Legal News

California Labor Law: 1, Schwarzenegger: 0

Posted on December 22, 2009
Sacramento, CA: In an effort to relieve the financial pressure on state coffers, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently amended California labor law to legalize mandated furloughs (unpaid days off). However, California laborers did not take the decree well, and the state may be forced to find another way to solve the state?s fiscal crisis.

Serious Complications Caused by Hospital Infection

Posted on December 21, 2009
San Antonio, TX: David is one of over two million people who acquire hospital infections each year (according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). An investigation conducted by the hospital determined that David?s MRSA infection originated from a staple used during his back surgery...

Transgender Teen Files Discrimination Claim under Florida Employment Law

Posted on December 21, 2009
Orlando, FL: A transgender teen applying for a job at a McDonalds in Orlando has lodged a formal complaint against the fast food chain claiming the restaurant violated Florida employment law by refusing to hire the plaintiff over gender issues.

Chantix Maker Partnering With New Anti-Smoking Vaccine

Posted on December 21, 2009
Washington, DC: It's all over the television now?ads for Chantix that depict a smiling, real-life Chantix user going about her everyday business without a cigarette between her fingers, while the announcer rattles off a warning about Chantix side effects, including suicide and aggression...

To access this complete feed in the blog feed reader login or register for free.

Proposed Legislation to Speed up Green Card Process

Posted on December 21, 2009
McAllen, TX: US immigration law is immensely difficult to navigate. It takes years and reams of paperwork to become a permanent resident or to obtain citizenship, a green card or work visa. It takes even longer for married couples or families to be approved.

More Yaz and Yasmin Lawsuits in Time for the Holidays

Posted on December 21, 2009
Orlando, FL: The manufacturer of Yasmin and Yaz birth control pills continues to defend its products in court even as the evidence builds that the drugs cause blood clots and other dangerous side effects.

Lawyers Again Request Shoulder Pain Pump Lawsuit Consolidation

Posted on December 20, 2009
Pikesville, MD: Shoulder pain pump attorneys have indicated that they will renew their prior motions for transfer and coordination of the product liability lawsuits against shoulder pain pump manufacturers at the next meeting of the US Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation in January 2010.

Prepaid Debit Card Users Have Little Protection

Posted on December 20, 2009
Provo, UT: With Christmas just around the corner, consumers are trying to make their money go as far as possible. However, those who use prepaid debit cards often find that their money goes much faster than expected. Some say they load money onto their cards but are not able to access it; others were unaware of all the fees they would be incurring.

Alcohol May Have Contributed to California Car Crash

Posted on December 20, 2009
Escondido, CA: Local authorities are blaming alcohol for a California car crash that claimed the life of an Escondido-area high school student this past week.

SJS Victim Loses Out to Virginia State Law

Posted on December 19, 2009
Chicago, IL: A woman who sued the maker of Children's Motrin after an allergic reaction to the drug left her nearly blind was sent away empty-handed when the jury found her own negligence to be a contributing factor in the damages she suffered.

Colorado Houseguest Killed in Fire Accident

Posted on December 19, 2009
Aurora, IL: A homeless man who had been invited to stay at a friend's Aurora house was the victim of a tragic fire accident that destroyed the 34-year-old building.

Denture Adhesive Poisoning Tests Not Always Straightforward

Posted on December 18, 2009
Webb City, MO: Most people think that denture adhesive zinc poisoning can be diagnosed with a few simple tests. But for Brenda B. (real name withheld), who has diabetes and lung problems, testing for denture cream zinc poisoning is not that easy. Although Brenda uses Fixodent denture adhesive and suffers from neuropathy, she may never have the test results to show whether her copper or zinc levels are abnormal.

Cepia May Have Avoided Defective Product Personal Injury Lawsuits over Zhu Zhu Hamsters

Posted on December 18, 2009
Lexington, SC: Cepia electronics, the manufacturer of this year's must-have Christmas toy, Zhu Zhu Hamster, may have dodged product liability lawyers for good, as a new report from the consumer product safety commission (CPSC) has cleared the product of allegations related to poisonous materials.

Marketing Cited as Potential Cause for Number of Women Suffering from Prempro Cancer

Posted on December 18, 2009
Newburgh, Illinois: A series of court battles related to Wyeth's Prempro HRT have caused much financial woe for the drug maker and its parent company Pfizer. Yet a series of new articles blames misleading advertising for the more than 13,000 claimants seeking damages from the company.

Four Contractors Cited in Texas Employment Deaths

Posted on December 18, 2009
Austin, TX: Late this spring, three Texas men fell more than 100 feet to their deaths after the scaffolding they were working on collapsed at a construction site. Texas labor law, as well as other assorted safety requirements at the state and federal level, is put into place in an effort to prevent these kinds of tragedies.

