Injury & Accident Law

Suit Claims Boss Waterboarded Worker as Motivational Tack

A suit by a sales employee claims his boss subjected him to waterboarding as part of a “team-building exercise.” Chad Hudgens, part of a 10-person telephone sales team, said he had volunteered for the exercise, devised by his supervisor during a slow sales week, but had no idea what he…

Apr 14, 2008 3:54 PM CDT

Va. Tech Families Agree to $11M Settlement

In a deal meant to prevent further lawsuits, families of the victims in the Virginia Tech shootings have reportedly reached a $11 million settlement with the state. Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said Thursday that a “substantial majority” of families of the shooting victims have agreed to the settlement, the…

Apr 10, 2008 6:24 PM CDT

Fen-phen Lawyers Awarded $412M in Fees, Applauded for ‘Herculean Effort’

A federal judge has awarded $412 million in additional fees to lawyers who sued the maker of the fen-phen diet-drug on behalf of thousands of plaintiffs. Chief U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III of Philadelphia awarded the fees for more than 578,000 hours of work that he called “nothing short…

Apr 10, 2008 2:00 PM CDT

Appeals Court Bars Class Action Against Makers of Light Cigarettes

A federal appeals court has tossed an $800 billion class-action lawsuit against the makers of light cigarettes. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said questions of whether plaintiffs relied on marketing that promoted light cigarettes as a safer alternative could not be resolved in a class action, the New…

Apr 4, 2008 3:49 PM CDT

Court of Public Opinion Sways Wal-Mart in Battle Over Legal Winnings

A Missouri man, who lost a son in Iraq and whose wife suffers from debilitating memory loss because of an auto accident, couldn’t convince his wife’s former employer to back off its claim to the money the family recovered for her accident. At least not until his plight made prime-time…

Apr 2, 2008 6:52 PM CDT

The Lanier Law Firm, Known for PI Work, Opens IP Office

Plaintiffs lawyers, sensing opportunity for profit, are branching out into intellectual property litigation. The latest entrant in the field is the Texas-based Lanier Law Firm, known for its asbestos and Vioxx work, the Recorder reports. The firm has announced associate Christopher Banys is leaving Howrey to open a new IP…

Apr 2, 2008 3:45 PM CDT

Texas Court Nibbles on State’s ‘First Free Bite’ Rule

In Texas, dogs get a “first free bite,” a sort of get-out-of-jail-free card for owners to escape legal liability if their previously gentle pooch gets rough. But on Friday the state’s supreme court ruled that dog owners still have a responsibility to stop an attack once it begins, the Austin…

Mar 31, 2008 8:18 PM CDT

Lawsuit Lender’s Suit Against Disbarred Lawyer Reveals ‘Hefty’ Interest Charges

A lawsuit loan company that advanced $25,000 to an Atlanta lawyer and his law firm in exchange for a stake in the litigation has filed a lawsuit that shines a light on its high-interest financing method. The lawyer named as a defendant, Earl Davidson, has been disbarred for misusing trust…

Mar 27, 2008 2:22 PM CDT

Foreign Courts Look Askance at Punitive Damages

The awarding of punitive damages has long been accepted in the United States, but it’s rare in other countries. Most foreign courts view punitive damages as a windfall for plaintiffs, the New York Times reports. These courts say punishments should be meted out by the criminal justice system or by…

Mar 26, 2008 3:17 PM CDT

Calif. Court Reconsiders But Doesn’t Change Ford Punitives Verdict

A California appeals court is standing its ground and refusing to change an earlier ruling requiring Ford Motor Co. to pay $82.6 million in a rollover case. The U.S. Supreme Court had asked the California court to reconsider in light of its ruling in Philip Morris USA v. Williams, the…

Mar 11, 2008 5:49 PM CDT

Scruggs’ Downslide: His Cases Had ‘Big Enemies and Bad Results’

Recently indicted plaintiffs lawyer Richard Scruggs bolstered his reputation as a legendary plaintiffs lawyer in the 1990s when he won settlements for shipyard workers exposed to asbestos and helped force tobacco companies to pay a $248 billion settlement. But in more recent years, Scruggs foundered as he pursued difficult cases…

Mar 7, 2008 1:17 PM CST

A Slew of Lawyer Ads Follow Hepatitis Outbreak

Lawyers responded quickly after Las Vegas shut down an endoscopy center accused of reusing syringes and infecting at least six patients with hepatitis. They rushed to place ads seeking clients on the airwaves, in newspapers and on the Internet. One lawyer is seeking clients on Craigslist, the Las Vegas Sun…

Mar 5, 2008 4:05 PM CST

Test to Spot Liars Takes Center Stage in Personal Injury Cases

Expert witnesses are citing a test designed to spot those who are faking their pain in hundreds of court cases, prompting debate about its reliability. The so-called Fake Bad Scale was added to the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory last year, leading to its increasing use by expert witnesses in personal…

Mar 5, 2008 12:20 PM CST

Judge Allows Suit Blaming NBC News Show for Prosecutor’s Suicide

A federal judge in New York has refused to dismiss a $105 million lawsuit against Dateline NBC that blames a Texas prosecutor’s suicide on the show’s series about child predators. The suit was filed by Patricia Conradt, whose brother, Louis Conradt Jr., shot himself as television cameras waited to tape…

Feb 27, 2008 2:28 PM CST

Judge’s Widow Can’t Pursue Suit Claiming Overwork Caused His Death

The widow of a Connecticut judge who claims her husband died from overwork can’t sue the state under a special statute that extended the time limit for her to file suit. The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled Monday (PDF) that the law was unconstitutional because it was designed to benefit just…

Feb 27, 2008 1:09 PM CST