John Sammon News
Asbestos trial under way in St. Louis; Ford blamed for non-employee's brake drum work
A trial that started last Tuesday in the 22nd Judicial District Court in St. Louis will determine if a man’s installing brake drums on Ford autos during the 1960s caused him to develop deadly mesothelioma 52 years later.
NFIB survey shows Missouri small business owners wary of COVID-19 lawsuits
ST. LOUIS – A National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) survey has confirmed that small business owners in Missouri are worried they will face lawsuits upon reopening amidst the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Missouri lawmaker faces backlash over shooting remark
ST. LOUIS - State Rep. Tony Lovasco’s remark that looters “deserve to be shot, but not by the government,” drew a firestorm of criticism in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis with critics calling it “incendiary.”
Bayer says fungus damaged peach trees in $265 million herbicide case
ST. LOUIS – Officials of Bayer and BASF, the German chemical company owner of Monsanto, said a recent $265 million judgment against the international herbicide giant for damaging peach trees in Missouri was not a result of its weed killer dicamba, but a case of mistaken identity.
Judge rules plaintiff met statute of limitations in truck hauling injury case
ST. LOUIS – A federal judge in Missouri denied a plaintiff's request that sanctions be levied against the defendant's counsel, who asked the court to reconsider previous rejections of motions that contended the statute of limitations was over.
Judge dismisses chiropractors' claims against business coach
ST. LOUIS – A federal judge dismissed the claims two chiropractors made that a consulting business failed to deliver on promises after separating the claims because the individual damages didn't meet statutory requirements.
Mallinckrodt president says company will weather $1.6 billion opioid litigation settlement
ST. LOUIS – The president of Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, the country’s biggest manufacturer of generic opioids, said the company would weather a $1.6 billion agreement to settle thousands of lawsuits and go on to a brighter future.
Bayer officials looking at Roundup alternative; Unnamed product could be available end of decade
ST. LOUIS – Facing hundreds of lawsuits against the company because of the alleged toxic nature of the weed killer Roundup, officials of Bayer this week said they are considering an alternative chemical for weed control.
Missouri justice reform organization supports bill to give insurers a voice in arbitrations
ST. LOUIS – The executive director of the Missouri Civil Justice Reform Coalition said the organization supports a newly introduced bill, Senate Bill 726, that aims to give insurance companies a voice in arbitration settlements, which up until now, backers said, has been muted.
Business CEO says bill will cap limits on product liability in Missouri
ST. LOUIS – A new bill introduced into the Missouri Legislature the CEO of the Associated Industries of Missouri said would provide a common sense approach to avoid potentially endless litigation over product defects.
Linn County says Torch gaming machines are gambling, files complaint against company
ST. LOUIS – Linn County prosecuting attorney Shiante McMahon has accused Missouri-based Torch Electronics of installing slot machines in violations of state law, but company officials say the devices are not slots.
Applicants denied medical pot licenses in Missouri file lawsuits against state
ST. LOUIS - A new multi-million industry that sprang up almost overnight with state passage of legalized medical marijuana has applicants vying for licenses and more who haven’t gotten one, fuming, and suing.
LWV director says Missouri voter ID bill end-run to make stricter ID requirements
ST. LOUIS – The executive director for the League of Women Voters (LWV) in Missouri said a state bill in the Assembly HB1600 is an end-run attempt to enforce stricter voter ID laws after the Missouri Supreme Court decided a photo ID would not be required to vote.
Opening trial in Missouri Roundup case postponed as parties try to settle out of court
ST.LOUIS, MO – A potentially precedent-setting trial was postponed on Friday while plaintiffs suing Bayer for the weed killer Roundup they claim caused their cancer attempted to settle out of court for a possible $10 billion.
Activist expresses doubt public nuisance law is the proper avenue in gun maker lawsuit
KANSAS CITY – An activist with the Missouri Civil Justice Reform Coalition said a lawsuit launched against gun makers for allegedly contributing to area crime under public nuisance laws is an improper stretch of the law.
Bill introduced in Missouri House would crack down on frivolous lawsuits rep says
JEFFERSON CITY – A new bill introduced by Rep. Curtis Trent (R-Springfield) he said aims to crack down on frivolous injury lawsuits by limiting the amount of time a case could be filed.
St. Louis jury clears J&J in woman's ovarian cancer lawsuit
ST. LOUIS - A jury on Friday decided that Johnson & Johnson was not responsible for development of a St. Louis woman’s stage-two ovarian cancer from the use of its baby powder, which the plaintiff alleged had been contaminated with asbestos.
J&J top corporate rep grilled in Oklahoma opioid trial - state focuses on 'Norman' poppy strain
NORMAN (Legal Newsline) – A corporate spokeswoman for Johnson & Johnson and its drug subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals on Thursday faced questioning by lawyers for the State of Oklahoma who attempted to link the company’s quest for profits to an opioid epidemic in the state.
Father recounts loss of son in Oklahoma Johnson & Johnson opioid trial
NORMAN, Okla. (Legal Newsline) – Fighting back tears, a father who lost his son to an opioid overdose recounted the nightmare during testimony in a trial alleging that Johnson & Johnson flooded the state with addictive drugs for profit.
Opening remarks in opioid case against Johnson & Johnson alleges greed created drug epidemic
NORMAN, Okla. (Legal Newsline) – Opening arguments began Tuesday in a first-ever trial in attempt to hold drug manufacturers accountable for an opioid over-dose crisis, accusing Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary company Janssen Pharmaceuticals of providing medications for profit that destroyed thousands of lives.