Posted inSettlements

Widow Scores a Win in Court

Sharing evidence

While two players were stars on the court, their family member has recently earned a win in a court of law. More than two and a half years following the fatal helicopter crash that killed nine individuals, Vanessa Bryant and Christopher Chester are victorious in their lawsuit against Los Angeles County. The pair, which consists of the widow of basketball legend, Kobe Bryant, and the husband and father of two of the passengers onboard the aircraft, sued over the casual handling of crash site photos. The close-up visuals of the deceased passengers’ remains were unprofessionally passed through various channels within the sheriff’s department and fire department, and among other public officials.

2 minutes
Posted inSettlements

Phoning in a Settlement

‘Cell’-ing data

Although appeals or legal proceedings may interrupt the official approval of the settlement, T-Mobile customers may anticipate a December 2022 end date of a lawsuit involving their personal information. In August 2021, the discovery of an online sale of T-Mobile customer information led to an investigation of a company data breach that impacted more than 76 million individuals. T-Mobile maintained transparency regarding the breach and is now agreeing to settle the subsequent legal action for $350 million. This compensation will go directly to customers and aid in paying the cost of legal and administrative fees.

2 minutes
Posted inSettlements

Pickup a Dismissal

Trucking along

A federal judge has recently dismissed a class action lawsuit that exposed the existence of emissions defeat devices in Ford Super Duty pickup trucks. Originally filed in 2018, the “cheat” devices, which were apparently embedded in the engine control module software of 2011–2017 F-250 and F-350 pickups with the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8, have allowed the trucks to pass emissions tests. About 500,000 trucks were impacted and the original lawsuit sought $4.2 billion. Since 2018, over 25 claimants have dropped claims, which likely contributed to the judge’s decision.

2 minutes
Posted inSettlements

Trust Fund Snuffed in MS

Healthcare focus

A 25-year-old case is emerging from the filing cabinet as a point of interest for Mississippians. In 1997, Mike Moore, who served as the state’s Attorney General at that time, announced a national settlement against the tobacco companies. The lawsuit placed restrictions on cigarette advertising to the nation’s youth and allowed funding opportunities for the campaign against tobacco use. Although the impact of the settlement is significant, with the percentage of youth smoking decreasing from 27% to 4% and adult smoking reducing from 30% to 12%, there is a growing problem with the failure to maintain a trust fund in Mississippi.

2 minutes
Posted inSettlements

Fire Up a New Claim

Fried

The efficiency and convenience of a relatively new small appliance may not outweigh the potential hazards it poses. First invented in 2010, air fryers have hit the market as a popular item for weekly meal preparations in kitchens across the US and Canada. In addition, consumers have enjoyed the healthier benefits to air frying their food over cooking in oil. Allegedly, consumers may intake fewer calories and fat. The potential downside to cooking with an air fryer is the possibility for the appliance to overheat and cause burn and fire risks.

2 minutes