Florida Bills Would Diminish Patient Privacy
Two bills moving through the Florida legislature, if enacted, will further solidify the state’s unfortunate status as a “Judicial Hellhole.”
Judicial Hellholes
ATRA Responds to Reuters Baby Powder “Exposé”: Lawsuits Should be Based on Science, Not Fearmongering
The American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) today responded to a Reuters report that purports to show that the baby powder
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 HellholesATRA Announces Mid-Year Addition of Twin Cities to Judicial Hellholes List
Troubling trends in Twin Cities courtrooms, unprincipled actions by Minnesota’s attorney general and multiple vetoes of common sense reforms by
Judicial HellholesDisappointing Legislative Session Comes to a Close in Missouri
The Missouri Legislature adjourned on the evening of Friday, May 19, 2018, without passing significant legal reform legislation. Lawmakers gave
Judicial HellholesWest Virginia High Court Soundly Rejects Trial Bar’s Theory of Innovator Liability
On May 11, 2018, the West Virginia Supreme Court issued its long-awaited opinion in the case of McNair v. Johnson
Judicial Hellholes, Points of LightFormer NY Speaker Sheldon Silver Convicted of Federal Corruption Charges in Second Trial
As reported by the New York Times, Sheldon Silver, former Democratic speaker of the New York State Assembly, was found
Judicial Hellholes5th Circuit Court of Appeals Overturns $502 Million J&J Verdict after Finding ‘Unequivocally Deceptive’ Conduct by Plaintiffs’ Lawyer
On Wednesday, April 25, 2018, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals threw out a half-billion dollar verdict against Johnson &
Judicial HellholesIntent on Making State a Judicial Hellhole- Maryland High Court Holds Statute of Repose Does Not Apply to Asbestos Claims
The Maryland Court of Appeals recently overturned the state appellate court’s Duffy v. CBS Corp. decision. In the case, which
Judicial HellholesATRA Disappointed in Massachusetts Supreme Court’s Decision to Adopt Expansive Theory of “Innovator Liability”
On March 16, 2018, in a very disappointing decision, the Massachusetts Supreme Court adopted an expansive theory of civil liability
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 HellholesAttorney General Sessions Discusses DOJ Efforts to Combat Opioid Abuse
On Tuesday, we heard more about the ongoing efforts to combat opioid abuse and efforts to combat this important public
Judicial HellholesEvidence of Trial Lawyer Corruption Comes to Light in South Carolina
On Sunday, February 11, 2018, the Post and Courier of Charleston, South Carolina reported new email evidence suggesting misconduct regarding
Judicial Hellholes“CREATES Act” is Nothing but a Giveaway to Well-Heeled Personal Injury Lawyers
The United States Senate is currently considering legislation that would benefit trial lawyers at the expense of consumers and innovative drug manufacturers. Proponents claim the Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples (“CREATES”) Act (Pat Leahy D-VT) would provide a more efficient path for generic drug manufacturers to bring their product to market. In reality, the legislation is nothing but a giveaway to greedy personal injury lawyers and generic drug manufacturers.
Judicial HellholesGarden State’s New Governor Faces Bellwether Choice on ‘Pay Equity’ Legislation
New Jersey, already ranked 6th among the nation’s worst Judicial Hellholes, has a newly inaugurated governor who’s wasted no time signaling his intention to expand growth-stifling civil liability still further
Judicial HellholesAnother Scientifically Groundless Talc Verdict Falls, This Time in Los Angeles
Just three days after a Missouri appeals court vacated the first of four monstrous, if scientifically groundless verdicts won since 2015 in St. Louis by plaintiffs alleging their use of talcum powder caused ovarian cancer, a trial judge in Los Angles last Friday reversed a $417 million plaintiff’s verdict in a comparable case
Judicial Hellholes, UncategorizedTwo Florida Firms’ Fraudulent Tobacco Claims Draw Nearly $9.2 Million in Sanctions
With at least six Florida personal injury lawyers now facing unrelated criminal charges for defrauding auto insurers and the Sunshine State already in the running for this year’s #1 ranking among the nation’s Judicial Hellholes, a panel of four federal judges last week imposed nearly $9.2 million in sanctions on two Jacksonville-based plaintiffs’ firms for their shameless pursuit of more than 1,200 “frivolous and factually baseless lawsuits” against tobacco defendants
Judicial HellholesMaryland Lawmakers Should Investigate Asbestos Claims, Not Raise Taxes
Prompted by overtures from the politically powerful personal injury law firm of Peter Angelos, Maryland’s Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee last Tuesday conducted a “briefing” for lawmakers on what plaintiffs’ lawyers purport is a “backlog of civil asbestos cases” in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City
Judicial HellholesFirst of Missouri’s Monster Talc Verdicts Falls on Appeal, Others Likely to Follow
A Missouri appellate court yesterday reversed and vacated a $72 million verdict that was the first of four such controversial, multimillion-dollar verdicts rendered in the City of St. Louis Circuit Court in a series of scientifically groundless lawsuits claiming that the use of talcum powder causes ovarian cancer
Judicial Hellholes, Points of LightFraud Arrests of 5 Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Represent ‘PIP’ of the Iceberg
According to reports published last week, at least five Florida personal injury lawyers have been arrested for their alleged roles in a car accident racket known as “PIP” fraud, but we know this represents barely the tip of the PIP fraud iceberg
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 Hellholes