Legal Developments
The justice system plays an essential role in the safety of prescription drugs and medical devices. When regulatory agencies fail to act, a courthouse becomes the only way to hold manufacturers accountable. At MedTruth, we believe the vitality of a nation relies on the justice upheld by its people. Keep your hand on the pulse of mass torts law and other litigation regarding patient harm and consumer safety.
Top Articles on Legal Developments
California Wildfires Spark Legal and Political Battles for PG&E
Nicole Knight · December 5, 2019
PG&E, the power provider implicated in the recent California wildfires, now faces legal action by the state.
Legal DevelopmentsIn 3 Months, 20,000 More Plaintiffs Claim Roundup Caused Cancer
Emma Schkloven · November 26, 2019
The number of plaintiffs claiming Roundup caused their cancer has more than doubled to 42,700 in the last three months.
Legal DevelopmentsSeven Plaintiffs Refile J&J Talc Lawsuit to Prosecute Claire's and Others
James Parker · August 1, 2019
Judge George H. Wu of California granted case dismissal to seven plaintiffs in a talc lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson for their failure to label talc products. The plaintiffs will refile - adding more cases to their complaint and holding other companies liable.
Legal Developments-
California Wildfires Spark Legal and Political Battles for PG&E
Nicole Knight · December 5, 2019
PG&E, the power provider implicated in the recent California wildfires, now faces legal action by the state.
Legal Developments -
In 3 Months, 20,000 More Plaintiffs Claim Roundup Caused Cancer
Emma Schkloven · November 26, 2019
The number of plaintiffs claiming Roundup caused their cancer has more than doubled to 42,700 in the last three months.
Legal Developments -
Seven Plaintiffs Refile J&J Talc Lawsuit to Prosecute Claire's and Others
James Parker · August 1, 2019
Judge George H. Wu of California granted case dismissal to seven plaintiffs in a talc lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson for their failure to label talc products. The plaintiffs will refile - adding more cases to their complaint and holding other companies liable.
Legal Developments
Court Panel Affirms Decision That Roundup Causes Cancer, but Slashes Record Jury Verdict
T.J. La · August 7, 2020
A jury verdict that found that Monsanto’s Roundup caused a groundskeeper’s cancer still stands under a California appellate decision issued last month, but the panel slashed the award.
Legal DevelopmentsFederal Judge Sends 11 J&J Talc Cases Back to Missouri State Court
Lynne Higby · July 21, 2020
Eleven cases in Johnson & Johnson’s ongoing talcum powder litigation have been bumped back to Missouri state court.
Legal DevelopmentsJudge Rebuffs Bayer’s Settlement Bid Over Proposed Scheme to Sidestep Jury
Lynne Higby · July 15, 2020
The case’s presiding judge questioned the lawfulness of a provision in the proposed $10 billion settlement, causing attorneys representing Roundup plaintiffs to back away from the proposed deal.
Legal DevelopmentsGet our reporting in your inbox
Civil Rights, A Global Pandemic and Justice: Practicing Law in the Era of COVID-19
Emily Rose Thorne · July 10, 2020
Amid a push to transform the criminal justice system and mandates to work from home to avoid worsening a public health crisis, how have America’s lawyers adapted their practice?
Legal DevelopmentsGBCA Chemical Toxicity Suit Weathers Dismissal Claims
James Parker · July 2, 2020
The plaintiff claims that the GBCAs used in her MRIs in 2015 caused a condition known as gadolinium deposition disease (GDD) and a host of debilitating side effects.
Legal DevelopmentsZofran Bellwether Delay Pushes Proceedings to 2021
James Parker · June 29, 2020
The multidistrict Zofran litigation has been further delayed to 2021 due to coronavirus concerns.
Legal DevelopmentsJ&J to Pay $2.1 Billion in Talc Damage
Lynne Higby · June 26, 2020
A Missouri court of appeals affirmed a jury verdict finding that Johnson and Johnson had actual knowledge of asbestos contained in its popular talcum-based baby powder.
