Product Liability

  • August 19, 2024

    Ford Can't Show Judge Is Biased In Crash Case, Driver Says

    Victims of a car crash urged the North Carolina state appeals court to reject a bid by Ford to get a trial court judge booted from a vehicle safety lawsuit, arguing the carmaker hasn't shown the judge is biased by bringing up statements he made years ago as a private attorney who took on the company.

  • August 19, 2024

    Philip Morris Urges Fla. Court To Toss Zyn Injury Lawsuits

    Philip Morris urged a Florida federal court on Monday to dismiss two lawsuits alleging ongoing injuries caused by addictions to Zyn nicotine pouches, arguing it had nothing to do with the claims prior to a 2022 acquisition and that it has no business ties to the Sunshine State.

  • August 16, 2024

    The Biggest Texas Rulings Of 2024: A Midyear Report

    Texas has seen a bevy of major decisions, including a $1.4 billion settlement with Facebook over alleged biometric data collection, a ruling banning gender-affirming care for minors, and the conclusion of a long-running securities case against Attorney General Ken Paxton. Here's some of the biggest decisions so far this year.

  • August 16, 2024

    Ariz. Justices Cut Doc Loose From Negligent Prescription Suit

    The Arizona Supreme Court on Friday tossed a lawsuit alleging a urologist negligently prescribed an antibiotic that caused harmful side effects to a patient, saying the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's "black box" warning about the drug did not waive a medical expert requirement.

  • August 16, 2024

    PepsiCo Can't Nix Suit Over Gatorade Bars' 'Health Halo'

    A California federal judge trimmed but declined to toss a putative consumer class action alleging PepsiCo created a "deceptive health halo" around its Gatorade brand protein bars, ruling that three self-proclaimed fitness enthusiasts plausibly alleged reasonable consumers could be misled by the company's marketing, ads and labels.

  • August 16, 2024

    McKinsey Drove Opioid Sale Scheme, Endo Ch. 11 Trust Says

    Consulting giant McKinsey & Co. should pay at least $1.5 billion to cover costs pharmaceutical developer Endo International racked up defending against claims that it helped drive the opioid crisis, an unsecured creditors' trustee has said, telling a New York bankruptcy judge the consultant's marketing and sales advice lit a "ticking time bomb" that sent Endo into Chapter 11.

  • August 16, 2024

    Baltimore Inks $152.5M Opioid Deal With Cardinal Health

    Baltimore announced Friday that it settled claims for $152.5 million with Cardinal Health over its alleged role in helping fuel the city's opioid crisis, reaching the deal with the pharmaceutical distributor ahead of a September trial against five remaining defendants and following separate $45 million settlements with Allergan and CVS.

  • August 16, 2024

    New Study Sought On Uranium Mine Near Grand Canyon

    Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is asking the U.S. Forest Service for an updated environmental impact study on the state's only working uranium mine at the center of a dispute with the Navajo Nation, saying the original assessment is based on outdated information about risks to the region's groundwater.

  • August 16, 2024

    Birth Control Cos. Say Conn. Injury Suit Must Be Tossed

    Several birth control companies have urged a Connecticut state court to toss a lawsuit brought by a woman alleging she was injured by the Filshie Clip contraceptive device, saying there is no jurisdiction because the parties involved in the case have no ties to Connecticut.

  • August 16, 2024

    2nd Circ. Finds Walgreens Supplement False Ad Suit Preempted

    The Second Circuit on Friday backed Walgreen Co. and International Vitamin Corp.'s win over a proposed class action alleging that a glucosamine supplement was mislabeled, finding the lower court was right to find the plaintiff's claims were preempted by federal law.

  • August 16, 2024

    Rhode Island Sues Cos. For Missing Washington Bridge Flaws

    Rhode Island on Friday accused more than a dozen contractors of negligence following the "catastrophic" emergency shutdown of the Washington Bridge, saying the companies missed critical structural deficiencies that has forced the state to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to replace the bridge entirely.

  • August 16, 2024

    Seaplane Crash Victims' Family Drops Product Liability Claims

    The family of two people who died in a seaplane crash that killed 10 near Seattle have agreed to dismiss claims against airplane manufacturer De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. and its parent company, according to a stipulated dismissal order filed in Washington state.

