More Healthcare Coverage
-
October 01, 2024
Ex-CBD Exec Must Face SEC Fraud Suit Over $13M Deal
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sufficiently backed its claims that a former cannabidiol products executive misled investors, including by making false statements in press releases, a Connecticut federal judge has ruled.
-
October 01, 2024
Wash. Panel Backs Workers' $3.3M Win In Meal Break Suit
A Washington appeals court refused to upend a class of workers' $3.3 million win in their lawsuit accusing a Seattle-based hospital of failing to provide them with 30-minute meal periods, saying employees in Washington state are entitled to additional pay if they're forced to work through their breaks.
-
September 30, 2024
Marshall Dennehey Adds Healthcare Litigator In Scranton, Pa.
Marshall Dennehey continued to expand its healthcare services with the recent addition of a litigator to its Scranton, Pennsylvania, office who joined the firm after nearly five years with Scanlon Howley & Doherty PC.
-
September 30, 2024
Macy's Can't Dodge DOL's Tobacco Surcharge Program Suit
An Ohio federal judge has denied Macy's Inc.'s bid to dismiss a health plan discrimination claim brought against it by the U.S. Department of Labor but gave the retailer a chance to try again, ruling that the parties' dispute has surely been affected by the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to ax Chevron deference.
-
September 27, 2024
4th Circ. Judge Startled By 'Really Odd' $9M Wage Suit Win
A Fourth Circuit panel on Friday grappled with the degree of control nurses have over their work and if they automatically become employees by signing a noncompete, as it considered a medical staffing company's bid to overturn a $9 million misclassification suit judgment following a bench trial.
-
September 26, 2024
Healthcare REIT Defeats Investor Suit For Good
An Alabama federal judge on Thursday permanently tossed an investor suit against a healthcare-focused real estate investment trust, Medical Properties Trust Inc., that alleged the trust hid the poor performance of four acute care hospitals it owns in Pennsylvania, saying the plaintiff's asserted theory in the suit "is somewhat Jekyll and Hyde."
-
September 26, 2024
Split 2nd Circ. Backs 8 Years For Conn. COVID Money Scam
In a published opinion Thursday, a split panel of the Second Circuit upheld a Connecticut man's eight-year prison sentence for stealing federal COVID-19 relief funds from the city of West Haven through a conspiracy with a state representative, finding that the punishment was not "substantively unreasonable."
-
September 26, 2024
Walgreens Struggles To Exit 'Non-Drowsy' Label Suit In Wash.
The Washington State Supreme Court questioned Thursday whether Walgreens could avoid state consumer protection claims over its "non-drowsy" cough medicine label by pointing to a lack of federal labeling requirements for the drug, with one justice calling the argument a non sequitur.
-
September 26, 2024
Winner Of $8.6M Suit Wants Mich. Justices' Take On Cap
The estate of a patient who won an $8.6 million medical malpractice verdict earlier this year is asking a Michigan federal court to certify a question to the state's Supreme Court to determine whether a statutory cap on noneconomic damages is constitutional.
-
September 26, 2024
Dallas VA Center Overpaid $3.7M For Wheelchair Services
A Texas veterans medical center will have to recover $3.7 million it overpaid a contractor for wheelchair transportation services between 2022 and 2023, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General said Wednesday.
-
September 25, 2024
Feds Urge Judge Not To Ax Novel Insider Trading Conviction
Prosecutors have hit back at former Ontrak CEO Terren Peizer's bid to ax his first-of-its-kind insider trading conviction and score a new trial, telling a California federal judge that the jury had all the information it needed to find Peizer guilty in June.
-
September 25, 2024
Walgreens' TM Suit Can Proceed Against Founder's Relative
Walgreen Co. can move forward with its trademark infringement suit against the great-grandson of the company's founder for operating Walgreen Health Solutions after an Illinois federal judge denied his motion to dismiss, finding the drugstore chain has shown a likelihood of confusion between the two brands.