Legal DevelopmentsCalifornia Attorneys Seek to Consolidate Zantac Lawsuits
James Parker · June 12, 2020
Attorneys representing 40 plaintiffs in California have recently filed a petition to consolidate product liability cases against the manufacturers of the heartburn medication Zantac, which may cause cancer.
Legal DevelopmentsTobacco Companies Challenge LA County Vape Ban in California Federal Court
James Parker · June 10, 2020
A group of tobacco companies is pushing to legally overturn the Los Angeles County ban on flavored vape fluid, alleging the action is unconstitutional and unenforceable.
Legal DevelopmentsState Courts Tolling Statutes of Limitation During COVID-19
Joanna Shawn Brigid O'Leary · June 4, 2020
Federal and state courts are struggling to process lawsuits and fulfill civil procedural protocols as the coronavirus outbreak continues, causing the need to "toll" or suspend statutes of limitations.
Legal DevelopmentsHow to Navigate Statutes of Limitation in Talc-Cancer Claims
Lynne Higby · May 27, 2020
Questions about the statute of limitations for ovarian cancer wrongful death claims have been raised by the families of women who used Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder products.
Legal DevelopmentsNew York State Courts Gradually Reopening
James Parker · May 22, 2020
Courts in New York City starting the next stage of re-opening, allowing for electronic filing of non-essential legal matters using the New York State Electronic Filing System (NYSCEF).
Legal DevelopmentsNursing Home Execs May Lose COVID-19 Liability Protections
James Parker · May 21, 2020
Newly introduced legislation could unravel legal protections recently afforded nursing home executives and administrators in New York.
Legal DevelopmentsJohnson & Johnson Faces Elmiron Lawsuit for Allegedly Concealing Adverse Event Data
James Parker · May 18, 2020
A recent legal complaint filed in May by a Nevada woman named Tina Pisco claims Elmiron, a drug for interstitial cystitis, caused her to develop maculopathy — a degenerative disease of the retina that may permanently damage vision.
Legal DevelopmentsAfter 9 Months, Daubert Ruling on Talcum Powder-Cancer is Released
James Parker · May 1, 2020
The recent Daubert opinion, written by presiding Judge Wolfson after a nine-month deliberation, is a crucial ruling on the validity of the methods used by the expert scientific witnesses testifying in the talcum powder and ovarian cancer multi-district litigation.
Legal DevelopmentsNew Opioid Lawsuit Filings May Be on the Horizon
James Parker · April 21, 2020
More than 2,700 multidistrict-litigations are still pending in Ohio federal court, while new opioid lawsuit filings are being bounced back to local and tribal governments.
Legal DevelopmentsBayer Renegs on Roundup Cancer Claim Settlements, Blames Coronavirus
Carah Wertheimer · April 8, 2020
Bayer is backing out of draft settlements with U.S. law firms representing more than 45,000 plaintiffs who allege that their non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma was caused by exposure to Monsanto’s Roundup.
Legal DevelopmentsJohnson & Johnson Talc Appeal Unhindered by COVID-19 Shutdown
James Parker · March 30, 2020
A Missouri appellate court set an April 24 date for Johnson & Johnson’s $4.69 billion talc appeal, despite the Missouri Supreme Court’s cancellation of all April arguments to reduce COVID-19 exposure.
Legal DevelopmentsZofran Bellwether Delay Halts Litigatory Momentum
James Parker · March 27, 2020
The first bellwether trial in the multidistrict litigation involving Zofran, an anti-nausea medication that may cause birth defects, has been indefinitely postponed.
Legal DevelopmentsHundreds of Cases Against Zofran Manufacturer Still Pending
Nicole Knight · March 13, 2020
More than 500 cases are pending against GlaxoSmithKline, claiming the drugmaker aggressively marketed Zofran to pregnant women without informing them of the potential risk of birth defects.
Legal DevelopmentsMore States Sue JUUL As FDA's Regulatory Deadline Approaches
Kimberly Nicoletti · March 11, 2020
As more states file suit against Juul, the vaping manufacturer prepares to submit an application to the FDA to prove that e-cigarettes benefit smokers more than they harm teenagers.
