Patrick Jane is the fictional lead character of the TV series “The Mentalist.” Ably played by Simon Baker, the character used his skills of reading people, knowledge of people’s reactions, keen powers of observation and deduction, and prodigious memory to assist the police — all the while sipping his cup of tea.
Elementary, my dear litigant, elementary…
The Sixth Circuit recently affirmed a trial court’s decision to dismiss a proposed multi-state class action alleging that a car maker sold vehicles with cracked dashboards. James Smith et al. v. General Motors LLC, No. 19-1614, 2021 WL 631475 (6th Cir. 2/18/21). According to Plaintiffs, that defect produces dashboard cracking that could cause severe injuries
New ILR White Paper on Expert Evidence
For our readers interested in issues surrounding expert testimony, Daubert challenges, and potential reform of Federal Rule of Evidence 702, let us point out a recent piece by ILR, entitled Fact or Fiction: Ensuring The Integrity Of Expert Testimony. The paper outlines the state of expert evidence standards around the country, explores key issues
Supreme Court Considering Important No-Injury Class Issues
A number of interested groups have weighed in as amici in the Supreme Court’s consideration of TransUnion LLC, Petitioner v. Sergio L. Ramirez, No. 20-297 (U.S.), on review from the Ninth Circuit. See 951 F.3d 1008 (9th Cir. 2020) . The issue is the lower court’s attempt, in the face of Article III case law
Pleading Causation in a Medical Device Case
Massachusetts’ highest court issued an interesting decision regarding pleading requirements and the causation element in a device case See Dunn v. Genzyme Corp., No. SJC-12904 (Sup. Jud. Ct. Mass. 1/29/21). Plaintiff Dunn received two injections of Synvisc-One, one in each knee. Synvisc-One is a Class III medical device subject to premarket approval under the
Class Action Complaint On Bleach Cleaner Is Rejected
A California federal court dismissed a complaint alleging that a company misled consumers concerning the properties of its Splash-Less bleach cleaner. See Gudgel v. The Clorox Co., No. 4:20-cv-05712 (N.D. Calif. 1/21/21 ). Plaintiff filed this suit on behalf of herself and a putative class, asserting five causes of action against Clorox: (1) violation of
Another Vanilla Class Complaint Rejected
A New York federal court has rejected yet another “vanilla” complaint. In Cosgrove v. Blue Diamond Growers, No. 1:19-cv-08993 (S.D. N.Y. 12/17/20), the court dismissed a proposed class action alleging that the defendant improperly labelled its vanilla almond milk product finding that the company did not mislead consumers with the product’s vanilla flavor label.
Plaintiffs
Master Pleadings in MDLs
Ever since the In Re NuvaRing Prods. Liab. Litig. MDL, more than a decade ago, we have had concerns about the use of master pleadings in MDLs. On one hand, the requirement to file a master complaint, and answer, seems to offer some efficiency gains and ease the administrative burden on transferee courts. On the
Proposed Class Action on Sealant Products Fails to State a Claim
A Minnesota federal court has dismissed a proposed class action alleging household sealants turn yellow despite being advertised as “crystal clear.” Ehlis v. DAP Prod., Inc., No. 20-CV-1872 (PJS/ECW), 2021 WL 83269, at *1 (D. Minn. Jan. 11, 2021).
This putative nationwide class brought a host of fraud and warranty claims against DAP,
Florida to Update Summary Judgment Standard
The Florida Supreme Court recently issued a decision in which it adopted the summary judgment standard applicable in the federal courts (and a majority of states). Wilsonart, LLC v. Lopez, No. SC19-1336, 2020 WL 7778226 (Fla. Dec. 31, 2020).
This case involves a fatal rear-end car crash. But on appeal the legal issue became: