Personal Injury

Brief / July 16, 2026

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Supreme Court of California ruled against medical negligence plaintiffs who voluntarily dismissed their case with prejudice so they could appeal the trial court’s adverse rulings. Their case is not appealable because the trial court’s orders had not foreclosed the plaintiffs’ claims, so the action was not finally resolved. Their voluntary dismissal terminated the action and, with it, their right to appeal.

Hospital faces claim over harassment by ex

Brief / July 16, 2026

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — A federal court in New York declined to reconsider its denial of summary judgment in favor of a hospital and supervising physician sued by a surgical resident, who says the former failed to prevent his ex-girlfriend from sexually harassing him during and outside of work hours. She worked as a contract anesthesiologist at the hospital. There is a factual dispute over whether a single incident of the ex’s alleged groping constitutes a hostile work environment and whether her threats to his life and career show the groping is a pattern of conduct.

Prenatal exposure to acetaminophen

Brief / July 13, 2026

MANHATTAN — The Second Circuit partially vacated a New York federal court’s exclusion of some expert testimony in two cases in which parents’ suits against big pharma corporations and retail pharmacies were dismissed over claims of failure to warn about possible ADHD and autism resulting from prenatal ingestion of acetaminophen products. The appellate court said testimony should be allowed when “a particular technique or theory has gained general acceptance in the scientific community, and an expert reliably applies that methodology to the subject of inquiry.”

Prospective renter awarded $15,000 after groping

Brief / July 10, 2026

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A federal court in Arkansas concluded a no-jury trial with $15,000 in damages awarded to a single working mother with two young children who was sexually harassed by a landlord in his early 70s during a tour of a rental home. “Any reasonable woman would be offended by an unwelcomed touching of her breasts and a forced grazing of her hand across the prospective landlord's crotch. The accompanying words made the sexual motivation clear.” The man’s wife was found not liable for his conduct on behalf of their property rental business.

Feds face tort claim over CBP car collision

Brief / July 7, 2026

NEW ORLEANS — The Fifth Circuit found a Texas federal court improperly granted summary judgment in favor of the government after an injured motorist was struck by a vehicle operated by a Customs and Border Protection agent. The court granted summary judgment on the government’s argument that the agent was engaged in union activities at the time of the incident, but no authority was cited that treats union employment differently for the purpose of “course and scope” analysis on vicarious liability claims.

Omaha gas blast settlement

Brief / July 6, 2026

OMAHA, Neb. — During a Zoom court hearing, a lawyer for the special administrator of three estates said they settled with Lennox Industries, one of three defendants sued for wrongful death after the three people were killed in a house explosion allegedly caused by the negligence of Lennox, Thermal Services of Omaha and the Omaha area’s public gas utility. It will be at least 30 days for the settlement documents to be filed with the court. The public utility has already been dismissed as a defendant, so Thermal Services of Omaha remains as the sole defendant.

Raw dough eater settles suit

Brief / June 18, 2026

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A man who was hospitalized after eating raw take-and-bake bread dough from a Colorado Springs Walmart settled his lawsuit against the store and the dough’s baker. He had neglected to bake the bread before eating it, resulting in a three-day hospital stay as the dough expanded in his stomach.

Personal Injury

Shot in the foot

Hospital faces claim over harassment by ex

Employees sue medical giant over excessive healthcare costs

Prenatal exposure to acetaminophen

Prospective renter awarded $15,000 after groping

Slain NYPD officer accused of negligence during mass shooting at NFL headquarters

Feds face tort claim over CBP car collision

Omaha gas blast settlement

Judge rejects claims dog pepper-sprayed by mailman caused children’s asthma

Court overturns $1.25 million labeling suit against Roundup

Raw dough eater settles suit