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Product Liability

  • June 27, 2025

    Hershey Says Wrapper PFAS Suit 'Built On A House Of Cards'

    The Hershey Co. on Friday urged a Pennsylvania federal court to dismiss a putative class action that alleges its packaging for its chocolate bars and candies contains dangerous levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, saying consumers' testing allegations failed to back a viable claim that its products contain the forever chemicals known as PFAS.

  • June 27, 2025

    Meta, TikTok Can't Escape 'Subway Surfing' Death Suit

    TikTok and Meta Platforms can trim, but not escape, a lawsuit over the death of a teen who allegedly participated in a "subway surfing" social media challenge, a Manhattan judge ruled Friday, saying the complaint plausibly pleads the algorithms inundated the teen with dangerous "challenge" content he never sought.

  • June 27, 2025

    Gunmaker, Ammo Co. Sued In Ga. Over Exploding Cartridge

    A Georgia man is suing gunmaker Chiappa Firearms USA Ltd and ammunition supplier Olin Winchester LLC over permanent eye damage he sustained when a bullet unexpectedly exploded in a pistol he was target firing, according to a lawsuit recently removed to federal court.

  • June 27, 2025

    6th Circ. Vacates Class Cert. In GM Transmission Defect Suit

    The full Sixth Circuit on Friday unraveled class certification for drivers claiming General Motors LLC sold vehicles with defective transmissions that caused the cars to shudder and shake on the road.

  • June 27, 2025

    Tesla To Face Punitive Damages Claim At Trial Over Fla. Crash

    Tesla will face a punitive damages claim at trial next month in a wrongful death suit over a deadly collision in 2019, with a Florida federal judge saying there is enough evidence the carmaker knew about dangers associated with its autopilot system to send the claim to a jury.

  • June 27, 2025

    Sunbeam Says 'Reptile Theory' Tactics Doom $8.8M Verdict

    Sunbeam Products Inc. and parent company Newell Brands Inc. want a new trial in a case where a woman won an $8.8 million verdict on claims that a slow cooker made by the companies left her with burns, asserting that her attorneys committed misconduct aimed at using "Reptile Theory" to inflame the jury.

  • June 27, 2025

    Insurer Fights Cosmetic Co. Over Coverage For Pollution Row

    A Markel unit had no duty to defend a cosmetics company against prior water pollution claims simply because it agreed to defend a subsequent suit brought by the California attorney general, the insurer told a California federal court Friday.

  • June 27, 2025

    Recently Retired US District Judge Joins JAMS In Los Angeles

    Alternative dispute resolution service JAMS continues expanding its roster, announcing Thursday it has added a former California federal judge as one of its neutrals.

  • June 27, 2025

    Ghost Gun Seller Sued Over Deadly Philly Mass Shooting

    The parents of a victim of a 2023 mass shooting in the Kingsessing neighborhood of Philadelphia are suing a retailer they say sold the shooter parts to assemble a "ghost gun" version of an AR-15 in violation of Pennsylvania law.

  • June 27, 2025

    Idaho Justices Dismiss Suit Over Skier's Death On Slopes

    The Idaho Supreme Court has dismissed a widow's suit against Sun Valley Co. alleging the company was negligent and liable for the death of her husband from hitting a snow machine while skiing, finding that the machine was clearly marked in keeping with state law, and the skier had assumed the risks of the sport.

  • June 27, 2025

    Mass. Cannabis Labs Call Rival's Suit 'Publicity Stunt'

    Seven Massachusetts cannabis testing labs are asking a state court judge to toss out a lawsuit brought by a competitor accusing them of manipulating test results, with three of the defendants calling the complaint a "publicity stunt" driven by the plaintiff's declining market share.

  • June 26, 2025

    Phillip Morris Moves To Arbitrate Rivals' Tobacco Deal Suit

    Philip Morris USA is urging a Washington state judge to force arbitration in a dispute with R.J. Reynolds and other tobacco companies over deals delineating billions of dollars in annual payments owed to states under Big Tobacco's 1998 master settlement agreement.

  • June 26, 2025

    Bayer Investors' $38M Settlement Over Monsanto Deal OK'd

    A California federal judge on Thursday preliminarily approved Bayer AG's $38 million settlement with investors who accused the German multinational of downplaying litigation risks related to the weedkiller Roundup when it acquired Monsanto in 2018, saying the deal appeared to be "fair, reasonable and adequate."

