Rich Peters News
Attorney general seeks to ease professional licensing regulations amid COVID-19 pandemic
JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Attorney General wants to rethink professional licensing regulations for health care workers in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
Rep. Lovasco seeks clarification on COVID-19 guidance for public meetings
ST. CHARLES – St. Charles County Council held a meeting last month to discuss several emergency bills pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic but members of the public were barred from attending in person, causing confusion and frustration among the community.
Senate Republicans push through punitive damage reform; But coronavirus puts hold on return to Jeff City
JEFFERSON CITY – After an overnight filibuster that lasted 19 hours in late February, Republican state senators advanced a proposed change to the state’s legal system designed to clamp down on excessive lawsuit payouts.
ACLU lawsuit targets Missouri's public defender wait lists
ST. LOUIS – In February, the ACLU of Missouri and the MacArthur Justice Center filed a class-action lawsuit in Cole County Circuit Court over delays criminal defendants face in getting public defenders assigned to them. The lawsuit argues the state has underfunded public defenders, resulting in long waiting lists.
Coalition fights opioid epidemic on behalf of rural Missouri; seeks potential settlement money from manufacturers
The Missouri Attorney General announced that any state opioid settlement money would include rural areas. The Your Community Cares Rural Health Coalition has been urging the Missouri attorney general to ensure that rural health organizations get their fair share of whatever Missouri ultimately receives from its lawsuits against opioid manufacturers.
Bayer ‘encouraged’ by support from DOJ, states in Hardeman appeal
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – Bayer announced last week that at least 16 entities - including trade groups, several states and the federal government - are supporting the company's appeal of a $25 million verdict in favor of plaintiff Edwin Hardeman, who alleged Roundup weedkiller caused his cancer.
Missouri Chamber opposes anti-arbitration bill passed in U.S. House
JEFFERSON CITY – The U.S. House of Representatives last month passed the Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act, which sets out to do away with arbitration contracts for employment, consumer, anti-trust or civil rights disputes.
'FAIR' Act 'would have a detrimental effect,' says business expert
JEFFERSON CITY – Last month, the Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. The proposed legislation sets out to do away with arbitration contracts for employment, consumer, anti-trust or civil rights disputes.
Tort reform Senate bills to take effect, impacts may not be immediately felt, according to legal expert
JEFFERSON CITY – Several tort reform bills signed by Gov. Mike Parson in July took effect at the end of August that could change the legal climate across Missouri. However, those changes so far are still relatively unknown and could stay that way for a while, according to experts.
Four amicus briefs filed in case appeal of bellwether Roundup trial; Farmers question - 'what is the law?'
SAN FRANCISCO – Four amicus briefs have been filed in the California Court of Appeals, First Appellate District, Division One in the case of Dewayne Johnson v. Monsanto.
Design Nine ‘trade secrets’ lawsuit against engineering firm founded by former employees allowed to proceed
ST. LOUIS - The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri recently denied the dismissal of a corporate "trade secrets" case filed by engineering firm Design Nine against Arch Rail Group.
Judge grants roofing company's partial motion to dismiss claims in pension plan
ST. LOUIS – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri recently granted a partial motion to dismiss in a dispute between a roofing company and a union pension plan.
Judge rules for insurer in dispute over church’s damaged pipe organ
A St. Louis judge ruled in favor of an insurer who claimed they were not liable for issuing coverage of a church organ damaged during maintenance by a third-party contractor.
Missouri appeals court sets aside default judgment in Legends Hospitality wage dispute
ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Court of Appeals recently granted Legends Hospitality an appeal to set aside a default judgment in a labor dispute case against a former employee.