Downtown Minneapolis view

Minnesota Bridge Collapse

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled last November 2011 that the State of Minnesota could proceed with its claim against Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., the California firm that designed the Minnesota bridge that collapsed in 2007, killing 13 and injuring 145 others. The State’s claim against Jacobs Engineering Group (Jacobs) is based on the fact that […]

Child holding his bottle

BPA Litigation Hits Roadblock

Litigation pending over BPA in plastic bottles has hit a major roadblock. Last month a Missouri federal court denied class certification for the plaintiffs’ claims over the use of bisphenol A in baby bottles and sippy chips. The plaintiffs’ claims were part of multidistrict litigation pending in a federal court in Missouri. Multidistrict litigation, or […]

Person holding pills

Johnson & Johnson Recalls 12 Million Bottles of Motrin

Healthcare and pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) recently issued a recall of approximately 12 million bottles of its popular pain reliever, Motrin, due to concerns that the Motrin IB pills may not dissolve and begin working as quickly as intended, resulting in delayed pain relief, as the pills approach their three-year expiration date. The […]

Product Recall sign

Spin Master Fined $1.3 Million for Harmful Aqua Dots Toy

Spin Master, a Canadian toy manufacturer, has agreed to pay $1.3 million to settle claims with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regarding the import and sale of Aqua Dots, which is a banned hazardous substance. Aqua Dots are popular colored arts and crafts beads that stick together when sprayed with water to form […]

White prescription pills

Pfizer Agrees to Pay $14.5 to Settle False Claims Act Lawsuit for Improperly Marketing Detrol

Pfizer has agreed to pay $14.5 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that it violated the False Claims Act by improperly marketing its prescription drugs Detrol and Detrol LA. The lawsuit was filed by whistleblowers on behalf of the United States under the False Claims Act, which allows individuals (known as relators) with knowledge of […]

Reebok shoes poster

Reebok Fined for Its Toning Shoes Ad Campaign

Reebok International has agreed to pay a $25 million fine to settle charges of false advertising stemming from claims that its toning shoes provide extra muscle strength to wearers, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The settlement funds will be used to provide consumer refunds, which will be made available either directly from the […]

White pickup truck

Ford’s Recall of Trucks with Defective Fuel Tank

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on July 29, 2011 that Ford is recalling 1.1 million pickup trucks due to defective fuel tanks. Reports have indicated that prolonged exposure to road deicing chemicals may cause severe corrosion of the fuel tank straps that secure the tank to the vehicle, allowing the fuel lines […]

Older man smoking

13-Year Old Tobacco Settlement Still the Subject of Disputes

A proposed settlement between big tobacco and the states to resolve a $7.1 billion payment dispute was rejected the states last month. The deal requires the approval of a “critical mass of states in order to be finalized, and certain states, including Utah, New Jersey and Missouri, representing more than half of the market share […]

Blue car on side of highway

Stimpson v. Ford: Judge Orders New Trial Based on Ford’s Misconduct at Trial

A circuit court judge in Florida recently set aside a jury verdict in favor of Ford Motor Co., finding that Ford’s misconduct had amounted to a fundamental error that deprived plaintiffs of a fair trial and justified a new trial. The lawsuit alleged that plaintiffs’ Aerostar van suddenly accelerated during gear engagement and traveled more […]

Silhouette on people

What is a Class Action Law Suit?

You may have heard on the news a number of times that a group of people are bringing a class action suit against a corporation, but most people do not know what a class action suit actually is. Basically, a class action suit is when a group of people who have the same kind of […]