John Sammon News
Oakland man settles with Johnson & Johnson for undisclosed amount after alleging baby powder caused his cancer
The settlement brought a trial in the case to a quick end, after just one day of opening arguments
Another Alameda County plaintiff accuses Johnson & Johnson baby powder of causing his cancer
Johnson & Johnson is facing a mountain of legal claims in California and across the country blaming their baby powder products for causing mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer associated with asbestos exposure.
Judge says Chino Valley schools can't force teachers, school workers to tell parents if students transition gender
The ruling appeared largely to side with Democrat California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who argued the policy adopted by Chino Valley Unified School District violated students' constitutional and legal protections, which the state said overrides parents' rights to direct the upbringing of their children
'Better than imports:' Oil producers say CAL Supreme Court correct to strike down local drilling bans, allow essential continued local production
A California Supreme Court ruling says counties can't shut down oil and gas drilling. Activists vowed to continue fighting to hinder local oil and gas extraction, which the industry said is misguided, will leave U.S. more dependent on foreign, dirtier energy sources
Woman’s mesothelioma lawsuit settles after four days of trial
A four-day trial that saw a woman suing talc powder supplier Whittaker, Clarke & Daniels for the beauty powder she claimed had asbestos in it causing her to develop mesothelioma settled on April 26 for an undisclosed amount to the plaintiff.
Pathologist tells court woman stricken with mesothelioma breathed high levels of asbestos-laden talc powder
On the second day of trial accusing talc powder supplier Whittaker, Clarke & Daniels of causing a woman to develop mesothelioma, Dr. Theresa S. Emory, a Mayo Clinic pathologist, told a jury Linda Zimmerman breathed way above background levels of asbestos in the beauty powder she used.
Trial opens in Los Angeles accusing cosmetic supplier Whittaker Clarke & Daniels of causing a woman’s mesothelioma
LOS ANGELES - In one of the first in-person talc trials to be held after a year of court closures because of the COVID-19 pandemic, attorneys for plaintiff Linda Zimmerman will attempt to convince a jury that talc powder laced with asbestos and supplied by New Jersey- based Whittaker Clarke & Daniels caused Zimmerman’s mesothelioma, a deadly disease of the linings of the lungs.
Ride-share drivers, labor unions opponents attempt to overturn Prop. 22
A group of computer-directed drivers, ride-sharing drivers, labor unions and consumer activists have launched a lawsuit designed to overturn California’s Proposition 22, which exempted transport companies from having to pay their independent contractor drivers benefits as employees.
Activist says forcing ride-hailing drivers to become employees threatens 'gig economy'
A spokeswoman for an advocacy group defending the right of Uber drivers to remain independent contractors said that forcing them to become employees would end the freedom of “gig economy” jobs.
Health officials to Hollywood: No smooching or fighting during pandemic
LOS ANGELES -- State health officials are allowing Hollywood film companies to resume filming movies, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic causing some major restrictions, no intimacy by actors is allowed.
Zantac maker targeted by toxic tort attorneys in class action
LOS ANGELES – Attorneys from the Baum Hedlund Aristei Goldman & Moore Law Group are suing the maker of Zantac, a heartburn medicine, alleging the medication has a toxic carcinogenic substance, N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), that causes cancer.
Los Angeles Court rejects woman’s motion for greater award in wrongful death case
LOS ANGELES – A California State Court of Appeals Second Appellate District panel affirmed a judgment of the Los Angeles Superior Court rejecting a higher monetary award sought by a woman who won a malpractice suit in the death of her daughter from malignant melanoma.
Appeals court grants defendants anti-SLAPP judgment in marijuana oil lawsuit
SAN DIEGO – The Court of Appeals for the Fourth Appellate District on March 20 reversed a judgment of the San Diego Superior Court and granted defendants an anti-SLAPP motion, designed to protect against a plaintiff using a court to intimidate First Amendment freedom-of-speech rights.
Appeals Court backs plaintiffs in lawsuit over alleged abusive surfers, 'Lunada Bay Boys'
LOS ANGELES – The California Court of Appeals for the Second Appellate District on Mar. 24 backed a Superior Court of Los Angeles County ruling rejecting a motion for an anti-SLAPP judgement by defendants claiming their freedom of speech was impinged.
Krab vs. crab: Man loses lawsuit against P.F. Chang's but is appealing
PASADENA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – A California federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit in which a plaintiff alleged fake crab ordered at P.F. Chang's was fraudulently misrepresented as real.
Law group wins $53 million settlement against California over students' poor reading skills
LOS ANGELES – The country’s largest pro bono law group, Los Angeles-based Public Counsel, sued on behalf of California students who are poor readers and won a $53 million judgment to help those students.
Appeals court reverses decision dismissing allegations of defamation in doctor case against Riverside County
SAN DIEGO – The California Court of Appeals for the 4th Appellate District on Jan. 22 reversed a decision of the Superior Court of Riverside County, restoring a man’s claims of defamation after he had a felony charge wrongly placed on his record for withholding evidence in a court case.
Hollywood scriptwriter turned back in effort to sue Warner Bros. over 'The Judge'
LOS ANGELES – A Hollywood scriptwriter on Jan. 29 was turned back by the state of California Second Appellate District, Division Four Court of Appeals in a lawsuit accusing Warner Bros. movie studio of stealing a treatment he wrote.
State appeals court finds summary judgment in Johnson & Johnson's favor in mesothelioma suit
LOS ANGELES – The California Court of Appeals for the 2nd Appellate District upheld a ruling by the Superior Court of Los Angeles County awarding summary judgment to Johnson & Johnson in a lawsuit in which a woman claimed the company’s Baby Powder caused her to develop mesothelioma.
Ninth Circuit hears jurisdiction arguments in landmark global warming lawsuits against Big Oil
PASADENA, Calif. – A potentially precedent-setting hearing on Wednesday saw Northern California communities seeking relief against oil companies whose fossil fuel emissions plaintiff attorneys contend are damaging residents with rising sea levels and environmental degradation.