  • August 16, 2024

    Walgreens Didn't Disclose PFAS In Bandages, Shopper Says

    Walgreens' parent company has been hit with a proposed class suit in Illinois state court claiming the pharmacy retailer illegally markets its flexible fabric bandages as safe while hiding that they contain hazardous "forever chemicals" that are dangerous to human health.

  • August 16, 2024

    No More Info For Camp Lejeune Plaintiffs, Gov't Says

    The federal government has told a North Carolina court that a motion by the Camp Lejeune litigants to compel more information should be denied, since it has already produced nearly 23 million pages that cover half a dozen federal agencies and decades of data.

  • August 16, 2024

    DC Circ. Rolls Back Pipeline Safety Rules

    The D.C. Circuit on Friday threw out a handful of new safety standards for gas transmission pipelines set by the U.S. Department of Transportation, ruling that federal regulators failed to explain why their benefits outweighed their costs.

  • August 16, 2024

    Ford Says $1.7B Loss Blocks Punitives In Rollover Suit

    Ford Motor Co. is asking a Georgia federal court to throw out a bid for punitive damages from the children of a couple who died in a rollover crash, saying punitive damages in a prior $1.7 billion loss in a similar suit bars the claim.

  • August 16, 2024

    Psilocybin Right-To-Try Petition To Get 9th Circ. Hearing

    A Ninth Circuit panel will hear oral arguments Monday in an appeal brought by a Seattle doctor seeking to administer psilocybin to terminal cancer patients under state and federal right-to-try laws.

  • August 15, 2024

    Talc Jury Delivers $63M Verdict Against J&J, Beauty Care Co.

    A South Carolina jury awarded a cancer patient more than $63 million Thursday after he said he developed terminal lung cancer from breathing in asbestos during daily use of Johnson & Johnson's talc-based baby powder.

  • August 15, 2024

    Uber Gets Most Claims Tossed In Driver Assault MDL, For Now

    A California federal judge on Thursday threw out the majority of claims from California and Texas Uber riders in multidistrict litigation that aims to hold the ride-hailing company liable for their sexual assaults; however, the judge gave the plaintiffs the opportunity to amend those claims.

  • August 15, 2024

    Honda Slams 'Grossly Excessive' Atty Fee Bid In Defect Deal

    Honda urged a California federal judge on Thursday to reject a $10.8 million fee request in a consumer settlement that's paid out just $540,000 to Acura car owners with a purported hands-free calling battery-draining defect, blasting the amount as "grossly excessive" under the Ninth Circuit's recent Lowery decision.

  • August 15, 2024

    Judge Rejects GE's Bid To Pull Plug On Contamination Suit

    A Louisiana federal judge on Wednesday refused to let General Electric escape a lawsuit alleging it is liable for widespread environmental contamination caused by a now-closed pressure valve manufacturing facility that GE used to own.

  • August 15, 2024

    Widows Of Plane Crash Victims Claim Part Maker Is To Blame

    The spouses of twin brothers who died when their two-seat plane crashed are suing aircraft parts manufacturer Marvel-Schebler, claiming a defect in the company's carburetor caused the crash.

  • August 15, 2024

    Monsanto Gets 3rd Circ. Win In Roundup Failure-To-Warn Case

    The Third Circuit ruled Thursday that a Pennsylvania state law failure-to-warn claim in a suit alleging the weed killer Roundup caused a Keystone State man's cancer is preempted by federal law, creating a circuit split on central issues in multidistrict litigation over the Monsanto product.

  • August 15, 2024

    Pharmacy Can't Dodge Novo Nordisk's Diabetes Drug Suit

    A Tennessee federal judge on Thursday declined to throw out a suit by Novo Nordisk Inc. alleging that DCA Pharmacy is selling drugs with the same active ingredient as its Ozempic diabetes medicine without U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorization.

  • August 15, 2024

    Interior Department Grants $775M To Plug Oil And Gas Wells

    The U.S. Department of the Interior said it's making up to $775 million available for 21 eligible states to plug orphaned oil and gas wells to curb harmful methane leaks and reduce risks to the environment and public health.

Expert Analysis

  • Manufacturers Should Pay Attention To 'Right-To-Repair' Laws

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    Oregon’s recently passed "right-to-repair" statute highlights that the R2R movement is not going away, and that manufacturers of all kinds need to be paying attention to the evolving list of R2R statutes in various states and consider participating in the process, says Courtney Sarnow at Culhane.