Legal DevelopmentsCorporations Accused of Allowing Excess NDMA in Zantac MDL
James Parker · March 4, 2020
A Zantac multidistrict litigation hearing was held to decide how to proceed with over 100 lawsuits filed alleging that the makers of Zantac and its counterparts concealed fatal defects in the drug’s ingredients.
Legal DevelopmentsNational Trial Lawyers Summit Hosts First-Ever Women's Leadership Forum
Andrea Sarcos · February 6, 2020
Nearly 50 trial lawyers gathered at the Women’s Leadership Forum, a dedicated development session in support of women in the profession, at the National Trial Lawyers Summit in Miami, Florida.
Legal DevelopmentsJ&J Fined More Than $180 Million for Asbestos Contamination
James Parker · February 6, 2020
A New Jersey jury imposed a now-reduced verdict of three-quarters of a million dollars in punitive fines to Johnson & Johnson.
Legal DevelopmentsCalifornia Ethicon Mesh Judgement Results in $344 Million Fine for J&J
James Parker · January 30, 2020
Johnson & Johnson's subsidiary is set to pay $344 million for failing to inform consumers about the risks of transvaginal mesh.
Legal DevelopmentsBoynton Beach Zantac Lawsuit Filed by Local Woman
James Parker · January 15, 2020
A Florida woman has filed a lawsuit alleging that Zantac manufacturers deliberately allowed an unsafe product to remain on the market.
Legal DevelopmentsJohnson & Johnson Settlement Abruptly Concludes California Talc Trial
James Parker · January 7, 2020
Johnson & Johnson and plaintiffs Linda and Mark O’Hagan reached a midtrial settlement without jury verdict, meaning the jury will not be given an opportunity to make a decision that considers the FDA's finding of asbestos in talcum powder.
Legal DevelopmentsMonsanto Loses $10 Million in Maui Pesticide Case
Emma Schkloven · December 17, 2019
Monsanto pleaded guilty to spraying illegal pesticides in Maui, Hawaii, and has agreed to pay $10 million in charges.
Legal DevelopmentsLos Angeles Jury Rules in Favor of Johnson & Johnson in Talc Mesothelioma Lawuit
James Parker · December 17, 2019
A jury in Los Angeles found Johnson & Johnson is not liable for causing Pui "Amy" Fong's mesothelioma, deciding its Baby Powder product was not defective nor a substantial threat.
Legal DevelopmentsWomen Sue Allergan for Concealing Breast Implant Cancer Risk
Nicole Knight · December 6, 2019
Six women have filed a complaint alleging the manufacturer Allergan intentionally hid possible breast implant safety risks.
Legal DevelopmentsCalifornia Wildfires Spark Legal and Political Battles for PG&E
Nicole Knight · December 5, 2019
PG&E, the power provider implicated in the recent California wildfires, now faces legal action by the state.
Legal DevelopmentsIn 3 Months, 20,000 More Plaintiffs Claim Roundup Caused Cancer
Emma Schkloven · November 26, 2019
The number of plaintiffs claiming Roundup caused their cancer has more than doubled to 42,700 in the last three months.
Legal DevelopmentsMaui Families File Suit Against Monsanto for Chemical Exposure
Emma Schkloven · November 19, 2019
Two families in Maui, Hawaii, have filed a lawsuit against Monsanto, claiming the company’s use of pesticides and chemicals led to birth defects in their newborns.
Legal DevelopmentsDoctor and Accomplice Charged in Transvaginal Mesh Surgery Scheme
Nicole Knight · November 14, 2019
A doctor and his consultant face multiple charges after tricking transvaginal mesh patients into getting unnecessary surgery.
Legal DevelopmentsBirth Defects in Zofran Litigation Disputed, Despite Evidence Removed
James Parker · November 13, 2019
Recent litigation on Zofran has called into question expert testimony, which was removed from the evidence indicating that Zofran causes birth defects when used by pregnant women. Drug manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline denies that causation of complications beyond heart defects and cleft palate can be proved. Though five cases were removed from the compilation of suits against GSK, the court proceedings wage on -- calling into question whether or not GSK should be required to update their product labeling with an adequate warning.
