Defective Products Legal News Articles & Interviews

Charleston, SC On August 29, the District Court for the District of South Carolina preliminarily approved a revision to the $12.5 billion proposed settlement in a class action perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl lawsuit brought by a long list of water utilities. The settlement was reached after a five-year legal battle that involved 37.4 million pages of discovery documents and more than 160 depositions. The revision is specifically designed to protect the utilities from some future liabilities.

Atlanta, GA  Hair relaxer manufacturers have successfully argued with the Georgia Court of Appeals to take into consideration the state’s 10-year repose statute regarding a hair relaxer lawsuit filed by a Georgia woman last October. But plaintiff Kiara Burrough's attorney point out that the statute doesn’t apply to claims for negligence and failure-to-warn.

Santa Clara, CA The last few months have been busy for Bayer and Monsanto’s legal team and Roundup lawsuits. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to review a $39 million Roundup settlement regarding cancer warnings on Roundup; the latest Roundup cancer trial is underway in Missouri and south of the border; and a U.S. dispute settlement panel challenges Mexico’s plans to ban GMO corn.

Santa Clara, CA In response to a multitude of hernia mesh adverse event reports, the FDA published new information in July about the risks and benefits of hernia mesh surgery. The agency gives non-surgical options and advises that patients should obtain certain information “If you have post-surgical problems”. It would seem like the FDA has made a hernia mesh mess.  

New York, NY Bayer and its Monsanto unit agreed in June to pay almost $7 million to settle Roundup lawsuit claims which began in a 2020 investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The agreement requires Bayer and Monsanto to stop advertising its Roundup weedkiller—which contains carcinogenic glyphosate—as environmentally safe.

Santa Clara, CAAs Philips attempts to toss or trim its CPAP defective breathing machine claims, another recent recall affecting 72,000Trilogy Evo ventilators has left the company reeling. And as it scrambles to make up for the CPAP shortage, the medical device competition moves in.

Chicago, IL As hair straightener litigation is making headlines, black girls and women who frequently use chemical hair straighteners are increasingly becoming aware of hair relaxer risks, including uterine cancer and breast cancer.

Santa Clara, CAC.R. Bard’s request to replace the final two bellwether hernia mesh injury cases previously selected for trial, arguing that the claims are no longer representative of other claims pending in the litigation, were denied by U.S. District Judge Sargus. Bard’s reasoning is that plaintiffs’ injuries have worsened since filing their complaints: pain has advanced to severe injury.   

Stuart, FL On June 22, the 3M Company announced that it had agreed to settle a perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS/PFOA) lawsuit brought by the City of Stuart, Florida for $10.3 billion. This will end the first bellwether PFAS lawsuit brought as part of the multidistrict litigation consolidated in the District of South Carolina. The settlement follows similar agreements made by Chemours, DuPont and Corteva. More settlements may be on the horizon. The collective judgment of the chemical companies seems to be that limiting future financial liability may be the best they can do. Although the details of each of these toxic contamination lawsuits are different, some facts are common.

Philadelphia, PA The first Philadelphia Monsanto Roundup bellwether case is set to begin jury selection in early October, a decision that plaintiffs’ attorney say is good for everyone involved. And in June, Bayer and Monsanto agreed to settle with New York for close to $7 million.