Sometimes Bizarre Workplace Harassment

Posted on December 18, 2009
Atherton, CA: Two separate workplace harassment stories provide a window into a hostile work environment where people often turn a blind eye to sexual harassment.

Does Pharmacy Closure Violate Employment Law?

Posted on December 17, 2009
Minneapolis, MN: A food chain headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota may have violated federal and state employment laws when it announced the closure of a grocery store and pharmacy. According to the December 11 issue of the Dubuque-based Telegraph Herald, Representative Chuck Isenhart (D-Dubuque) is calling for a state investigation to determine if Nash Finch Company of Minnesota violated Iowa state and federal laws after making public its plans to close the Dubuque Econofoods located there.

Beef Toys Recalled over Fears of Foodborne Illness in Dogs

Posted on December 17, 2009
Sanger, CA: Pet Carousel, a maker of premium dog treats, has announced a recall of all pig ears and beef hoof pet toys after an FDA report found trace amounts of salmonella in the products, stirring fears of food poisoning in dogs.

Two More Cases of Zicam Smell Loss in Hawaii

Posted on December 17, 2009
Hawaii Kai, HI: Two more residents of the Aloha state have filed lawsuits against pharmaceutical company Matrixx, claiming that Zicam side effects have robbed them of their sense of taste and smell.

Amputee Files Lawsuit against Heparin Maker

Posted on December 17, 2009
Charleston, NC: Last month, LawyersandSettlements interviewed an amputee whose problems allegedly stemmed from his use of heparin. Now a different man reports that an adverse reaction to heparin resulted in the amputation of his toes. He and his wife filed a lawsuit, naming as defendants Baxter Healthcare Corp...

A Case for Unpaid Meal Breaks

Posted on December 17, 2009
Fresno, CA: For almost three years, Margaret was required to work during her lunch breaks. She worked eight hours a day, five days a week, and was not allowed to leave the office in case the phones rang. It wasn't until she was terminated that Margaret filed a complaint with the California Labor Board and learned that her employers had violated California labor law.

"My Gallbladder Surgery Was Linked to Yasmin"

Posted on December 17, 2009
Bloomfield, NE: "I was never told that Yasmin could cause gallbladder problems," says Jessie. "Back in 2004, when I was prescribed this birth control pill, I wasn't aware of any Yasmin side effects. And now I'm mad.

Pilots Blamed by Employer for Buffalo Plane Crash

Posted on December 17, 2009
Washington, DC: A devastating plane crash that killed 50 and devastated a suburb near Buffalo last February is still under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The company that employed the crew of the doomed aircraft now alleges that the pilots were responsible for the accident.

Music Festival Held to Benefit Survivors of Texas Car Crash

Posted on December 16, 2009
Lamar, TX: Friends and family of two women who recently survived a Texas car crash are holding an all-day music festival to help raise funds for medical and legal fees.

More Restaurants Found in Violation of New York Labor Law

Posted on December 16, 2009
Ithaca, NY: In a recent sweep performed by the State Labor Department, the Empire State has found 17 Ithaca restaurants to be guilty of numerous violations of New York state labor law.

AT&T Faces $1 Billion Overtime Lawsuit

Posted on December 16, 2009
San Francisco, CA: Employees who have been misclassified as exempt from California overtime pay are fighting back and taking their employers to court. One lawsuit filed recently against a telecommunications giant alleges that the corporation violated California and federal overtime laws by improperly classifying employees as exempt from overtime pay.

Mesothelioma Verdict Goes to the Defense

Posted on December 15, 2009
Baltimore, MD: Most, but not all, asbestos mesothelioma lawsuits end with a verdict that favors the plaintiff. Sometimes the jury produces a decision that favors the defendant?as happened recently in Baltimore.

Photographer Claims CVS/pharmacy Guilty of Copyright Infringement

Posted on December 15, 2009
Birmingham, AL: Professional photographer Rob Fleming thinks no one should get a second run at his work without paying. As such, he recently instructed attorney Jamie Moncus to file a willful copyright infringement suit against CVS/pharmacy for allowing people to duplicate his work...

Shareholders Demand Disclosure of UnumProvident Executive Pay

Posted on December 15, 2009
New York, NY: A faith-based group of institutional shareholders are demanding that 21 major corporations, including UnumProvident, disclose the total compensation packages of their top executives and their lowest paid employees in a bid to expose pay disparities in healthcare companies.

Massive Window Blind Recall Announced

Posted on December 15, 2009
Washington, DC: It is a recall of near historic proportions and comes after the deaths of eight children and the near-strangulation of 16 others. This morning Good Morning America (GMA) on ABC announced a voluntary recall negotiated by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in concert with the US window blind industry.

Bloggers, promote your law blog by nominating your blog for inclusion in USLaw.com's Law Blog Directory and RSS Reader. Benefits described.