#1 Bayer in the Weeds over Monsanto’s RoundupPhiladelphia, PA - Philadelphia Judge James Crumlish III dug Bayer’s Monsanto into the weeds last month. Along with rejecting Monsanto’s challenge to a $175 million Roundup verdict, he had harsh words regarding the company’s trial tactics, calling its performance indignant and self-promotional. And he dished out more punishment by awarding $2.3 million in delay damages to plaintiff Ernest Caranci.
#2 44 Million Americans Drink PFAS-Contaminated Water, Says New StudyWashington, DC - Data released by the Environmental Protection Agency shows that 44 million people in the U.S. have toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS in their drinking water, but that could be just the tip of the iceberg as the full scale of PFAS contamination is likely much more widespread. However, scientists at the Environmental Working Group (EWG) estimated in 2020 that more than 200 million Americans are exposed to forever chemicals in their drinking water.
#3 Glass House Slapped with California Labor LawsuitLos Angeles, CA - Glass House Brands Inc. was slapped with a proposed class action lawsuit last month, alleging California labor law violations. A former worker accuses the major California marijuana producer of engaging in a systematic pattern of wage violations, including unpaid overtime and unrealistic workloads.
#4 Plaintiffs Seeking $22 Million in Home Warranty Insurance LawsuitSan Diego, CA - The thrust and intent behind home warranty insurance is to protect the parties involved from defects in workmanship and materials. New construction is usually accompanied by coverage warranting against defects from initial occupation until an agreed period of termination, at which time many homeowners will seek out home warranty companies vending extended warranty coverage, should hidden defects come to the fore later in a structure’s initial life cycle.
#5 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.
#7 After $7.9 Million Jury Verdict, Chipotle Settles California Labor Lawsuit To Avoid Punitive DamagesLong-time valued Chipotle General Manager Jeanette Ortiz was accused of stealing $626 dollars from her employer, but when she asked to see the surveillance footage of the alleged incident, her supervisors refused and destroyed the footage. Subsequently, she went out on medical leave for a work-related injury, and was terminated while out on leave. The pretext for her firing was the alleged theft. After a jury found Ortiz’s account of retaliatory termination persuasive, awarding her $7.9 million in damages, Chipotle Mexican Grill quickly settled the California labor lawsuit for an undisclosed amount to avoid what likely would have been a punitive damages award up to nine times as much as the $7.9 million compensatory damages award.
#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.
#10 $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.
