Product Liability Law

Restaurant had no liability for death of patron who was overserved, challenged to drive in bet, state supreme court says

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled that a restaurant in Weatherford, Oklahoma, was not liable for the death of a patron in a lawsuit claiming that he was served 12 beers and five tequila shots before getting behind the wheel of his car in an attempt to collect on a bet.

Feb 21, 2023 9:16 AM CST

3rd Circuit tosses talc defendant’s ‘Texas two-step’ bankruptcy

A federal appeals court has dismissed a petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy filed by a new unit of Johnson & Johnson that was formed to assume liabilities in litigation over talc contained in its baby powder.

Jan 31, 2023 10:09 AM CST

How do you calculate damages in injury trials? Longtime expert witness reveals methodology

Estimating what the future would have looked like if an accident had never occurred can seem more like a thought experiment than a scientific process. But there’s a science behind it, says Michael Shahnasarian.

Oct 26, 2022 8:47 AM CDT

How Jones Day protected Abbott Labs in baby formula lawsuits

Good lawyering by Jones Day and occasional use of “scorched-earth legal tactics” helped Abbott Labs avoid liability in suits accusing the company of making baby formula that sickened infants. That’s the conclusion of David Enrich of the New York Times.

Sep 8, 2022 1:35 PM CDT

Bayer wins fifth Roundup verdict in a row after some high-profile losses

Roundup maker Bayer AG has won five jury verdicts in a row in trials that contended its Roundup weed killer caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In its latest win, jurors in state court in St. Louis ruled for Bayer last week in a trial involving three plaintiffs, report Reuters and Law.com. One…

Sep 7, 2022 9:50 AM CDT

Georgia jury reaches $1.7B verdict in case over Ford truck crash

A jury in Georgia decided Friday that the Ford Motor Co. must pay $1.7 billion in punitive damages in a product liability trial involving its F-250 pickup trucks.

Aug 23, 2022 11:39 AM CDT

Smoker can sue tobacco company for consumer fraud, even though she didn’t use its products, state supreme court says

A smoker can sue the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. for misrepresenting the health hazards of cigarettes, even though she smoked brands made by other companies, a Nevada Supreme Court panel has ruled.

Aug 4, 2022 10:47 AM CDT

Buchalter’s product-liability chair used sexually harassing acronyms, lawsuit alleges

A staff member at Buchalter has filed a lawsuit against the law firm and the chair of its product-liability practice alleging that the partner made sexually inappropriate comments and used acronyms to convey sexually harassing messages.

Jul 20, 2022 12:32 PM CDT

Lawsuits against social media companies use product-liability theory to sidestep immunity law

Social media companies should be liable under product-liability law for designing their products in a way that addicts their users and causes other harms, according to a growing number of lawsuits.

Jul 18, 2022 8:41 AM CDT

How the decision overturning Roe v. Wade affects insurance coverage for abortions and related litigation

Insurance companies are facing new legal issues after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last month that there is no constitutional right to abortion.

Jul 5, 2022 11:20 AM CDT

Snapchat may be liable for speed filter used by teen before crash, Georgia Supreme Court says

Snapchat may be liable for negligently designing a speed filter used by a teenage driver who recorded speeds of more than 100 miles per hour before she crashed her Mercedes-Benz and severely injured another driver, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.

Mar 17, 2022 12:06 PM CDT