John O'Brien News

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Jurors won't get confused during huge opioid trial, judge rules; He'll set penalties after

By John O'Brien |
CLEVELAND (Legal Newsline) – A jury will determine who, if anyone, is liable for the nation’s addiction crisis, but the judge overseeing a historic trial will decide how much they would pay.
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'Business decision': Did DEA boss leave opioid distributors hanging?

By John O'Brien |
During the boom of the addiction crisis in America, opioid distributors were told to figure out a system for identifying suspicious orders but what they came up with could never be given a stamp of approval from federal regulators – even if they asked.
Medium rannazzisi

‘Business decision’: Former DEA official works for opioid lawyers but set standards for how many pills were made

By John O'Brien |
Now, Rannazzisi is helping private lawyers pin the blame squarely on manufacturers and distributors of opioids, as well as pharmacies. A post-DEA alliance with trial lawyers has been worth six figures for Rannazzisi, who has been hailed as a whistleblower by those cheering attempts to prosecute the opioid industry for the nation’s addiction crisis.
Medium pfas

There are bigger problems than PFAS, group for clean water says as Senate attempts regulation

By John O'Brien |
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Last week, a U.S. Senate committee strengthened one of the many bills that attempt to regulate chemicals known as PFAS, as critics continue to fight the idea that enough is known about them to pass legislation.
Medium carpertom

Is Congress' rush to regulate PFAS part of 'hysteria' fed by plaintiffs lawyers?

By John O'Brien |
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – They have a catchy, sinister-sounding nickname and have caught the attention of lawyers and politicians. But what these “forever chemicals” don’t have is a known toxicity level.
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'Easy grandstanding': Congress backs trial lawyers' effort to condemn chemicals, win lawsuits while science debated

By John O'Brien |
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – As Congress vilifies chemicals known as PFAS, some question whether the research upon which lawmakers – and trial lawyers – are relying shows that anyone has actually been harmed by them.
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Blame the criminals, pharmacies facing opioid lawsuits say

By John O'Brien |
CLEVELAND (Legal Newsline) – Large pharmacy chains are asking why they are being sued by hundreds of cities and counties over the opioid crisis instead of the criminals who pushed drugs to addicts.
Medium exxon

States against climate change lawsuits ask for dismissal of NYC's

By John O'Brien |
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – The top lawyers of 15 states are again asking a federal judge to reject the legal strategy used by public officials and the private attorneys with whom they’ve teamed to sue the energy industry over alleged effects of climate change.
Medium boulder

As Boulder sues, 15 states - including Colorado - oppose global warming lawsuits

By John O'Brien |
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – Two days after local officials in the Boulder, Colo., area filed a lawsuit that attempts to hold large energy companies liable for the alleged effects of global warming, the state’s top lawyer showed that she disagrees with their legal argument by voicing her opposition to similar lawsuits in California.
Medium cordray

CFPB's new rule 'large gift for class action lawyers'; Court challenges coming

By John O'Brien |
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – As the director of a federal consumer protection agency seemingly fights for his job, he has gone forth with plans to finalize a controversial rule – and a court challenge seems imminent.
Medium asbestos

Asbestos/class action reform bill passes U.S. House

By John O'Brien |
WASHINGTON – Under threat of a presidential veto, the U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 8 passed a bill that targets class action lawsuits and the asbestos injury compensation system. H.R. 1927 combines the Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act and the Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act, or FACT Act. After hours of debate and the rejection of several Democrat-proposed amendments, the Republican-controlled House passed the bill in a 211-188.
Medium iberger

Purdue Pharma says plaintiffs attorney fed info to new whistleblowers after first suit failed

By John O'Brien |
BECKLEY – In demanding two whistleblowers in what it feels was a frivolous lawsuit pay its legal fees, the maker of the painkiller OxyContin says a Virginia attorney supplied the information that the two were blowing the whistle on.
Medium bbrunetti

Former WVU recruit sues NCAA

By John O'Brien |
SAN FRANCISCO – Three former college athletes are the latest to file a class action lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association, claiming it and 11 athletic conferences have created a monopsony over college athletes.
Medium collectioncalls

App block calls, evaluates Telephone Consumer Protection Act claims

By John O'Brien |
STAMFORD, Conn. – A prolific-filing law firm specializing in debt collection harassment cases has helped develop an app that it says could help those who download it make up to $1,500 per robocall or debt collection call.
Medium iberger

General Electric agrees to $500K settlement with children injured after standing on oven door

By John O'Brien |
BECKLEY – Two children who suffered burns when they stood on the door of a General Electric oven will receive nearly $500,000 from the company from a recently approved settlement.
Medium huntingtonfed

Holzer Clinic wins lawsuit brought by former employee who alleged discrimination

By John O'Brien |
HUNTINGTON – Holzer Clinic of West Virginia has been awarded summary judgment in a lawsuit brought by a former employee who claimed violations of the Family Medical Leave Act and age discrimination.
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Pa. couple settle suit against Walmart, alleged metal spikes split husband's head open

By John O'Brien |
WHEELING – Just before a trial could start, a Pennsylvania couple have settled their lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores.
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Former AG's Plavix case sent back to Moundsville from New Jersey

By John O'Brien |
McGraw
Medium jpbailey

Case alleging fire starter gel exploded, caused severe burns to child settled

By John O'Brien |
ELKINS – The parents of a then-7-year-old child who burned himself when he allegedly attempted to use fire starter gel left near a fireplace at their Randolph County home have settled their claims.
Medium hartley

Worker settles claim that mud-shaker sparked, caused fall

By John O'Brien |
Hartley

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