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| A man and woman are seeking class action status for a lawsuit stemming from wire malfunctions in implanted heart defibrillators. Both plaintiffs claim that broken wiring in the Medtronic pacemakers caused them to receive unnecessary shocks that threatened their health. Medtronic issued a warning to patients earlier this week regarding potential problems with the wiring in their pacemakers. Joshua Freed, Kansas City Star 10/16/2007 | |
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| New York City officials said Tuesday that they are willing to consider a settlement with thousands of World Trade Center rescue and clean up workers who claim to have been sickened by toxic contaminants from the building collapse. A federal judge had previously rejected a request by the city to dismiss the lawsuit. Some advocates are skeptical that a $1 billion fund established to cover potential liability would be enough to compensate all of the 9,000 plaintiffs. Reuters, Reuters 10/16/2007 | |
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| Three teens who were poisoned by dangerous lead-based paint in their homes will receive a $2.5 million settlement from two former landlords. The children, who live in upstate New York, suffer from learning disabilities caused by exposure to peeling paint in their apartments. Several other lead paint-related lawsuits are currently pending against the landlords. AP, Newsday 10/16/2007 | |
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| Madison Square Garden has asked a judge to reconsider punitive damages against the arena and its chairman for sexual discrimination against a former executive. Attorneys for the arena argue that the $6 million award exceeds the maximum award allowed by federal law for sexual discrimination. Title VII, the federal law prohibiting sexual discrimination, caps damages in such claims at $300,000. Richard Sandomir, The New York Times 10/18/2007 | |
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| A lawsuit filed on behalf of a group of claims adjusters for Allstate, State Farm and other insurers was dismissed Wednesday by a federal judge. The whistleblower lawsuit accused the insurers of inflating flood damage estimates from Hurricane Katrina and overbilling the federal government. District Judge Peter Beer ruled that a similar case in Mississippi ought to determine whether the companies mishandled claims arising from the 2005 hurricane. Tribune News Services, Chicago Tribune 10/18/2007 | |
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| Federal regulators are investigating the top executive at Countrywide Financial Group for alleged irregularities in the sale of company stock. The Securities and Exchange Commission scrutiny stems from changes made in Angelo R. Mozilo’s 10b5-1 trading plan that allowed the executive to deal off millions of dollars in shares prior to the subprime mortgage collapse. The 10b5-1 plan allows company insiders to proceed with such transactions even if they come into possession of nonpublic information. Mary Gordon, Ft. Worth Star Telegram 10/18/2007 | |
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| State officials are refusing to disclose the ingredients of a chemical pesticide sprayed over fields, homes, businesses and schools in Northern California. According to officials, the government cannot identify the inactive ingredients of the pesticide without violating laws governing corporate trade secrets. For now, spraying has been halted after residents complained that the initial application caused asthma-like symptoms, burning eyes, rashes and stomach pains. Paul Pringle, LA Times 10/18/2007 | |
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| Approximately 56,000 potentially contaminated Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers housing survivors of Hurricane Katrina and Rita have not been tested for formaldehyde. FEMA stopped sales of the trailers three months ago after it was revealed hazardous levels of the colorless gas were present in the trailers. A FEMA administrator told Congressional leaders that testing of the occupied trailers is set to begin next week. Ralph Blumenthal, The New York Times 10/18/2007 | |
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| Pediatricians told Food and Drug Administration advisers Thursday that cold and cough medicines should not be given to children under six years old. The testimony was given before an FDA panel that will consider a petition that seeks government recognition that the medicines are ineffective and unsafe. Last week drug makers stopped the sale of over-the-counter medicines for toddlers citing potential for overdoses. Andrew Bridges, LA Times 10/18/2007 | |
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