Federal Judge Takes Stand Against Junk Science in California
Federal Judge William Shubb ruled yesterday that California cannot require Bayer AG to label its glyphosate-based weedkiller Roundup as “known to the
Points of Light
California Courts: Drop Science At the Door
A California jury sent a clear message this week when it awarded more than $2 billion in damages to a
Judicial HellholesSupreme Court’s Adoption of Novel Theories of Liability, Abusive ‘No-Injury’ Litigation, Place California atop Latest ‘Judicial Hellholes’ List
Today, the American Tort Reform Foundation released its 2018-2019 Judicial Hellholes report. California tops the list, with Florida, New York City and St. Louis not far behind.
Judicial HellholesCalifornia Federal Court Finds ‘Insufficient Evidence’ to Require Warning Labels on Roundup Products
On February 26, 2018, a federal judge in the District Court for the Eastern District of California halted a Prop 65 requirement that Monsanto place warning labels on its Roundup products, deciding that there was “insufficient evidence” the popular weed killer causes cancer.
Judicial HellholesSuspect in Thwarted Armed Robbery Reportedly Considering Lawsuit Against Civilian Hero
Only in hyper-litigious America would someone caught red-handed in the commission of an apparent armed robbery have the gall to consider a lawsuit against the civilian hero who courageously thwarted that robbery
Judicial HellholesATRA Critical of Giant ‘Junk Science’ Verdict in ‘Golden State for Trial Lawyers’
Citing California’s stubborn and long criticized reluctance to adopt unambiguously the more exacting Daubert standard for expert evidence used in all federal courts and roughly 80% of state court systems, the American Tort Reform Association today pointed to “the latest giant-sized junk-science verdict” there to suggest it officially change its nickname to the “Golden State for Trial Lawyers.”
Judicial Hellholes‘Clueless’ California High Court Decision Extends Invitation to Out-of-State Plaintiffs’ Lawsuits
California, already the nation’s #1 ranked Judicial Hellhole for three years running, has, like, thrown open its doors to out-of-state plaintiffs with claims similar to California plaintiffs’ claims against national defendants, discarding due process and effectively ignoring several U.S. Supreme Court opinions
Judicial HellholesFederal Courts in Two Top Hellholes Issue Refreshingly Reasonable Class-Action Decisions
Federal courts in both California and New York — two perennial Judicial Hellholes — issued refreshingly reasonable decisions in two closely-watched cases last week
Points of LightCalifornia Enacts Law to Protect Small Businesses from Predatory ADA Lawsuits
California, the nation’s #1 Judicial Hellhole, has taken a dutiful step forward to remedy the ADA lawsuit epidemic in the state. Governor Jerry Brown has signed legislation which will curb the predatory filing of ADA lawsuits by serial plaintiffs, and reduce the burden on small businesses in the state.
Points of LightCalifornia High Court Lets Employees Sit Down on Job, Risking Productivity & Health
California employers have taken a kick to the keister once again and will now be forced to let employees sit on theirs. (And some economists wonder why productivity growth has stalled.)
Judicial Hellholes9th Circuit Overrules Dismissal of Yogurt Labeling Case to Wait for FDA Definition of ‘Natural’
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit last week overruled a lower court’s perfectly sound dismissal with prejudice of a food labeling class action against Chobani yogurt
Judicial HellholesBucking National Trend, California Appeals Court Allows Discredited Asbestos Exposure Theory
Seemingly determined to keep California atop the Judicial Hellholes rankings, an appeals court there last week ignored precedent requiring trial judges to function as “gatekeepers” when it comes to the scientific validity of expert testimony and instead upheld a decision to let jurors play that critical role in their acceptance of a discredited theory of asbestos exposure
Judicial HellholesADA Shyster Caught on Video Disciplined by Federal Judge, Not So Much by State Bar Court
A California McDonald’s franchisee last month successfully beat back a fraudulent Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) case after a security camera caught the plaintiff’s lawyer visiting the premises and collecting evidence instead of his client
Judicial HellholesPETA Suffers Second Lawsuit Dismissal in a Week
For the second time in a week, the litigious animal rights activists at PETA have had a specious lawsuit tossed out of court
Points of LightHonda’s Efforts to Make Nice with Environmentalists Result in Class Action
In an effort to appeal to “green” car buyers and radical environmentalists within regulatory agencies, Honda switched from wrapping some of its cars’ wiring in slow-to-degrade plastics to a soy-based casing. That’s right, Honda had begun to wrap its wires in tofu
Judicial Hellholes, UncategorizedGoya Strikes Back at ‘Serial’ Plaintiff in California Food Fight
In litigation first reported here two years ago, defendant Goya Foods is fighting back against a serial plaintiff and her bogus, no-injury claim that seeks to exploit California’s Prop 65 labeling requirements
Judicial HellholesLos Angeles Taxpayers Victimized by Plaintiffs’ Lawyers
California continues to earn its ranking as the nation’s #1 Judicial Hellhole as Los Angele County’s litigation expenses ballooned 24% in FY 2014-2015
Judicial HellholesCalifornia High Court Leads Acceptance of Arbitration Clauses and More Reasonable Word Usage
As reported by autonews.com, a California Court of Appeal reversed its own past ruling about the validity of arbitration provisions. This course reversal follows a ruling by the California Supreme Court in a different case which found a nearly identical arbitration provision to be enforceable.
Points of Light7th Circuit Serves Harsh Ethics Lesson on Chicago Shyster, Father-in-Law
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit tossed out a “scandalous” settlement stemming from a Pella window consumer protection class action suit that would have paid the plaintiffs’ attorneys $11 million up front, with $2 million going to the ethically-challenged lead counsel. It’s just one more example of how state Consumer Protection Acts are abused
Judicial HellholesWith Minority Businesses Now Being Targeted, Too, NPR Finally Reports on ADA Lawsuit Abuse
Following ATRA’s lead in repeatedly exposing disability-access lawsuit abuse in California and elsewhere, NPR has finally joined in with an April 23 report during its “All Things Considered” program
Judicial HellholesFood Suits with a Prop 65 Twist Likely to Keep California atop Judicial Hellholes Rankings
In an apparent bid to make sure California remains as the #1-ranked Judicial Hellhole for an unprecedented third year in a row, food suit shysters there have watsed no time in getting 2014 off to a familiar start, filing two meritless class actions in federal court
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