Personal Injury Roundup No. 63 (1/22/10)

Reform, Legislation, Policy

• Tobacco companies must disclose cigarette ingredients to FDA in June.  (AP/ABC News)
• "FDA issues warning about BPA exposure." (CBS News)
  

New Lawsuits

• Iraqi government contemplating class action suit against private security firm Blackwater for injuries to Iraqi civilians.  (AP/Business Week)
• NYC woman sues city after her 15-year-old daughter dies in foster care (NY Daily News)
• NY Civil Liberties Union brings federal class action lawsuit against city for alleged abuse by school cops.  (WPIX, WNYC)
• Four Charleston firefighters sue Sofa Superstore alleging that a tragic 2007 fire at the store, which killed 9 Charleston firefighters, caused the survivors to suffer numerous ailments including  post-traumatic stress and depression (Charleston City Paper)
• Florida federal court certifies yogurt class action for unfair trade practices claims.  (Consumer Class Actions & Mass Torts)
   

Trials, Settlements and Other Ends

•  Chicago-area med-mal case settles for $7.5M (Chicago Sun-Times)

Damages

• 2009 California Punitive Damages Year in Review.   (Cal Punitive Damages)
• Punitive damages for cell phone use while driving?  (TortTalk)

Miscellaneous

•  Humorous lawyer-TV ads get attention at the NY Times though Overlawyered had this up a week ago. 

Thanks to Gil Lenz for material this week.

--SBS