Legal DevelopmentsRiegel v. Medtronic: How the Landmark Case Limits Patient Rights
Carah Wertheimer · October 17, 2019
In 2008, a complex case set a legal precedent that dictates how Class III medical devices are approached. It's the landmark Supreme Court ruling, known as Riegel v. Medtronic, that changed everything. Now, those harmed by Class III medical devices struggle to seek legal recourse.
Legal DevelopmentsJohnson & Johnson Reached $20.4 Million Settlement With Ohio Counties in Landmark Opioid Case
Tess Francke · October 9, 2019
Johnson & Johnson reached a $20.4 million settlement with Cuyahoga and Summit counties in Ohio. The company resolves all claims by the counties without admission of liability.
Legal DevelopmentsJudge Orders J&J to Pay $572 Million to Remediate Opioid Damages in Oklahoma
Tess Francke · September 5, 2019
After a nearly two-month trial, Judge Thad Balkman of Cleveland County District Court ruled Johnson & Johnson had intentionally played down the dangers and oversold the benefits of opioids. The company will pay $572 million for the community destruction caused by prescription painkillers.
Legal DevelopmentsThe EPA Will Not Ban a Pesticide That Can Harm Kids’ Brains
Nicole Knight · August 28, 2019
The EPA has decided not to ban the pesticide chlorpyrifos despite evidence that the chemical harms children's brains. It is relevant to note that Dow Chemical, manufacturer of the chemical, donated significantly to the Trump administration's inaugural events.
Legal DevelopmentsSeven Plaintiffs Refile J&J Talc Lawsuit to Prosecute Claire's and Others
James Parker · August 1, 2019
Judge George H. Wu of California granted case dismissal to seven plaintiffs in a talc lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson for their failure to label talc products. The plaintiffs will refile - adding more cases to their complaint and holding other companies liable.
Legal DevelopmentsMarketing Tactics Mislead Consumers, Says Latest Testimony Against J&J Mesh
James Parker · July 31, 2019
In the latest transvaginal mesh trial, led by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, expert testimony speaks to the way Johnson & Johnson's advertisements mislead consumers. Surgeon Margolis believes their mesh causes "substantial, significant, irreversible damage," despite consumer-friendly ads.
Legal Developments$2 Billion Verdict Reduced in Roundup Cancer Case
Lauren Styx · July 29, 2019
In May, a jury awarded the amount of $2 billion in punitive damages and $55 million in compensatory damages to a California couple who developed cancer after years of exposure to Roundup weedkiller. Last week, the California judge significantly reduced the award in this historic Roundup cancer case.
Legal DevelopmentsOklahoma Opioid Trial Reveals Johnson & Johnson Pushed Opioids
James Parker · June 25, 2019
Oklahoma's latest opioid trial revealed that Johnson & Johnson pressured doctors to sell "more and more opioids." During proceedings, It also came to light that J&J heavily profited from its two subsidiaries Noramco and Tasmanian Alkaloids - major players in U.S. opioid epidemic.
Legal DevelopmentsGuardians Act Would Require Doctors to File Adverse Event Reports
Nicole Knight · June 4, 2019
A new bill was introduced in the House of Representatives, inspired by Dr. Amy Reed whose cancer was spread by a medical device called a power morcellator. The Medical Device Guardians Act would require doctors to report unsafe devices to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Legal DevelopmentsOklahoma Begins Historic Opioid Trial Against Johnson & Johnson
Emma Schkloven · May 31, 2019
The trial will determine if Johnson & Johnson used deceptive marketing to downplay the risks of opioid painkillers, contributing to the public health crisis that has reportedly claimed the lives of 4,600 Oklahoma residents.
Legal DevelopmentsOpioid Link Has Sackler Family Donations Declined By Museums
S. Nicole Lane · May 23, 2019
The Sackler family has profited for years from their personal connections to Purdue Pharma amid the opioid crisis. Now, esteemed museums like the Met, Tate Modern, and the Guggenheim decline the Sackler Family Donations following public backlash.
