Hot Topics News

U.S. Attorney thrust into national spotlight after being named to lead Flynn case review

ST. LOUIS - U.S. Attorney Jeff Jensen was named last week to the high profile job of reviewing the prosecution of former White House national security advisor, Michael Flynn.

By John Breslin | Feb 21, 2020

Hot Topics

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.

By John Sammon | Feb 20, 2020

Latest News

Business CEO says bill will cap limits on product liability in Missouri

By John Sammon | Feb 20, 2020

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

By John Sammon | Feb 18, 2020

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

By John Sammon | Feb 14, 2020

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.

Settlement talks continue over Roundup claims, St. Louis trial will not resume Monday

By John Breslin | Jan 31, 2020

ST. LOUIS - Settlement talks are continuing between Bayer and plaintiff attorneys over claims of links between an ingredient in its weedkiller Roundup and cancer.

Kansas City strives for gender equality, equal representation across ethnicities with move to ban salary history

By Carrie Bradon | Jan 30, 2020

Kansas City has passed an ordinance, barring employers from inquiring about their employers' salary histories, in the hopes of eradicating gender discrimination.

Missouri DSS continues oversight of psychotropic medication for foster kids, spokeswoman says

By Karen Kidd | Jan 27, 2020

JEFFERSON CITY – Children in Missouri's foster care system are the real beneficiaries in a federal judge's "groundbreaking" settlement in November designed to require psychotropic medication only when safe and necessary, a social services spokeswoman said.

Opening trial in Missouri Roundup case postponed as parties try to settle out of court

By John Sammon | Jan 24, 2020

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.

Illinois pot law could have impacts on Missouri employees

By Amanda Smith-Teutsch | Jan 23, 2020

Marijuana is legal in Illinois, but illegal in Missouri. That could cause problems for companies and employees along the state borders.

Bayer 'pleased' by federal government's amicus brief in company appeal of $25M Roundup verdict

By Karen Kidd | Jan 15, 2020

WASHINGTON – Bayer AG is encouraged by 16 amicus briefs, including those filed by the federal government and seven U.S. states, in the company's appeal of a $25 million judgment in favor of a California man who claims the weed killer Roundup caused his cancer.

St. Louis jury clears J&J in woman's ovarian cancer lawsuit

By John Sammon | Dec 21, 2019

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.

Bill on punitive damages would remove use as a settlement bargaining tool: Senator

By John Breslin | Dec 20, 2019

An ability to immediately ask for punitive damages when filing suit can be unfairly used as a bargaining tool by plaintiffs, according to a Missouri senator who introduced a bill to reform the approach to such awards.

Punitive damages reform top priority of Missouri business leaders

By John Breslin | Dec 19, 2019

Puntiive damages reform is a top priority of business leaders in Missouri, the state Chamber of Commerce has said.

Two St. Louis law firms spend close to $8 million finding weedkiller plaintiffs: analysis

By John Breslin | Dec 18, 2019

Two St. Louis law firms have spent an estimated nearly $8 million to attract and sign up plaintiffs to sue multinational conglomerate Bayer over the use of its weedkiller, according to figures released from a media data firm.

Mass tort litigation proliferates as ad spending by lawyers increases; FTC keeping watch over lead generators

By Amanda Smith-Teutsch | Dec 18, 2019

Observers say murky relationship between lead generators and lawyers needs to be examined.

Reform advocate: People need to use site tracking lawyer, union donations

By Karen Kidd | Dec 16, 2019

JEFFERSON CITY – A little-used online tool that tracks trial lawyer and union donations to Missouri candidates for public office should be getting more attention than it does, a tort reform advocate said during a recent interview.

City of St. Louis ranks No. 5 in this year's ATRA 'Judicial hellhole' list

By Karen Kidd | Dec 10, 2019

WASHINGTON – The city of St. Louis continues to drop in American Tort Reform Association's Judicial Hellholes list, coming in at No. 5 on this year's ranking, but isn't exactly improving and still has plenty to hang its head about.

More than $20 million disbursed to victims from punitive damages awards fund, Labor Department figures reveal

By John Breslin | Dec 2, 2019

JEFFERSON CITY – More than $20 million was deposited in funds for legal services and to help victims of accidents unable to collect damages or otherwise be compensated for their injuries over a 15 year period to the end of 2017, according to figures released by the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Senators expected to vote within days on nominee for Missouri Eastern District, confirmation not certain

By John Breslin | Nov 27, 2019

U.S. Senators are expected to vote within days on whether to confirm a nominee for the federal bench in the Eastern District of Missouri.

St. Louis Record