS and it’s similar to the plans of other, mostly Democratic governors and attorneys general: hire outside lawyers.
Court to penalize plaintiff for online activity while suing ski resort
ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – Penalties are appropriate for a skier who was less than forthcoming with evidence during his lawsuit against the owner of Hunter Mountain ski resort.
Long Beach sued over forced raises for grocery workers
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A grocers group is suing the city of Long Beach, Calif., over an ordinance that makes grocery stores give workers a $4 per hour raise.
Miami firm still after $81K in unpaid fees
MIAMI (Legal Newsline) – A Miami law firm is hoping a federal judge will affirm the arbitration award it earned against a former client it says didn’t pay its bills.
Capito, other senators introduce bill to block Biden plan to block energy moves
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito joined some Senate colleagues to introduce a bill that would prevent the president and other officials from blocking energy or mineral leasing and permitting on federal lands and waters without Congressional approval.
North Carolina bar owners strike back against governor’s shutdown orders
RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) - A newly formed statewide association in North Carolina representing the state’s bar owners has filed a lawsuit in state court arguing that Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, has violated multiple provisions in the state constitution by effectively shutting down the state’s bars since last March, the start of the pandemic.
Monsanto wants no-injury lawsuit over lack of cancer label on Roundup thrown out of court
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) – Monsanto is again asking a Delaware judge to toss a lawsuit that demands a cancer warning label on its weedkiller Roundup, despite both the federal government and state of California determining that wouldn’t be appropriate.
Class action filed against Walmart over stock drop of $2.75 after DOJ announced opioid lawsuit
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) – A shareholder is suing Walmart, alleging misleading statements from the company over a period of four years concealed what became an opioid lawsuit brought by the federal government.
First Circuit asked to settle gripe between class action lawyers, judge in State Street mess
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) – Class action lawyers who were found to have misled a judge in a $300 million lawsuit are appealing the order that slashed their cut.
Judge throws out asbestos case over lack of evidence showing talcum powder is unsafe
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge in California dismissed a proposed class action against Johnson & Johnson and Bausch over talcum powder products, saying plaintiff lawyers failed to show the products were unsafe or that their clients were misled into buying them.
One of thousands of lawsuits against Philip Morris results in $21 million in punitive damages
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals court last week approved a $20.7 million punitive damages award against cigarette maker Philip Morris, saying even though it was just one of thousands of similar cases over the same corporate behavior, the judgment fell well within constitutional limits set by the U.S. Supreme Court.
National Park Service sued for letting off-road vehicles in Glen Canyon
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The National Parks Conservation Association is suing the National Park Service for allowing off-road vehicles in the area of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Morrisey, other AGs tell Biden they're watching for federal overreach
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is leading a six-state coalition telling President Joe Biden that state attorneys general will be vigilant in watching for and opposing federal overreach, especially when such action puts jobs and civil liberties at risk.
Zuckerberg’s millions funneled through group claiming non-partisanship actually favored Biden, study shows
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The latest investigation into the funneling of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s millions through a nonprofit to local election officials shows that in addition to ensuring safe elections - the group’s stated mission - another agenda was afoot – swaying the presidential election for Democrat Joe Biden.
POLSINELLI PC: Polsinelli Denver’s Richard Murray Recognized with Prestigious 2020 Davis Award
Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli shareholder Richard Murray was honored with the 2020 Richard Marden Davis Award at a virtual ceremony in his honor.
Lawsuit says there should be only two ingredients in chocolate-covered fruit
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – There’s more to chocolate-covered fruit than the front of the package says, a class action lawsuit alleges.
There's oil in oil-free Murad products, lawsuit claims
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – A class action lawsuit alleges Murad’s oil-free products actually contain oil.