In the News

It took a couple of months longer than expected, but Iowa is now the first state to pass a law that reins in a certain practice by asbestos lawyers.

As economies reopen, attorneys should step up to help block the tsunami of opportunistic negligence litigation that threatens to derail the recovery. Specifically, national and state bar groups can help federal authorities design and defend safe-harbor rules to protect companies against coronavirus-related negligence lawsuits.

Colleges and universities have written a letter to Congressional leaders that explains their need for protection from lawsuits when they reopen to students.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a deal that would help distribute up to $1.5 billion to the state and its cities and counties from a potential nationwide opioid settlement.

The undersigned organizations urge you to quickly enact temporary and targeted liability relief legislation related to the COVID-19 pandemic. These crucial protections should safeguard businesses, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions, as well as healthcare providers and facilities from unfair lawsuits so that they can continue to contribute to a safe and effective recovery from this pandemic.

On Tuesday the Johnson & Johnson announced it will discontinue sales in the U.S. and Canada of talcum-based baby powder, which it has sold since 1894. America’s litigation-friendly legal system has subjected the company to a flood of baby-powder lawsuits, making it too expensive to sell in the U.S.

As businesses prepare to reopen, business owners are left to make difficult decisions about how best to keep the business running while protecting customers and employees and fending off potential liability.

It’s the latest Disney experience: waivers of Covid-19 liability for one and all! The novel coronavirus “is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death,” Disney, while also reassuring that they have adopted “enhanced health and safety measures” now warns its potential customers: “By visiting Walt Disney World Resort, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure.”

“Facing record unemployment and an unprecedented financial crisis, we must take immediate and swift action to protect our state’s job creators and our healthcare industry from crippling litigation that would certainly delay the full recovery of our economy. Federal action is the swiftest course to provide liability protections, and we ask for your leadership and support for such measures in the next phase of COVID-19 recovery legislation.”

At a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, representatives advocated for a temporary shield against litigation – though they stopped short of asking for protection in instances of gross negligence. Targets for personal injury lawyers in a coronavirus world are seemingly endless, as Legal Newsline has previously reported.