Verdicts & Settlements

Order Raises Question: Did Bextra and Celebrex Cases Settle?

A federal judge’s order is leading to speculation that Pfizer has quietly settled several of 3,000 pending cases claiming injuries from the painkillers Bextra and Celebrex. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer of San Francisco ordered a law firm handling 250 of those cases to submit detailed information to…

Aug 4, 2008 12:56 PM CDT

Beyond Traditional Tort Law, ‘Desk Rage’ is Now a Potential Claim

Although not recognized as a cause of action in most jurisdictions, “desk rage”—i.e., abusive or threatening conduct at the workplace—is a growing problem and a growing concern to employers and the lawyers who advise them. At its worst, the occupational violence that can result from stressed and angry employees facing…

Aug 1, 2008 11:36 PM CDT

Jena 6 Judge is Removed from Case

The judge in charge of hearing the charges against the remaining Jena 6 defendants has been removed from the case. Saying that there was an appearance of impropriety, Judge Thomas Yeager of Rapides Parish, La., removed LaSalle Parish District Judge J.P. Mauffray from the case today, in response to a…

Aug 1, 2008 4:35 PM CDT

Rob Lowe & Nanny Who Sued Him Both Proclaim Victory re Court Ruling

After a California judge’s decision to dismiss a defamation claim by actor Rob Lowe and a retaliation claim by his former nanny, Jessica Gibson, both sides proclaimed victory this week in the ongoing litigation. It began with a pre-emptive strike by Lowe, 44, who filed a complaint in April claiming…

Aug 1, 2008 3:35 PM CDT

Ex-Prosecutor Acquitted of Vehicular Homicide of Girlfriend

A former suburban Philadelphia prosecutor whose girlfriend died last year as he drove away during a drunken argument has been acquitted of vehicular homicide, but found guilty of lesser charges. Richard Patton, 52, a lawyer in Bucks County, said he didn’t realize Heather Demou, 34, was clinging to his pickup…

Jul 31, 2008 11:11 PM CDT

Mo. Lawyer Rants Against Judge, Gets 4 Months in Jail

Asking a Missouri judge “Are you a pedophile?” was but one of the “rude and angry” comments that reportedly helped persuade the jurist to slap a 120-day contempt sentence on a Kansas City lawyer. Attorney Carlos Romious also caught the attention of Greene County Circuit Court Judge Tom Mountjoy by…

Jul 31, 2008 7:50 PM CDT

Prison Co.‘s Settlement Records are Public, Tenn. Judge Says

Corrections Corp. of America, a private company that runs state prisons in Tennessee, is subject to the state’s open records law, a Chancery Court judge has ruled, because it is the “functional equivalent” of a state agency. The company now plans to appeal. But if the ruling is upheld and…

Jul 30, 2008 6:09 PM CDT

Orrick Agrees to Settle San Diego Malpractice Suit for $2.8M

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe has agreed to pay San Diego $2.8 million to settle a malpractice suit that contended the law firm failed to uncover the extent of the city’s unfunded pension debt in time to help avert the problem. San Diego city attorney Michael Aguirre announced the settlement yesterday…

Jul 30, 2008 10:45 AM CDT

Immigrants in Deportation Cases Must Get Bond Hearings, 9th Circuit Says

Unlike other defendants in criminal cases, immigrants who are awaiting deportation hearings aren’t automatically considered for bond. But that is now no longer the rule for those being detained on the West Coast, reports the Daily Journal (sub. req.). Bond hearings must be granted to immigrants who are being held…

Jul 29, 2008 8:31 PM CDT

President OKs 1st Military Execution Since 1961

President George W. Bush has approved an Army request to put a private to death, giving the go-ahead to what would be the first execution by the U.S. military in nearly 50 years. However, further appeals are expected. The defendant, Ronald Gray, was convicted by a military court in 1988…

Jul 29, 2008 8:11 PM CDT

Gibson Dunn Fights ‘Yo-Yo Effect’ in $13M Punitive Damages Case

From $98 million to $20 million to $13.3 million to zero and now back to $13.4 million again, the value of a closely watched Tennessee wrongful death case against an automobile manufacturer has swung back and forth, in what one defense lawyer refers to as a “yo-yo effect.” Now, after…

Jul 29, 2008 7:30 PM CDT

Ga. Business Owner Ordered to Pay $150K for Broken Engagement

RoseMary Shell wasn’t actually left at the altar. Instead, the middle-aged woman came home one day in late 2006, shortly before she was to get married, and discovered a note from her fiance, along with a check for $5,000, in the bathroom of their home. It said he was having…

Jul 29, 2008 6:54 PM CDT

Frank Quattrone’s Comeback

Corrected: After a five-year legal saga – in which he lost his job as one of Silicon Valley’s top investment bankers, was convicted of obstruction of justice on charges that he hindered an investigation into whether hedge funds were paying excess commissions to Credit Suisse First Boston, and then won…

Jul 29, 2008 4:21 PM CDT

Anonymous Donor Can’t Post Bail, Federal Judge Says

An anonymous donor who has offered to post bail for a jailed California businessman can’t do so unless he’s willing to reveal his name, a federal judge says. Brent Wilkes, 54, is serving a 12-year sentence for bribing a former congressman, Randy “Duke” Cunningham, but will be released while he…

Jul 29, 2008 3:26 PM CDT

More Workplace Bias Lawsuits Being Filed by Men

Men are filing an increasing number of workplace bias lawsuits, according to employment lawyers and figures provided by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Last year a record 16 percent of sexual harassment complaints were filed by men, up from 9 percent in the early 1990s, the National Law Journal reports.…

Jul 29, 2008 11:56 AM CDT