  • June 26, 2025

    Suit Blaming Big Oil For Heat Wave Death Moved To Fed Court

    Chevron removed to Seattle federal court a first-of-its kind wrongful death suit brought by the daughter of a woman who died during a 2021 heat wave alleging oil and gas giants — including BP PLC, ConocoPhillips and Shell PLC — knew for decades their fossil fuel products would one day "claim lives."

  • June 26, 2025

    Grocer Drops Insurer From NC Opioid Coverage Suit

    A grocery chain and a Chubb unit told a North Carolina state court they've agreed to drop their insurance coverage claims against each other with prejudice over a raft of underlying opioid lawsuits.

  • June 26, 2025

    Volvo's US Unit Escapes Film Producer's Hearing Loss Suit

    The co-founder of Armory Films — the production company behind "The Peanut Butter Falcon" and "Fool's Paradise" — can't sue Volvo Car USA LLC for hearing loss suffered due to a purported defect in his vehicle's speakers, a Nashville federal judge ruled, saying the domestic company didn't manufacture the SUV so it can't be found liable under state law.

  • June 26, 2025

    5th Circ. Revives Biz Records Law, Citing Review Safeguard

    The Fifth Circuit on Thursday tossed a permanent injunction blocking a Texas statute requiring businesses to immediately comply with the state's demand to examine business records, saying the Texas Supreme Court recently "harmonized" the law in a way that addresses Spirit AeroSystems Inc.'s constitutional challenge.

  • June 26, 2025

    Kimberly-Clark Inks $4.15M Deal In Gown Fraud Suit

    Kimberly-Clark Corp. has agreed to pay $4.15 million to settle a suit brought by a doctor on behalf of the federal government alleging it violated the False Claims Act by falsely claiming its surgical gowns protected against contagious diseases.

  • June 26, 2025

    Judge Casts Doubt On Plea Deals In Blood Test Defect Case

    A set of plea agreements between Massachusetts federal prosecutors and former Magellan Diagnostics executives has been thrown into uncertainty amid a dispute over whether the executives admitted to fraud related to defective blood tests or merely an intent to mislead, a question a judge said Thursday might be "a very expensive rabbit hole."

  • June 26, 2025

    Boeing Wins Discovery Stay In Chancery Derivative Suit

    Pointing to court doctrines barring discovery while a derivative suit faces dismissal motions, a Delaware vice chancellor on Thursday grounded a Boeing Co. stockholder bid to continue demanding records pending a final decision on the company's right to control the action, which alleges massive, costly safety failures.

  • June 26, 2025

    Kroger, Growers Sued Over Frozen Mango Contamination

    The Kroger Co., family-owned grower Townsend Farms Inc., SunOpta Grains and Foods Inc. and two unnamed corporations have been sued in Georgia federal court over allegations that a man developed a listeria infection after buying a frozen mango product from a Kroger in Douglasville, Georgia.

  • June 26, 2025

    Volvo EV Defect Causes Sudden Acceleration, Suit Says

    Volvo drivers filed a proposed class action in California federal court Wednesday alleging it concealed a latent systemic safety defect in some of its XC40 Recharge electric vehicles that cause them to behave erratically and dangerously, where they'd unexpectedly accelerate or lurch, even when drivers' feet are off the gas.

  • June 26, 2025

    Imerys Insurers Continue To Take Issue With Ch. 11 Plans

    Insurers that do not support talc producer Imerys Talc America's updated Chapter 11 plan told a Delaware judge Thursday that moving too swiftly toward confirmation of the new proposal will have the same results as an earlier effort, when the debtor asked to pause the proceedings after about a week.

  • June 26, 2025

    Conn. Atty Can't Intervene In Ex-Partner's Digital Data Bid

    Connecticut Trial Firm LLC co-founder Ryan McKeen cannot intervene in a discovery bid launched by his former 50-50 law partner Andrew Garza because the proceeding is not a "civil action" under the relevant statute, a state court judge has ruled.

  • June 26, 2025

    Gordon Rees Adds Glazier Yee Toxic Tort Ace In LA, St. Louis

    Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP is expanding its litigation team, bringing in an environmental and toxic tort specialist from boutique firm Glazier Yee LLP as a partner in its St. Louis and Los Angeles offices.

Expert Analysis

  • The PFAS Causation Question Is Far From Settled

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    In litigation over per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, the general causation question — whether the type of PFAS concerned is actually capable of causing disease — often receives little attention, but the scientific evidence around this issue is far from conclusive, and is a point worth raising by defense counsel, says John Gardella at CMBG3 Law.

