In January 2025, a federal judge in Houston will decide whether to approve Johnson & Johnson’s bankruptcy plan, which aims to efficiently resolve the ongoing claims after previous failed attempts in New Jersey. Many plaintiffs are growing increasingly frustrated with the prolonged process.

As of January 2025, the Paragard multidistrict litigation (MDL) continues to progress, with 20 new cases added in December. This brings the total number of pending cases to 2,882, indicating that the litigation has reached a mature stage with fewer new claims being filed.

A discovery dispute arose as defendants requested more time to respond to contention interrogatories, proposing a delay until the pretrial conference. Plaintiffs opposed the request, emphasizing the need for timely responses to advance case preparation. The MDL judge granted the defendants an extension but did not allow a delay until the pretrial conference. Instead, the [...]

A new lawsuit has been filed in the Paragard MDL by a California woman who claims her Paragard IUD broke during its removal in February and May 2023. She alleges that the device’s defective design led to breakage beyond the strings, requiring multiple attempts to remove it and causing severe physical and emotional harm. The [...]

The MDL judge has scheduled the first bellwether trial in the Paragard litigation for December 1, 2025, with the second trial set for February 2, 2026, subject to confirmation of availability from the defendants’ trial counsel.

The court has imposed a firm deadline of December 11, 2024, for defendants to complete the production of custodial files as previously ordered on October 7, 2024. The judge has mandated rolling production, allowing plaintiffs to begin reviewing documents as they become available. While the court has stated it will not extend this deadline, both [...]

This week, there’s a significant development in the ongoing Valsartan multi-district litigation (MDL). The judge overseeing the case has selected five plaintiffs’ lawsuits to proceed to the next round of bellwether trials. These trials play a crucial role in advancing the litigation process. When bellwether trials result in favorable verdicts for plaintiffs, it often prompts [...]

On December 16, 2024, the federal judge overseeing the Valsartan litigation confirmed the selection of five cases for the second set of bellwether trials. These trials are part of the multidistrict litigation (MDL) against the manufacturers of Valsartan, specifically addressing the harmful effects of NDMA contamination in the medication. MDL 2875 includes individuals who were [...]

After the postponement of the first lawsuit selected for a bellwether trial, a new case has been scheduled to kick off the trials. The first trial will now involve a lawsuit filed by an Alabama man who developed liver cancer after taking Valsartan. This case is seen as a stronger choice, as it will provide [...]

As the first bellwether trial in the Valsartan multi-district litigation (MDL) draws near, we are seeing an increase in interest surrounding the case. This is a common development, and we anticipate continued inquiries and new Valsartan claims for the foreseeable future. If you believe you may have a claim, now is the time to act. [...]

As we await the appellate court's decision on the dismissal of the Tylenol and autism MDL, new claims continue to be filed in state courts nationwide. If your child has been diagnosed with autism, you may still have legal avenues to pursue compensation. The Lawsuit Legal News team is here to provide answers, helping you [...]

The appeal challenging the dismissal of the Tylenol autism and ADHD MDL is now underway. Plaintiffs argue that Judge Cote improperly excluded expert testimony linking Tylenol use during pregnancy to developmental disorders in children. The appeal claims the judge misapplied the Daubert standard, which ensures evidence is based on sound scientific principles, and wrongly took [...]

After the dismissal of the federal MDL in August, plaintiffs' lawyers have turned to appeal as their last option. We will provide updates on the appellate filing as soon as new details emerge. Meanwhile, several state-level cases are still ongoing, particularly in Illinois and California. In these cases, Johnson & Johnson has filed motions to [...]

On August 20, 2024, Judge Cote officially dismissed all cases in the Tylenol Autism Multidistrict Litigation, following her July ruling. Plaintiffs' counsel has filed an appeal, but if the appeal is unsuccessful, all federal cases will be considered resolved in favor of the defendant drug manufacturers.

A new lawsuit has been filed by a plaintiff from Madison, Indiana, who claims that the makers of Suboxone failed to warn users about the drug’s severe dental damage risks. The lawsuit alleges that Indivior and Aquestive Therapeutics knew about these risks for over a decade but didn’t provide proper warnings. Despite a 2022 FDA [...]

