News from 2021
Climate litigation is 'quietly midwifed' by activists fighting for 'sympathetic' state courts, amicus brief argues
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Climate plaintiffs are fighting to keep litigation out of federal courts because they hope to find "sympathetic" state judges to rule in their favor, says a new amicus brief filed by government watchdog group Energy Policy Advocates (EPA).
Slurs and CRT: Expelled student and Catholic school do battle over race and punishment
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – It had nothing with his thoughts on Critical Race Theory, a Sacramento Catholic school is arguing as it defends its expulsion of a 17-year-old Mexican American student.
Local group run by husband of judge in coffee-causes-cancer case no longer a CalChamber member
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Her husband’s group is no longer a member of ours, the California Chamber of Commerce has stated after questions arose whether Judge Kimberly Mueller was able to fairly preside over one of its lawsuits.
Hoboken's climate change case sent back to state court over defendants' protest
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – A New Jersey federal judge has sent climate change litigation back to state court.
Justice Stephen H. Grimes remembered for pioneering online presence for Florida's high court
Justice Stephen H. Grimes, who served on Florida's highest court from 1987 to 1997 and led the state courts system as Chief Justice from 1994 to 1996, has passed away. During his tenure, he oversaw significant changes within the judicial system, notably authorizing a website for the Florida Supreme Court in late 1994. This made it one of the first courts globally with an official web presence.
Netflix says it's not to blame for child suicides after release of 13 Reasons Why
OAKLAND, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Netflix says it shouldn’t be held liable for the increase in youth suicides following its release of the series 13 Reasons Why, which was adapted from a fictional novel about a young girl killing herself.
The word 'nature' and an avocado on the bottle don't trick shampoo buyers, judge rules
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – Class action lawyers’ plan to get Procter & Gamble to pay up for using the word "nature" on the labels of Pantene shampoos has so far failed.
Judge's OK of Florida's anti-riot law to be appealed by lawyers, Black Lives Matter
ORLANDO, Fla. (Legal Newsline) – Activists and lawyers will appeal a federal judge’s ruling that said Florida’s new anti-riot law doesn’t prevent protestors from peacefully assembling.
Fudge in Pop-Tarts isn't real fudge, lawsuit complains
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Included in a recent pile of fudge lawsuits is a proposed class action against Kellogg's.
Needles corked in Tucson: Vaccine mandate cancelled after AG Brnovich threatens sanctions
PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) - Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich was justified in threatening the city of Tucson with sanctions if it would have proceeded with a plan to force vaccinations on government employees, according to a civil liberties advocate.
3M prods lawyer referral service for info on ear plug claims
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – Facing a massive pile of hearing loss lawsuits, 3M is again hoping to find out exactly where all these plaintiffs came from.
Federal judge to decide whether #MeToo law keeps former Fox News personality's sexual harassment case in court
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – A former Fox News personality’s sexual harassment fight will remain where it is, thanks to a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Trying to 'cancel' a business on Instagram isn't protected speech; 'Celebrity jeweler' faces defamation case
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - A self-described “celebrity jeweler” who brought the wrath of his Internet followers down on a cake shop he accused of botching his son’s birthday cake can’t hide behind a law designed to protect statements made in the public interest, a California appeals court has ruled.
Bimbo Bakeries met with fudge lawsuit
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Bimbo Bakeries faces a class action lawsuit over a chocolate cake iced with what the company calls fudge.
Cozen O’Connor attorney Michael Schmidt Elected Fellow of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
Michael Schmidt, vice-chair of Cozen O’Connor’s national Labor and Employment Department, has been elected a Fellow in The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.
Judge isn't buying arguments by Reno and its hired guns who teamed to sue Netflix, Hulu
LAS VEGAS (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge dismissed the City of Reno’s lawsuit against Netflix and Hulu seeking to impose a 5% franchise tax on streaming video services, saying state law doesn’t allow the charge and Reno didn’t have standing to bring the suit anyway.
Surgeon can be sued for not telling patient she left gallstone in his abdomen
BOISE, Idaho (Legal Newsline) - A surgeon who removed a patient’s gallbladder without telling him she’d left a large gallstone behind can be sued for her lack of candor, the Idaho Supreme Court ruled, in a decision that otherwise affirmed a trial judge’s decision to reject the plaintiff’s expert testimony as too late.
$4.3M verdict stands against rehab clinic after man jumps off roof to his death
SANTA ANA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - A California drug rehabilitation clinic lost all of its arguments after appealing a $4.3 million jury verdict against it over the death of a patient who committed suicide by leaping from a roof just minutes after a staff member checked in on him.
Lawsuit takes issue with fudge in Hershey products
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Hershey's "hot fudge" doesn't contain the ingredients of real fudge, a new class action lawsuit claims.
Fox Amps Up Energy Practice in Raleigh with Addition of Ben Snowden and David Drooz
Fox Amps Up Energy Practice in Raleigh with Addition of Ben Snowden and David Drooz.