Glenn Minnis News
California jury awards $1.63 million in case against BNSF after plaintiff had rejected $50K settlement
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Just weeks after rejecting a $50,000 pre-trial settlement offer from his former employer in a personal injury suit, one-time California maintenance worker David Arizaga walked away on Jan. 10 with a $1.63 million verdict against BNSF Railway Co.
NFIB seeks to avoid retroactive application of contractor-employee ruling
The National Federation of Independent Business’ Small Business Legal Center has filed an amicus brief urging a federal judge to affirm a district court’s limited liabilities ruling in a suit brought to establish the standard for determining if a Grubhub food delivery driver classifies as an independent contractor or an employee of the company.
Three key issues await California in 2019: single-payer health care, sales tax on services, and split-roll property tax
Shawn Lewis worries that a year that could bring increases in health care expenses, sales tax costs and property tax rates in California for small business owners could come to spell doom.
BNSF Railway makes opening statement over maintenance worker's alleged injuries in San Bernadino
Even as attorneys for BNSF Railway Co. concede that the company failed to safeguard some of its equipment, they argued during opening statements of a trial where a former laborer suffered serious impairment that they should not be held liable for injuries that they insist are nowhere near as grave as the victim contends.
Judge in Roundup trial slashes punitive damage award from $250 million to $39 million
SAN FRANCISCO - A California judge has acknowledged the pleas of jurors in upholding a jury verdict that rendered agribusiness giant Monsanto liable in a school groundskeeper contracting non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma from the use of its popular weed-killer Roundup
Will California judge trim $250 million punitive damage award in Monsanto Roundup verdict?
SAN FRANCISCO - A superior court judge has granted agribusiness giant Monsanto a judgment notwithstanding verdict (JNOV) in its dogged pursuit to overturn a $289 million landmark verdict against the company over its production of popular weed-killer Roundup.
Monsanto-Roundup bellwether trial results in $289 million verdict
A California jury has ordered agricultural giant Monsanto to pay a former school groundskeeper $289 million in damages after finding he contracted non-Hodgkin's lymphoma from using the company’s industry leading weed-killer Roundup.
Plaintiff in Monsanto-Roundup bellwether trial seeks $373 million; Defense maintains product did not cause man's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
SAN FRANCISCO - Attorneys for a California man, spending some of his final days locked in a bitter dispute with chemical giant Monsanto over what caused his deadly non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, asked jurors during closing arguments on Tuesday to render a verdict that would “actually change the world.”
Bellwether trial over Monsanto's Roundup opens
SAN FRANCISCO - An attorney for a 46-year-old California man diagnosed with terminal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma told a jury during opening arguments on Monday that chemical giant Monsanto has known its best-selling weed killer Roundup causes cancer for almost as long as his client has been alive, claims the company is fighting.
Food distributor claims KNB Restaurants owes $114,000
A California merchant has filed a lawsuit against a local restaurant, alleging non-payment for goods and services over a period of time dating as far back as February 2014.
Lawsuit alleges UPS 'systematically' violates labor law
A California woman has filed a class action lawsuit against former employer United Parcel Service, alleging the company systematically violated federal labor codes by not allowing certain employees rest or meal breaks and not properly compensating them for all hours worked.
Attorney: $21.7 million California verdict in talc, mesothelioma case 'probably changes the complexion of things a bit'
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) – Defense attorney Walter “W.G.” Watkins Jr. thinks the impact of a $21.7 million mesothelioma-related verdict recently reached against Johnson & Johnson and its talc suppliers by a Los Angeles jury could have implications that extend far beyond that region.
Nonpartisan groups petition U.S. Supreme Court in California's foie gras fight
WASHINGTON – Ilya Shapiro hopes the U.S. Supreme Court decides to hear foie gras producers and sellers' challenge to California's ban on the product in the name of freedom.
Concern remains over pre-litigation subpoena bill in California Senate
SACRAMENTO - John Doherty, president of the Civil Justice Association of California, isn’t willing to leave anything to chance over a bill in the State Assembly that would expand pre-litigation subpoena power.
Retailers get help from lawsuits when new Prop 65 regulations take effect
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A list of products that require warning labels because they contain possible cancer-causing ingredients continues to grow in California, though retailers will be gaining some protection from litigation that stems from them.
Lawyer: Spokeo ruling not turning out like defendants hoped
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Despite optimism from the defense side, a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to again consider a high-profile class action lawsuit is a boost to plaintiffs lawyer, a Philadelphia attorney says.
California high court ruling in Novartis liability case differs from existing law, experts say
John Doherty argues the recent California Supreme Court innovator liability verdict holding brand-name pharmaceutical-maker Novartis AG liable for sickness caused by generic versions of the drugs the company once manufactured is quite different from what is widely perceived to be the letter of the law.
Citizens group sees jobs threat in Senate Bill 63
Maryann Marino is among those concerned about the impact “job killing” Senate Bill 63 could have on business across California.
Judicial body lauds decision to toss out $417 million Johnson& Johnson verdict
John Doherty views a California Superior Court judge’s decision to throw out a record-setting, $417 million verdict against Johnson & Johnson as a measure of gravity being returned to the judicial system.
Bill to enhance subpoena power of city attorneys draws more opposition
The California Chamber of Commerce and the Civil Justice Association of California are among the local organizations that have banded together to oppose a bill that would grant city attorneys the power to subpoena before formally filing suit.