#1 UnitedHealth Group to Settle ERISA lawsuit for $69 MillionMinneapolis, MN - On December 13, UnitedHealth Group, Inc. agreed to settle Snyder v. UnitedHealth Group, which claims the company mishandled its 401k plan by “imprudently and disloyally” including the Wells Fargo Target Fund Suite. The long-running class-action ERISA lawsuit alleges that the fund remained on the plan’s investment menu despite a history of poor performance.
#2 What Happens Next for Exactech Hip Implant Lawsuits?Brooklyn, NY – On October 29, 2024, Exactech filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. As a result, all hip failure lawsuits, including the four bellwether trials (Tarloff, larson, Kramer and Caputo) were paused.
#3 Wrongful Death Hair Relaxer Lawsuit and Carcinogenic Synthetic Hair BraidsSanta Clara, CA – A hair relaxer lawsuit filed in late February alleges hair products caused the wrongful death of a Mississippi woman. And a new study indicates that many cancer-causing chemicals are found in all synthetic hair braiding products. The FDA still hasn’t banned carcinogenic chemicals in these hair products. It’s not when anymore but will the U.S. ever get dangerous chemicals out of hair products—before they harm more women?
#4 Gastroparesis: a dangerous Ozempic side effectPhiladelphia, PA - On February 25, Samantha Hill filed her Ozempic lawsuit in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In Hill v. Novo Nordisk, Hill alleges that she suffered from Ozempic side effects including gastroparesis, or stomach paralysis. A July 25, 2023, article in Rolling Stone magazine—“Ozempic Users Report Stomach Paralysis from Weight Loss Drug: ‘So Much Hell’”— told the stories of three patients who have suffered severe gastrointestinal related events, including gastroparesis, as a result of their use of GLP-1RAs.
#5 Albuterol Asthma Death and OptumRx LawsuitMadison, WI - Cole Schmidtknecht suffered from asthma for most of his short life. He died in January 2024, just 22-years-old, allegedly because his prescription for the Advair Diskus inhaler suddenly and unexpectedly went beyond his price range because it was no longer covered by his insurance. Instead, he bought generic Albuterol, for a $5 co-pay, and used Albuterol exclusively in the time leading up to his death.
#6 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.
#7 California Plant Nursery Pays $2.5 million in back wagesLos Angeles, CA - Altman Specialty Plants LLC has agreed to pay its workers $2.5 million in back wages and about $1 million in civil money penalties after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation determined that the largest horticultural grower in the U.S coerced workers to quit so it could dodge the H-2A temporary agricultural program’s wage and hour requirements.
#8 Dempsey v. Verizon Communications: A Deep Dive into Pension Risk Transfer LawsuitsNew York, NY - On December 30, three former employees of Verizon Communications filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of 56,000 Verizon Communications, Inc. retirees who formerly participated in either the Verizon Management Pension Plan or the Verizon Pension Plan for Associates. The breach of fiduciary duty ERISA lawsuit is the newest in a series of pension risk transfer litigation – a new twist on a familiar story because it involves old-fashioned defined benefit pension plans rather than 401k plans.
#9 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.
#10 How Insurance Companies Try to Minimize Slip and Fall Claims – And How to Fight BackLos Angeles, CA - Slip and fall accidents can cause serious injuries, leading to costly medical bills and lost wages. Many victims file a slip and fall insurance claim expecting fair compensation, but insurance companies often try to pay as little as possible. They use various tactics to reduce the value of a claim or deny it altogether. Adjusters may question the severity of injuries or argue that the accident was the victim’s fault. Some insurers delay the claims process, hoping the victim will accept a lower settlement out of frustration. Understanding these tactics can help injured individuals protect their rights and secure the compensation they deserve.