On Friday, Judge Calabrese made changes to Case Management Order No. 3, which allows plaintiffs claiming dental injuries from Suboxone film to file their cases directly in his Ohio court. The update specifically addresses how legal documents are delivered. Defendants, including Indivior Inc., Indivior Solutions Inc., and Aquestive Therapeutics, have agreed to waive the formal [...]

We often receive calls from people who took the Suboxone pill and want to file a claim. It’s frustrating when we can't assist them, and we understand that. However, the key to these claims lies in the sublingual film version. The film dissolves in the mouth before being absorbed, leading to prolonged exposure to the [...]

As we continue with the Suboxone litigation, we’ve learned a lot more about the drug. Initially, we considered whether Suboxone should be recalled after seeing the severe dental damage it caused. However, we now recognize the benefits of Suboxone, such as its low overdose risk and long-term manageability when side effects are controlled. Instead of [...]

A new lawsuit was filed yesterday in the MDL, where the family of two teens from Hooks, Texas, claims that social media platforms like Meta (Facebook and Instagram), Snap Inc., TikTok, and Google (YouTube) are responsible for causing serious mental health issues. The plaintiffs say that the addictive features of these platforms, along with a [...]

The social media addiction lawsuit MDL saw a big increase in November, with 195 new cases, a 31% rise from the previous month. There are now 815 social media addiction cases pending. Our lawyers remain confident in the strength of this litigation for cases with solid evidence.

The family of a 15-year-old boy from Charlotte, North Carolina, is suing Instagram, claiming that the platform contributed to his death by suicide almost three years ago. The lawsuit, filed by the boy’s father as the administrator of his estate, argues that Instagram’s design and algorithms led to his addiction and worsened his mental health, [...]

In November, 27 new cases were added to the social media addiction class action MDL, which is more than the 10 added in September but still a relatively low number. This suggests the mass tort will likely remain low-volume, which could be beneficial for victims in terms of settlement amounts and how quickly the litigation [...]

To reach a settlement, the key is to get bellwether cases to trial. The bellwether plaintiffs have been actively involved in pretrial discovery, with most disputes resolved, except for a few pending requests. Although some issues remain, both the California state court and the MDL are moving forward smoothly, and there’s no strong reason to [...]

Today, a federal court rejected Uber's motion to amend a previous discovery order in the Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) case. Uber had requested the court to establish a firm deadline of November 27, 2023, for the production of custodial documents. The company argued that the existing order, which mandates the continuous production of documents "created through [...]

Uber has filed a motion requesting that certain internal documents remain confidential, arguing that their public release could harm the company’s competitive position and violate privacy interests. The company’s legal team contends that the documents contain sensitive business plans, privileged communications, and legal strategies, which, if disclosed, would put Uber at a disadvantage. Uber is [...]

Lawyers are in disagreement over deadlines related to privilege log disputes and document production. Plaintiffs argue that Uber's privilege logs, which include thousands of entries, are overly broad and wrongly classify business communications as privileged. They suspect Uber is shielding non-privileged documents by simply copying lawyers on them. In response, Plaintiffs proposed a revised deposition [...]

Uber has begun testing video recording during rides in select cities, including Washington, D.C., allowing drivers to use front-facing cameras to record their trips. Currently in the pilot phase and not widely available, this feature complements the company’s existing audio recording option. Both video and audio recordings are encrypted and can only be accessed if [...]

In 2015, Zimmer settled multiple lawsuits related to its NexGen knee implant for approximately $1 billion. The claims alleged that the NexGen knee implants failed prematurely, causing pain, instability, and the need for revision surgeries. Many patients filed lawsuits citing the implant’s design flaws, specifically the faulty femoral component. The settlement resolved claims for thousands [...]

Though primarily known for hip replacement lawsuits, Stryker's knee implants were also involved in product liability claims. In one case, Stryker agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement in 2014, related to its Rejuvenate and ABG II hip implants, which were later extended to cover knee replacements. The settlement addressed issues of premature implant failure, leading [...]

