Harms

Social Media Giants Lose Key Legal Battle Over Alleged Youth Mental Health Harms

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San Francisco, CA – A recent court ruling has put tech giants Meta Platforms, YouTube, Snap, and TikTok under continued legal pressure as their plea to dismiss failure-to-warn claims was rejected. The claims are part of a larger consolidated lawsuit alleging that the social media platforms have contributed to mental health issues among young users. The decision allows the litigation to proceed, focusing on how these popular platforms possibly failed to inform users about the risks associated with their services, specifically the potential negative impacts on youth mental health. This legal development is a significant … Read more

Teen Takes Legal Action Against Meta, Claims Instagram’s Addictive Design Harms Youth

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San Francisco, CA — A California teenager has initiated a legal battle against Meta Platforms Inc., claiming that certain features on Instagram are purposefully designed to be addictive, particularly to young users. This lawsuit, filed in federal court in San Francisco, accuses the tech giant of engineering its social media platform in a way that hooks adolescents into excessive use, potentially leading to mental health struggles. The lawsuit leverages arguments from consumer protection and negligence, alleging that Instagram’s algorithms, which curate and personalize content feeds to maximize user engagement, significantly contribute to the development of … Read more

Supreme Court to Decide on Unconventional Bankruptcy Maneuver in Public Harms Litigation

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Washington, D.C. – In an era of unprecedented civil procedure tactics, corporations facing public harm litigation are increasingly turning to bankruptcy court as an alternative to traditional civil litigation. From the Catholic Diocese and Boy Scouts in abuse cases to Johnson & Johnson’s talc litigation, corporations are leveraging bankruptcy’s special powers to address pending claims that traditional tort litigation has failed to resolve efficiently. The Supreme Court is set to hear Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy deal, which raises questions about the effectiveness of using bankruptcy court in resolving public health crises and whether it circumvents the … Read more

Multiple Lawsuits Emerge Despite Federal Settlement: Washington County Jail Detainees Continue to Claim ivermectin-Related Harms

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Several lawsuits have been filed by detainees at the Washington County jail concerning the use of ivermectin, despite a recent out-of-court settlement in a federal lawsuit involving the same issue. The settlement resulted in a total of $10,000 being awarded to five men, but four others have now stepped forward to file similar claims. Ivermectin, a drug primarily used to treat parasitic infections in animals, has gained attention in recent months due to false claims suggesting its efficacy in combating COVID-19. The lawsuits allege that the Washington County jail administered the drug … Read more