  • How Cos. Can Comply With New PFAS Superfund Rule

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    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new rule designating two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as "hazardous substances" under the Superfund law will likely trigger additional enforcement and litigation at sites across the country — so companies should evaluate any associated reporting obligations and liability risks, say attorneys at Alston & Bird.

  • Ill. Justices' Ruling Answers Corporate Defamation Questions

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    The Illinois Supreme Court's recent unanimous decision in Project44 v. FourKites provides needed certainty and direction for lower courts considering defamation cases involving communications to corporate officers from third parties outside the corporation, which could result in fewer unwarranted motions to dismiss in trial courts and nonmeritorious appeals, says Phillip Zisook at Schoenberg Finkel.

  • Tylenol MDL Highlights Expert Admissibility Headaches

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    A New York federal court's decision to exclude all plaintiff experts in a multidistrict litigation concerning prenatal exposure to Tylenol highlights a number of expert testimony pitfalls that parties should avoid in product liability and mass tort matters, say Rand Brothers and Courtney Block at Winston & Strawn.

  • Don't Use The Same Template For Every Client Alert

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    As the old marketing adage goes, consistency is key, but law firm style guides need consistency that contemplates variety when it comes to client alert formats, allowing attorneys to tailor alerts to best fit the audience and subject matter, says Jessica Kaplan at Legally Penned.

  • Series

    Walking With My Dog Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Thanks to my dog Birdie, I've learned that carving out an activity different from the practice of law — like daily outdoor walks that allow you to interact with new people — can contribute to professional success by boosting creativity and mental acuity, as well as expanding your social network, says Sarah Petrie at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.

  • Could 'General Average' Apply To The Key Bridge Crash?

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    While the owner and operator of the vessel that struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge have sought legal protection under the Limitation of Liability Act, they could choose to invoke the long-standing principle of general average, if supported by the facts of the crash and the terms of their contracts with cargo owners, says Julie Maurer at Husch Blackwell.

  • Think Like A Lawyer: Follow The Iron Rule Of Trial Logic

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    Many diligent and eager attorneys include every good fact, point and rule in their trial narratives — spurred by the gnawing fear they’ll be second-guessed for leaving something out — but this approach ignores a fundamental principle of successful trial lawyering, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

  • Breaking Down EPA's Rule On PFAS In Drinking Water

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    Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized the first enforceable federal drinking water regulation for PFAS, which, along with reporting and compliance requirements for regulated entities, will have a number of indirect effects, including increased cleanup costs and the possible expansion of existing Superfund sites, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

  • The Art Of Asking: Leveraging Your Contacts For Referrals

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    Though attorneys may hesitate to ask for referral recommendations to generate new business, research shows that people want to help others they know, like and trust, so consider who in your network you should approach and how to make the ask, says Rebecca Hnatowski at Edwards Advisory.

  • Wave Of Final Rules Reflects Race Against CRA Deadline

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    The flurry of final rules now leaping off the Federal Register press — some of which will affect entire industries and millions of Americans — shows President Joe Biden's determination to protect his regulatory legacy from reversal by the next Congress, given the impending statutory look-back period under the Congressional Review Act, say attorneys at Jenner & Block.

  • 'Beauty From Within' Trend Poses Regulatory Risks For Cos.

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    Companies capitalizing on the current trend in oral supplements touting cosmetic benefits must note that a product claim that would be acceptable for an externally applied cosmetic may draw much stronger scrutiny from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration when applied to a supplement, say Natalie Rainer and Katherine Staba at K&L Gates.

  • 9th Circ. Arbitration Ruling Could Have Int'l Implications

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    In Patrick v. Running Warehouse, the Ninth Circuit's recent matter-of-fact invocation of an unusual California rule in a domestic arbitration context raises choice of law questions, and could make California law a strategic option for some international arbitration parties, says Jerry Roth at FedArb.

  • Series

    Being An Equestrian Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Beyond getting experience thinking on my feet and tackling stressful situations, the skills I've gained from horseback riding have considerable overlap with the skills used to practice law, particularly in terms of team building, continuing education, and making an effort to reset and recharge, says Kerry Irwin at Moore & Van Allen.

  • Teach Your Party Representative The Art Of Nonverbal Cues

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    As illustrated by recent reports about President Donald Trump’s nonverbal communication in court, jurors notice what’s happening at counsel table, which may color their perceptions of the case as a whole, so trial attorneys should teach party representatives to self-monitor their nonverbal behaviors, says Clint Townson at Townson Consulting.

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