DePuy Synthes, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, faced lawsuits regarding its Attune knee implants, with plaintiffs claiming that the implants loosened prematurely, causing pain and complications. In 2019, DePuy reached a $120 million settlement to resolve thousands of claims. Patients who suffered from premature implant failures and required revision surgeries received compensation. The settlement [...]

In February 2023, the court was considering final pretrial motions for the upcoming June 2023 trial. Additionally, two other significant lawsuits were scheduled to go to trial later in the year, on October 2, 2023, and November 29, 2023. These bellwether trials are seen as important for setting the tone for future cases.In February 2023, [...]

A major development occurred when U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone set the date for the first trial in the Injectafer litigation, scheduled to begin on June 5, 2023. While the outcome of this trial won't directly affect other lawsuits, it is expected to influence the direction of future settlement talks and negotiations to avoid the [...]

As lawsuits against Injectafer continued to move forward in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, many plaintiffs claimed that the drug manufacturer failed to warn about the risks associated with the drug, particularly dangerous side effects like hypophosphatemia. In response, a motion was filed to combine two of the cases for a single trial to save [...]

A study published in August 2019 lent support to the growing number of lawsuits against Injectafer, confirming that the drug can cause hypophosphatemia (HPP), a condition in which phosphorus levels in the body become dangerously low. This condition is linked to severe health complications, including muscle weakness and bone pain, which were central to many [...]

A Chicago Roundup trial ended in a mistrial after the defense introduced an irrelevant and prejudicial reference to a past alcohol-related criminal charge against the plaintiff during cross-examination. The judge condemned this action as “serious misconduct,” stating it unfairly prejudiced the jury, and warned the defense against further improper tactics. The plaintiffs argued that the [...]

In the Womack trial held in Philadelphia, Monsanto secured a victory against claims related to Roundup exposure. Despite being represented by experienced plaintiffs’ attorneys and following a previous $78 million verdict in a similar case, the trial presented challenges. The plaintiff's claim was based on only ten residential uses of Roundup starting in 2015, making [...]

The Roundup multidistrict litigation (MDL) saw six new cases added in October 2024, bringing the total number of pending cases to 4,355. This relatively small increase reflects the ongoing but slowing pace of new claims being filed. The MDL continues to serve as a hub for handling the large number of Roundup lawsuits, streamlining the [...]

A Massachusetts state court ruled that federal law preempts a plaintiff’s claims that Monsanto failed to warn about the dangers of Roundup, delivering a setback for the plaintiff. While the court allowed design defect claims to proceed, losing the failure-to-warn argument weakens the case significantly. The decision aligns with the 3rd Circuit’s ruling in Schaffner [...]

On November 8, 2024, the federal court handling PFAS multidistrict litigation (MDL) approved the addition of two more cases: Town of Dundee, Florida v. AGC Chemicals Americas, Inc. and Henson v. AGC Chemicals Americas, Inc. These cases expand the growing MDL, which now encompasses 10,934 lawsuits as of November 1, 2024. The lawsuits highlight injuries [...]

The PFAS multidistrict litigation against major manufacturers, including 3M and AGC Chemicals, continues to grow. On October 29, 2024, seven significant cases were transferred from state courts to the federal MDL (2873). These cases allege widespread water contamination caused by PFAS chemicals. The Honorable Richard M. Gergel will oversee the management of these newly added [...]

Recent PFAS lawsuits target prominent companies, including 3M, Corteva, DuPont, Oppermann Webbing, and Tyco Fire. While these lawsuits highlight key defendants, they represent only a fraction of the entities involved in the ongoing PFAS litigation. Over the past several decades, numerous companies have manufactured and sold products containing harmful PFAS chemicals, making them potentially liable [...]

PFAS chemicals are pervasive, found in crops, food, drinking water, products, and the environment. As a result, many individuals continue to reach out with questions about filing claims for PFAS-related health issues. Despite claims from defense lawyers representing the PFAS industry that "strong defenses are available," we remain skeptical about these assertions. We are committed [...]