-
September 25, 2024
Ascension Must Face Additional Suit Over Vaccine Mandate
Ascension Health Alliance must face another proposed class action challenging its 2021 COVID-19 vaccination policy, an Indiana federal judge ruled Wednesday, holding that a group of workers who were suspended or fired after refusing the vaccine on religious grounds have a case against the Catholic healthcare system.
-
September 25, 2024
3rd Circ. Backs Tossing MetLife Suit Over Drug Rebates
The Third Circuit upheld MetLife's defeat of a lawsuit alleging it kept drug rebate profits for itself instead of lowering workers' health benefit plan costs, saying Wednesday the workers leading the suit hadn't shown they were harmed by missing out on speculative savings.
-
September 25, 2024
Ex-NBA Pro Who Admitted Benefits Fraud Can Play Overseas
A New York federal judge Wednesday gave a former Philadelphia 76ers guard, who admitted to being part of a scheme to defraud the NBA's benefits plan, permission to travel to Uruguay so he can play professionally there.
-
September 25, 2024
Urology Practice Accused Of Denying Pregnant Worker Breaks
An Oklahoma urology practice forced a pregnant medical assistant to take unpaid leave after refusing to let her sit during work or take breaks to relieve swelling and pain, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged Wednesday in its second federal lawsuit under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.
-
September 24, 2024
Biotech RenovaCare Investors Seek OK Of $2M Deal
Biotechnology company RenovaCare Inc. has reached a $2 million deal to end a consolidated proposed class action alleging it pumped its stock prices by using a secret paid promotional campaign, the company's investors have told a New Jersey federal judge.
-
September 23, 2024
Med Mal Case Is Settled After Scuttled $111M Verdict in Minn.
On the eve of a second trial, a Minnesota-based orthopedic center has settled a suit that previously ended in a $111 million verdict that was later vacated for being excessive, with federal court records indicating a deal has been reached in principle.
-
September 23, 2024
Mallinckrodt Brass Can't Avoid Investor Suit Over 2nd Ch. 11
A New Jersey federal judge ruled Monday that senior leaders of drugmaker Mallinckrodt cannot escape a lawsuit brought by shareholders alleging the company tricked them into thinking it had recovered from bankruptcy and would make a $200 million payment to opioid claimants, finding the investors sufficiently pleaded securities law violations.
-
September 23, 2024
SEC Scores $12M Judgment In Unregistered Dealer Case
A Minnesota federal judge has ordered financial firm Carebourn Capital LP, its founder and an affiliated company to pay more than $12 million in disgorgement and prejudgment interest over U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission claims they made millions selling securities as unregistered dealers.
-
September 23, 2024
Fed. Circ. OKs Novartis Loss In Eye Syringe Patent Feud
The Federal Circuit has backed a Patent Trial and Appeal Board finding that more than two dozen claims in a Novartis pre-filled eye injection syringe patent weren't patentable.
-
September 23, 2024
Home Care Workers Prevail In Wage Reduction Suit
A Pennsylvania federal judge granted a win Monday to a class of home care workers who said their employer reduced their pay rates when they worked overtime, saying the company's practice is illegal because it was only implemented when workers clocked in more than 40 hours per week.
-
September 20, 2024
3rd Circ. Rejects 'Close' Case For Preemption In Fosamax MDL
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration letter denying changes to the label of Merck's osteoporosis drug Fosamax does not count as a final agency action triggering federal preemption of state law "failure to warn" claims, the Third Circuit ruled Friday in a precedential decision.
-
September 20, 2024
Expert Witness's Change Of Tune Dooms Mich. Med Mal Suit
A Michigan appeals court won't revive a woman's medical malpractice suit alleging she didn't receive post-operative care fast enough, saying the trial court was right to deny her bid to replace her expert witness after he abandoned his own opinion and exited the case.
-
September 20, 2024
Healthcare Co. Slams IHS Action On $13M ER Staffing Deal
A healthcare staffing company is challenging in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims a proposed corrective action by the Indian Health Service on a $13.3 million task order for staffing services at the emergency room of the Pine Ridge Hospital in South Dakota.
