#1 Boy Scouts of America Sex Abuse Settlement – For and AgainstLos Angeles, CA Voting a settlement of almost $1.9 billion to compensate over 82,000 Boy Scouts of America sexual abuse victims has begun with a December 14, 2021 deadline to vote for the Plan. But many survivors and their attorneys oppose the current proposal.
#3 Amazon to Pay $500,000 in COVID-19 Notice LawsuitSan Francisco, CA On November 15, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that Amazon had agreed to pay the State of California $500,000 and amend its Covid-19 notification practices to comply with California’s new “right-to-know” law. AB 685, enacted in December 2020, amended the California Labor Code to require employers to notify workers about potential workplace exposure in ways designed to actually provide them with meaningful information, on the basis of which they might make informed healthcare choices.
#4 Aftermath of a Horrific Amusement Park AccidentLouisville, KY It is not only a parent's worst nightmare but anyone's worst nightmare??"in this case an Amusement Park Accident at a popular theme park that resulted in a 13-year-old girl having both of her feet severed above the ankle. Kaitlyn Lasitter survived, and doctors were able to re-attach her right foot. But they could not save her left, and Kaitlyn now walks with a prosthesis.
#5 Lisinopril—Hidden DangersLas Vegas, NV Many prescription drugs are as common as aspirin; it's no wonder that many consumers don't read warning labels or consider that a medication could be associated with side effects. Take Lisinopril, for instance. It is one of the most widely prescribed drugs in the US, and it also has the potential to harm a lot of people.
#6 $95.7 Wells Fargo Settlement Offer in Question as Objector Raises New IssuesSan Jose, CA On September 23, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California heard objections to a $95.7 million offer made by Wells Fargo to settle consolidated class action lawsuits brought by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Consultants (HMCs). The lawsuits allege that the bank violated California state labor laws by failing to either provide or pay for rest breaks for its HMCs.
#7 USB Checking Accountholders to get their Day in CourtSan Diego, CA On August 10, the Southern District of California agreed to reconsider its own ruling in an overdraft fees lawsuit that forced the dispute into arbitration. On reconsideration, it reversed itself. This breathes new life into Reyna McGovern’s contention that U.S. Bank charged bank overdraft fees that were not permitted under the terms of the account agreement that she and many other customers signed. Now they get a chance to have their claims heard in court. The Order Granting the Motion for Reconsideration may have implications for other Californians who, perhaps unwittingly, signed arbitration agreements when they opened a checking account.
#9 FDA: Transvaginal Mesh Not Worth the Risk in Treating Pelvic Organ ProlapseSilver Spring, MD The FDA reviewed Boston Scientific’s latest studies of the pros and cons of using transvaginal mesh to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and doubled down on its earlier conclusion that the risks outweighed the benefits. In 2019, after a spate of surgical mesh lawsuits, the FDA ordered Boston Scientific to immediately pull its transvaginal mesh products off the market.
#10 Terbutaline Mothers Lament Potential Harm to Their KidsWashington, DC No one would argue that a healthy debate is a good thing—such as the debate that continues to rage over Terbutaline Sulfate and whether or not the drug is harmful to the fetus when prescribed to the mother to ward against, or stop premature labor. What's worse? The possibility of premature labor and the potential for negative outcomes? Or use of a drug that has been shown to stop premature contractions, but could pose maternal or natal harm?
