In the News

As governors start lifting stay-at-home orders, businesses, schools, non-profits and houses of worship are trying to figure out how to reopen safely. A driving concern for many employers has been the fear of getting slapped with lawsuits if their workers or customers contract COVID-19.

The judge overseeing federal multidistrict litigation against the opioid industry has given plaintiff lawyers three weeks to provide more information to justify their request to steer 7% of any global settlement toward a “common benefit fund” for lead attorneys, which could amount to more than $3 billion based on reported settlement amounts.

Bexar County, which hopes to reap $1 billion in damages from its opioid lawsuit, would rather take its chances in court than receive around $7 million from a statewide settlement.

One of the largest verdicts in Texas History has been axed. On June 3, the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals overturned a $706 judgment in the Title Source v. HouseCanary case.

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.