#1 Last Dance, Last Chance for the Texas Two-Step in J&J Talc LitigationTrenton, NJ - Until mid-2023, the Johnson & Johnson talcum powder cancer lawsuits consolidated in the District Court of New Jersey have been essentially frozen in place, while the Third Circuit Court of Appeals evaluated J&J’s bankruptcy petitions. The stay involved a complicated bankruptcy scheme, commonly known as the “Texas two-step,” which would have permitted J&J to limit its financial liability by shifting the cancer claims to a newly-created, but severely underfunded subsidiary.
#2 Stryker Overtime Lawsuit Goes AheadSanta Clara, CA - Last month Stryker sales associates won a series of procedural victories in their California labor overtime lawsuit. The complaint claims that the giant medical device company failed to pay its sale associates overtime wages, failed to provide meal and rest breaks, and failed to reimburse their business expenses. Stryker classified them as outside sales exempt during training, but plaintiffs allege they were misclassified as overtime-exempt.
#3 $155 Million Overtime Settlement Approved for Prison SupervisorsSan Francisco, CA - A $155 million overtime settlement filed by current and retired California prison supervisors has been approved by a San Francisco Superior Court Judge. The original California labor lawsuit, dating back to 2008, alleged unpaid overtime wages for tasks performed before and after their shifts.
#5 Chicago Hospital Settles Class Action for $55MEvanston, IL - NorthShore University Health System has agreed to pay $55 million to settle a federal consumer class action lawsuit that was filed back in 2007. The settlement ends 16 years of litigation over its merger with another hospital that allegedly allowed NorthShore to illegally monopolize the market and unfairly raise prices on patients.
#6 Court Won’t Dismiss Doctor’s Bayer Roundup LawsuitPhiladelphia, PA - A Georgia doctor's Roundup weedkiller lawsuit is going ahead, despite Bayer’s argument that federal regulators' approval of Roundup protected it from being sued under state law for failing to warn consumers of the product's risks.
#7 Suboxone maker Indivior in Trouble with the Law AgainSanta Clara, CA - Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone) was first introduced in 2002 for recovering opioid addicts. The dissolvable tablet was helping people on their road to recovery, but the problems began when a Suboxone film version was introduced in 2013, and it took the drugmakers almost a decade to warn consumers of its side effect: decayed teeth. Many people have experienced permanent damage and Suboxone lawsuits indicate that ruined teeth could have been avoided if the manufacturers warned them and the medical community from Suboxone film side effects. And yes, tooth decay is a legitimate injury that can have devastating effects, both physical and emotional.
#8 Seroquel Side Effects for the ElderlyPearblossom, CA - Seroquel is a neuroleptic indicated for the treatment of bipolar disorder—and like most drugs carries a host of Seroquel side effects, including diabetes, tardive dyskinesia and even birth defects. However, there is a little-known use for Seroquel off-label that concerned the daughter of one Alzheimer's patient for whom she was caring.
#9 Bankruptcy Debt Help: Interview with Bankruptcy LawyerIn the wake of soaring credit card debts and subprime loans, a bankruptcy wave is likely to hit the US anytime soon. Nationwide, attorneys are getting more calls from people who are having financial problems; more calls from small businesses; more calls from individuals who have credit card debt and more calls from home owners.
#10 Home Depot Wages SettlementSan Francisco, CA - A Home Depot wage & hour class action lawsuit is seeking preliminary approval of a $72.5 million settlement, which will resolve allegations of unpaid off-the-clock work. The complaint was brought under California's Private Attorneys General by the home improvement company’s workers going back to early 2016 and a trial was slated for this year. The preliminary California labor settlement was filed last month in a San Francisco federal court and covers more than 272,000 people employed by Home Depot in the state since March 8, 2012.
