Personal Injury Roundup No. 45 (8/7/09)

Here's what happened last week in the world of torts:

Reform, Legislation, Policy

• House passes Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009.  (FDA Law Blog, Overlawyered, Mass Tort Defense)
• More on health reform.   (NYT, ABC News Political Punch)
• State attorneys general and health advocacy groups call for tougher regulation of caffeinated alcoholic drinks.  (WSJ)
• Senate Committee holds hearings on Medical Device Safety Act, which would overturn the Supreme Court's preemption decision in Riegel.  (Life Sciences)

New Lawsuits

• Teen passenger in speeding car sues victim of crash.  (Overlawyered)
• Chicago doctor sued for performing surgery on the wrong knee.  (AboutLawsuits)
• Sarah Palin threatens defamation suit over divorce rumors.  (Hollyscoop)

Trials, Settlements and Other Ends

• Northern District of Illinois dismisses proposed baby bottle cooler class action against Platex Products.  (Mass Tort Defense)
• Two products liability cases dismissed under Iqbal pleading standard.  (American Lawyer/law.com)
• Merck reaches $80 million Vioxx settlement with third-party payor plaintiffs.  (AP/law.com, WSJ)
• $1.6M verdict in Florida school bus crash case. (About Lawsuits)
• Pennsylvania state court judge recommends defamation verdict against The Citizens' Voice be vacated and a new trial held.  (How Appealing)
• Shoe-manufacturer Crocs settles products liability suits over design of the popular rubber foam clogs.  (OnPoint News)
• Merck & Schering-Plough settle Vytorin suits for $41.5 million.  (AP/law.com)

Damages

• California Court of Appeals reverses one punitive damages award because plaintiff failed to submit evidence of the defendant's financial condition and reverses a default award because the plaintiff failed to serve a statement requesting a specific amount of punitive damages. 

Miscellaneous    

• Rejecting the plaintiffs' attorneys plan to divide leadership among seven firms, federal judge names lead counsel in Aetna class action.  (NJ Law Journal/law.com)
• WSJ Law Blog has interesting follow-up (via AP) on the coupon redemption rate in the Ford rollover litigation settlement:  Of the 1 million class members, 75 have redeemed their settlement coupon. 

- SBS