News from September 2023
Attorneys battle over joint representation of military clients injured in 1983 Beirut bombing
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (Legal Newsline) — Two Texas attorneys are claiming a law firm with which they had a joint representation agreement for U.S. Marines in the 1983 Beirut bombing illegally tried to fire them.
Consumers claim Barilla pasta sauce falsely labeled as preservative-free
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — The maker of Barilla tomato sauces is being sued over their labeling as preservative-free when they allegedly contain a commercially made preservative.
Judge in R.I. climate change case responds to bias arguments
NEWPORT, R.I. (Legal Newsline) - The judge hearing Rhode Island's climate change case against companies like Chevron and Exxon has responded to their claims he appears to be biased against them.
Litigation funders score win in Minnesota; Usury issue best left to lawmakers, court says
MINNEAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Companies that front lump sum payments to plaintiffs in exchange for a percentage of what is recovered in their lawsuits can continue to charge whatever interest rate they want, the Minnesota Supreme Court says.
Suit: Crumbl adds hidden fee on in-app cookie purchases
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — Consumers have filed a suit against a gourmet cookie seller, Crumbl, alleging it fails to disclose service fees added to purchases made through its app.
Fla. firefighter develops PTSD after mother dies in fire, sues under the ADA
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) — A Florida firefighter is claiming he was denied reasonable accommodations for his PTSD.
Duane Morris Attorney Sheila Slocum Hollis to Receive the 2023 ABA Lifetime Achievement Award in Environmental, Energy or Resources Law and Policy
Sheila Slocum Hollis is the recipient of the 2023 American Bar Association Lifetime Achievement Award in Environmental, Energy or Resources Law and Policy.
Google, AGs reach settlement in antitrust case about app store sales
CHARLESTON – Google and attorneys general from 52 states and territories have reached a settlement in an antitrust case about the company’s mobile app store policies.
Rutgers turns back class action over its business school rankings
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - Rutgers University has defeated a class action lawsuit that accused it and its business school of lying to obtain higher rankings.
Judge blocks Ark. law requiring ID check for social media accounts
EL DORADO, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - An Arkansas federal judge has stopped a new law that would require social media companies to inspect documents like the driver's licenses of would-be users to verify their ages.
DoD fights lawsuit blaming it for COVID vaccine-related death
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Department of Defense is confused as to why it is named as a defendant in a lawsuit alleging a 24-year-old man's death was a result of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
Riverside County hit with lawsuit over brutal death of transgender HIV-positive inmate
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — The family of a transgender HIV-positive prison inmate who was beaten and strangled to death by her cell mate is suing for wrongful death.
Mom sues Ghost energy drinks, says candy flavors target teens who don't need that much caffeine
FORT MYERS, Fla. (Legal Newsline) — A mother has filed a class action against the makers of Ghost energy drinks alleging they market to teens when the beverage is only intended for adults.
Virginia Lawyers Weekly Names Troutman Pepper Partner Will Homiller Among ‘Go To Lawyers’ for Commercial Real Estate
William G. Homiller, a partner in Troutman Pepper’s national Real Estate Practice Group, has been named among Virginia Lawyers Weekly’s “Go To Lawyers” for commercial real estate law.
AGs urge Congress to study AI and its effects on children
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is part of a bipartisan 54-state and territory coalition urging Congress to study how artificial intelligence can and is being used to exploit children through child sexual abuse material and to propose legislation to protect children from those abuses.
Massachusetts holds brokers to same standards as advisors in Robinhood case
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts can impose tougher securities regulations on Internet broker Robinhood, the state’s highest court ruled, reversing a lower-court decision that held the “fiduciary rule” equating brokers with investment advisors exceeded regulators’ authority.
California school right to fire teacher for refusing COVID tests, court rules
FRESNO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - Faced with an order by state health authorities to verify the Covid-19 vaccination status of all school workers in 2021, an elementary school had no choice but to fire a teacher who refused to disclose her medical records or submit to weekly Covid testing, a California appeals court ruled.
Court reinstates PAGA case against Marshalls thanks to COVID extension
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - The COVID pandemic will help a former Marshalls employee sue under California's Private Attorneys General Act.
Child's death from asphyxiation results in suit against hand bed rail manufacturers
ORLANDO, Fla. (Legal Newsline) — A mother claims the makers of a bed rail failed to issue a recall of the dangerous product, which resulted in her child becoming lodged between the rails and the bed and suffering asphyxiation.
Suit: Vibrating fitness machine caused retina detachment
TAMPA, Fla. (Legal Newsline) — A fitness club member alleges he suffered serious injuries while using a vibrating fitness machine at a Florida gym.