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Confession shouldn’t have been suppressed 

Published: May 21, 2012

Tags: confession, Miranda, Missouri v. Seibert

A criminal defendant’s station house confession was not the product of an impermissible “two-stage” interrogation technique employed by police, the 2nd Circuit has ruled in reversing a suppression order.

Posthumously conceived kids not entitled to benefits 

Published: May 21, 2012

Tags: in vitro fertilization, Social Security benefits, Supreme Court

The Social Security Administration reasonably interpreted federal law in determining that only children supported by a deceased wage earner in his or her lifetime are entitled to Social Security benefits, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled.

Benchmarks: Should court have suppressed penile swab? 

Published: May 21, 2012

Tags: exigent circumstances, Fourth Amendment, penile swab, search and seizure

Does the potential loss or destruction of DNA evidence justify the warrantless collection of such evidence from a rape suspect’s private parts following his arrest?

A panel of California judges answered that question on Friday. If you were hoping for a straight yes or no answer, you’ll be disappointed.

Some birth control associated with increased blood clot risk 

Published: May 18, 2012

Tags: birth control, birth control litigation, birth control patch, blood clots, drug litigation, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Nuvaring, Ortho-Evra, product liability

Women who use birth control patches like Ortho-Evra or contraceptive vaginal rings like NuvaRing have a heightened risk of blood clots, a new medical study has found.

Partner can sue partnership for retaliation 

Published: May 18, 2012

Tags: retaliation, sexual harassment

A partner in a professional medical practice could sue the partnership for retaliating against her based on her opposing the sexual harassment of employees, the California Court of Appeal has ruled in reversing judgment.

Community property includes military service credit 

Published: May 18, 2012

Tags: community property, divorce

Military service credit that a husband purchased during his marriage constituted community property subject to division when he divorced, the California Court of Appeal has ruled in reversing judgment.

Drug maker can’t be sued for off-label marketing 

Published: May 18, 2012

Tags: class action, off-label marketing, product liability

A patient and a union health and welfare fund lacked standing to sue Schering Plough for allegedly engaging in illegal marketing campaigns to persuade physicians to prescribe certain drugs for off-label uses, the 3rd Circuit has ruled in affirming a dismissal.

Former employee wins $1.5 million in securities fraud suit 

Published: May 18, 2012

Tags: fraud, shareholders

A former employee of Stiefel Laboratories won a $1.5 million verdict on allegations that the Coral Gables-based company defrauded its employee shareholders during its $2.9 billion sale to GlaxoSmithKline in 2009.

Skechers to pay $40 million to settle case over claims 

Published: May 18, 2012

Tags: false advertising, weight loss

Skechers has agreed to pay $40 million to settle charges that the company made unsupported claims about the benefits of its toning shoes, falsely asserting that they help people lose weight, tone their lower bodies and even combat heart disease.

Bankruptcy filings continue downward trend 

By: Kimberly Atkins
Published: May 18, 2012

Tags: bankruptcy filings, Federal courts

WASHINGTON – After years of record-breaking numbers of bankruptcy filings, the recent trend of declining filings continues, based on the most recent figures released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.