The recent defense win in Missouri shows how unpredictable jury trials can be. While the plaintiffs in this case didn’t win, it’s unlikely to stop the ongoing NEC lawsuits. Lawyers for the plaintiffs are still hopeful, pointing to previous cases where large amounts of compensation were awarded as proof that the litigation is strong and [...]

The defense win in Missouri yesterday won’t stop the momentum of this litigation. In October alone, 26 new cases were filed, bringing the total to over 600 pending cases. Many more are being added in state court. Right now, state court cases are moving faster than the MDL, shaping the tone of this litigation and [...]

The most recent state court trial involving baby formula has resulted in a win for the defendants. A St. Louis jury sided with Abbott and Mead Johnson in a case where a mother of a premature infant, who developed NEC, claimed that the companies failed to warn about the risks of the disease. This verdict [...]

A Missouri jury awarded $495 million to the family of an infant who suffered severe complications from NEC after consuming Abbott’s premature infant formula in the NICU. Lawyers believe this verdict could have a significant impact on the future of baby formula litigation. The award consisted of $95 million in damages and $400 million in [...]

A driver in Maryland sustained multiple fractures and a traumatic brain injury after being rear-ended by a commercial truck. The collision was caused by the truck driver’s failure to reduce speed in heavy traffic. The severity of the injuries and the truck driver’s clear negligence led to a substantial settlement. The funds covered extensive medical [...]

A 35-year-old woman in California was struck by a distracted driver who ran a red light, resulting in multiple fractures, internal injuries, and the need for surgery and prolonged rehabilitation. The court awarded a high compensation due to the driver’s negligence and the lasting impact of injuries, which included permanent scarring and loss of mobility. [...]

A motorcyclist was struck by a car making an illegal U-turn, leading to severe leg injuries requiring multiple surgeries. The driver’s fault in making an illegal maneuver led to a fair settlement covering the victim’s medical bills, lost income during recovery, and compensation for long-term physical limitations affecting daily life.

A family of four suffered serious injuries when an intoxicated driver veered into oncoming traffic and caused a head-on collision. All family members required hospitalisation and lengthy rehabilitation. The extreme negligence due to drunk driving, combined with the severity of injuries to multiple family members, led to a high settlement. This amount helped cover medical [...]

A passenger was seriously injured when the rideshare vehicle they were traveling in was T-boned at an intersection by a distracted driver who failed to stop at a red light. The accident caused severe spinal injuries, requiring immediate surgery and months of physical therapy. The victim also suffered from psychological trauma due to the accident, [...]

A rideshare driver struck a pedestrian while speeding to a pickup location. The pedestrian sustained multiple fractures, including a shattered pelvis, and a traumatic brain injury that required intensive medical care and prolonged rehabilitation. The victim faced significant financial and emotional strain, losing the ability to work during their recovery and needing assistance for daily [...]

A cyclist was struck by a rideshare driver performing an illegal U-turn on a busy street. The collision caused the cyclist to suffer broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a fractured arm that required multiple surgeries and months of physical therapy. The accident left the cyclist unable to work for an extended period, causing financial [...]

In November, 79 new cases were added to the Ozempic MDL (Multidistrict Litigation), bringing the total number of filings to over 200 in just the past two months. The MDL now includes more than 1,300 pending cases which reflect the growing number of individuals who are looking for legal action due to negative effects linked [...]

Last week, attorneys representing plaintiffs in the Ozempic lawsuits filed a revised master complaint in the MDL (Multidistrict Litigation). This updated document refines the allegations against the defendants that include Novo Nordisk, with a sharper focus on claims regarding the drug's role. It causes gastrointestinal injuries and other serious side effects. What is a master [...]

As the number of cases in the Ozempic MDL continues to rise, new filings are focusing on the claim that Novo Nordisk purposely minimized the risks of gastroparesis in its marketing. Plaintiffs’ lawyers argue that the company was aware of Ozempic's effects on stomach motility but chose not to update the warning labels, fearing it [...]

The court has scheduled early discovery and motion practice focused on preemption and the adequacy of warning labels in the Ozempic lawsuits. However, the issue of marketing discovery has not been fully addressed, and plaintiffs are now seeking permission to include it at this early stage through a new motion. Plaintiffs argue that marketing discovery [...]

