A Manhattan jury awarded $116 million for the wrongful death of a young video journalist in a 2018 East River helicopter crash. The award is the largest ever recorded in state history for a wrongful death claim on behalf of a single individual, according to Law.com’s VerdictSearch.
Trust plays a critical role in the sustained success of firms, yet it often eludes the quantifiable metrics commonly tracked by corporate departments. Legal departments, being the crossroads where numerous issues are adjudicated, have unique opportunities to either cultivate or undermine that trust. Columnist Rob Chesnut, drawing on his extensive background in legal and ethical…
“Stay in your lane” is generally wise advice. As a legal journalist, I regularly decline invitations to write or to speak about topics that are related to, but distinct from, the law. Lawyers who fail to consider factors beyond the letter of the law, however, sometimes can disserve their clients. Consider three cases, all from…
This past week, Disney’s legal team found themselves in the spotlight for reasons they likely would have preferred to avoid. In a controversial move, Disney attorneys initially argued that a free trial to Disney+ obligated plaintiffs in a wrongful death lawsuit to enter forced arbitration, effectively removing the case from the courts. The approach quickly…
Disney recently found itself in the midst of significant public backlash due to the legal argument it advanced in the wrongful death case of Dr. Kanokporn Tangsuan. Dr. Tangsuan tragically passed away from anaphylaxis after dining at a restaurant in Disney Springs. The crux of the legal issue was Disney’s attempt to use an arbitration…
This morning’s docket brings several noteworthy updates from the legal industry, highlighting ethical quandaries and significant legal decisions that resonate within corporate law spheres. In a notable development, Disney has decided to withdraw its controversial motion tying Disney+ usage to mandatory arbitration. This decision marks a significant turn in a wrongful death lawsuit the company…
The Disney+ To Forced Arbitration If We Kill You Pipeline Has A Few Holes: In a recent article, it was highlighted that Disney’s argument in a wrongful death case was met with strong criticism. The response underscores some significant gaps in the streaming giant’s legal positioning concerning forced arbitration for wrongful deaths. For an in-depth…
Legal professionals are closely watching a recent controversy involving Disney’s legal strategy in a wrongful death lawsuit, a case that serves as a cautionary tale for Biglaw attorneys. The lawsuit, filed by Jeffrey Piccolo on behalf of his late wife Kanokporn Tangsuan’s estate, arose after Tangsuan died of anaphylaxis following a meal at Disney Springs’…
August 15, 2024, delivers significant developments in the legal landscape, impacting practitioners across various sectors. Key updates include a focus on shifts within the Supreme Court and their ramifications, corporate legal strategies, environmental rulings, and more. The Roberts Court continues to be a focal point with implications for corporate governance and civil liberties, with experts…
After Kanokporn Tangsuan, who had severe nut allergies, died from anaphylaxis at a Disney Springs restaurant, her husband, Jeffrey Piccolo, initiated a wrongful death suit. This May, Disney attempted to dismiss the suit by arguing Piccolo's previous subscription to Disney+ entailed agreement to terms mandating private arbitration for all disputes involving Disney or its affiliates….
Jenner & Block, along with Smith LaCien, faces allegations from Kenyan firm Arwa & Change Advocates concerning the poaching of a plaintiff in a wrongful death suit tied to the 2019 crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. According to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Arwa &…
The New York State court system is currently deliberating a proposal that aims to mandate the disclosure of litigation financing agreements specifically in the context of personal injury and wrongful death settlements. This move is being observed keenly by a wide array of stakeholders, including Uber Technologies Inc., the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for…
Wrongful-Death Settlement In a settlement agreement, the U.S. government has agreed to pay $8.5 million to the estate of Joseph J. O’Donnell, a contractor who lost his life while working on a steam boiler at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in West Haven. The lawsuit was initiated by Christina Weaver, O’Donnell’s wife, both in…
Chiquita Wins Trial Reprieve as It Appeals $38 Million Verdict Chiquita Brands International has secured a temporary reprieve in its legal battle to overturn a $38.3 million wrongful death verdict, gaining crucial time as it appeals the jury’s decision. A federal judge has paused a July trial, which was expected to be a second bellwether…
Legal Brief A Nevada law firm has come under intense scrutiny after being accused of suing the wrong defendant. This error has led to the wrongful death claims in question being dismissed with prejudice. According to Law.com Radar, this high-stakes lawsuit highlights the critical importance of precision in legal proceedings, especially when such significant outcomes…
There’s hardly been time to watch the new season of “Bridgerton” with all of the IVF legal news pouring in. The IVF drama may be less steamy than the Netflix series, but—without offense to Lady Whistledown—more consequential. Right To IVF Bill Stalled June 13, 2024, was a significant day. Under the leadership of RESOLVE: the…
Plaintiffs attorneys Peter Law Sr., Brian Kaplan, and Michael Moran have secured a $47 million verdict in a wrongful death case in Cherokee County, Georgia. The case involved the tragic incident of a Schneider tractor-trailer swerving into oncoming traffic on I-285 South, resulting in the death of a man. Jury’s decision handed down on Friday…
In a significant move within the legal sector, Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani has announced the addition of Mary Katherine Back as a partner in its employment law and product liability practices. Back’s extensive expertise encompasses two decades of experience in labor and employment law, product liability, and general civil litigation. Mary Katherine Back’s new role…
The administrator of the estate of Diane McIver, who was fatally shot by her husband, former Fisher Phillips partner Claud “Tex” McIver, while driving through Atlanta in 2016, has requested a Georgia state court to determine the rightful beneficiaries of the settlement funds from a wrongful death case initiated by the estate. The court’s decision…
In a significant legal victory, a rural jury in a traditionally conservative area delivered a $10 million verdict in a wrongful death case involving the loss of a father. The legal intricacies of the case, as noted by Matthew Cathey of Cathey & Strain in Cornelia, suggest that “with prejudgment interest and a 9-11-68 offer,…
BakerHostetler partner Jason D’Cruz is reportedly confronting another lawsuit concerning his defense of a South Carolina grocery chain in a prominent wrongful death case. As per the details, two lawsuits have been lodged in South Carolina against D’Cruz and his firm. They have been representing a convenience store chain in a wrongful death lawsuit filed…
The Dobbs ruling seemingly about abortion, seems to be having wider impacts touching on embryo disputes across the United States. Post-Dobbs, Alabama passed a constitutional amendment affirming that unborn life, including the rights of unborn children, be recognised by the state, leading to a ruling that a fertility clinic be held liable under wrongful death…
Former Foley & Lardner adviser, Victor Manuel Rocha, was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment after admitting to acting as an agent for Cuba. The sentencing followed Rocha’s guilty plea to serving as a foreign operative for the Cuban government over several years while maintaining access to classified information, especially during his tenure at the…
Live Nation, a global entertainment company, is facing a wrongful death suit tied to the ‘Beyond Wonderland’ festival. The plaintiff side asserts Live Nation’s inadequate security measures as the overarching factor in the tragic incident that occurred at the event. Attorney Spencer Lucas of Panish Shea & Boyle LLP in Los Angeles representing the plaintiffs…
The death of O.J. Simpson marks another milestone in a story that has defined decades of public perception around the US legal system. Dubbed the “trial of the century,” Simpson’s murder acquittal, juxtaposed with his subsequent civil ruling of wrongful death liability, was a pivotal moment for many average Americans in understanding the difference between…