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Product Liability
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August 20, 2024
Estates Say BNSF, Zurich Delayed Settling Asbestos Claims
BNSF Railway Co. and its Zurich insurer breached their claim handling duties owed to asbestos claimants, the estates of two claimants told a Montana federal court, saying the companies turned insurance protection into "an investment in accrued and ongoing human suffering."
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August 20, 2024
Fed Circ. Finds No Fault In Denial Of Flu Vaccine Claim
The Federal Circuit on Tuesday affirmed the denial of a family's petition for compensation alleging their child developed narcolepsy as a result of the FluMist vaccine, saying the special master's determination that the family hasn't properly established the link was not arbitrary.
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August 20, 2024
LOT Polish Airlines Objects To DOJ-Boeing 737 Max Plea Deal
LOT Polish Airlines has urged a Texas federal judge to reject Boeing's plea agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, saying the deal deprives restitution to airline customers that incurred millions in losses because Boeing defrauded regulators about the 737 Max 8's development.
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August 20, 2024
Ex-Execs Defend $59.7M Transfer Amid Asbestos Suits
A Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee's lawsuit claiming that former engineering company executives improperly transferred $59.7 million amid high-dollar asbestos claims is fatally flawed and the defendants did not do anything wrong, according to a filing in Connecticut federal court.
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August 20, 2024
EPA Finalizes Herbicide Strategy To Protect Listed Species
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday released a final strategy to protect nearly 1,000 threatened and endangered species and crucial habitat from herbicides, outlining measures to reduce their exposures to the chemicals.
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August 20, 2024
A Deep Dive Into Law360 Pulse's 2024 Women In Law Report
The legal industry continues to see incremental gains for female lawyers in private practice in the U.S., according to a Law360 Pulse analysis, with women now representing 40.6% of all attorneys and 51% of all associates.
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August 20, 2024
These Firms Have The Most Women In Equity Partnerships
The legal industry still has a long way to go before it can achieve gender parity at its upper levels. But these law firms are performing better than others in breaking the proverbial glass ceiling that prevents women from attaining leadership roles.
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August 19, 2024
9th Circ. Told Psilocybin Petition Is Backed By Precedent
A Ninth Circuit panel on Monday dissected opposing arguments from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and a Seattle doctor over whether there is precedent to allow the dispensing of psilocybin — a psychedelic compound — to treat terminally ill patients.
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August 19, 2024
Groups Urge EPA To Ban Dispersants Used In Deepwater Spill
Two advocacy groups on Monday petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to immediately stop using two chemical dispersants that were used after the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster and that they say cause a variety of health problems including cancer.
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August 19, 2024
3M Wants Conn. Firefighters' PFAS Case Paused For MDL
3M has asked a Connecticut federal court to stay a proposed class action by firefighters who wore technical gear containing so-called forever chemicals until there's a decision on whether to transfer the suit to a multidistrict litigation in South Carolina.
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August 19, 2024
Monsanto Faces Jury In 5th Philadelphia Roundup Trial
For the fifth time in a Philadelphia courtroom, jurors were told Monday by plaintiffs' attorneys that Bayer AG unit Monsanto sold its flagship weedkiller Roundup knowing it had cancer-causing properties, but failed to warn consumers about the potential danger so it could make a profit.
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August 19, 2024
Insurer Blames Panda Express Grease For $176K Water Leak
An insurer demanded Chinese fast food chain Panda Express Inc. repay it more than $176,000 for damages allegedly caused when the restaurant's grease-filled pipes backed up, leaking water into a clothing store covered by the insurer, in a case the eatery moved to Washington federal court.
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August 19, 2024
Feds Want E-Cig Importers To Give More Info At Time Of Entry
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of the Treasury are looking to require e-cigarette importers to hand over the unique identifier assigned to their product by the FDA as a condition of import.
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August 19, 2024
Pennsylvania Litigation Highlights Of 2024: A Midyear Report
Pennsylvania courts have been the scene of several explosive cases in the first half of 2024, including one that produced an astronomical $2.25 billion verdict against Bayer AG unit Monsanto in the Roundup mass tort unfolding in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.
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August 19, 2024
5th Circ. Won't Upend BP Win In Deepwater Cleanup Suit
The Fifth Circuit won't grant an extension on discovery deadlines to a worker who alleges he was harmed by exposure to toxins during the cleanup of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, saying the discovery he seeks wouldn't be enough to save his suit against BP Exploration & Production Inc. and BP America Production Co.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Expert Analysis
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Series
Swimming Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Years of participation in swimming events, especially in the open water, have proven to be ideal preparation for appellate arguments in court — just as you must put your trust in the ocean when competing in a swim event, you must do the same with the judicial process, says John Kulewicz at Vorys.
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What 100 Federal Cases Suggest About Changes To Chevron
With the U.S. Supreme Court poised to overturn or narrow its 40-year-old doctrine of Chevron deference, a review of 100 recent federal district court decisions confirm that changes to the Chevron framework will have broad ramifications — but the magnitude of the impact will depend on the details of the high court's ruling, say Kali Schellenberg and Jon Cochran at LeVan Stapleton.
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Manufacturers Should Pay Attention To 'Right-To-Repair' Laws
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.
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How Cos. Can Comply With New PFAS Superfund Rule
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.
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Ill. Justices' Ruling Answers Corporate Defamation Questions
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.
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Tylenol MDL Highlights Expert Admissibility Headaches
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.
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Don't Use The Same Template For Every Client Alert
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.
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Series
Walking With My Dog Makes Me A Better Lawyer
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.
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Could 'General Average' Apply To The Key Bridge Crash?
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.
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Think Like A Lawyer: Follow The Iron Rule Of Trial Logic
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.
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Breaking Down EPA's Rule On PFAS In Drinking Water
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.
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The Art Of Asking: Leveraging Your Contacts For Referrals
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.
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Wave Of Final Rules Reflects Race Against CRA Deadline
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.
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'Beauty From Within' Trend Poses Regulatory Risks For Cos.
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.
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9th Circ. Arbitration Ruling Could Have Int'l Implications
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.