Product Liability

  • March 04, 2025

    Ga. PFAS Liability Bill Faces Debate Ahead Of Key Deadline

    A Georgia bill to reduce corporate liability for PFAS contamination on Tuesday received strong industry backing and intense pushback from North Georgia residents and communities who warned state lawmakers against handing "a get-out-of-jail-free card" to carpet manufacturers accused of polluting waterways.

  • March 04, 2025

    Freezer Co. Drops Supplier Suit Over $15M Embryo Loss

    Freezer maker Chart Inc. has dropped its lawsuit alleging one of its suppliers should pay part of a $15 million verdict stemming from an implosion of Chart's cryopreservation tanks in 2018, which destroyed human eggs and embryos, according to an order Monday.

  • March 04, 2025

    FCA Hit With Suit Alleging Power-Steering Pump Fire Risk

    Automaker Fiat Chrysler was hit with a new proposed class action on Monday alleging it sold Jeep vehicles with defective power-steering pump electrical connectors that increase the risk of spontaneous fires, adding that the issue has led to at least one death.

  • March 04, 2025

    Lead Testing Operations Chief To Admit Misbranding Charge

    The former chief operating officer of Magellan Diagnostics will admit to defrauding the public by hiding flaws in the company's lead testing devices for years, according to a filing in Massachusetts federal court.

  • March 04, 2025

    Justices Doubt Mexico Can Pin Cartel Deaths On US Gun Cos.

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday appeared highly skeptical of a suit by the Mexican government that seeks to hold Smith & Wesson and other American gunmakers liable for cartel violence, with justices from both sides of the ideological spectrum suggesting that the claims are too speculative.

  • March 03, 2025

    Wrongful Death Claims Go Ahead In Social Media MDL

    A California federal judge overseeing the multidistrict litigation over claims Facebook and other social media companies purposefully addict minors to their platforms has allowed certain allegations, including negligence and wrongful death claims, to go forward in a final ruling.

  • March 03, 2025

    Fiji Beats Ill. Microplastics Suit Over Lack Of Testing

    An Illinois federal judge has tossed out proposed class claims that the company behind Fiji Water illegally labels the product as "natural" artesian water knowing it contains microplastics, saying Monday the consumers haven't pointed to scientific evidence directly tying the product to their claims.  

  • March 03, 2025

    Jaguar Can't Shirk Warranty Claims In EV Battery Fire Suit

    Jaguar can't evade claims it sold thousands of electric vehicles with batteries prone to catching fire, a New Jersey federal judge ruled Monday, saying the argument that buyers expect and even price in these kinds of issues at the time of purchase "defies everyday experience."

  • March 03, 2025

    National Gaming Chair Gets Pause In Alaskan Casino Suit

    A federal judge has paused litigation against acting National Indian Gaming Commission Chairwoman Sharon M. Avery until the court can determine if an Alaskan Native village is a required party in the dispute that looks to block plans for a 58,000-square-foot casino in Anchorage.

  • March 03, 2025

    Chamber Leads Group Challenging NY Climate Superfund Bill

    A U.S. Chamber of Commerce-led coalition asked a New York federal judge to block a "plainly unconstitutional" Empire State law that promises to impose $75 billion in cost-recovery demands on fossil fuel companies to help pay for climate adaptation projects.

  • March 03, 2025

    Ex-Jaguars Worker Tells FanDuel Arbitration Isn't Enforceable

    A former Jacksonville Jaguars employee urged a New York federal court to deny FanDuel's bid to arbitrate his claims in a lawsuit that alleges the company facilitated a gambling addiction, saying the company aggressively lured him with predatory tactics and must be held accountable.

  • March 03, 2025

    Countertop Co. Demands Insurer Cover Over 100 Injury Suits

    A distributor of countertops and flooring accused a Liberty Mutual unit in New York federal court of reversing its coverage position on nearly 130 underlying personal injury lawsuits in bad faith, arguing that each underlying plaintiff's alleged injuries should constitute separate occurrences.

  • March 03, 2025

    10th Circ. Backs CPSC In Challenge To New Magnet Rule

    The Tenth Circuit on Monday denied a petition challenging a new Consumer Product Safety Commission rule regulating the sale of small, high-powered magnets, finding that the evidence the CPSC provided supports the rule and the commission's structure is constitutional.

