Amazon may be liable for injuries caused by defective products sold by third-party vendors, court rules

A California appeals court ruled Thursday that Amazon can be held strictly liable for injuries caused by defective products sold by third-party vendors through its online marketplace.

Aug 14, 2020 9:46 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Prosecutor who filed OSHA complaint dies from COVID-19; Wells Fargo faces new class action

Prosecutor who filed OSHA complaint dies from COVID-19 A prosecutor in Pennsylvania who filed a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration after becoming ill with COVID-19 has died from the virus. Assistant Allegheny County District Attorney Russ Broman died at age 65. Broman thought that he contracted the…

Aug 12, 2020 4:30 PM CDT

Macy’s uses facial recognition software to identify customers on security cameras, lawsuit claims

A would-be class action lawsuit alleges that the Macy’s department store chain violates Illinois law when it identifies customers recorded on its surveillance cameras by using facial recognition software.

Aug 12, 2020 3:36 PM CDT

Would a government-backed social credit scoring system like China’s ever fly in the US?

Aug 1, 2020 12:45 AM CDT

Judge says BigLaw firm essentially called him stupid in ‘astounding’ display of ‘effrontery’

U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsay of the Northern District of Texas slammed Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and its co-counsel Wednesday for calling his interpretation of an arbitration clause “nonsensical.”

Jul 23, 2020 3:11 PM CDT

Supreme Court will decide circuit split over Facebook’s use of text messages

The U.S. Supreme Court granted Facebook Inc.’s request Thursday to review a proposed class action that accuses the social media company of sending unwanted text messages.

Jul 10, 2020 9:49 AM CDT

Consumer agency survives SCOTUS challenge but not for-cause removal of its chief

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau violates the separation of powers because it concentrates power in a single director who is removable only for cause.

Jun 29, 2020 10:56 AM CDT

Supreme Court rules disgorgement, with limits, is allowed in SEC civil actions

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-1 Monday that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission may seek disgorgement—with some limits—in civil enforcement cases.

Jun 22, 2020 12:32 PM CDT

Coronavirus on board: Lawyer’s parents were trapped on a contaminated cruise ship

Florida plaintiffs lawyer Debi F. Chalik remembers the moment she decided to file suit against Princess Cruises for negligence arising from the COVID-19 outbreak on the Grand Princess ship. It was March 6, and she was home watching Vice President Mike Pence deliver a televised briefing that included an update on the status of the Grand Princess.

Jun 1, 2020 12:02 AM CDT

Suing a cruise line? There are a boatload of challenges unique to the industry

Bringing a case against an ocean cruise line is challenging. Plaintiffs lawyers say these cases are highly specific and highly specialized, governed by myriad legal standards and subject to investigative challenges. It’s an area so unique that it’s easy for a novice lawyer to make an honest mistake that can permanently sink an otherwise meritorious case.

Jun 1, 2020 12:00 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Bar exam pass rate hits new low in California; Ben & Jerry’s ‘happy cows’ suit tossed

California’s February bar exam pass rate drops to less than 27% The pass rate for California’s February 2020 bar exam was 26.8%, which, according to the Recorder, is a record low. The state’s February 2020 exam was taken by 4,205 people, according to information that the State Bar of California…

May 11, 2020 4:19 PM CDT

Federal judge sues Allstate, claims insurer is wrongly trying to evict him during pandemic

A federal judge in Brooklyn has filed a lawsuit contending that Allstate is trying to force him and his wife to leave the property that they rented after a fire destroyed their home, despite New York’s moratorium on evictions.

Apr 23, 2020 9:37 AM CDT

Another lawsuit is filed against Zoom over alleged privacy problems

Zoom Video Communications has been hit with a new privacy lawsuit alleging that it failed to protect user data from Facebook and LinkedIn.

Apr 14, 2020 10:04 AM CDT

Lawyer and startup resort to mass filings to fight company bans on class arbitration

A startup called FairShake and a lawyer from Chicago are challenging corporate bans on classwide arbitration by filing a deluge of arbitration claims against companies.

Apr 13, 2020 10:37 AM CDT

Can jails return inmate cash in the form of fee-laden debit cards? 9th Circuit allows suit

A federal appeals court has revived a lawsuit by a jailed protester in Oregon who turned over nearly $31 to her jailers and was repaid upon release with a fee-laden debit card.

Mar 26, 2020 12:44 PM CDT