Sam Knef News
Farmers blame Monsanto and BASF for ruined crops in class action suit
ST. LOUIS – Monsanto and BASF Corp. face a federal lass action lawsuit alleging their products have caused crop losses on millions of acres of farmland across the U.S.
Jefferson County couple's suit claims equipment used during husband's heart surgery 'colonizes' bacteria
ST. LOUIS – A man who suffered a bacterial infection when he underwent heart surgery in 2016 recently filed a lawsuit against the medical device manufacturers whose equipment was used during his procedure claiming he suffers from night sweats, fevers, weakness, pain, discomfort, impairment and loss of enjoyment of life.
American Family claims it has no duty to defend contractor in grain facility construction dispute
ST. LOUIS – American Family Mutual Insurance Co. is seeking declaratory judgment in a dispute with its insured who was sued for breach of contract in the construction of a grain storage and distribution facility near Palmyra.
EPA brings action against farming operation over anhydrous ammonia releases
MFA Inc., an agricultural cooperative, unlawfully released anhydrous ammonia that injured residents and employees near their facilities, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims in federal court.
Pro se plaintiff seeks $835,000 over alleged injuries from cochlear implant
KANSAS CITY – A pro se plaintiff is seeking $835,000 in damages against Cochlear Limited and Cochlear Americas over a hearing implant device he claims caused permanent numbness in his left ea
Proposed class action over fees charged for medical records removed to federal court
KANSAS CITY – HealthPort Technologies and Centerpoint Medical Center of Independence recently removed a proposed class action lawsuit that alleges they wrongfully charge fees in violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Western Division.
BPL Plasma removes discrimination claim to federal court
KANSAS CITY – BPL Plasma Inc. recently removed a lawsuit claiming religious discrimination, disability discrimination and retaliation in violation of the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA) to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
Former surgical resident sues University of Missouri over ouster from program
SPRINGFIELD – A former neurosurgery resident at University of Missouri School of Medicine claims he was treated unfairly and inequitably, particularly by the program director, and has filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Central Division seeking at least $50 million in damages.
Eager Road Associates granted summary judgment in False Claims Act case
ST. LOUIS – A federal judge has granted a defendant named in a False Claims Act lawsuit summary judgment in a case brought by a public sector worker who alleged it was involved in a "pay-to-play" scheme.
Judge dismisses condo fire suit involving State Farm Fire & Casualty
ST. LOUIS – U.S. Magistrate Judge Nannette A. Baker of the Eastern District of Missouri has granted State Farm Fire and Casualty Co.'s unopposed motion to dismiss its interpleader complaint filed against its insured Stephen G. Peitz Jr. in a case regarding a fire at his St. Louis condo in August 2017.
Judge issues discovery orders in 9-year-old pre-need funeral scam case
ST. LOUIS – A federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Eastern Division, recently issued a mixed ruling in a 9-year-old racketeering lawsuit brought by dozens of plaintiffs against more than 40 defendants involving allegations of a nationwide "pre-need" funeral services scheme.
Magistrate denies insurer’s request for damages from bankrupt parties’ ‘alter ego’
CAPE GIRARDEAU – A federal magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Southeastern Division, recently denied an insurer's request for damages and fees from a group it claims fraudulently diverted at least $3.5 million in proceeds.
Judge grants motion to dismiss patent infringement suit over 'Illuminated Address Sign'
ST. LOUIS – A federal judge in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri recently granted defendants relief from a patent infringement case brought by a pro se plaintiff seeking $55 million in compensatory and punitive damages.
Consumer group to be included in $5 million settlement in Telephone Consumer Protection Act case
ST. LOUIS – A federal judge in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri recently denied a request by defendants who settled Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) claims for $5 million plus costs regarding the distribution of cy pres awards.
KC Bell removes sex discrimination suit to federal court
KANSAS CITY – Defendants in a sex discrimination and retaliation suit filed in Jackson County Circuit Court recently removed the action to U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
Insurer removes $800K hail damage claim lawsuit to federal court
ST. LOUIS – An insurance company based in Rhode Island recently removed a lawsuit claiming it unreasonably denied an $800,000 hail damage claim to U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Eastern Division.
Normandy Schools Collaborative removes age discrimination class action to federal court
ST. LOUIS – Normandy Schools Collaborative recently removed a proposed class action alleging age discrimination and 14th Amendment violations filed in St. Louis County Circuit Court to federal court.
Eye drop makers remove class action alleging product waste to federal court
ST. LOUIS – Manufacturers of glaucoma treatment prescription eye drops recently removed a proposed class action filed in St. Louis County Circuit Court to U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Eastern Division.
Woman's suit claims Composix Kugel hernia mesh caused her permanent injuries
ST. LOUIS – A Missouri woman who underwent hernia repair surgery in 2012 in Poplar Bluff is suing the manufacturers of a mesh product claiming it was defective and caused her permanent injuries.
Maritz sues IT contractor after cyberattacks in 2016 and 2017 related to rewards card programs
ST. LOUIS – Maritz Holdings Inc. of Fenton recently filed a lawsuit against its former information technology contractor that claims a "massive" cyberattack in 2016 and an additional attack in 2017 resulted in more than $14 million in losses related to electronic gift cards.