Judge Sargus appointed Ellen K. Reisman and John Jackson as Special Masters to oversee the settlement process. The court has also introduced an Intensive Settlements Process (ISP), which will be managed by the Special Masters under the court’s supervision until all pending claims are resolved. Settlement Masters typically play a key role in organizing and [...]

An increasing number of individuals are filing lawsuits against Covidien after being harmed by their hernia mesh products. As of November, there are 1,546 pending hernia mesh lawsuits in the multidistrict litigation (MDL 3029) against Covidien, a major manufacturer of hernia mesh. While several settlement agreements have been reached between hernia mesh manufacturers and those [...]

A plaintiff in the Bard hernia mesh multidistrict litigation has passed away. William Mabry, who died in June 2022, is survived by his wife, Joyce, who is now pursuing legal action on his behalf. According to an October 15, 2024, court filing, Joyce believes that William's death resulted from complications caused by the Bard hernia [...]

Judge Sargus has denied the plaintiffs' motion for remand, as discussed in our September 5 update. The judge explained that there is a limited stay in effect, as outlined in Case Management Orders 52 and 53 (referenced in the July 6 update), which prohibits any motions or remand requests during this period. Since the motion [...]

In 2019, Allergan, one of the largest manufacturers of breast implants, faced multiple lawsuits due to its textured implants being linked to BIA-ALCL (Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma). The company ultimately agreed to settle the claims for over $3 billion. This breast implant settlement covered thousands of women who had developed BIA-ALCL or suffered [...]

Johnson & Johnson, another leading breast implant manufacturer, faced lawsuits over the risks associated with its implants. In 2019, the company agreed to a $100 million settlement with women who suffered from complications such as implant rupture, infections, and other health issues. The settlement provided compensation for medical costs related to corrective surgeries, follow-up treatments, [...]

A class action lawsuit was filed against several breast implant manufacturers, accusing them of failing to adequately warn patients about the risks of implants, including rupture, chronic pain, and the development of Breast Implant Illness (BII). The lawsuit resulted in a $50 million settlement in 2020, which aimed to compensate victims for the physical, emotional, [...]

A patient who underwent hip replacement surgery and contracted a severe infection attributed to the Bair Hugger system received a $5 million settlement. The plaintiff alleged that the device circulated contaminated air, causing the infection that led to multiple surgeries and prolonged hospitalization. The settlement covered medical expenses, pain and suffering, and loss of quality [...]

A knee surgery patient filed an individual lawsuit after developing a life-threatening infection. The court awarded a $3.2 million verdict, ruling that the Bair Hugger device was responsible for contaminating the sterile environment during surgery. The verdict included compensation for the patient's medical costs, rehabilitation, and emotional distress.

In a class action lawsuit, multiple patients who suffered infections after surgeries involving the Bair Hugger system reached a collective settlement worth $2.5 million. Each plaintiff received compensation for medical expenses, additional surgeries, and ongoing treatments. This case highlighted the widespread impact of the device and the manufacturer’s failure to address its design flaws.

A plaintiff who contracted a surgical site infection following a hip replacement surgery involving the Bair Hugger device was awarded a $1.8 million settlement. The patient experienced multiple surgeries to treat the infection and long-term health complications. The settlement included reimbursement for medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering caused by the [...]

The number of cases in the infant formula NEC class action MDL keeps growing steadily. In November, 26 new cases were added, which is the same number as the month before. Currently, there are 626 cases pending in the MDL. However, there is no information on how many of these cases involve Enfamil compared to [...]

The judge overseeing the NEC formula MDL has scheduled an important in-court status conference for December 19th, which is not very common in such cases. During this conference, several key topics will be discussed, including the process for selecting the bellwether cases (which are representative cases used to guide the rest of the litigation), ongoing [...]

To prevent defendants from being wrongly named in NEC lawsuits, the MDL judge has introduced a new rule specifically regarding Mead Johnson & Company. The rule requires that the company can only be included in the lawsuit if there is clear evidence showing that the baby used their products. To make sure this is followed, [...]

