Personal Injury Roundup No. 22 (1/30/09)

We had yet another snow day in Massachusetts, and I’m about ready for spring.  Alas, I still have to wait.

But we’ve got our roundup to keep us warm…

Reform, Legislation, Policy

• GAO criticizes FDA (TortsProf)
• FDA dissidents criticize FDA (NYT)
• Choices facing Cass Sunstein in acting as regulatory czar (The Pump Handle)
• CPSIA Blog-A-Palooza (Technorati search)
• Criminalizing products liability (TortsProf)
• Oregon tort reform discussion (TortsProf, follow links therein)
• David Michaels to speak at WNEC Law (WNEC.edu)

New Lawsuits

• Family of man killed in Wal-Mart stampede files suit (NY Injury Talk)
• Peanut butter lawsuit filed (MSNBC)
• Suit against Detroit police for alleged assault also contends that the police offered Target and Wal-Mart gift cards to keep quiet (DetNews.com)

Trials, Settlements & Other Ends

• $76 million — probably almost completely noncollectable due to defendant’s Chapter 7 bankruptcy — for injuries after diving into a river on a dare (Overlawyered, New York Injury Cases Blog)
• Molestation lawsuit settled for $750K (Hartford Courant)
• Suit against homeowner for shooting home invaders settled (it might have been a dispute over a drug deal) (PressDemocrat.com)

Appeals

• “Palpably unreasonable” right standard for woman injured after being locked in cemetery (NJ Supreme Court [PDF])
• Cheerleading is a contact sport (Sports Law Blog)
• Outdated Whois entry leads to possible false light claim (Goldman)

Miscellaneous

• Friend-of-TortsProf Blog Andrew McClurg on 1L stress (CELLblog)
• Welcome Russell Jackson of Skadden to blogging (Consumer Class Actions & Mass Torts)

–BC