#1 Microsoft Discrimination Lawsuit Settles for $14.4 millionSanta Clara, CA - A discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) alleging that Microsoft gave workers lower bonuses and unfavorable performance reviews for taking leave has settled for $14.4 million. The settlement includes those who worked for Microsoft in California for at least 90 days during the settlement period that from May 13, 2017 and the present and took one or more leaves of absence.
#2 L’Oreal Hair Relaxer Lawsuit ProceedsAtlanta, GA - Several Georgia women who filed a lawsuit against L'Oreal for negligence and fraud related to the use of hair relaxers have been given the go-ahead by the Georgia Court of Appeals. The French multinational personal care company had previously asked the courts to dismiss the complaints. Plaintiffs, including Kiara Burroughs, accuse the companies of selling hair relaxation, or lanthionization, products that caused or increased the risk of women developing uterine, ovarian or breast cancer, endometriosis, uterine fibroids or other injuries to the reproductive system.
#3 Lawyers Predict Unprecedented Amount of PFAS LawsuitsSanta Clara, CA - Chemical companies making PFAS, also known as ‘forever chemicals” are advised to “do what you can, while you can, before you get sued”, but the battle has already begun for some manufacturers. For instance, 3M agreed to pay water utilities nationwide at least $10 billion for cleanup costs and at least thirty state attorneys general have also sued PFAS makers for widespread contamination. If you aren’t familiar with the extent of PFAS damages, a recent New York Times article is an eye-opener, to say the least, and the fallout will likely feed into PFAS litigation.
#4 New Study Indicates Monsanto’s Roundup Linked to InfertilitySanta Clara, CA - A new study has found glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup, in human sperm: it found that more than 55 percent of sperm samples from a French infertility clinic contained high levels of glyphosate. Researchers warn that glyphosate can contribute to infertility, damage DNA in the sperm, and could cause health problems in the men’s offspring.
#5 $9.5 Million Army Hospital Medical Malpractice SettlementHonolulu, HI - It was error after error that killed Julie Bond. She was the 31-year-old wife of former Army Staff Sgt. Donald Bond and a healthy mother of three. She just wanted to lose those extra pregnancy pounds. But six weeks after laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery, she was dead. Tripler Army Medical Center ultimately settled the medical malpractice lawsuit brought by her family for $9.5 million.
#6 Lawsuit Alleges Tesla Racism Rampant in California FactoriesSanta Clara, CA - Tesla is facing yet another lawsuit alleging it failed to prevent racist and sexual harassment and retaliation at its Fremont and Lathrop factories. The California labor lawsuit was filed by 14 current and former Tesla workers on June 17th in the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda. This lawsuit is similar to others filed by Black and Hispanic workers over the past several years, which illustrates how racism is still rampant at the electric car company.
#9 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 Apple Hit with Sex Bias LawsuitSan Francisco, CA - Two female Apple employees in a proposed class action accuse Apple of paying women lower salaries than men for similar work. The California labor lawsuit, filed in San Francisco state court, says the tech giant violates California's Equal Pay Act, which bars sex discrimination in pay.