  • March 03, 2025

    Justices Turn Away Peru Mining Pollution Suit

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a bid by a mining company controlled by billionaire Ira Rennert to resolve whether the Eighth Circuit incorrectly denied the dismissal of claims raised by over 1,000 Peruvians alleging improper pollution.

  • February 28, 2025

    J&J Talc Spinoff Wraps Two-Week Chapter 11 Trial

    A marathon Chapter 11 trial for Johnson & Johnson's talc liability unit wrapped up Friday, with attorneys defending the $10 billion plan against competing efforts to toss the Texas bankruptcy.

  • February 28, 2025

    Group Blasts Judge's Call For Women In Contraception MDL

    A judicial organization dedicated to fighting "leftist lawfare" filed a complaint Thursday against the Florida federal judge overseeing multidistrict litigation over the hormonal contraceptive drug Depo-Provera, claiming that her comments about women needing to be represented in the MDL leadership show an impermissible bias.

  • February 28, 2025

    Ford Insists Recalls Thwart Engine Fire Defect Class Action

    Ford Motor Co. asked a Michigan federal judge on Friday to snuff an amended proposed class action alleging it sold hybrid electric vehicles with defective engines that could spontaneously stall and catch fire, reiterating that two voluntary recalls of affected vehicles voids the drivers' claims.

  • February 28, 2025

    Galaxy Gas Hides A Dangerous Buzz, Class Action Says

    Galaxy Gas, the maker of a popular line of flavored nitrous oxide dispensers, was hit with a putative class action Friday accusing the company of pushing a commonly abused, addictive, dangerous, and perfectly legal recreational drug under the guise of a "culinary tool."

  • February 28, 2025

    Seattle Property Owner Slaps Exxon With Cleanup Suit

    A Seattle property owner hit Exxon Mobil Corp. with a lawsuit seeking to hold it liable for the costs of cleaning up pollution from a former gas station, according to a complaint the energy giant removed to federal court on Friday.

  • February 28, 2025

    GM Parking Defect Suit Dismissed After Settlement

    A Michigan federal judge has dismissed a class action alleging General Motors LLC sold vehicles with a defective shifter that couldn't detect when the vehicles are in park following a notice that the parties had reached a settlement.

  • February 28, 2025

    11th Circ. Asked To Revive Defect Claims In Tesla Crash Suit

    The father of a teenager killed in a Tesla crash asked the Eleventh Circuit on Friday to revive his battery defect claims against the electric car maker, arguing that the lower court should have allowed them to go to a jury.

  • February 28, 2025

    Lewis Brisbois Adds Miami Litigation Trio From Fowler White

    Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP added a trio of experienced litigation partners to its products liability practice in Miami from Fowler White Burnett PA.

  • February 28, 2025

    Fla. Justices Say Atty Broke Rules With Nonviable Engle Suits

    The Florida Supreme Court has found an attorney guilty of violating court rules by filing baseless Engle progeny suits and failing to properly communicate with his clients, and told a referee to determine the appropriate sanction.

  • February 27, 2025

    Ford's Electric Mustang Can Trap Occupants, Drivers Say

    The Ford Motor Co.'s electric Mustang's electronically latched doors could pose a significant danger and trap the car's occupants in the event of a battery failure or loss of power to the vehicle, according to a proposed class action filed Thursday in California federal court.

  • February 27, 2025

    Norfolk Southern Escapes Investors' Derailment Fraud Suit

    A New York federal judge on Thursday dumped a proposed securities fraud class action alleging Norfolk Southern misled investors by falsely touting its commitments to safety while embarking on risky cost-cutting operational and staffing changes that ultimately led to 2023's fiery derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

Expert Analysis

  • Defense Strategies For Addressing Conspiracy-Minded Jurors

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    As conspiracy theories continue to proliferate and gain traction in the U.S., defense attorneys will need to consider ways to keep conspiracy-minded jurors from sitting on the jury, and to persuade them when this isn’t possible, say consultants at IMS Legal Strategies.

