HBO Documentary Sheds Light on Tort Reform and Consumer Rights
Hot Coffee: Is Justice Being Served? is a documentary film that focuses on the influence of big business interest on our civil justice system. The film premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and has also been shown on HBO, garnering critical acclaim and winning several awards. The film exposes the public relations campaigns of… read more
Brian Panish Delivers Address at Treusch Public Service Lecture
On Monday, Brian Panish was honored to have been a guest speaker at the annual Treusch Public Service Lecture at Southwestern Law School, his alma mater. The Treusch Public Service Lecture was established in 2000 by the late Paul E. Treusch, a member of the Southwestern faculty from 1979-2004, and his wife Phyllis, as an… read more
Pipeline Safety Measures Blocked By Senator
According to news sources, a sole senator has blocked federal legislation to regulate pipeline safety, an issue the pipeline industry itself supports. The federal government has zoned in on pipeline safety after several incidents of explosions. PG&E had a significant explosion is San Bruno, California in 2010, and the accident raised issues over how records are… read more
Four Loko Repackages Product to Meet Federal Standards
Four Loko, a popular alcoholic caffeinated drink, will soon undergo repackaging in order to satisfy a charge of deceptive advertising made by the Federal Trade Commission, according to recent news sources. The argument is over how much alcohol the product contains. Phusion Projects, the marketers of the beverage, stated that Four Lokos have the same… read more
Improper Plane Repairs Endangered the Lives of Fliers
Six former employees of a Federal Aviation Administration certified air-repair station have been accused of improper repairs that endanger the lives of fliers, according to recent news sources. In one instance, two of the employees used a paper clip instead of the proper part in a repair, returning it to the customer as complete. The… read more
Federal Aviation Admin Imposes Fine
J.R. Simplot Company of Boise, Idaho, is facing a $207,200 civil penalty from the Federal Aviation Administration for violating the Hazardous Materials Regulations imposed by the Department of Transportation, according to news sources. Allegedly, Simplot, a company that processes food and agriculture, had a non-standard fiberboard box with a five-gallon jug of bactericide and fungicide… read more
Homeless Man Charged with Contaminating Drugs
The U.K. has accused a homeless man of sabotaging packets of painkillers with anti-psychotic drugs, according to recent news sources. The man, who was arrested last week, appeared in court on Monday for charges of contamination of goods and administering a noxious substance. The arrest comes after an investigation beginning in August, when the product… read more
J&J Hires Outside Counsel for DePuy ASR Hip Replacement Recall
According to recent news reports, Johnson & Johnson is hiring an outside firm to handle the recall of its DePuy ASR metal-on-metal hip implant. This is an unusual move, as companies typically handle these matters with their in-house counsel and rely on the patient’s doctor to determine if a replacement is necessary. However, this decision… read more
Bus Accident Victim Settles for $10.5 Million
Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer Brian Panish of Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP reached a record $10.5 million settlement with AC Transit shortly before the lawsuit was set for trial. Three years after its occurrence, a bus accident that severely injured a pedestrian will cost AC Transit $10.5 million dollars, according to news sources…. read more
Bank of America Ordered to Pay Employee $930,000 in Damages
The United States Department of Labor and Occupation Safety and Health Administration has ordered Bank of America to pay anemployee $930,000 after they were found to be in violation of the whistleblower protection provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which protects employees from improper firing procedures. The amount to be paid will cover back wages, interest,… read more
Rick Perry Does an About-Face on Tort Reform
On Monday, presidential hopeful Rick Perry participated in a CNN debate in which he disregarded his former stance against a national tort reform. In a November 2010 interview, the Texas governor said, “One of the reasons why I was never for a national tort reform was because I think we do it better in the… read more
Johnson & Johnson Shareholders Demand CEO Pays Out
A Johnson & Johnson CEO paid more than any other pharmaceutical company CEO may be forced to pay back a large amount of that compensation in a recent shareholder lawsuit, according to news reports. The CEO in question has been paid more than $150 million since 2006. Shareholders argue that this is “lavish and excessive”… read more
