Lieff Cabraser Civil Justice Blog

Update On Settlement Of Antitrust Suit Against Comdata And Truck Stop Chains

By Eric Fastiff of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP posted in antitrust on Friday, April 18, 2014.

Earlier this year, a settlement of $130 million plus prospective relief was reached in a class action lawsuit brought by truck stops and other retail fueling facilities that paid percentage-based transaction fees to Comdata on proprietary card transactions using Comdata's over-the-road fleet card.

Massive GM Recall Highlights Importance of Civil Justice System

By Mark Chalos of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP posted in car accidents & recalls on Wednesday, April 16, 2014.

General Motors CEO Mary Barra recently told Congress that GM is sorry for the American families whose loved ones were killed or injured by a deadly ignition defect present in millions of GM vehicles. While it is noteworthy that Ms. Barra has now admitted that GM's conduct has caused numerous deaths and injuries, that was not always GM's position. In fact, for many years, in courts across the country and to government regulators, GM denied responsibility for deaths and injuries. And, it denied the existence of the deadly defect entirely.

What is the Difference Between B-1 and H-1B Visas?

By Daniel Hutchinson of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP posted in employment law on Tuesday, April 15, 2014.

B-1 visas are for business persons traveling to the U.S. for a short-term visit, such as to attend a conference, negotiate a contract, or participate in short-term training. B-1 visa holders generally may not perform skilled or unskilled labor while in the U.S.H-1B visas are for foreign nationals are temporarily employed in the U.S. in in positions that require specialized knowledge and high levels of education. The application process is highly regulated and limited to 85,000 visas annually. The employer must certify that the salary of the employee with the H-1B visa is within the prevailing salary for similarly qualified and educated employees working in the U.S.Are the B-1 and H-1B Visa Programs Controversial?

Tragic California College Tour Bus Accident Highlights Need For Greater Bus Safety

By Fabrice Vincent of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP posted in car accidents & recalls on Sunday, April 13, 2014.

The investigation into the cause of the deadly bus crash on Interstate 5 near Orland, California, involving the collision of a FedEx tanker truck and a motor coach transporting high school students to tour Humboldt State University is in its initial stages. Investigators will seek to identify why the FedEx truck crossed the medium of the highway as well as measures that could have been incorporated in the design of the bus that could have resulted in fewer fatalities.

Actos Bladder Cancer Lawsuit Videos

By Wendy Fleishman of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP posted in prescription drug injuries on Friday, April 11, 2014.

Actos drug image Patients who developed bladder cancer after being prescribed the diabetes medication Actos (brand name for the drug pioglitazone) have filed lawsuits against the manufacturer of Actos charging that it did not adequately warn of its cancer risks. Drug makers have a duty to warn of all serious side effects from their medications. These videos discuss the link between Actos and bladder cancer and summarize the charged made in the Actos bladder cancer lawsuits.

GM Ignition Switch Cited in Near Fatal Texas Crash

By Todd Walburg of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP posted in car accidents & recalls on Wednesday, April 9, 2014.

Vehicle after an alleged GM ignition defect accident Two days before Christmas last year, Texas resident Tiffany Adams was driving her 2007 Pontiac Solstice on a clear day, while wearing her seat belt, when the vehicle suddenly went out of control, traveled off the road, and collided with a tree. Ms. Adams suffered a broken neck, broken ribs, and other severe injuries that required the amputation of both her legs.

Federal Jury Awards Punitive Damages In Actos Bladder Cancer Trial

By Stephen Cassidy of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP posted in prescription drug injuries on Tuesday, April 8, 2014.

A federal jury in Louisiana yesterday ordered Takeda Pharmaceutical Company and Eli Lilly & Company to pay $1,475,000 in compensatory damages, finding that they failed to adequately warn about bladder-cancer risks of their diabetes medicine Actos. Jurors also found that Takeda and Lilly executives acted with wanton and reckless disregard for patient safety in their handling of the drug, and awarded a total of $9 billion in punitive damages against both companies.

Heart Device Makers' Short Cut On Patient Safety

By Wendy Fleishman of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP posted in defective medical devices on Tuesday, April 8, 2014.

Twice in the last seven years, tens of thousands of Americans implanted with cardiac defibrillators have had to make the agonizing decision of whether to undergo surgery to replace their recalled device.

President Obama Directs the "Updating and Modernizing" of the Fair Labor Standards Act's Overtime Regulations

By Rachel Geman of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP posted in employment law on Tuesday, April 1, 2014.

Employees are entitled to receive overtime pay unless they fall into narrow exemptions. The reason is that work is supposed to be spread across employees, lowering unemployment, and preventing unnecessary and entirely avoidable overwork.

Brendan Glackin Participates in Antitrust Roundtable Discussion

By Stephen Cassidy of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP posted in antitrust on Tuesday, April 1, 2014.

roundtable brendan.jpg

Lieff Cabraser attorney Brendan Glackin offered his views of the state of antitrust law in a roundtable discussion by leading antitrust practitioners published in the April 2014 issue of California Lawyer magazine.