Overturns

Florida Appeals Court Overturns $8.1 Million Verdict Against R.J. Reynolds, Calls for New Trial Amid Jury Instruction Controversy

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Miami, Fla. — A recent decision by Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal has significant implications for a case against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., reversing an $8.1 million jury award. The court determined that the initial trial contained errors that warrant a new examination of the evidence on strict liability and negligence. During the previous trial, instructions provided to the jury included findings against R.J. Reynolds that had already been dismissed during the summary judgment phase. This prompted the appellate court to take action, resulting in the case being sent back for a fresh trial. … Read more

Texas Appeals Court Overturns $750K Award for Disabled Worker, Citing 2012 Ruling on Insurance Claims

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AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas appeals court has overturned a substantial jury award against Sentry Insurance, ruling that the claims brought by a permanently disabled worker were not valid under existing state law. The court determined that the claims, rooted in allegations of bad faith by the insurer, were barred based on a 2012 decision from the Texas Supreme Court. In a ruling issued Wednesday by the 11th District Court of Appeals, the court clarified that Donald Bristow could not seek damages under the Texas Insurance Code or the common-law duty of good faith and … Read more

Federal Appeals Court Clears Medtronic in Major Patent Case, Overturns Jury’s $106 Million Ruling

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WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of Medtronic Plc in a lengthy patent lawsuit involving the company and Colibri Heart Valve LLC, reversing a jury’s decision that charged Medtronic with inducing patent infringement concerning artificial heart valves. The case centered on Colibri’s U.S. patent No. 8,900,294, which describes a technique for partially deploying and recapturing an artificial heart valve during implantation. This method allows surgeons to reposition the valve if its initial placement is not optimal, effectively providing a “do-over” during surgery. Colibri accused Medtronic of promoting this technique through its … Read more

Federal Judge Overturns Biden-Era Medical Debt Relief Rule, Impacting Millions of Americans’ Credit Scores

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AUSTIN, Texas — A federal judge has overturned a ruling by the Biden administration designed to alleviate medical debt for nearly 15 million Americans by modifying how it impacts credit scores. The decision, made by U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan, highlights ongoing debates over financial regulations and consumer protection. The administration’s initiative aimed to eliminate approximately $50 million in medical debt from credit reports. Though it did not cancel existing debt, the rule proposed new ways to compute credit scores, potentially benefiting many consumers. Implemented by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in January, the … Read more