John O'Brien News
Fifth Circuit reverses self in Katrina case against army engineers
Smith NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has reversed itself in a Hurricane Katrina case over the liability of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Appeals court upholds $258M Risperdal verdict
Caldwell LAKE CHARLES - A Louisiana appeals court has upheld the $258 million verdict in state Attorney General Buddy Caldwell's lawsuit against Janssen Pharmaceutical over the prescription drug Risperdal.
Eight settle La. AG's drug-pricing charges for $38 million
Caldwell BATON ROUGE - Eight drug makers have settled fraud charges brought by Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell for a combined $38 million.
Asbestos attorneys plotting another appeal of fraud ruling
Reavley NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - Asbestos attorneys found to have committed fraud appear to be preparing to ask for a full panel of judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to hear their appeal.
Fifth Circuit: Judge allowed to vacate other judge's ruling
Stewart NEW ORLEANS - A federal judge had the authority to overturn a colleague's findings in a class action lawsuit over a change in discounts given to employees and retirees of a phone company, an appeals court has ruled.
Oil spill claimants who avoided litigation won't have to pay attorneys
Barbier NEW ORLEANS - Plaintiffs attorneys will not receive 6 percent of settlements from those claimants who settled their oil spill claims without resorting to litigation.
Dispute between AG Hood and Feinberg remanded to Miss. court
Hood JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge has decided that Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood's legal battle to enforce a subpoena against the Gulf oil spill victims fund should be heard in state court.
Scruggs, other shady lawyers highlighted in film
Scruggs WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A documentary that debuts Monday night chronicles personal injury lawyers who abused America's civil justice system.
U.S. SC won't hear challenge of $246B tobacco deal
Caldwell WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court won't hear the appeal of a group that claims the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement created a marketplace unfairly hostile to smaller cigarette manufacturers.
Jury reaches $258M verdict in Risperdal case
Caldwell A Louisiana jury has ordered Janssen Pharmaceutica to pay $258 million in a lawsuit brought by former state Attorney General Charles Foti and continued by his successor, Buddy Caldwell.
Oil spill attorneys include politician's father
U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier has tasked 17 attorneys, one of whom is the father of a candidate for Louisiana lieutenant governor, with leading multidistrict litigation over the BP oil spill.
Tobacco settlement survives another challenge, appeal coming
Bader A federal appeals court decided Tuesday that 1998's Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement is constitutional, ruling against a challenge by the Competitive Enterprise Institute.
Sources: Trial lawyers expect tax break from Treasury Department
VANCOUVER, Canada - The nation's trial lawyer group, the American Association for Justice, revealed Tuesday that it expects the U.S. Department of Treasury to soon give its members a tax break on contingency fee lawsuits.
Business group never behind Senate's contingency bill
Chaisson (D) BATON ROUGE - A Louisiana business group says it refused to support the Senate version of a bill that would have allowed the Louisiana attorney general to hire private attorneys to sue BP on a contingency fee.
Time runs out on twice-changed contingency fee bill
Caldwell (D) A bill that would have allowed Louisiana Attorney Buddy Caldwell to hire private attorneys on a contingency fee to sue BP died Monday before the House could vote on changes made by the Senate.
Caldwell: Feds' ban on offshore drilling could be disaster
Caldwell (D) Attorney General Buddy Caldwell and Gov. Bobby Jindal are asking that a ban on offshore drilling be lifted.