Munley News

The next IVC filter case goes to trial this week

Next IVC filter trial begins this week

The third bellwether trial involving C.R. Bard IVC filters began Tuesday, September 18 in Phoenix, AZ.   

Of the more than 9,000 lawsuits alleging that IVC filters have caused patients serious harm, C.R. Bard Inc. and Cook Medical Inc. face the largest number of cases, with about 4,000 each. 

Thus far, the first cases to go to trial have yet to yield a clear victor; there have been wins and losses on both sides, so it is difficult to say how this next trial will end. Cook won the first IVC filter trial last year, but then lost two substantial monetary verdicts in May 2017 and March 2018. Cook’s last win occurred on June 1st.

In Tuesday’s trial, a federal judge will oversee the multi-district litigation over C.R. Bard’s IVC filters. The plaintiff’s attorney, Ramon Lopez was quoted as saying this case could be “ […]

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

Thank a Trucker: National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

September 9 through September 15, 2018, is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW). This week, we show our respect and gratitude for the 3.5 million men and women who keep our economy moving.

Truck drivers do a demanding, important, and often thankless job. We depend on truck drivers every single day to transport goods across the country. Most of us take for granted those who bear the enormous responsibility of safely moving 70,000 lb vehicles safely across the nation’s highways. They even train to combat human trafficking in the United States as the “eyes and ears of our nation’s highways”. They often sacrifice time with their own families to make their deliveries on time to ensure that we have the goods we need. Some truck drivers sacrifice far more: A recent government report on workplace fatalities showed that truck drivers had the highest number of workplace fatalities.  […]

Priest abuse lawsuit seeks to extend the statute of limitations in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania lawsuit seeks to extend statute of limitations in priest abuse cases

A lawsuit against the Diocese of Pittsburgh aims to extend or eliminate the statute of limitations in civil cases against the Catholic Church stemming from sexual abuse allegations against clergy members and religious administrators. The lawsuit involves a man who, as a young child, was allegedly abused by a priest named in the grand jury report released earlier this month. The suit further alleges that because these accusations were not made public within the statute of limitations, the victim did not have the opportunity to seek justice.

The statute of limitations typically limits the amount of time a victim has to file a civil case against the person or organization that caused them harm. However, the statute has been extended in cases where there has been “fraudulent concealment of evidence.”

Extend the statute: All abuse victims deserve justice

Similar attempts at abolishing or extending the statute of limitations for abuse victims have failed in the past, […]

Don’t rely on autopilot: Car safety tech still flawed, inconsistent

IIHS report on driver-assistance technology shows its flaws

New report from IIHS shows driver assist technology is still flawed and is no substitute for a fully attentive human driver. If you’re not paying attention, driver assist systems can even land you in a crash.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, known for their extensive crash testing and safety ratings, investigated just how reliable driver assistance technology is. Their findings varied by brand. But, the overall conclusion was that autonomous vehicle technology has a long way to go before human drivers can feel comfortable giving up the steering wheel.

The 2017 BMW 5-series, 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class,  2018 Tesla Model 3 and 2016 Model S, and 2018 Volvo S90 were evaluated.

What is driver assistance technology?

Driver assistance technology refers to the features in a car designed to help prevent collisions. […]

J&J ordered to pay $4.69 billion to cancer victims in talcum powder lawsuit

Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay $4.69 billion in talcum powder lawsuit

A St. Louis jury returned a $4.69B verdict in favor of 22 women who claimed Johnson and Johnson’s products contained asbestos which caused them to develop cancer.

The verdict is the latest in a series of massive wins for women and their families who have filed cancer-related lawsuits against Johnson and Johnson. In August, 2017, a Los Angeles jury awarded a $417 million verdict in favor of a woman who claimed that Johnson and Johnson’s baby powder caused her to develop ovarian cancer, and in February 2016, a Missouri jury awarded $72 million to the family of a woman died of ovarian cancer after decades of using J&J’s baby powder.

In its natural form, talc (a common ingredient in cosmetic and personal care products, including the popular J&J baby powder) can contain asbestos fibers. […]