Comprehensive Biomaterial Preservation Order Issued in Ongoing Litigation On April 5, 2024, a significant order, CMO #20, was issued regarding the preservation of biomaterial evidence in the ongoing litigation. This order outlines a detailed protocol for the handling, storing, and preservation of biomaterials involved in the case, ensuring equal access and analysis opportunities for all…
Philips Issues Warning on Ventilator Malfunction Risk On April 5, 2024, Philips issued a warning regarding potential malfunctions in certain ventilator models, including the Trilogy Evo, Trilogy Evo O2, and Trilogy EV300. The company identified a risk of sudden power loss despite adequate battery life, leading to erroneous low battery or power failure alerts. While…
Dismissal of MonoSol from Suboxone Litigation In a development in the Suboxone litigation on April 4, 2024, MonoSol, a defendant named in some Suboxone claims, was dismissed from the litigation. MonoSol, previously dismissed from antitrust claims involving Suboxone and product hopping, is no longer part of this litigation. This dismissal marks progress in the litigation…
Slow Growth in Bard PowerPort MDL The Bard PowerPort MDL, unlike other mass tort cases involving defective products, has a limited number of potential plaintiffs due to the relatively small number of patients requiring surgically implanted ports. Despite this, the litigation has seen an increase, with 10 new cases joining the MDL in the past…
Dismissal of Unsubstantiated Cases in Paraquat MDL The Paraquat multidistrict litigation (MDL) involves over 5,000 plaintiffs. Recently, another lawsuit related to Paraquat was voluntarily dismissed, seemingly to avoid a deposition. This decision followed a court order for the plaintiff’s deposition, highlighting a trend where ten out of 34 cases selected for closer examination this year…
Massachusetts Judge Allows Lawsuit Against NFPA Over Carcinogenic Chemicals to Proceed On April 3, 2024, a Massachusetts judge made a significant ruling in a lawsuit brought by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) against the National Fire Protection Association Inc. (NFPA). The lawsuit, filed the previous year, alleges that NFPA’s fire safety standards mandate…
Ongoing Talc Powder Lawsuit in Sarasota, Florida On April 2, 2024, a new talc powder lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson (J&J) began in Sarasota, Florida. The case involves a wrongful death claim filed by the widower of a woman who used J&J’s baby powder for many years and later died from ovarian cancer. This trial…
Developments in Hair Relaxer Lawsuits: Dismissal Rights, Discovery Disputes, and Case Filings As of April 2, 2024, a significant dispute has emerged regarding plaintiffs’ requests to dismiss or amend their lawsuits without prejudice before the defendants respond, a move opposed by the defendants. Both sides accuse each other of obstructing standard Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) procedures….
AFFF Multidistrict Litigation: Nearly 570 New Lawsuits Added, Trials Unlikely in 2024 As of April 1, 2024, the multidistrict litigation (MDL) for AFFF exposure has seen an influx of 568 new cases in the last month, bringing the total to 7,738 pending personal injury cases. The court is focused on reviewing scientific evidence linking AFFF…
Suboxone Dental Problems MDL: 44 Lawsuits Filed in First Six Weeks As of April 1, 2024, the Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) for cases alleging Suboxone caused severe dental problems has seen 44 lawsuits filed in just six weeks since its creation in February. These cases are being filed directly into the MDL in the Northern District…