The NEC class action lawsuits in both state and federal courts are progressing, but at a slow pace. However, progress is being made. Plaintiffs believe the stronger cases are solid, but there may not be as many strong cases as attorneys initially expected. As of December 2023, 290 cases have been filed in the multidistrict [...]

Following a significant surge of over 1,000 new cases in October, the hair relaxer multidistrict litigation (MDL) saw a notable slowdown in November, with only 161 new filings—an 85% decrease. The current total of cases in the MDL now stands at 9,649. While the volume of filings within the MDL has decreased, there has been [...]

The next status conference for the hair relaxer MDL is scheduled for December 12, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. The magistrate judge emphasized public accessibility, allowing both the public and media to join the hearing via phone. Interested listeners can dial 650-479-3207 and use access code 2308 182 1801 to listen in. However, the judge reminded [...]

In August, the chemical hair relaxer class action MDL saw the addition of 200 new cases. However, September brought a decline, with 98 cases being removed from the MDL, reducing the total number of pending cases to 8,393. This adjustment reflects the ongoing fluctuations in case filings and the legal process surrounding the hair relaxer [...]

A new lawsuit has been filed in the MDL by an Indianapolis woman against several hair relaxer manufacturers, including L’Oréal, SoftSheen-Carson, and Strength of Nature. The plaintiff alleges that using the defendants' products, such as Dark and Lovely, Optimum Salon Haircare, and Africa’s Best, from the early 1970s to 2018, led to her developing endometrial [...]

In May, 42 new cases were added to the Exactech class action MDL, marking a notable decrease in the volume of new claims. This is the second consecutive month in which fewer cases have been filed. Despite this slowdown, there are now over 1,500 pending cases in the MDL, highlighting the continued legal actions stemming [...]

A man from Tulsa, Oklahoma, recently became one of the latest plaintiffs to file in the Exactech implant recall MDL. This plaintiff received an Exactech Optetrak Logic knee replacement implant in October 2016. Unfortunately, the implant failed after just seven years, requiring revision surgery in 2023. His case was filed directly in the Exactech MDL [...]

From June to August 2024, only about 50 new Exactech implant defect lawsuits were added to the MDL, bringing the total number of pending cases in the MDL to 1,670. While the pace of new cases slowed during this period, the number of claims continues to rise as more affected individuals come forward.

In the past 30 days, 100 new cases have been added to the Exactech implant recall MDL, increasing the total number of pending cases to 1,770. Additionally, several hundred more cases are awaiting resolution in Florida state court. This surge in claims shows the ongoing impact of the defective Exactech implants and the growing number [...]

Exactech has declared bankruptcy, and a bankruptcy hearing is scheduled for today. Unfortunately, in 2024, companies often use bankruptcy as leverage in settlement negotiations, and Exactech’s legal team has been hinting at this possibility for some time. If you have not yet joined the litigation and believe you have a claim, it is crucial to [...]

The Exactech implant MDL (Multidistrict Litigation) continues to grow, with 36 new cases added in October, bringing the total number of pending cases to 1,806. However, due to the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, no new claims are expected to be filed in the MDL during November. This development may affect the pace of future litigation, but [...]

Insurance disputes are becoming a major issue in the ongoing AFFF multidistrict litigation (MDL). A recent decision in South Carolina highlighted this struggle, with corporate defendants like BASF fighting their insurers over who should pay for legal defense and settlements. The judge dismissed one case involving BASF and sent another back to New York for [...]

A former U.S. Navy service member from Boerne, Texas, has filed a lawsuit in the AFFF multidistrict litigation (MDL), seeking damages for health issues linked to firefighting foam exposure. The lawsuit names multiple manufacturers, including 3M, Chemours, and DuPont, alleging that their PFAS-containing AFFF products caused the plaintiff’s thyroid cancer and other severe health problems. [...]

A new case management order has been issued to organize witness depositions for the upcoming Tier Two Personal Injury Bellwether Trials. The key issue is that not all potential witnesses were deposed during the earlier fact discovery phase, meaning their testimony has not yet been collected. According to the order, if either party adds a [...]