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Product Liability

  • June 12, 2025

    8th Circ. Stubs Out Challenge To FDA Menthol Vape Denial

    The Eighth Circuit on Thursday threw out a challenge from SWT Global Supply Inc. to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's denial of its application to market menthol-flavored e-cigarettes, saying the agency didn't arbitrarily or capriciously find that the company's sales plan failed to meet its standards for promoting public health.

  • June 12, 2025

    Fla. Court Nixes Roundup Cancer Suit's Punitive Damages Bid

    A Florida state appeals court has refused to let a plaintiff pursue punitive damages against Monsanto Co. in his suit alleging that glyphosate in the company's Roundup weedkiller caused his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, finding he didn't present sufficient evidence to support the damages.

  • June 12, 2025

    Approach The Bench: Judge Proctor On Civility, Civil Rules

    R. David Proctor, chief judge of the Northern District of Alabama, is a leader within the federal judiciary. He's both assigned and presided over multidistrict litigation. He may write a nationwide rule governing third-party litigation funding. And he's gained internet fame for ordering two attorneys to eat lunch together.

  • June 11, 2025

    9th Circ. Doubts Kleenex Ad Fight Belongs In District Court

    Two judges on a Ninth Circuit panel doubted Wednesday that they have jurisdictional authority to revive a putative class action alleging Kimberly-Clark Corp.'s Kleenex Wet Wipes Germ Removal products mislead consumers about its ability to kill germs, saying repeatedly that the consumers' complaint has not met their burden to establish jurisdiction.

  • June 11, 2025

    Acura Drivers' Attys Get $8.5M In Bluetooth Device Settlement

    A California federal judge has granted final approval to a deal between a class of Acura drivers and American Honda Motor Co., settling claims over alleged defects in vehicles' Bluetooth hands-free systems and awarding class counsel $8.56 million in attorney fees — an amount reduced from the attorneys' original $10.9 million request.

  • June 11, 2025

    Senate Panel Vets Trump FAA Pick's Aviation Safety Priorities

    President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration pledged Wednesday to prioritize air traffic control upgrades, bolster staffing and reinvigorate safety programs, but deflected Democrats' repeated demands that he promise to preserve a 1,500-hour pilot training rule.

  • June 11, 2025

    Wash. Panel Grills Worker Family On $5M Asbestos Win Basis

    A Washington appellate panel seemed skeptical Wednesday that a family's $5.5 million win against an industrial manufacturer could stand when it never made the asbestos-containing equipment at issue in the product liability case, with one judge also remarking the company had raised a "hard argument" on appeal.

  • June 11, 2025

    9th Circ. Judge Doubts Apple ICloud Buyer's Storage Appeal

    A Ninth Circuit judge on a panel appeared skeptical Wednesday of an Apple consumer's bid to revive a proposed class action alleging the tech giant shortchanged tens of millions of paying iCloud subscribers out of 5 gigabytes of the storage space, saying the consumer "got exactly what you were promised."

  • June 11, 2025

    American Airlines Workers Win $18.7M Toxic Uniform Award

    A California state jury has awarded $18.7 million to five American Airlines flight attendants who blamed their employer and a uniform maker for causing them to suffer injuries due to uniforms made with toxic chemicals.

  • June 11, 2025

    3rd Circ. Sends Dow Pollution Suit Back To NJ State Court

    The Third Circuit on Wednesday said New Jersey's lawsuit accusing Dow Chemical Co. of causing widespread groundwater pollution through a product containing a potentially cancer-causing compound should be heard in state court, rejecting the chemical company's argument that it was acting under the direction of the federal government.

  • June 11, 2025

    Paddle Maker Wants Counterclaims Tossed In Contract Row

    Pickleball paddle producer Joola has urged the Maryland federal court to dismiss the fraud and false endorsement counterclaims in its breach of contract lawsuit against the self-proclaimed U.S. governing body for the sport, arguing the organization has not alleged any real harm.

  • June 11, 2025

    Insurer Says Law Firm Mishandled Pesticide Exposure Suit

    An insurer is claiming it is owed at least $625,000 from a law firm hired to defend a poultry farm against a suit over toxic pesticide exposure, alleging in federal court that it was forced to settle the suit above policy limits due to the firm's negligence and malpractice.