Legal DevelopmentsJ&J Mesothelioma Talc Verdict in New York May Exceed $25 Million
James Parker · May 22, 2019
A New York jury issued a $25 million verdict against J&J for its part in causing a 66-year-old woman's asbestos-related cancer. The woman, Donna Olson, used J&J's talc products for decades.
Legal DevelopmentsMonsanto to Pay $2 Billion to California Couple in Latest Roundup Case
Lauren Styx · May 20, 2019
Last Monday, in the most recent of three similar Roundup case verdicts, a California jury ruled in favor of couple Alva and Alberta Pilliod. The couple claimed that long-term exposure Roundup on their Northern California property caused severe health issues.
Legal DevelopmentsMonsanto Held Liable for Cereal Farmer's Sickness in France
Nicole Knight · April 30, 2019
A French court sided with a cereal farmer who claimed Monsanto’s Lasso weedkiller made him sick, claiming the product’s label inadequately warned him of its risks.
Legal DevelopmentsPurdue Settles for $270 Million in Oklahoma's Opioid Crisis
James Parker · April 17, 2019
The state of Oklahoma and Purdue Pharmaceuticals have agreed to a $270 million settlement to help combat the crippling issue of opioid addiction in rural America.
Legal DevelopmentsSecond Jury Links Roundup to Cancer, $80 Million Verdict
Carah Wertheimer · March 30, 2019
Today the jury ordered Monsanto to pay $80 million in damages for 70-year-old Edwin Hardeman’s non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, who sprayed his 56-acre property with Roundup for 26 years.
Legal DevelopmentsSan Francisco Jury Calls Roundup a "Substantial Factor" in Cancer Case
Carah Wertheimer · March 21, 2019
In the recent Monsanto Roundup trial, six jurors in a San Francisco federal court unanimously decided that Roundup (glyphosate), the world’s most widely-used herbicide, was likely a “substantial factor” in causing Edwin Hardeman's non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Legal Developments3 Legal Cases Fighting Dangerous Products in 2019
Carah Wertheimer · March 7, 2019
Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder, Monsanto's Roundup and the chilling opioid crisis have recently been in the headlines as legal teams attempt to get justice for thousands of injured individuals. Here's our breakdown of the top three legal cases to watch in 2019.
Legal DevelopmentsBiologist Testified on Talc in Dying Woman's Lungs in California Trial
Nicole Knight · March 4, 2019
A biologist testified that asbestos in talcum powder was found in a dying woman's lungs, according to a recent California jury trial.
Legal DevelopmentsNew Talcum Powder Warning Label Case in California
Carah Wertheimer · February 6, 2019
Johnson & Johnson's legal troubles have taken a new turn, now focused on the talcum powder warning label. Under California's Proposition 65, companies must issue warnings if products expose customers to known cancer-causing agents.
Legal DevelopmentsMonsanto Verdict Reduced to $78.5 Million, Chemo Brain May Affect Second Trial
Nicole Knight · November 5, 2018
A California judge has chopped a landmark $289-million jury verdict. The Monsanto Roundup verdict now sits at $78.5 million.
Legal DevelopmentsWhat Happened in the First Trial Linking Monsanto's Roundup to Lymphoma
Nicole Knight · September 24, 2018
Johnson, who received a favorable $289-million verdict, claimed Monsanto had long known of the cancer risks of glyphosate but failed to warn consumers of the dangers.
Legal Developments22 Women Win Talcum Powder Cancer Case
James Parker · August 16, 2018
A Missouri jury awarded $4.69 billion to compensate women who reportedly developed talcum powder ovarian cancer, delivering the largest product-defect verdict in U.S. history.
Legal DevelopmentsHalf the Nation Unites Against Opioid Manufacturer
James Parker · July 6, 2018
In a crackdown attempt to fight the opioid crisis, 26 states are taking legal action against a major OxyContin manufacturer.
Legal DevelopmentsTexas Firefighter Awarded $1.2 Million for Failed Blood Clot Filter
Ashley Lombardo · July 4, 2018
A Houston firefighter who claimed a Cook Celect IVC filter caused him serious pain and injuries has been awarded $1.2 million by a Texas state jury.
