Personal Injury Roundup No. 80 (9/17/10)

New Suits

• Mel Gibson's ex-girlfriend Oksana announced her intent to file suit against Mel for battery, emotional distress and defamation. (TMZ).
• Florida state court judge sues for medical malpractive for sponge left in his abdomen after surgery.  (Miami Herald)
• Michael Jackson's mom sues concert promoter for wrongful death.  (Turkewitz)

Appeals

• Second Circuit reverses Judge Weinstein's class certification in the Zyprexa litigation.   The Court also vacated his denial of summary judgment.  (Court's opinion, Point of Law).
• Sixth Circuit vacates jury award in welding rod case based on errnoneous Daubert ruling. (Mass Tort Defense, Court's opinion)
• Ninth Circuit affirms Alien Tort Claims Act verdict in favor of Chevron.  (Court's opinion, Torts/Bernabe)
• Massachusetts Supreme Court adoptes "apparent manufacturer" doctrine. (Bernabe)

Reform, Legislation, Policy

• The costs of defensive medicine?  Philadelphia Inquirer and BNET take a look.
• Federal magistrate judge concludes that Texas's medical malpractice caps are constitutional.  (Texas Tribune)
• Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced the Food Safety Accountability Act of 2010, which strengthens criminal penalties for food safety violators.  (FDA Law Blog)

Trials, Settlements and Other Ends

• $1.1 M jury award in Baltimore medical malpractice case.  (About Lawsuits)
• $5.8 M alienation of affection award in North Carolina. (WNCT)

Miscellaneous

• Podcast on California's medical malpractice laws.  (Bernabe)

--SBS