News from June 2023
Fatal drunk-driving accident leads to lawsuit against Arkansas bar
FORT SMITH, Ark. (Legal Newsline) — An Arkansas inmate, a bar and others are facing a wrongful death claim from the estate of a man killed in a drunk-driving collision.
Class action alleges Safeway, Albertsons raise prices on BOGO promotion items
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — A California man alleges Safeway and Albertsons grocery stores fraudulently raise prices of items on their buy one get one (BOGO) promotions.
Federal insurance litigation in Louisiana tops in U.S., new report finds
In the wake of a series of severe hurricanes and a single law firm’s mass filings, the Western District of Louisiana handled the most insurance cases of any federal district court in the nation during the past three years, according to a report released this week.
Life sentence given in 1999 murder case resolved after two decades
Coley McCraney has been sentenced to life without parole for the murders of J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett, which occurred in 1999.
Minnesota's Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea announces resignation effective October
Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea has announced her resignation from the Minnesota Supreme Court, effective October 1, 2023.
Yolanda L. Curtin named administrative judge for third judicial circuit
Today, Judge Yolanda L. Curtin was appointed as the circuit administrative judge for the third judicial circuit by Chief Justice Matthew J. Fader of the Supreme Court of Maryland.
Judge in Rhode Island climate case accused of potential bias
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline) - Oil companies sued by Rhode Island over global warming say the state judge hearing their case cited has created the appearance of bias by citing news articles in a ruling and comparing the state to developing nations that are seeking payment for climate change at the United Nations.
Arkansas says nothing federal about its lawsuit against TikTok
EL DORADO, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin wants his state's lawsuit against TikTok sent back to be heard in the state court in which it was first filed.
Lead positions picked for class action against Alphabet
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A California federal judge has picked the lead plaintiff and law firm to head class action shareholder litigation against Google's parent company Alphabet.
Combos sued over 'real cheese' claim
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — A consumer class action alleges Combos stuffed snacks do not contain a significant amount of real cheese as depicted on its label.
Lawsuit blames COVID vaccine, Department of Defense for man's death
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The estate of a 24-year old who allegedly died from Covid-19 vaccine-related myocarditis is suing the U.S. Department of Defense for its role in facilitating the vaccines.
Journalism professor accused of racism who lost job also loses defamation suit
GRETNA, La. (Legal Newsline) - A journalism professor who lost a prestigious job at Arizona State University after being accused of racism by former students on Twitter and in a school newspaper lost her case after a Louisiana appeals court ruled the comments were protected under the state’s anti-SLAPP statute.
Orlando hospital says COVID measures to blame for newborn's hearing loss
ORLANDO, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A Florida hospital says federal emergency law protects it from a lawsuit alleging air scrubbers employed to fight COVID-19 caused a newborn's hearing loss.
Global law firm faces suit for alleged hacking of opposing attorney-client emails
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — A global law firm, Dechert LLP, is being accused of illegally obtaining attorney-client emails from opposing parties in cases involving its clients.
Cosmetic industry group fights California's cancer warning requirement for titanium dioxide
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — A cosmetic industry organization claims California's requirement for a cancer warning on products containing titanium dioxide violates First Amendment rights.
CEOs beware this ruling, dissenting Arkansas Supreme Court justices say in Bayer ruling
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - A narrow majority of justices on the Arkansas Supreme Court refused to intervene in a state judge’s order requiring Bayer AG Chief Executive Werner Bauman to subject himself to a deposition in one of tens of thousands of lawsuits claiming Roundup herbicide causes cancer.
Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP announces Troutman Pepper Debuts Payments Pros Podcast, Offering Key Legal and Regulatory Insights in Payments and FinTech Industry
Payment processors, money transmitters, third party senders, banks, lenders, fintechs, and other financial technology businesses are facing more rules and increased scrutiny from regulators and self-regulatory organizations, as well as heightened consumer expectations.
Binance responds to SEC’s request for emergency TRO: "There is no 'emergency' here"
In response to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) request for an emergency temporary restraining order (TRO), which would allow the regulator to freeze assets tied to Binance.US, Binance questioned how the situation could constitute an “emergency” when the company has been operating for years, and the SEC is not alleging that user funds are at risk.
No defect in gun so no failure to warn, judge rules for SIG Sauer in accidental shooting lawsuit
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - The entirety of a lawsuit alleging a SIG Sauer P320 pistol went off without its owner pulling the trigger and shot him in the thigh has been thrown out by a Kentucky federal judge.
Second Circuit rules for AstraZeneca in suit over COVID vaccine statements
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Public pension funds that accused AstraZeneca of misleading investors about the efficacy of the company’s Covid 19 in order to facilitate a stock-funded acquisition failed to identify any false statements or a motive for committing fraud, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, upholding the dismissal of the case.