  • June 11, 2025

    J&J's Beasley Allen DQ Bid Based On 'Innuendo,' Court Told

    A California couple ripped Johnson & Johnson's renewed bid to block two Beasley Allen Law Firm attorneys from representing them in their suit accusing the company of selling carcinogenic talc-based baby powder, arguing the company's opposition is based largely on "innuendo" rather than proof of misconduct by the lawyers.

  • June 11, 2025

    Gun Groups Sue NJ, Bondi Over Handgun Age Restriction

    A would-be handgun owner and a pair of firearms groups are suing New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, law enforcement officials and Attorney General Pam Bondi in federal court, alleging that state and federal age-based prohibition against owning handguns is unconstitutional.

  • June 10, 2025

    Stewart's Newest Discretionary Denial Has Attys On Edge

    The acting U.S. Patent and Trademark Office director's decision on Friday to reject patent challenges due to the petitioner's long-standing knowledge of a patent has many attorneys bracing for either a massive rise or dip in Patent Trial and Appeal Board filings.

  • June 10, 2025

    Amazon Can't Duck Suit Over Non-FDA Approved Supplements

    Amazon must face a proposed class action alleging it sells non-FDA approved supplements touting health-related claims without mandatory disclaimers, after a Washington federal judge rejected the company's argument the plaintiffs lack standing to pursue claims over supplements they never bought, finding the plaintiffs allege a uniform, systematic marketing practice.

  • June 10, 2025

    Feds Aim To Trim Ga. Suit Over Air Force Wall Collapse Death

    The U.S. government has urged a Georgia federal judge to dismiss negligent inspection and maintenance claims by the parents of a teen killed when a partition wall at Robins Air Force Base collapsed, arguing they are barred under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

  • June 10, 2025

    Samsung, Home Depot Liable For Home Fire, Insurer Says

    Samsung and Home Depot owe an insurer more than $330,000 for payments made to a policyholder for fire damage, the insurer said in a suit removed to Pennsylvania federal court, alleging that an electric range manufactured by Samsung and sold by Home Depot caused the blaze.

  • June 10, 2025

    Jury Awards $28M In Latest PacifiCorp Wildfire Trial

    Oregonians, including a photographer and a charter boat operator, were awarded $27.97 million in noneconomic damages in the latest trial against utility PacifiCorp over wildfire damage, much less than the amount requested for the 10 plaintiffs.

  • June 10, 2025

    Mazda Driver Says Emissions Claims Distinct From Calif. Case

    A North Carolina federal judge didn't fairly consider how a Mazda driver's claims of excessive emissions in the state were distinct from a California matter that ended in a settlement he didn't opt out of, the driver argued in a motion to revive the case.

  • June 10, 2025

    Deere & Co. Must Face FTC Suit Over Repair Restrictions

    An Illinois federal judge compared John Deere's second attempt at beating a right-to-repair suit to Steve Martin's Pink Panther II reboot, calling it "predictable" and "derivative" as he again rejected the farm equipment giant's motion for judgment on the pleadings and allowed the Federal Trade Commission's case against it to proceed.

  • June 10, 2025

    Apple Faces Class Cert. Bid Over AirTag Stalking Risks

    Victims stalked by abusers of Apple's AirTag asked a California federal judge to certify their proposed class action, arguing their negligence and product liability claims can be adjudicated in one fell-swoop since they rest on the same question of whether the tag's design unreasonably put them at risk of harm.

  • June 10, 2025

    Insurer Exposed Drivers' Personal Information, Court Told

    An auto-population feature of tech-forward insurer Lemonade's online quote platform negligently disclosed about 190,000 drivers' license numbers to cybercriminals over 17 months, and the website still hasn't been fixed, according to a proposed class action in New York federal court.

  • June 10, 2025

    Mo. Verdict Winner Urges Justices To Deny Roundup Appeal

    A Missouri man awarded $1.2 million for a failure-to-warn claim alleging Roundup weed killer caused his cancer urged the U.S. Supreme Court to deny Monsanto's petition for review, saying the company is only trying to avoid liability.

  • June 10, 2025

    3rd Circ. Upholds NFL Case Findings On Censured Atty

    The Third Circuit on Tuesday affirmed a Pennsylvania federal judge's ruling that an attorney representing former NFL players seeking concussion litigation settlement proceeds made "material misrepresentations and omissions" concerning medical records during the claims process, for which he was censured by the lower court.

