The Litigation Counsellor®
Acetaminophen MDL Plaintiffs’ Leadership Appointed
On November 16, 2022, in the Acetaminophen Multidistrict Litigation (“MDL”), U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cole of the Southern District of New York approved a Plaintiffs’ Leadership structure.
TikTok Sued over Alleged Privacy Violations
On Friday, November 25, 2022, a claim was filed in the United States District Court Central District of California against TikTok and parent company Byte Dance (collectively, “defendants”). The plaintiff claims his privacy was violated through a tracking device in the defendants’ product.
Social Media MDL Plaintiffs’ Leadership Appointed
On Thursday, November 10, 2022 in the Social Media Multi-District Litigation (“MDL”), U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzales Rogers of the Northern District of California issued Case Management Order No. 1 which included the selection of Leadership for Plaintiffs.
Skittles Lawsuits Against Mars Dropped
On Monday, November 7, 2022, a claim against Mars Inc., the manufacturer of Skittles, was withdrawn in the United States District Court Northern District of California. The plaintiff had initially claimed Skittles was unfit for human consumption.
In the complaint, named plaintiff Jenile Thames alleged that the product, Skittles, contained Titanium Dioxide (“TiO2”) a chemical known by the defendant to be harmful. Plaintiff claims that in 2016 Defendant promised to phase out its use of the chemical.
L’Oreal Sued Over Hair Straightener Cancer Claims
On Friday, October 21, 2022, a claim was filed in the United Stated District Court, Northern District of Illinois against L’Oreal and additional defendants (collectively, “Defendants”). The plaintiff claims her uterine cancer is a result of using Defendants’ haircare products.
Acetaminophen Cases Consolidated and Sent to New York Federal Court
On Wednesday, October 5, 2022, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (“JPML”), consolidated suits related to Acetaminophen. There are currently 65 actions pending in eight districts nationwide alleging a link between the development of either autism spectrum disorder (“ASD”) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (“ADHD”) and prenatal exposure to acetaminophen.
Eli Lilly Sued by EEOC for Alleged Millennials Bias
On Tuesday, September 26, 2022, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) filed a complaint against Lilly USA, LLC (“Lilly”) alleging age discrimination in violation of the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA”) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. Lilly USA is the parent company of Eli Lilly, a U.S.-based pharmaceutical company.
Florida Airbag Cases Survive Motion to Dismiss
On Tuesday, September 20, 2022, in the Takata Airbag Product Liability Litigation, U.S. District Judge Federico A. Moreno of the Southern District of Florida issued an order granting in part and denying in part motions to dismiss.
The judge denied Defendants’ motions to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction with respect to the Florida Consumer Plaintiffs. The judge did grant Defendants’ motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction with respect to the non-Florida direct-file Consumer Plaintiffs.
Baby Formula MDL Plaintiffs’ Leadership Appointed
On Thursday, September 9, 2022 in the Abbott Infant Formula Multi-District Litigation (“MDL”), U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly of the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division issued Case Management Order #2 naming a plaintiff leadership committee.
The following two attorneys were appointed to serve as plaintiffs’ co-lead counsel: Stacy K. Hauer and E. Samuel Geisler. Judge Kennelly’s order specifically laid out their duties and responsibilities.
Bankruptcy Court Denies 3M’s Injunction in Earplug Litigation
On August 26, 2022, Judge Jeffrey Graham, United State Bankruptcy Judge in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana denied Aearo Technologies’ (“Aearo”) request for a preliminary injunction for a non-debtor party, its parent company, 3M.
Judge Approves $92M TikTok Settlement
On Monday, August 22, 2022, the judge in the TikTok Privacy litigation approved the $92 million settlement reached by parties via mediation in October 2021. The Order was issued by U.S. District Judge John Lee of the U.S. Federal District Court in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. Defendants are the TikTok platform and its parent company, ByteDance, Inc.
Where the 3M Earplug Litigation Stands Following Aearo’s Bankruptcy Filing
On July 26, 2022, Aearo Technologies (“Aearo”), a subsidiary of 3M, filed bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Aearo originally manufactured the earplugs that are at the core of the 3M Earplug MDL currently pending in the U.S. District Court, Northern District Florida. The MDL is overseen by U.S. District Judge Casey Rodgers. The bankruptcy filing came on the heels of a court ordered mediation between the parties.
West Virginia Reaches Opioid Verdict
On July 4, 2022, a West Virginia federal judge found in favor of three drug distributors in the West Virginia opioid litigation. U.S. District Judge David Haber found that Cabell County and the city of Huntington, West Virginia failed to prove that AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health Inc. and McKesson Corp. created a public nuisance by flooding the area with large shipments of opioids. Further, the judge ruled that the plaintiffs could not seek relief for abating the damages from the Opioid Crisis.
Camp Lejeune Justice Act Awaits Passage into Federal Law
Recently, Congress proposed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act as part of the larger Honoring our PACT Act of 2022 legislation (H.R. 3967), in order to provide compensation to those injured by exposure to polluted water at Camp Lejuene.
Camp Lejeune is a Marine Corps base and a military operations and training facility for the United States armed forces located in Onslow County, North Carolina. Thousands of military servicemembers, their families, civilian employees and contractors lived and/or worked there beginning in 1942 through the present.
Parties in 3M Earplug Litigation Ordered to Mediation
On Friday, June 10, 2022, United States District Judge Casey Rodgers in the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division, ordered parties in the 3M earplug litigation to attend mediation. Claims against 3M are consolidated in a Multidistrict Litigation (“MDL”) and are overseen by Judge Rodgers. Plaintiffs, veterans and US servicemembers, claim that 3M’s earplugs were defectively designed. They allege that the defective design prevented the earplugs from providing protection to servicemembers and that this failure led to tinnitus and/or hearing loss.