#1 Just Say NOzempicSanta Clara, CA - As the list of side effects from Ozempic and similar weight loss drugs lengthens, celebrities are quitting the GLP-1 drugs. It's a no-brainer: would you risk blindness, stomach paralysis, suicidal thoughts and more serious health issues to lose 20 pounds? And gain the weight back once you stop taking the drug? And lose your good looks?
#2 $2.25 Million Settlement Pending in Seidner v. Kimberly-ClarkDallas, TX - A $2.25 million settlement that, if approved, will end Seidner v. Kimberly-Clark was filed on December 2 in the Northern District of Texas. The long-running class-action ERISA lawsuit alleges that fiduciaries of the Kimberly Clark Corporation 401(k) and Profit Sharing Plan breached their legal duty under ERISA by paying higher fees ($78 per participant) than what was paid (about $30 per participant) by plans of comparable size. Excessive fees erode the ultimate value of participants’ retirement savings.
#3 Exactech Bankruptcy StaySanta Clara, CA - Although a court order has announced a stay on proceedings in the wake of Exactech’s bankruptcy announcement, the court said it will continue to accept new Exactech hip lawsuits into the MDL. U.S. District Judge Nicolas G. Garaufis, in the Eastern District of New York, has placed a stay on all litigation involving Exactech’s defective knee, hip and ankle replacement components.
#4 Walgreens Settles Call Center Workers' Unpaid OT SuitChicago, IL - A lawsuit filed in late 2021 by former Walgreeens call center workers has been settled. The plaintiffs claimed they, and other customer service representatives, were required to work without compensation before and after their shifts, such as starting up and logging into computer systems. Working off-the-clock is in violation of state and federal wage laws.
#5 Apple Faces Unequal Pay LawsuitLos Angeles, CA - A former Apple executive has filed a California labor complaint against Apple and Jay Blahnik, the company's vice president of fitness technologies. Mandana Mofidi accuses Apple of retaliation after she reported sexual harassment and raised concerns about receiving less pay than her male colleagues.
#6 Indivior's Motion to Dismiss Suboxone LawsuitsCleveland, OH – On December 16, 2024, Judge J. Philip Calabrese of the Northern District of Ohio heard oral arguments in Suboxone (Buprenorphine/Naloxone) Film Products Liability Litigation. The hearing concerned the defendant, Indivior PLC’s, motion to dismiss the Suboxone complaint under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim on which relief can be granted. The arguments largely tracked briefs originally filed in July 2024, which the court required to be amended.
#7 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.
#8 Darden Restaurants Hit with California Wage and Hour LawsuitLos Angeles, CA - On September 23, Antonia Rodriguez filed a class action lawsuit against Darden Restaurants in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The lawsuit alleges that Darden, the parent company of California restaurants, including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, the Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze and Eddie V's, failed to pay overtime and did not provide hourly workers with full, uninterrupted meal and rest periods in violation of California labor law. A collection of derivative allegations follows, including failure to provide accurate wage statements and failure to pay all wages due on termination of employment.
#9 Aftermath of a Horrific Amusement Park AccidentLouisville, KY - It is not only a parent's worst nightmare but anyone's worst nightmare??"in this case an Amusement Park Accident at a popular theme park that resulted in a 13-year-old girl having both of her feet severed above the ankle. Kaitlyn Lasitter survived, and doctors were able to re-attach her right foot. But they could not save her left, and Kaitlyn now walks with a prosthesis.
#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.
