Posted inLawsuits

JUUL May Not Be a Polished Alternative

Young smokers at risk

In the midst of lawmakers pushing for a ban on e-cigarettes, a student, Maxwell Berger, has filed a lawsuit against JUUL Lab, Inc.  The 22-year-old suffered a stroke in July 2017, and says the cause was related to his frequent e-cigarette use.  Initially attracted to JUUL’s different products and flavors, Berger started smoking in 2015 at the age of 18.  Only a high school senior at the time, Berger was unaware of any potential side effects related to JUUL products.  It is difficult to believe that a sleek, easy-to-use pen with a variety of tasteful flavors could ever cause a stroke in a young person.  The lawsuit points the finger at JUUL’s misleading marketing tactics that lure young smokers into using their e-cigarettes. 

2 minutes
Posted inLawsuits

Lighting Dispute Gets a Little Honky

Nashville lights fire under venue

The spotlight is shining on country music star, Blake Shelton; and not for the reason you might think.  Due to the results of a recent lawsuit, Shelton must alter his bar and restaurant’s red exterior lighting.  Old Red Nashville is placed at the heart of Lower Broadway in Nashville, among the various honky tonks and restaurants that line the street.  Shelton opened two other restaurant / bars of the same name in Tishomingo, Oklahoma and Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  While each establishment has their own unique designs and characteristics, all of the restaurants follow the same red color palette and lighting. 

2 minutes
Posted inLawsuits

(School) Grounds for a Lawsuit

No child left behind

The parents of a 7-year-old student in Texas are taking legal action against the Teravista Elementary School District for violating their daughter’s constitutional rights of “life, liberty, privacy, bodily integrity and happiness.” On more than one occasion, the safety of the child was placed at risk when she was wrongfully placed on a school bus instead of being taken to an after-school program.  The parents of the child, naturally concerned that something like this could happen more than once, filed a lawsuit after not resolving anything in administrative meetings with the school.  It is not publicly known how much the family is suing for, but the family hopes a court of law will accurately award them fair compensation.

3 minutes
Posted inLawsuits

Oklahoma Tackles the Opioid Epidemic

Alarming epidemic

Since 1999, over 700,000 people in the United States have died from drug overdoses.  In response to this seemingly uncontrollable epidemic, the state of Oklahoma is stepping up as one of the first states to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable. Earlier this week, a judge ruled that Johnson & Johnson must pay $572 million for their role in the overdose death count.  In 2017 alone, 68% of the 70,000 US overdoses were at the hands of an opioid.  This landmark case cites Oklahoma’s public nuisance law and the argument that Johnson & Johnson put people in harm by engaging in “false and misleading marketing of both their drugs and opioids.” The state of Oklahoma blames Johnson & Johnson for the influx of opioids in the state.

2 minutes
Posted inLawsuits

Jurisdiction Unknown

The first space crime

Initiated in November 1998, the International Space Station is a monumental project, and has served as living quarters to astronauts since the year 2000. Among the valuable scientific research that takes place on the Space Station, it is also home to the first space crime.  Anne McClain has recently gained infamy for allegedly tapping into her estranged spouse’s bank account while onboard the Space Station.  While no money was stolen from the account, McClain’s spouse, Summer Worden, learned of the invasion of privacy when McClain communicated with Worden about her spending habits.  An investigation is currently underway.

2 minutes