News from January 2023
Lawsuit filed against Bar Harbor's limit on cruise ship passengers
PORTLAND, Maine (Legal Newsline) — Business owners in Bar Harbor, Maine, are alleging a town ordinance limiting the number of persons disembarking from cruise ships is unconstitutional.
Morrisey joins in letter to proxy advisory firms about concerns with ESG voting guidelines
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has joined a 21-state coalition in writing a letter to two of the nation’s largest proxy advisory firms about concerns with how environmental, social and governance considerations affect the firms’ proxy voting recommendations and conflict with the financial interests of their clients.
Maryland appoints new county administrative judges for Anne Arundel and Cecil counties
Supreme Court of Maryland Chief Justice Matthew J. Fader has announced the appointments of Judge Donna M. Schaeffer and Judge Brenda A. Sexton as county administrative judges for Anne Arundel County and Cecil County, respectively.
Firm wants to lead class action against FIGS
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - The law firm Scott+Scott is asking to lead shareholder litigation against a health apparel company.
Employer not liable for worker's accident while running personal errands
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - The Texas Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit by relatives of two men who blamed an oilfield-services company for a fatal accident involving a contract employee who was running personal errands at the time.
Fire extinguisher missing from classroom a 'physical defect,' Ohio Supreme Court rules
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Resolving a question that has divided Ohio courts for years, the state Supreme Court ruled that a missing fire extinguisher in a school laboratory is a “physical defect” even if it wasn’t legally required, allowing students burned by an exploding bottle of alcohol to sue their school district.
Spindrift Sparkling Water allegedly not made with all natural ingredients
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — A lawsuit alleges the maker of Spindrift Sparkling Water drinks fraudulently label and market its product as having only natural ingredients.
Starbucks faces consumer class action over 'sprouted grain' bagel ingredients
WHITE PLAINS (Legal Newsline) — Starbucks is facing a consumer class action lawsuit alleging its Sprouted Grain bagels are actually made from non-sprouted grains.
Former Microsoft Litigation, Compliance Chief David Howard Joins Morgan Lewis in Seattle
Morgan Lewis continues to build its Pacific Northwest presence following the opening of an office in Seattle with a 34-member team by adding veteran litigator and corporate legal advisor David Howard as a partner.
Troutman Pepper Partner and State Attorneys General Practice Co-Lead Named Vice Chair for Am Law 50 Firm
Ashley L. Taylor, Jr., co-leader of Troutman Pepper’s nationally ranked State Attorneys General practice and a partner in its Regulatory Investigations, Strategy + Enforcement (RISE) Practice Group, has been named vice chair of Troutman Pepper, effective January 1, 2023.
Texas law limits damages over bus accident to $100K
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - A man who won a jury verdict for $216,000 in damages after being hit by a bus operated by a county social-services center will have to settle for $100,000 after the Texas Supreme Court ruled that state law limits the power of courts to award any more.
Patient can sue over basketball smackdown in mental hospital
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A woman who was admitted to a mental institution as “a danger to others” can sue the hospital for injuries she suffered after being slammed to the floor by another patient during a basketball game, a California appeals court ruled.
Maryland appellate court schedules oral argument in Young Lee vs State case
The Appellate Court of Maryland is set to hear oral arguments in the case of Young Lee, acting as the victim's representative, versus the State of Maryland.
Former Congressional Staff Director and Chief Counsel Maria Tripplaar Joins Ballard Spahr
Maria Tripplaar—an experienced Capitol Hill strategist who has served as Staff Director and Chief Counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans’ Affairs—has joined Ballard Spahr’s Government Affairs and Public Policy Group, firm Chair Mark Stewart announced.
Artist forced to prove he didn't paint inmate's work wins $2.5M penalty against accusers
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - A lawyer who persisted with a lawsuit accusing the famous Scottish artist Peter Doig of refusing to acknowledge one of his early works is now on the hook for more than $2.5 million in sanctions.
Judiciary corrects error on Hispanic representation among Prince George’s County judges
Due to an administrative error, the Judiciary misinformed the governor's office about the presence of Hispanic judges in Prince George's County.
Lead counsel picked for class action against food delivery software company
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - The law firm Scott + Scott will lead a shareholder class action lawsuit against a restaurant online ordering/delivery software company accused of misleading investors.
Injured utility worker can sue over pole-lifting tongs
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Ruling for the first time on a products liability statute passed in 2011, the Wisconsin Supreme Court said a utility worker can sue the company that made the tongs he used to lift a telephone pole that fell and injured him.
School district off the hook for erasing video evidence of sexual assault
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - A California school district was unduly censured for routinely erasing video footage that might have been valuable evidence of a sexual assault, an appeals court ruled, finding there was not enough evidence the district knew at the time it would be sued.
Family gets $900K wrongful death settlement after man hangs self in Missouri jail
ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) - A Missouri county will pay $900,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of a man who committed suicide in its jail.