  • 7 Ways 2nd Trump Administration May Affect Partner Hiring

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    President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House will likely have a number of downstream effects on partner hiring in the legal industry, from accelerated hiring timelines to increased vetting of prospective employees, say recruiters at Macrae.

  • Trump, Tariffs And Tech: The Right To Repair In 2025

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    The "right-to-repair" movement has helped make it easier for independent repair shops and consumers to repair their devices and vehicles — but President-elect Donald Trump's complicated relationship with Big Tech, and his advocacy for increased tariffs, make the immediate future of the movement uncertain, say attorneys at Carter Ledyard.

  • E-Discovery Quarterly: Rulings On Custodian Selection

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    Several recent rulings make clear that the proportionality of additional proposed custodians will depend on whether the custodians have unique relevant documents, and producing parties should consider whether information already in the record will show that they have relevant documents that otherwise might not be produced, say attorneys at Sidley.

  • Opinion

    Section 230 Debates Will Continue, With Or Without TikTok

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    Regardless of whether TikTok is forced to shut down in the U.S. in the coming weeks, legal disputes will continue over social media platforms' responsibility under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act for harms allegedly caused by content shared on their apps, says Carla Varriale-Barker at Segal McCambridge.

  • When Judging Product Label Claims, Follow The Asterisk

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    A recurring question in false advertising class actions is whether misleading or ambiguous statements on a product's front label can be cured by information on the back label — but recent decisions from the Ninth Circuit suggest that a front-label asterisk can help alert consumers to seek further clarification, say attorneys at Hunton.

  • Complying With Seasonal Product Labeling Requirements

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    Though the holiday season is in the rearview, many seasonal alcohol products remain in the market, and producers should ensure that their labels comply with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau's additional requirements for such products, say attorneys at McDermott.

  • How Trial Attys Can Wield Amended Federal Evidence Rules

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    Trial lawyers should assess recent amendments to four Federal Rules of Evidence and a newly enacted rule on illustrative aids to determine how to best use the rules to enhance pretrial discovery and trial strategy, says Stewart Edelstein, former litigation chair at Cohen & Wolf.

  • Series

    Exercising On My Peloton Bike Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    While I originally came to the Peloton bike for exercise, one cycling instructor’s teachings have come to serve as a road map for practicing law thoughtfully and mindfully, which has opened opportunities for growth and change in my career, says Andrea Kirshenbaum at Littler.

  • 5 Drug And Device Developments That Shaped 2024

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    The last year saw significant legal developments affecting drug and device manufacturers, with landmark decisions and regulatory changes that require vigilance and agility from the industry, say attorneys at Faegre Drinker.

  • Opinion

    Aviation Watch: How Court Nixed Boeing Plea Deal Over DEI

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    A Texas federal court's rejection of the plea agreement between the U.S. Department of Justice and Boeing over the 737 Max aircraft gratuitously injected the court's views on diversity, equity and inclusion into a case that shouldn't have been a criminal matter in the first place, says Alan Hoffman, a retired attorney and aviation expert.

  • Top 10 Legal Issues This Year For Transportation Industry GCs

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    General counsel must carefully consider numerous legal and policy challenges facing the automotive and transportation industry in the year to come, especially while navigating new technologies, regulations and global markets, says Francesco Liberatore at Squire Patton.

  • Exploring Venue Strategy For Trump-Era Regulatory Litigation

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    Litigation will likely play a prominent role in shaping policy outcomes during the second Trump administration, and stakeholders have several tools at their disposal to steer regulatory litigation toward more favorable venues, say attorneys at Covington.

  • Consultants Should Be Aware Of DOJ's Potential New Reach

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    The U.S. Department of Justice's recent first-of-its-kind settlement with McKinsey & Co. indicates not only the DOJ's more aggressive stance toward businesses' potential criminal wrongdoings, but also the benefits of self-disclosure and cooperation when wrongdoing becomes apparent, says Dom Caamano at Kibler Fowler.

  • Product Safety Issues In 2024 Highlight Need For Vigilance

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    A look at some of the medications and foods that led to significant class actions last year demonstrates the need for robust regulatory systems and proactive measures to protect consumers from defective and harmful products, says Jennifer Taylor at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin.

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