Publication Source Archive: Law360

The Sixth Circuit on Thursday rejected eleventh-hour bids by the Ohio attorney general and drug companies to block an upcoming bellwether trial in multidistrict litigation accusing drugmakers of fueling the opioid crisis, rejecting the state’s arguments that the counties in the case are usurping its authority. “Cuyahoga County is very pleased to see that both writs…Read the article

A Michigan federal judge refused to let the federal government go to the Sixth Circuit to argue it had immunity from claims brought by thousands of residents of Flint, Michigan, seeking roughly $4.5 billion over allegations that the government acted negligently during the city’s lead in the water crisis.  Read the article

The New York Attorney General’s Office said Friday it has uncovered roughly $1 billion in wire transfers by the Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma, that appear to be an attempt by the family to shield part of its fortune as it defended itself against a myriad of lawsuits alleging it fueled the opioid crisis.…Read the article

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan was hit with a $40 million lawsuit Wednesday alleging the insurer improperly slashed its reimbursement rates for substance abuse treatment facilities, choosing to line its own pockets instead of covering the claims even as the state faced a “worsening opioid epidemic.” Matthew M. Lavin, an attorney for the facilities,…Read the article

A California federal judge has tentatively approved an increased $395,000 settlement in a class action alleging Uber denied drivers their fair share of riders’ payments, saying the deal is still on the low end, but fair. The revamped deal made three notable changes, according to Judge Alsup. Each class member will receive at least $20…Read the article

The Sackler family members who control Purdue Pharma LP can’t avoid claims they were complicit in alleged company conduct that gave rise to the nationwide opioid epidemic, a New York judge has ruled, finding they must face multidistrict litigation in the state. Salvatore C. Badala of Napoli Shkolnik PLLC, also representing the plaintiffs, said his…Read the article

In March, Judge Polster ruled that BakerHoestetler couldn’t represent Endo in the bellwether cases brought by the city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, finding that this nonpublic information “may go to the heart of plaintiffs’ damages claims” and if used “could materially prejudice Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.” “BakerHostetler and Ms. Rendon are unhappy that Judge…Read the article

Six New York counties accused Verizon, AT&T and other major phone service providers of shirking their duty to support local emergency call services in a state lawsuit Wednesday, joining the ranks of counties countrywide that are suing to make the telecoms pony up 911 funding. “New York is a home rule state, so the counties…Read the article

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster clears the way for testimony at a bellwether trial by Russell Portenoy. “The court concludes Dr. Portenoy’s testimony is too important to the [bellwether] trial, and that exclusion of his testimony is too extreme a sanction under these circumstances,” Judge Polster wrote in rejecting sanctions that…Read the article