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Product Liability
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August 01, 2024
Conn. Defense Attys Can Weigh In On Baby Injury Case
The Connecticut Supreme Court will allow a group of defense attorneys to file a brief in car seat litigation in federal court that could affect whether companies can be held liable under state law for the absence of a child's relationship with their parents.
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August 01, 2024
Porsche Escapes Pa. Suit Claiming Faulty Cooling Pipes
A Porsche owner can't pursue claims that his SUV's allegedly faulty cooling system allowed antifreeze vapors to waft into his vehicle's cabin, a Pennsylvania federal judge ruled, saying the driver couldn't prove with "a reasonable degree of medical certainty" that these fumes caused his long-term respiratory problems.
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August 01, 2024
Alter Egos Say Rival Pool Co. Jumped The Gun On Discovery
The alter egos of bankrupt pool supply company Blueworks Corp. have rebuffed claims that they "simply refuse to answer" requests for discovery from rival Hayward Industries Inc. in its quest to secure a $16 million false advertising and deceptive trade practices judgment.
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August 01, 2024
Boeing, Spirit Aerosystems Escape Calif. Door Blowout Suit
A California federal judge on Wednesday tossed Boeing and supplier Spirit AeroSystems from a product liability lawsuit brought by passengers aboard the Alaska Airlines flight that experienced a midair door plug blowout in January, finding that the Golden State court lacks jurisdictional authority over two of the three defendants.
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August 01, 2024
JPML Won't Form MDL Of 35 Acne Product Benzene Suits
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation on Thursday declined to consolidate 35 suits alleging Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., CVS Pharmacy Inc., Target Corp. and others sold acne products that could break down into the carcinogen benzene, saying they don't have enough in common to warrant an MDL.
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August 01, 2024
Missouri Gov. Announces Ban On Psychoactive Hemp Wares
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Thursday announced a ban on the sale of intoxicating consumable cannabis products manufactured outside the state's regulated adult-use marijuana market, marking the latest effort by a state to rein in psychoactive wares derived from federally legal hemp.
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August 01, 2024
5th Circ. Backs Louisiana's Block Of EPA Chemical Rule
The Fifth Circuit on Wednesday refused to overturn a Louisiana agency's move to block the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing a chemical rule that a neoprene maker says would force it to shut down.
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August 01, 2024
Greenberg Traurig Hires Data Protection Partner From MoFo
Greenberg Traurig Germany LLP has expanded its data protection practice with a former senior associate from Morrison Foerster LLP who helped shape ground-breaking projects and proceedings in Berlin and New York over the past eight years, the firm said Thursday.
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August 01, 2024
3rd Circ. Says Enviro Fight No Reason To Reopen Ch. 11
The Third Circuit ruled Thursday that Bath Iron Works' potential liability over a polluted New Jersey river doesn't affect the Chapter 11 case of the shipbuilder's former affiliate, backing a district court that decided a bankruptcy judge erred in reopening the case.
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July 31, 2024
AT&T Faces New Data Breach Class Action By Non-Customers
AT&T, already facing litigation over a data breach it admitted to in mid-July, was hit Tuesday with another putative class action in Texas federal court, this time by two individuals who alleged the telecom giant disregarded the breach's impact on customers of other companies using AT&T's network.
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July 31, 2024
2nd Circ. Paves Way For Conn. Zantac Bellwether, Attys Say
A recent decision by the Second Circuit that upheld the remand to state court of product liability lawsuits alleging that generic versions of Zantac may have caused cancer has paved the way for more than 850 additional plaintiffs to move forward in state court, according to a recent filing.
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July 31, 2024
Ayahuasca Church Can't Get $2.1M For Atty Fees
Attorneys for a Phoenix-based church won't get their fees increased or have any part of their pay covered by the government, an Arizona federal judge has ruled, saying the church is not the winning party in its suit against several federal agencies because the court "never placed its stamp of approval" on a deal that allows the church to use ayahuasca.
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July 31, 2024
Tampax, Kotex Tampons Hid Unsafe Lead Levels, Suits Say
Kimberly-Clark and Procter & Gamble were each slapped with putative class actions in California federal court Tuesday claiming that some tampon products contain toxic levels of lead — and that the information was hidden from consumers.
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July 31, 2024
Federal Judge Overturns NJ Ban On AR-15 Assault Rifles
A New Jersey federal judge has overturned the Garden State's 30-year-old ban on AR-15 assault rifles, finding that even though it is "hard to accept the U.S. Supreme Court's pronouncements that certain firearm policy choices are 'off the table,'" the court is bound to follow the high court's decisions.
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July 31, 2024
Kenyan Firm Sues Ill. Attys Over Ethiopian Airlines Crash Fees
A small Kenyan law firm seeking attorney fees from a 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash victims settlement with Boeing is accusing Jenner & Block LLP and another Chicago firm of coaxing its former client into firing the firm, allegedly through misinformation and forged signatures, according to a suit filed in Illinois federal court this week.
