#1 Johnson & Johnson Strikes BackTrenton, NJ - On March 27, District Court Judge Michael Shipp issued a brief order that permits J&J to contest scientific evidence linking talc products to ovarian cancer. The ruling could seriously disrupt the 53,796 talcum powder lawsuits that have been consolidated in the District Court for the District of New Jersey. The order cites recent changes in the law and new scientific evidence. The changes in law – specifically the federal rules governing expert witnesses -- may have a significant impact on class action lawsuits in general.
#2 Phillips 66 in $46.5 million Wage DisputeSan Francisco, CA - Phillips 66 Co. and refinery workers duked it out before a California federal judge on March 14 over meal-break and time-rounding policies. Workers claims that Phillips automatically deducted 30-minute break periods from hundreds of workers' pay add up to $46.5 million in violation of California labor law.
#3 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.
#4 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.
#5 Hair Relaxer Lawsuit UpdateSanta Clara, CA - As of early March, at least 8,334 hair relaxer lawsuits are pending in a federal MDL (multidistrict litigation). Following a study that linked cancer to hair straightener products in late 2022, African American women have filed product liability lawsuits claiming certain cosmetic companies caused their uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer and other serious injuries.
#6 Ozempic MDL and Semaglutide UpdatePhiladelphia, PA - Fifty-five Ozempic and similar weight loss drug lawsuits have been centralized in Eastern Pennsylvania, with U.S. District Judge Gene E.K. Pratter at the helm of the MDL and scheduled to commence March 14 at the first status conference. The litigation claims that Novo Nordisk's Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Trulicity cause gastroparesis and other serious gastrointestinal injuries, and the companies failed to warn patients about the risks associated with GLP-1 receptor agonist medications.
#7 5 Effective Drug Possession Defense StrategiesSanta Clara, CA - Should you find yourself charged with possession of a controlled substance, understand that an arrest doesn't equate to a conviction. Such criminal law offenses are viewed with considerable gravity across many states, yet there exist numerous defense tactics that could be leveraged to contest the charges you're facing, tailored according to your case's specifics.
#10 Health IQ Slammed with Proposed California Labor Law Class ActionsSanta Clara, CA - Health IQ has been slammed with two (so far) proposed California labor class actions alleging the Medicare broker insurance company terminated between 700 to 1,000 employees in December without a heads-up. By not giving workers notice, Health IQ violated the California's Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN), according to the plaintiffs.
