A selection of the need-to-know civil justice news for Dec. 20 – Jan. 2.

 

New York Woman Sues Police for Not Arresting Son

NBC 4 New York

A Long Island woman says in a lawsuit that her 29-year-old son died in a drunken driving crash because police decided not to arrest him on DWI charges earlier that night.

Full Story.

 

No Way That Vodka’s Handmade, Jersey Guys’ Lawsuit Claims

Thomas Zambito | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

A couple of New Jersey guys are out to prove a Texas company’s boast that it distills its vodka in an “old-fashioned pot still” is a lie.

Full Story.

 

Business Groups Urge Revision of NJ Consumer Fraud Act

Phil Gregory | WBGO News

Business groups are urging New Jersey lawmakers to make some revisions in the state’s consumer protection act.

Full Story.

 

NJ High Court Takes On Arbitration, Atty Conduct In 2014

Martin Bricketto | Law360

A ruling exposing arbitration provisions to tougher scrutiny was perhaps the New Jersey Supreme Court’s furthest-reaching decision in the latter half of 2014, though the justices also broadly shielded information shared between lawyers for clients with common interests and took a hard line on bribery-related attorney discipline.

Full Story.

 

Change of Judge Improves Atlantic County Court, Says Judicial Hellholes Report

Kevin Post | Press of Atlantic City

The annual Judicial Hellholes report released last week reported improvement in Atlantic County, which it usually pillories for favoring plaintiffs and their lawyers, particularly in class-action lawsuits.

Full Story.

 

Personal Injury Lawyer Says Google’s Driverless Car Bad for Business

Jacob Gershman | Wall Street Journal’s Law Blog

Will Google’s self-driving car put a dent in personal-injury lawsuits?

Full Story.

 

NJ Mass Torts Saw Shake-Ups, Settlements, Key Rulings in 2014

Mary Pat Gallagher | New Jersey Law Journal

New Jersey’s pharmaceutical and biotech industry has long made the state a hub for mass-tort litigation, with thousands of cases pending at any one time against New Jersey-based companies like Johnson & Johnson, Stryker Orthopaedics, Organon and their subsidiaries.

Full Story. 

 

Judge Tosses 600 Accutane Suits for Lack of Discovery

Mary Pat Gallagher | New Jersey Law Journal

More than 600 lawsuits over the acne drug Accutane that were centralized in Atlantic County have been thrown out for failure to provide discovery.

Full Story.

 

Follow us on Twitter for even more civil justice news.