  • Series

    Performing Stand-Up Comedy Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Whether I’m delivering a punchline on stage or a closing argument in court, balancing stand-up comedy performances and my legal career has demonstrated that the keys to success in both endeavors include reading the room, landing the right timing and making an impact, says attorney Rebecca Palmer.

  • Unpacking The Illicit E-Cigarette Crackdown By State AGs

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    A bipartisan coalition of attorneys general for nine states and the District of Columbia announced a coordinated effort to curb illicit electronic cigarette sales, illustrating the rising prominence of state attorneys general using consumer protection laws to address issues of national scope, especially when federal efforts prove ineffective, say attorneys at Troutman.

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From SEC To BigLaw

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    As I adjusted to the multifaceted workflow of a BigLaw firm after leaving the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, working side by side with new colleagues on complex matters proved the fastest way to build a deep rapport and demonstrate my value, says Jennifer Lee at Jenner & Block.

  • Making The Case For Rest In The Legal Profession

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    For too long, a culture of overwork has plagued the legal profession, but research shows that attorneys need rest to perform optimally and sustainably, so legal organizations and individuals must implement strategies that allow for restoration, says Marissa Alert at MDA Wellness, Carol Ross-Burnett at CRB Global, and Denise Robinson at The Still Center.

  • Opinion

    CPSC's Amazon Ruling Is A Win For Safety, Accountability

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    A recent U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission order classifying Amazon.com as a distributor, and requiring it to comply with notice, recall, refund and remediation obligations for defective products, is a major victory for consumer safety — and for attorneys pursuing product liability claims against major online retailers, says Donald Fountain at Clark Fountain.

  • 4 Ways Women Attorneys Can Build A Legal Legacy

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    This Women’s History Month, women attorneys should consider what small, day-to-day actions they can take to help leave a lasting impact for future generations, even if it means mentoring one person or taking 10 minutes to make a plan, says Jackie Prester, a former shareholder at Baker Donelson.

  • A Judge's Pointers For Adding Spice To Dry Legal Writing

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    U.S. District Judge Fred Biery shares a few key lessons about how to go against the grain of the legal writing tradition by adding color to bland judicial opinions, such as by telling a human story and injecting literary devices where possible.

  • Unpacking Liability When AI Makes A Faulty Decision

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    As artificial intelligence systems become more autonomous and influential in decision-making, concerns about AI-related harms and problematic decisions are growing, raising the pressing question of who bears the liability, says Megha Kumar at CyXcel.

  • What Advisory On Alcohol And Cancer May Mean For Cos.

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    While the federal government has yet to take concrete steps in response to a January advisory from the outgoing U.S. surgeon general on links between alcohol consumption and cancer, the statement has opened the door to potential regulatory, legislative and litigation challenges for the alcoholic beverage industry, say attorneys at Mayer Brown.

  • 6th Circ. Ruling Paves Path Out Of Loper Bright 'Twilight Zone'

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    The U.S. Supreme Court’s Loper Bright ruling created a twilight zone between express statutory delegations that trigger agency deference and implicit ones that do not, but the Sixth Circuit’s recent ruling in Moctezuma-Reyes v. Garland crafted a two-part test for resolving cases within this gray area, say attorneys at Wiley.

  • Navigating The Uncertain Future Of The Superfund PFAS Rule

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    The D.C. Circuit's recent grant of a pause in litigation while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reviews the Biden-era designation of two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as "hazardous" under the Superfund law creates new uncertainty for companies — but more lawsuits are likely as long as the rule remains in effect, say attorneys at Alston & Bird.

  • What To Know About Insurance Coverage For Greenwashing

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    As the number of public and private lawsuits relating to greenwashing dramatically grows, risk managers of companies making environmental claims should look to several types of insurance for coverage in the event of a suit, say attorneys at Hunton.

  • 7 Tips For Associates To Thrive In Hybrid Work Environments

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    As the vast majority of law firms have embraced some type of hybrid work policy, associates should consider a few strategies to get the most out of both their in-person and remote workdays, says James Argionis at Cozen O’Connor.

  • Series

    Playing Beach Volleyball Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    My commitment to beach volleyball has become integral to my performance as an attorney, with the sport continually reminding me that teamwork, perseverance, professionalism and stress management are essential to both undertakings, says Amy Drushal at Trenam.

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