News from January 2021
Two school bus drivers cleared of wrongdoing for attending U.S. Capitol protest; federal lawsuit still pending
MARTINSBURG – Two Jefferson County school bus drivers who were suspended for attending the rally last week that led to the storming of the U.S. Capitol have been cleared of any wrongdoing.
NAACP, some Democrats want Morrisey out of office because of election lawsuit; AG says actions were 'absolutely appropriate'
CHARLESTON – The West Virginia NAACP and some Democratic lawmakers are calling for the removal and disbarment of state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey for his decision to support a Texas-based lawsuit about presidential election results.
Companies score key win in asbestos lawsuit in Tennessee
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - Equipment manufacturers whose products were combined with asbestos-containing components after they left the factory aren’t liable for failing to warn workers of the risk of cancer, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled, interpreting for the first time a disputed aspect of a state product liability statute.
Illegal immigrants eligible for Workers' Comp in Nevada, court reinforces
CARSON CITY, Nev. (Legal Newsline) – Undocumented aliens hurt on the job in Nevada are eligible for Workers’ Compensation benefits.
Factors abound to decide if man with brain tumor actually sued in time, court finds
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – A California appeals court has reinstated the medical malpractice lawsuit of a man who says his doctors failed to diagnose a brain tumor in 2010, even though he didn’t file suit for another six years.
Lawsuit challenges Minnesota's move to regulate vehicle emissions
MINNEAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) – A trade association is taking aim at Minnesota’s new proposed vehicle emission standards by challenging them in federal court.
As Lincoln moves to stop booze sales at 11, gentlemen's club sues
LINCOLN, Neb. (Legal Newsline) – A gentlemen’s club is suing the Nebraska city of Lincoln over a new directive that would shut its doors at 11 p.m.
This superintendent of schools needs some schooling
Someone needs to give Jefferson County Schools Superintedent Bondy Shay Gibson a civics lesson. Bus drivers Tina Renner and Pamela McDonald may be the ones to do it.
Graco wants case over lifespan of car seats thrown out of court
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – Nothing lasts forever, says the maker of popular child car seats as it fights a lawsuit complaining the items have a shelf life.
Setback for PAC, Maine lawmaker trying to impose ban on non-resident voting
BANGOR, Maine (Legal Newsline) – A Maine federal judge is skeptical about the likelihood a political action committee and a state lawmaker will be able to convince him to strike down a state law regarding signature-gathering.
Pit stains the subject of Speed Stick class action
ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) – Speed Stick users better watch out for pit stains, a class action lawsuit filed in December claims.
Keebler elves using fake fudge, lawsuit says
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – Keebler elves are misleading snackers into thinking they are using real fudge, a class action lawsuit says.
Walmart waiting to see if it will be penalized for not offering seats to cashiers
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – A lawsuit alleging Walmart failed to offer its cashiers somewhere to sit will be on hold for a little while.
CFPB fights back at lawsuit challenging repeal of short-term loan rule
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – A community group can’t sue over “pure speculation” of what the consequences will be if a federal agency is allowed to repeal a 2017 rule regarding short-term loans.
West Virginia, New Mexico AGs lead coalition wanting FDA progress update on opioid abuse
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas are leading a coalition of 48 attorneys general in pushing federal regulators to examine recent progress in their fight against opioid abuse.
UPDATE: Two school bus drivers suspended for attending Capitol rally sue county superintendent
MARTINSBURG – Two Jefferson County school bus drivers have sued the county school superintendent after they were suspended for attending the rally last week that led to the storming of the U.S. Capitol.
Maryland courts appoint two judges to key leadership positions
Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera has appointed two judges to new leadership roles within the state's judicial system.
Delaware moves to switch climate change lawsuit back to state court
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) – Claiming the federal issues presented by suing Big Oil for climate change aren’t significant enough, Delaware Attorney General Kathleen Jennings is arguing her case should be heard in a state court.
Widow of man who jumped off George Washington Bridge can sue for lack of suicide barriers
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - The widow of a man who parked his car on the George Washington Bridge, scaled a barrier onto a locked walkway and plunged to his death can sue the New York Port Authority for failing to maintain the bridge in a “reasonably safe condition,” an appeals court has ruled, reversing a lower court’s dismissal of the lawsuit.
Feds, Texas agencies sue DuPont for cleanup at Beaumont site
BEAUMONT, Texas (Legal Newsline) – The United States is suing DuPont and Chemours Co. for cleanup costs at the DuPont Beaumont Works Industrial Park Complex.