#1 Nova Southeastern University to Settle ERISA Lawsuit for $1.5 MillionFort Lauderdale, FL - On October 9, Nova Southeastern University agreed to settle a long-running lawsuit in which participants in the Nova University Defined Contribution Plan claimed that the school had mismanaged their retirement savings by paying excessive recordkeeping fees and retaining underperforming investment funds. The plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary approval was unopposed.
#2 Exactech Files BankruptcySanta Clara, CA - Exactech has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The medical device manufacturer will sell its assets to investors due to "unsustainable liabilities associated with knee and hip litigation related to the packaging recalls we voluntarily initiated between 2021 and 2022.” However, lawyers advise plaintiffs who have filed defective Exactech knee and hip implants not to panic because insurance and assets are available to victims in bankruptcy.
#3 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.
#4 Agreement to settle nearly 38,000 Bard hernia mesh lawsuitsColumbus, OH - Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), the parent company of BARD, has agreed to settle about 38,000 hernia mesh lawsuits. Reports indicate that the total payouts could exceed $1 Billion. The mesh lawsuits, some of which go back almost 20 years, allege that Bard designed defective mesh products, failed to adequately test them, and didn’t properly warn users about potential risks.
#5 California Basketball Officials Association Sued for MisclassificationSanta Clara, CA - A basketball instructor has filed a Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) lawsuit accusing the California Basketball Officials Association of misclassifying its instructors as independent contractors rather than employees. The lawsuit claims that the instructors have been cheated out of wages and other California labor law violations.
#6 Wells Fargo Settles Disability Discrimination Suit for 22.1 millionCharlotte, NC - A former Wells Fargo Securities supervisor was awarded $22.1 million by a federal court jury in Charlotte in July. Christopher Billesdon’s disability and age discrimination lawsuit accused the San Francisco-based bank of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and wrongful discharge under North Carolina state law. However, the bank asked the court in August to toss the jury’s decision.
#7 New Research Links PFAS to Kidney Damage & Poor SleepSanta Clara, CA - Researchers have published new studies linking PFAS to kidney damage and poor sleep. These “forever chemicals” are already known to increase a host of health problems, but now researchers are connecting the dots between problems and potential solutions. And another study has found that over 20 percent of people in the U.S. rely on water sources containing detectable amounts of PFAS.
#8 Car Accidents and Long-Term InjuriesAnnapolis, MD - In Maryland, an average of 115,555 car accidents occur each year, with many resulting in long-term injuries like chronic pain or permanent disability. These injuries often require ongoing medical treatment and rehabilitation, creating challenges for victims and their families.
#9 Car Accidents and Spinal Cord InjuriesRichmond, VA - In 2022, Virginia experienced over 200,000 car accidents, resulting in more than 10,000 injuries and over 1,000 tragic fatalities. Among these injuries, spinal cord damage is one of the most devastating, often leaving victims with lifelong challenges, including paralysis, chronic pain, and expensive medical bills. Understanding your legal rights after such an injury in places like Richmond is crucial to securing the compensation you need to rebuild your life.
#10 Equinox $36 million settlement for California Wage and Hour LawsuitsAlameda, CA - Equinox has agreed to pay $36 million to resolve two California labor lawsuits alleging the fitness company required more than 15,000 employees to perform pre-shift work without pay and to skip meal breaks. The settlement, which resolves California state and federal actions, covers those who worked for Equinox in California between April 3, 2015, and Dec. 31, 2022.