Legal Developments$28 Million Xarelto Verdict Draws Attention to U.S. Bleeding Risk
Ashley Lombardo · December 15, 2017
An Indiana woman was awarded a million-dollar Xarelto verdict after she developed GI bleeds without knowing the risks.
Legal DevelopmentsWhat the Arrest of Billionaire John Kapoor Means for Opioid Dependency
Ashley Lombardo · November 1, 2017
Pharma executive John Kapoor was arrested for pushing doctors to prescribe a powerful narcotic opioid known as Subsys.
Legal DevelopmentsMonsanto Lawsuit Debate Over Roundup's Link to Cancer Continues
Ashley Lombardo · October 18, 2017
Lawyers continue to debate allegations that glyphosate, the main ingredient in Monsanto's herbicide Roundup, can cause cancer.
Legal DevelopmentsDoes Baby Powder Contain Asbestos?
Ashley Lombardo · October 11, 2017
Concerns over talcum powder's link to ovarian cancer and mesothelioma have left courts in St. Louis asking if baby powder contains asbestos.
Legal DevelopmentsTaxotere Lawsuits More Than Double in 2017
Ashley Lombardo · September 13, 2017
The number of Taxotere lawsuits pending in federal court has more than doubled in 2017, almost tripling since 2016.
Legal DevelopmentsJury Awards $417M in California Talcum Powder Lawsuit
Ashley Lombardo · August 22, 2017
A Los Angeles jury on Monday awarded a record $417 million in damages in a talcum powder lawsuit brought by a California woman.
Legal DevelopmentsMaker Of Benicar Agrees To Pay Up To $300M In Settlements
Ashley Lombardo · August 18, 2017
The cases stem from accusations that the manufacturer failed to warn the public about the severe side effects of Benicar and related drugs.
Legal DevelopmentsJudge Consolidates Invokana Lawsuits In New Jersey
Ashley Lombardo · February 13, 2017
On Dec. 7, 2016, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered the cases be joined into a multidistrict legislation (MDL). More than 50 Invokana lawsuits related to the controversial diabetes drug have been consolidated in a U.S. District Court of New Jersey.
Legal DevelopmentsNew Jersey Court Awards $11 Million Mesh Settlement to Survivor
Ashley Lombardo · January 16, 2017
A New Jersey court awarded a mesh settlement more than $11 million to a South Dakota nurse surviving transvaginal mesh complications.
Legal DevelopmentsBristol-Myers Squibb Pays $19 Million in Multistate Settlement for Abilify’s Illegal Marketing
Ashley Lombardo · December 14, 2016
In a $19 million Abilify settlement, Bristol-Myers Squibb was found guilty of illegally marketed the antipsychotic for unapproved uses.
Legal DevelopmentsBayer Sued for Bleeding and Cramping Side Effects Linked to Essure
Ashley Lombardo · October 21, 2016
Plaintiffs have filed against Bayer AG for hiding dangers linked to the medical device Essure. The Essure lawsuit includes multiple charges.
Legal DevelopmentsGlaxoSmithKline Paid $3 Billion in Largest Fraud Settlement
Ashley Lombardo · October 12, 2016
GlaxoSmithKline was found guilty of off-label ads, hiding safety data and faulty price reporting in a billion-dollar drug fraud settlement.
Legal DevelopmentsWoman Takes Action Against Taxotere for Hair Loss Side Effect
Ashley Lombardo · October 3, 2016
Manufacturers didn't inform patients about the chemotherapy drug Taxotere's permanent hair loss risk. Ami Dodson took action and filed a lawsuit.
Legal DevelopmentsLegal System Works for Young Boy Who Developed Breasts
Ashley Lombardo · August 24, 2016
The legal system awarded $70 million to a 5-year-old boy who developed breasts in a Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuit.
Legal DevelopmentsJudge Supports Survivor of Talcum Powder Cancer With $55 Million
Ashley Lombardo · May 11, 2016
A St. Louis judge awarded $55 million to Gloria Ristesund, a woman who reportedly developed ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder products for decades. The lawsuit is the second of its kind as 1,200 women plan to take action against Johnson & Johnson in the talc trials.
Legal Developments