John Breslin News
Johnson & Johnson, not asked to testify on talc, alleges Congressional hearing was biased against it
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Johnson & Johnson, a company facing enormous liability concerns stemming from thousands of lawsuits that claim there is cancer-causing asbestos in its products, believes a Democrat-led House hearing on the alleged dangers of talc and consumer products was biased against it.
In the wake of previous failures, Michigan lawyer again sues social media companies over alleged terrorist links
DALLAS (Legal Newsline) – An attorney gaining a reputation for representing plaintiffs suing social media organizations over claims they aided and abetted terrorists is involved in yet another case against the companies.
As deadline looms for bill filing, fallout from Dynamex decision, arbitration on the watch list
SACRAMENTO - Bills barring mandatory arbitration in employment disputes are likely to be filed ahead of next week's deadline for introduction of proposed legislation in the California legislature, according to a group that campaigns against what it believes is excessive litigation.
J&J letters show officials made efforts to prevent asbestos-related regulation of talc baby powder
Plaintiffs argued that in the 1970s, officials of Johnson & Johnson tried to avoid possible regulation of talc baby powder by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and considered strategies to prevent it.
Other industries could end up facing wild fire-climate change litigation like PG&E, business expert predicts
SAN FRANCISCO - Natural gas pipeline operators, auto manufacturers and construction firms could all end up paying for wild fires blamed on climate change, according to a leading expert on business and energy policy.
Plaintiff in Roundup MDL wants case moved back to state court in Missouri
A plaintiff whose claims against Monsanto got included in a mass action involving the weedkiller Roundup, wants a federal court in California to return litigation to a state court in Missouri.
ATG LegalServe partners with File & ServeXpress for 'one-stop' service
As the era of legal e-filing came close to replacing the hand delivering of documents, one process-serving business knew it had to find the right partner.
Judge rules that evidence must be focused on science ahead of weedkiller trial
SAN FRANCISCO - A federal judge has barred plaintiff lawyers in a bellwether case alleging a Monsanto weed killer causes cancer from introducing evidence in the initial trial that the company manipulated evidence, intimidated scientists and regulators.
Immigration act leaves companies squeezed between federal and new state law: consultant
Employers in California are in an impossible position, squeezed between the state and federal governments, because of an immigration act passed at the turn of the year, according to one business location consultant.
California named No. 1 'judicial hellhole' by civil liability reform group
California has been named No. 1 in an advocacy organization's list of what it describes as "judicial hellholes."
California reclaims top spot on 'Judicial Hellhole' list; ATRA bemoans state's adoption of 'innovator liability'
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - California tops the list of jurisdictions regarded as "Judicial Hellholes" by a national civil justice reform group.
Appeals court returns class action to lower court after only $225,000 paid out to class members, but $12M awarded to attorneys and third-party universities
Attorneys involved in a class-action lawsuit must return to a lower court to renegotiate close to $9 millon in fees awarded, the Federal Ninth Circuit Court has ruled, following an objection that affected class members only received $225,000 out of a $12-million settlement.
Record $2.25 million settlement reached for violation of San Francisco short-term rent law
A San Francisco couple accused of violating the city's short-term rental law has agreed to pay $2.25 million to settle a lawsuit taken against them by the city.
Lawsuit claims Greyhound violating law by allowing border patrol officers to board buses
A lawsuit filed in a California court is accusing Greyhound Lines of violating state law by allowing border protection officers to board its buses and demand information from passengers.
Ward and Smith attorney says U.S. companies heed California privacy law
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Companies across the United States will have to take heed of a new privacy law introduced in California, according to one lawyer with expertise in this field.
California, other states grapple over climate change litigation
Should states intervene in lawsuits against fossil fuel companies over financial responsibility for future climate change costs?
U.S. Supreme Court refuses to review California court decision over lead-based paint
SAN JOSE - The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to review a California decision penalizing companies involved in the lead-based paint business.
California senators angry over White House move forward with appeals court nominations
SACRAMENTO - California's two U.S. Senators reacted with anger over the nomination by the White House of three individuals to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
CalPers sued over failure to reveal whether retirees are on disability pensions
California's largest pension system is being sued over its failure to list whether its members have retired on a disability pension.
Companies gear up for review and reversal of lead paint public nuisance case
SACRAMENTO - Businesses and legal scholars are weighing in on a request that the U.S. Supreme Court review, and then overturn, a decision out of California that penalizes companies over lead-based paint, forcing them to pay potentially hundreds of millions for clean up costs.