News from May 2022
Washington State to receive a half-billion from opioid drug producers in trial settlement
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - Three weeks after closing arguments were postponed until July at the request of lawyers for defendants, three opioid drug producing companies accused of causing an epidemic agreed on May 3 to settle with Washington State for $518 million.
Washington County court opens new help center offering free legal assistance
The Circuit Court for Washington County is set to open its new Help Center on Friday, May 6, in Hagerstown.
Rancher's stand in court over grizzly attacks on cattle falls short
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Legal Newsline) – A Wyoming rancher has failed to convince the state Supreme Court that he should be paid more than what is established for the death of cattle due to the mismanagement of the grizzly bear population.
Catholic Church loses bid to dismiss sexual abuse lawsuit in Kansas
TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) – The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kan., has failed to defeat a sexual abuse claim by claiming the allegations of a former altar boy were too late.
Lawsuit says PFAS present in Cava Grill packaging
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - Mediterranean food chain Cava Grill has joined the group of restaurants facing lawsuits over the presence of chemicals in its packaging.
N.Y. law firm that worked on high-stakes case for Moldova says it wasn't paid
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The Republic of Moldova has been sued in District of Columbia federal court by a law firm that says it hasn't been paid for its services.
Out-of-state crime no reason to deny pistol permit, court rules
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - The Connecticut Supreme Court ordered the state to issue a pistol permit to a man who was denied because of a drug conviction in New York, ruling that state law doesn’t include prohibitions on firearms permits over out-of-state misdemeanors.
Jake Carroll Elected Chair of the Atlanta Bar Association’s Construction Law Section
Jake Carroll Elected Chair of the Atlanta Bar Association’s Construction Law Section.
Former DEA agent portrays opioid defendants as lax on suspicious orders
CHARLESTON — A former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officer testified that the defendant opioid suppliers took lightly their responsibility to prevent drug diversion.
Indian housing authority hit with $3 million verdict over boiler explosion
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Legal Newsline) - An Alaska housing authority must pay $3 million to a man and his family because the authority didn’t continue to inspect a boiler in a house after the man had fully paid for it, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled.
Judge on class action: Reasonable consumers can read sugar content on drink's label
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) – A federal judge has tossed a class action lawsuit that claimed GoodBelly probiotic drinks weren’t as healthy as they were marketed to be because they contain sugar.
States sue Postal Service for not choosing electric vehicles
OAKLAND, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Several states are suing the U.S. Postal Service over its decision to purchase new gas-powered vehicles.
Loan company hit with telemarketing lawsuit
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – A company offering short-term loans faces a lawsuit that claims its telemarketing breaks the law.
San Diego can use private lawyers on contingency fee to sue, court says
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - A California appeals refused to boot contingency-fee lawyers from a lawsuit by the City of San Diego against Experian, rejecting the company’s argument the private lawyers violated the public prosecutor’s duty of neutrality by working for a share of any money they won in the case.
Reed Smith deepens bankruptcy, creditors’ rights and litigation bench with addition of two partners in New York
Reed Smith deepens bankruptcy, creditors’ rights and litigation bench with addition of two partners in New York.
Defense attorneys question DEA official about opioid suspicious orders in West Virginia trial
CHARLESTON — An official of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration told attorneys defending suppliers of opioid drugs that the companies were supposed to protect against suspicious drug orders without specific guidance from the DEA.
Office of Management and Budget accused of violating FOIA transparency rules
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A federal watchdog has sued the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) accusing it of wrongfully withholding records related to the office of the administrator of the U.S. Digital Service (USDS).
Suspect who rammed pedestrian with car during police chase loses motion
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - A man who was shot at least four times after leading police on a high-speed chase during which he rammed a pedestrian and hit another police officer lost his bid to win a civil lawsuit against the city on summary judgment, after a federal court said there were enough disputed facts to take the case to trial.
Asbestos lawyers fight spotlight as trial over management of victims fund nears
ERIE, Pa. (Legal Newsline) – Asbestos lawyers have public relations concerns as a trial approaches in Pennsylvania that will determine if they are using an asbestos victims fund like a bottomless ATM.
Lawyer suing Giants/Jets for playing in New Jersey drops, adds claims
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – The lawyer suing the NFL and its two New York City-based teams for billions of dollars because they play in New Jersey has given up on his racketeering claims.