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News

Family of Late NCCU Basketball Player Devin Butts Files Lawsuit, Blaming University for Fatal Cardiac Incident

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DURHAM, N.C. — The family of Devin Butts, a former basketball player at North Carolina Central University, has initiated a lawsuit against the school, two years after his tragic death. Butts, a 22-year-old senior, was deeply passionate about basketball and aspired to play professionally. His father, Derex Butts, reflected on his son’s early love for the game, recalling how Devin began playing at the age of three. On the evening of April 30, 2023, Devin Butts suffered a cardiac arrest while with his teammates at McDougald-McLendon Arena, according to legal documents filed by his family. … Read more

Jurors Set to Deliberate Weinstein’s Fate as High-Stakes Retrial Enters Crucial Phase

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NEW YORK — The jury tasked with determining the fate of Harvey Weinstein in his retrial for sex crimes is set to begin deliberations Thursday, following two days of closing arguments and extensive evidence presented in the courtroom. The jury, comprised of seven women and five men, will enter its private discussions after receiving final legal instructions from the presiding judge. Closing arguments were completed on Wednesday, with prosecutor Nicole Blumberg accusing the former film mogul of exploiting his powerful position within the entertainment industry to prey on vulnerable women. Weinstein, now 73 years old, … Read more

Johnson & Johnson’s Talc Turmoil: Bankruptcy Court Ruling Signals Setback in Tort Battles

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Johnson & Johnson faced a significant setback in a bankruptcy court this week, as a judge dismissed the company’s attempt to mitigate its financial liabilities related to talc product litigation. The ruling underscores a growing backlash against companies utilizing bankruptcy protections to manage mass tort claims. In a decisive ruling, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan determined that Johnson & Johnson’s strategy to transfer its talc liabilities to a newly formed entity was unconvincing and not a legitimate use of the bankruptcy system. The company had argued that this restructuring would help it … Read more

New York Launches Trio of Groundbreaking Worker Protection Laws Fueled by Tragedy and Industry Inequities

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BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York State is enacting three significant worker protection laws that aim to address safety concerns across various industries, an effort largely influenced by the tragic mass shooting that occurred at a Tops supermarket in Buffalo in May 2022. The new regulations focus on enhancing safety for employees in retail, fashion, and warehouse settings. According to the New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon, the “Retail Worker Safety Act” was directly inspired by the events at the Buffalo supermarket, making it a personal and urgent issue for Governor Kathy Hochul, … Read more