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July 31, 2024
Telecom Trespassing On Reservation Land, Oregon Tribes Say
Lumen Technologies Inc. is trespassing on territory that belongs to the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation and has been for years, according to a lawsuit accusing the telecom of continuing to operate on an expired lease instead of striking a new deal for miles of laid fiber.
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July 31, 2024
737 Max Families Say Boeing Deal 'Morally Reprehensible'
Families of victims of the 737 Max 8 crashes asked a Texas federal court Wednesday to reject Boeing's plea agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, saying the "rotten deal" lets the American aerospace giant skirt culpability for the deaths of 346 people.
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July 31, 2024
EPA Floats Ban On Many Uses Of Carcinogen 1-BP
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday proposed banning all consumer uses of the carcinogen 1-bromopropane — except in insulation — as well as some industrial and commercial uses.
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July 31, 2024
Philip Morris Nicotine Pouches Are Deceptive, Lawsuit Claims
Philip Morris violated advertising and trade practices laws by selling "highly addictive" nicotine products designed and packaged to resemble breath mints and deceptively telegraphed that the tobacco-free pouches were healthier than cigarettes, according to a proposed class action in Connecticut federal court.
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July 31, 2024
Corteva Unit Ordered To Search 110K Boxes For PFAS Docs
A former North Carolina Superior Court judge in charge of ironing out a dispute between the state and a Corteva Inc. subsidiary over allegedly missing documents ordered the company to search through 110,000 boxes for information related to "forever-chemicals," finding it failed to give assurance the boxes were thoroughly searched.
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July 31, 2024
AIG Units Off Hook In Defending McKesson Opioid Suits
Two AIG insurers have no duty to defend McKesson Corp. over claims it intentionally over-distributed opioids, a California federal court ruled, saying the three underlying suits do not allege a potentially covered occurrence under policies issued between 1999 and 2004.
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July 31, 2024
Judge Refuses To Rethink Injury Firm Conflict Of Interest DQ
A law firm was properly disqualified from a family's design defect lawsuit against Home Depot USA Inc. and makers of a lawn mower, a New Jersey federal judge has ruled, confirming a prior finding that a conflict of interest arose between the father and daughter when the companies countersued the father.
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July 30, 2024
Amazon Must Recall Unsafe Third-Party Products, CPSC Says
Amazon bears legal responsibility for recalling the hundreds of thousands of products sold by third-party sellers on its site that are defective or fail to meet safety standards, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found in an order issued Monday.
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July 30, 2024
2024 Product Liability Areas To Watch
The growing movement in state laws about whether consumers can repair their own products is catching attorneys' eyes, as well as recent changes in rules that govern multidistrict litigation, which often involve pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
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July 30, 2024
Cook Medical Vein Filter Claims Came Too Late, 7th Circ. Says
The Seventh Circuit on Tuesday upheld Cook Medical LLC's win in a woman's lawsuit claiming the company's inferior vena cava filter caused her to develop abdominal pain and that the device fractured when it was removed, saying the suit was filed after the statute of limitations had expired.
Expert Analysis
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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.
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Series
Being An Equestrian Makes Me A Better Lawyer
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.
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Teach Your Party Representative The Art Of Nonverbal Cues
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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Considering CGL Defense For Social Media Addiction Claims
A recent lawsuit filed in California state court against Meta seeks damages from technology companies for the costs of treating children allegedly suffering from social media addiction, but the prospects of defense coverage under commercial general liability insurance policies for a potential new wave of claims look promising, say Craig Hirsch and Tae Andrews at Pasich.
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4 Ways To Refresh Your Law Firm's Marketing Strategy
With many BigLaw firms relying on an increasingly obsolete marketing approach that prioritizes stiff professionalism over authentic connection, adopting a few key communications strategies to better connect with today's clients and prospects can make all the difference, say Eric Pacifici and Kevin Henderson at SMB Law.
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Cos. Must Prepare For Calif. Legislation That Would Ban PFAS
Pending California legislation that would ban the sale or distribution of new products containing intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances could affect thousands of businesses — and given the bill's expected passage, and its draconian enforcement regime, companies must act now to prepare for it, say attorneys at Alston & Bird.
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FDA Warning Letter Tightens Reins On 'Research Only' Labels
A recent warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to Agena Bioscience alleged the company’s diagnostic devices were labeled for research use only, but improperly promoted for human clinical purposes, signifying a reinforcement — and a potential narrowing — of the agency's policy on products labeled “research only,” say attorneys at Sheppard Mullin.
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Assigning Liability In Key Bridge Collapse May Be Challenging
In the wake of a cargo ship's collision with Baltimore's Key Bridge last month, claimants may focus on the vessel's owners and the agencies responsible for the design and maintenance of the bridge — but allocating legal liability to either private or governmental entities may be difficult under applicable state and federal laws, says Clay Robbins at Wisner Baum.