Nova Southeastern University to Settle ERISA Lawsuit for $1.5 Million
Fort 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.

What Counts as Evidence in Sexual Abuse Cases?

Santa Clara, CA Sexual abuse, includes many forms of sexual abuse--whether priest sexual abuse or by figures of authority, workplace or personal relationship abuse, and refers to much more than just the tragic occurrence of rape. It can involve coercion, threats, inappropriate behavior, indecent exposure, drugs, and more.

The Impact of Viking River Cruises on PAGA Claims: What Happened in Agustin Gutierrez v. Panera LLC
Los Angeles, CA On October 22, the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District held that an employee whose employment agreement explicitly excluded Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) claims from arbitration, did not have to arbitrate those claims against his employer. The terms of his contract effectively trumped a change in law that occurred after the agreement was made.

Valsartan Lawsuit October 2024 Update

Santa Clara, CA Every day, doctors prescribe Valsartan--an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB)--to help patients manage high blood pressure. This drug, known under brand names like Diovan and Prexxartan, is effective in reducing hypertension by relaxing blood vessels. 

A Setback for Suboxone Film Plaintiffs: Northern District of Ohio's Dismissal Decision
Cleveland, OH On September 10, 2024, the Northern District of Ohio dismissed claims against Indivior PLC and two Reckitt Benckiser entities in Suboxone (Buprenorphine/Naloxone) Film Products Liability Litigation in the multidistrict litigation centralized in the Northern District of Ohio. The court’s decision is a significant setback for individuals who suffered serious Suboxone side effects and dental damage from using the sublingual film form of the drug. They allege that Indivior and other defendants failed to adequately warn about the potential for dental erosion and decay associated with the film's acidic properties. 

Cinepolis Charged with Multiple California Labor Law Violations
Los Angeles, CA On October 21, Jacqueline Honorio filed a proposed class action lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of at least 100 individuals who worked for USA Cinema Services LLC, which does business as Cinepolis. Honorio v. USA Cinema Services LLC alleges that Cinepolis violated the California labor code in a wide variety of ways.

Sen. Warren Raises the Alarm over Catalent/Novo Nordisk Merger
Washington, DC On October 10, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan, urging the FTC to closely review a proposed merger between Novo Nordisk and Catalent. Catalent is one of the very few suppliers that provide specialized development and manufacturing services to GLP-1 manufacturers. The letter urges the FTC to block the deal if it could hurt Americans by limiting competition and raising the price of life-saving medicine. Not coincidentally, killing competition might also limit the development of drugs without the dangerous side effects of Ozempic.

More Hair Relaxer Lawsuits Filed, Still Contain Formaldehyde
Santa Clara, CA Just five months after a study published in 2021 showed a link between the use of hair straightener, women—and mostly Black women—diagnosed with uterine and ovarian cancers began filing hair relaxer lawsuits. By 2023, the FDA proposed a ban on formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in the hair products, with an April 2024 deadline. Incredibly, April came and went and formaldehyde stayed. And the lawsuits are increasing. This October alone, 200 new cases joined the hair relaxer class action lawsuit. 

Understanding Liability in Pedestrian Accidents: Who’s Responsible?
Fort Lauderdale, FL Florida's roads are among the most perilous in the nation for pedestrians, with a grim statistic to underline the risk: over the past decade, the state has averaged 3.43 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people, ranking it as having the second-highest pedestrian death toll in the United States. This alarming rate highlights the critical importance of understanding pedestrian safety and the legal implications that follow pedestrian accidents, especially in places like Fort Lauderdale. Establishing liability in such personal injury cases is essential, as it determines who is legally at fault for the often devastating consequences of these accidents.

Why You Need a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer After a Serious Crash
Rome, GA The decade from 2011 to 2020 has seen a concerning rise in motorcycle fatalities in Georgia, with a 65% increase, underscoring a significant surge from 116 deaths in 2013 to 192 in 2020. This trend highlights not only the inherent risks associated with motorcycle riding but also the devastating impact these accidents can have on riders and their families, especially in areas like Rome.