John O'Brien News
Obama chooses replacement for Souter
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - President Barack Obama chose federal appeals judge Sonia Sotomayor on Monday to replace retiring U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter.
Texas among states to join suits against Wyeth
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Texas is among the 16 states and the federal government joining in two whistleblower suits filed against prescription drug manufacturer Wyeth.
Souter stepping down from U.S. SC
Souter WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter has announced his retirement from the Court, giving President Barack Obama the opportunity to pick his successor.
Cook blames pirate attack on employer, shipowner
HOUSTON (Legal Newsline) - The cook on a ship that was recently taken over by Somali pirates has filed a lawsuit against the shipowner and his employer.
Progress of judicial campaign reform an issue in recusal case
Souter WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Former U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson stood before the nine Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday and warned them that the manner in which judges are elected is no longer working.
Tough day for both sides of judicial recusal case
John Roberts WASHINGTON -- Justices of a seemingly split U.S. Supreme Court took turns grilling attorneys on both sides of a key judicial recusal case during oral arguments Tuesday morning.
La. justices to U.S. SC: Don't believe everything you read
Louisiana Supreme Court WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The Louisiana Supreme Court wants to make sure its name isn't dragged through the mud during a key judicial recusal case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Constitutionality of historic tobacco settlement debated
Caldwell SHREVEPORT, La. (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge in Louisiana was asked Monday to rule 1998's Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement signed by 52 states and territories unconstitutional.
Louisiana courts the focus of new report
James Copland NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - The Manhattan Institute's latest edition in its "Trial Lawyers, Inc." series explores the impact Louisiana's legal system has had on the state's slow population growth.
Chamber begins frivolous lawsuit awareness campaign
Rickard WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A campaign by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for Legal Reform says frivolous lawsuits are harming small businesses and the families that rely on them.
Katrina cases like nothing veteran attorney's ever seen before
Birnbaum WASHINGTON, D.C. (Legal Newsline) - Even for an accomplished attorney like Sheila Birnbaum, Hurricane Katrina litigation in Mississippi offers a learning experience.
Not just AGs sicking outside counsel on big business
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - Attorneys for Janssen Pharmaceutica, fighting a collection of suits over the company's antipsychotic drug Risperdal, are trying to make sure a major Houston-based plaintiffs firm isn't steering the Governor's office in Pennsylvania.
A month from prison, Scruggs still bickering over attorneys fees
OXFORD, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - Undeterred by the results of his previous efforts, famed plaintiffs lawyer and soon-to-be federal prisoner Richard "Dickie" Scruggs has again sued another law firm over a fees dispute.
AGs celebrate landmark firearms ruling
Greg Abbott WASHINGTON, D.C. (Legal Newsline) - A victory for firearms makers, gun enthusiasists and the Second Amendment Thursday was also a victory for a group of state attorneys general.
Scruggs' former business partner fights sexual harassment suit
JACKSON, Miss. - The firm providing the financial support of the former Scruggs Katrina Group is trying to turn the tables on a former employee who filed a sexual harassment suit against it.
Michigan AG: No beer in barbershops
LANSING, Mich. - Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox has put the beer on ice -- figuratively.
Texas couple taken advantage of in bankruptcy case, judge says
Abbott DALLAS - A bankruptcy case in which Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott recently joined resulted in punitive damages from a foreclosure rescue company.
Judge DeLaughter may be suspended
DeLaughter JACKSON, Miss. - Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Bobby DeLaughter, one of the players in an alleged judicial bribery scheme conducted by famed trial lawyer Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, may soon be suspended from his job.
Scruggs hearing next week
Scruggs OXFORD, Miss. - The defense team of indicted trial lawyer Richard "Dickie" Scruggs will get a chance to argue its case Wednesday before a federal judge.
Two-day pants trial over, ruling on the way
WASHINGTON, D.C. - An emotional trial that has $54 million on the line wrapped up in Washington D.C. Superior Court Wednesday.