Expert Analysis
-
Don't Use The Same Template For Every Client Alert
As the old marketing adage goes, consistency is key, but law firm style guides need consistency that contemplates variety when it comes to client alert formats, allowing attorneys to tailor alerts to best fit the audience and subject matter, says Jessica Kaplan at Legally Penned.
-
Think Like A Lawyer: Follow The Iron Rule Of Trial Logic
Many diligent and eager attorneys include every good fact, point and rule in their trial narratives — spurred by the gnawing fear they’ll be second-guessed for leaving something out — but this approach ignores a fundamental principle of successful trial lawyering, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.
-
The Art Of Asking: Leveraging Your Contacts For Referrals
Though attorneys may hesitate to ask for referral recommendations to generate new business, research shows that people want to help others they know, like and trust, so consider who in your network you should approach and how to make the ask, says Rebecca Hnatowski at Edwards Advisory.
-
Breaking Down EEOC's Final Rule To Implement The PWFA
Attorneys at Littler highlight some of the key provisions of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's final rule and interpretive guidance implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which is expected to be effective June 18, and departures from the proposed rule issued in August 2023.
-
4 Ways To Refresh Your Law Firm's Marketing Strategy
With many BigLaw firms relying on an increasingly obsolete marketing approach that prioritizes stiff professionalism over authentic connection, adopting a few key communications strategies to better connect with today's clients and prospects can make all the difference, say Eric Pacifici and Kevin Henderson at SMB Law.
-
This Earth Day, Consider How Your Firm Can Go Greener
As Earth Day approaches, law firms and attorneys should consider adopting more sustainable practices to reduce their carbon footprint — from minimizing single-use plastics to purchasing carbon offsets for air travel — which ultimately can also reduce costs for clients, say M’Lynn Phillips and Lisa Walters at IMS Legal Strategies.
-
The Shifting Landscape Of Physician Disciplinary Proceedings
Though hospitals have historically been able to terminate doctors' medical staff privileges without fear of court interference, recent case law has demonstrated that the tides are turning, especially when there is evidence of unlawful motivations, say Dylan Newton and Michael Horn at Archer & Greiner.
-
How DEI Programs Are Being Challenged In Court And Beyond
In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's affirmative action decision last year declaring the consideration of race in university admissions unconstitutional, employers should keep abreast of recent litigation challenging diversity, equity and inclusion training programs, as well as legislation both supporting and opposing DEI initiatives in the workplace, say attorneys at Skadden.
-
Practicing Law With Parkinson's Disease
This Parkinson’s Awareness Month, Adam Siegler at Greenberg Traurig discusses his experience working as a lawyer with Parkinson’s disease, sharing both lessons on how to cope with a diagnosis and advice for supporting colleagues who live with the disease.
-
For Lawyers, Pessimism Should Be A Job Skill, Not A Life Skill
A pessimistic mindset allows attorneys to be effective advocates for their clients, but it can come with serious costs for their personal well-being, so it’s crucial to exercise strategies that produce flexible optimism and connect lawyers with their core values, says Krista Larson at Stinson.
-
Requiring Leave To File Amicus Briefs Is A Bad Idea
A proposal to amend the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure that would require parties to get court permission before filing federal amicus briefs would eliminate the long-standing practice of consent filing and thereby make the process less open and democratic, says Lawrence Ebner at the Atlantic Legal Foundation and DRI Center.
-
4 Ways To Motivate Junior Attorneys To Bring Their Best
As Gen Z and younger millennial attorneys increasingly express dissatisfaction with their work and head for the exits, the lawyers who manage them must understand and attend to their needs and priorities to boost engagement and increase retention, says Stacey Schwartz at Katten.
-
Bid Protest Spotlight: Nonprecedential, Unreasonable, Scope
James Tucker at MoFo examines three recent decisions showing that while the results of past competitions may inform bid strategy, they are not determinative; that an agency's award may be deemed unreasonable if it ignores available information; and that a protester may be right about an awardee's noncompliance but still lose.