Personal Injury Roundup No. 14 (11/7/08)

The first week of November included a historical election, and the following news from the world of torts:

Reform, Legislation, Policy

• NYT Magazine article exploring the safety of drugs manufactured in China, and the FDA's overseas inspection program. [NYT]
• Speculation begins on new head of FDA.   (WSJ Health Blog, WSJ Health Blog #2, Legal Times/law.com, WSJ, Drug & Device, Pharmalot)
• FDA sends in U.S. marshals to seize tainted heparin.  (USA Today)

New Lawsuits

• Biopure Corp. filed a defamation suit against a senior NIH official who co-authored a JAMA article about Biopure's product, Hemopure.  (Pharmalot)
• Minnesota sued Eli Lilly over Zyprexa marketing.  (Pharmalot, CNN)

Trials, Settlements & Other Ends

• Whoa: Keanu Reeves not liable in paparazzi suit (Reuters, E! Online)
• Pennsylvania judge dismisses complaint alleging that the plaintiff's breast cancer was caused by hormone replacement therapy.  Dismissed case joins others consolidated on appeal in the Pennsylvania Superior Court.  (Legal Intelligencer/law.com)
• US Airways settles de-icing products liability suit for $1.8 million.  (Phoenix Biz Journal)

Appeals

• Wyeth coverage abounds.  (Drug & Device, FDA Law Blog, WSJ, Pharmalot, MassTort Defense)
• New Jersey appellate court allows wrongful death claim against two passengers who failed to stop and help victim.  (Newsday) 
• United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reverses summary judgment in Bhopal/ Union Carbide pollution case on procedural grounds.  (Court Opinion (pdf), ABA Journal)   

Damages

• SCOTUS grants cert in another maritime punitive damages case.  (Cal Punitive Damages)

Miscellaneous

• Victor Schwartz, Cary Silverman and Christopher Appel on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008.  (Shopfloor/NAM)

- SBS