Expert Analysis

  • Think Like A Lawyer: Note 3 Simple Types Of Legal Complexity

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    Cases can appear complex for several reasons — due to the number of issues, the volume of factual and evidentiary sources, and the sophistication of those sources — but the same basic technique can help lawyers tame their arguments into a simple and persuasive message, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

  • Series

    Gardening Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Beyond its practical and therapeutic benefits, gardening has bolstered important attributes that also apply to my litigation practice, including persistence, patience, grit and authenticity, says Christopher Viceconte at Gibbons.

  • And Now A Word From The Panel: Ballpark Lessons For MDLs

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    The baseball offseason has provided some time to ponder how multidistrict litigation life resembles the national pastime, including with respect to home-field advantage, major television markets and setting records, says Alan Rothman at Sidley.

  • Litigation Inspiration: Reframing Document Review

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    For attorneys — new ones especially — there is much fulfillment to find in document review by reflecting on how important, interesting and pleasant it can be, says Bennett Rawicki at Hilgers Graben.

  • The Fashion Industry Should Prep Now For State PFAS Bans

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    New York and California have each passed legislation regulating PFAS in apparel and other textiles, so retailers should consult with manufacturers and suppliers and obtain the requisite certification documents as soon as possible to avoid disruptions in supply chains, say attorneys at Venable.

  • Service Providers Must Mitigate 'Secondary Target' Risks

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    A lawsuit recently filed in an Illinois federal court against marketing agency Publicis over its work for opioid manufacturers highlights an uptick in litigation against professional service providers hired by clients that engaged in alleged misconduct — so potential targets of such suits should be sure to conduct proper risk analysis and mitigation, say attorneys at Dechert.

  • Series

    Flying Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Achieving my childhood dream of flying airplanes made me a better lawyer — and a better person — because it taught me I can conquer difficult goals when I leave my comfort zone, focus on the demands of the moment and commit to honing my skills, says Ivy Cadle at Baker Donelson.

  • Defense Insights As PFAS Consumer Product Claims Rise

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    Amid the recent proliferation of lawsuits seeking damages for failure to disclose the presence of PFAS in consumer products, manufacturers, distributors and consumer product companies should follow the science and consider a significant flaw in many of the filings, say attorneys at Farella Braun.

  • Series

    Circus Arts Make Me A Better Lawyer

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    Performing circus arts has strengthened my ability to be more thoughtful, confident and grounded, all of which has enhanced my legal practice and allowed me to serve clients in a more meaningful way, says Bailey McGowan at Stinson.

  • Recent Listeria Outbreaks Hold Key Compliance Lessons

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    Listeria outbreaks in ready-to-eat foods from Boar's Head and other companies, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Food and Drug Administration responses to these outbreaks, should be closely evaluated from an overall compliance and risk management perspective by food manufacturers, retailers and industry investors, say attorneys at Kirkland.

  • 3 Ways To Train Junior Lawyers In 30 Minutes Or Less

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    Today’s junior lawyers are experiencing a skills gap due to pandemic-era disruptions, but firms can help bring them up to speed by offering high-impact skill building content in bite-sized, interactive training sessions, say Stacey Schwartz at Katten, Diane Costigan at Winston & Strawn and Lauren Tierney at Freshfields.

  • 8 Tech Tips For Stress-Free Remote Depositions

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    Court reporter Kelly D’Amico shares practical strategies for attorneys to conduct remote depositions with ease and troubleshoot any issues that arise, as it seems deposition-by-Zoom is here to stay after the pandemic.

  • What Cos. Can Learn from Water Microplastics Class Actions

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    Class actions against companies whose bottled spring water allegedly contains microplastics, challenging claims such as "natural" and "100% spring water," seem to be drying up — but these cases serve as a good reminder to other businesses to review regulatory standards, and carefully vet plaintiff allegations at the outset, say attorneys at Keller and Heckman.

  • Navigating Decentralized Clinical Trials With FDA's Guidance

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    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recently finalized guidance on conducting decentralized clinical trials, while not legally binding, can serve as a road map for sponsors, investigators and others to ensure trial integrity and participant safety, say attorneys at Phillips Lytle.

  • 4 Ways Attorneys Can Emotionally Prepare For Trial

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    In the course of litigation, trial lawyers face a number of scenarios that can incite an emotional response, but formulating a mental game plan in advance of trial can help attorneys stay cool, calm and collected in the moment, says Rachel Lary at Lightfoot Franklin.

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