Emotional Distress Damages Reduced in Court Ruling: Surrogate Motherhood Comparisons Spark Controversy

PITTSBURGH — In a recent ruling, a judge dismissed the notion that a case involving emotional distress warranted a significant monetary award, contrasting it with the compensation typically associated with surrogate motherhood. Judge Kathleen Sullivan concluded that the circumstances of the case did not, in her view, meet the threshold for such damages. Sullivan pointed out that while surrogate mothers often receive compensation for carrying a child, the average amount in the United States is below $100,000. She acknowledged that the pregnancy central to the case was both unplanned and unexpected, which contributed to the … Read more

Maryland Judge Slashes $266 Million Opioid Ruling, Calls for New Trial or Reduced Damages of $51.8 Million

Baltimore, Maryland — A judge in Baltimore has deemed a jury’s award of $266 million in a public nuisance case against two pharmaceutical companies as excessively high, setting the stage for potential changes in the ongoing opioid litigation. Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lawrence P. Fletcher-Hill announced on Thursday that he would grant a new trial unless the plaintiff agrees to a significant reduction in the damages, proposing to limit the financial liability to $51.8 million instead. The case centers on accusations that the two drug companies contributed to the opioid crisis plaguing the city, … Read more

Judge Overturns $25 Million Award in Bay Shore School Abuse Case, Calls for Reduced Settlement or Retrial

Bay Shore, NY — A significant legal shake-up has occurred as a Suffolk County Supreme Court judge has overturned a $25 million jury verdict originally awarded against the Bay Shore School District. The school district was previously found liable due to its continued employment of Thomas Bernagozzi, a former teacher accused of sexually abusing students. Justice Christopher Modelewski has instead proposed a drastically reduced sum of $4 million, setting the stage for a potential retrial unless an agreement is reached. In rendering this decision late last week, Judge Modelewski specified the breakdown of the new … Read more

BD Reaches Major Settlement in Hernia Mesh Litigation, Aiming for Stability and Reduced Uncertainty for Stakeholders

Franklin Lakes, N.J. — Medical technology giant BD has reached a significant settlement to largely resolve ongoing litigation involving its hernia mesh products. The terms, kept confidential, will address numerous cases bundled in Rhode Island and Ohio federal courts. The financial specifics have been allocated in BD’s previous product litigation reserves, allowing the company to distribute payments over several years without additional charges to its financial statements. This settlement aims to stabilize the legal landscape for BD as it navigates through accusations surrounding the safety of its mesh devices. Notably, the company’s balance sheet already … Read more