News from June 2023
Lawyer wins his own fees from AT&T over canceled 1-800 number
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - AT&T must pay a lawyer for time he spent proving the telecommunications firm wasn’t telling the truth when it said a member of his firm canceled their 1-800 number, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled.
Stem cell company won't get jury trial after being sued by Iowa AG
DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - A company that touted its stem cell cures for aging wasn’t entitled to a jury trial over claims by the Iowa Attorney General it violated state consumer protection laws, the state’s highest court ruled.
Shareholder litigation against solar company has lead plaintiff, firm
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - By a relative nose, A Tampa, Fla., firefighters and police pension fund has won lead plaintiff status in shareholder litigation against Generac.
Victims of child sexual abuse can't recover treble damages from California school districts
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A California law providing treble damages for victims of child sexual abuse that was covered up doesn't extend to public entities, the California Supreme Court ruled, overturning several prior cases that suggested there was a difference between treble and punitive damages.
DayQuil-maker makes all-caps argument in motion to dismiss class action
PEORIA, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - A lawsuit alleges two products, packaged together, would lead a consumer to believe both will treat cold and flu symptoms. The defendant's response?
Group of AGs support challenge to California's Unsafe Handgun Act
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has joined 23 other state AGs in support of a challenge to the constitutionality of California’s Unsafe Handgun Act.
Lawmakers, worker advocates line up to defend independent contractors vs efforts to take California-style restrictions national
The U.S. Department of Labor under President Biden is preparing to seek to impose rules nationwide to limit the ability of people to work as independent contractors, mirroring and expanding rules imposed by California through legislation like AB5.
Last of wrongful death lawsuit over suicide at juvenile center settled
ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) - A mother who tried unsuccessfully to sue a Missouri court after her son hanged himself at a juvenile justice center has settled her lawsuit against the remaining defendant.
Not enough on the table for federal court in lawsuit between personal injury lawyers
DALLAS (Legal Newsline) - A Dallas federal judge has sent a dispute between personal injury lawyers back to the state court in which it was originally filed.
California taxpayers to foot $557K bill for part of gun control law no one wanted
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - Making a political point can have real-world costs, and California's taxpayers will now get to pay more than a half-million dollars so that state Attorney General Rob Bonta could deliver a message to Texas.
Cryptocurrency expert on SEC's Binance lawsuit: "It makes sense to prosecute specious claims"
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - As the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance pushes back against Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) claims it is operating in the U.S. unlawfully, an industry expert says the agency's action is sure to benefit Wall Street.
PFAS bellwether trial halts as 3M cites pending 'global resolution'
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - A bellwether trial of PFAS claims against 3M that was scheduled to begin Monday morning was halted to give more time for the parties to reach “a final binding agreement” to end litigation by hundreds of municipalities over the so-called “forever chemicals” in drinking water.
Anonymous letters about lawyer's arrest might be protected speech
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - A lawyer who was sued by a former associate after mailing anonymous letters to news outlets accusing him of beating his wife deserves a chance at having the suit dismissed under a law protecting speech about matters of public concern, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled.
Ohio Carpenters Pension fund claims Norfolk Southern failed to disclose safety issues with investors
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — An Ohio Carpenters pension fund that purchased interests in Norfolk Southern is claiming the company failed to disclose its safety issues.
Doctor can't be ordered to testify about midwife's performance in case of newborn's brain injury
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - A doctor can’t be compelled to testify about the performance of a nurse midwife before he arrived to deliver a baby who suffered hypoxic brain injury, Tennessee’s highest court ruled, rejecting arguments by trial lawyers that as a supervising physician he should be ordered to offer his expert opinion on whether the nurse met the standard of care.
Lawsuit filed when child gets fatter but not taller after drinking PediaSure
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — A grandmother who purchased Abbott's PediaSure Grow and Gain for her grandson alleges Abbott deceptively markets the drink as clinically proven to increase children's height.
Judge says California law requiring racial minority, LGBT representation on corporate boards is unconstitutional
The ruling could have implications for similar legislation or laws in other Democrat-dominated states, like Illinois, where lawmakers have considered following California's lead on increasing corporate board diversity by force of law
Another lemon lawsuit lacks bite; Publix defeats class action over cough drops
MIAMI (Legal Newsline) - A Florida federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit that complained honey and lemon-flavored lozenges did not contain real lemon.
Class Action: Chobani 'zero sugar' yogurt is not sugar-free
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) — Chobani is facing a class action alleging it is deceiving consumers with its "zero sugar" yogurt.