John O'Brien News
'Poorly reasoned' and 'self-serving': Industry groups attack FTC's ban of noncompete clauses
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - The Federal Trade Commission's conclusion that noncompete agreements harms employees was no surprise, industry groups are telling the Philadelphia federal judge who has a chance to block the FTC's new rule banning them.
Philadelphia judge has chance to block FTC's new ban on noncompete agreements
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - The company challenging the Biden Administration's new rule banning noncompete clauses in employment contracts is asking a federal judge to stay its implementation and issue a preliminary injunction.
Feds, states refuse to join drug-testing lab's whistleblower lawsuit over Zantac
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - The federal government and more than two dozen states won't help a drug-testing lab whose research has jumpstarted mass torts and is purporting to represent their interests over Zantac paid for by their health care programs.
Pa. company sues FTC over noncompete ban as Biden admin continues to make rules without lawmakers' approval
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - A Pennsylvania tree service company with a history of using noncompete agreements for its employees is suing the Federal Trade Commission over its new rule banning them.
Mariner Finance, targeted by AGs, says lawsuit is 'a misunderstanding of the law'
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - A lending company facing federal action by state officials continues to stand by its business practices as more states attack them - despite the federal government's own investigation finding no wrongdoing.
CFPB defeats challenges, free to take on student loan trusts
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals court will not stand in the way of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as it targets student loan trusts.
Scandal at Harvard: Organ-harvesting suits against school fail, wife of 'Grim Reaper' pleads guilty
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - The wife of a former morgue manager at Harvard Medical School caught in an organ-harvesting scandal has pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges, while civil lawsuits against the school are crumbling.
Lawsuit alleges ADA class action lawyers froze partner out of FedEx fees
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - Class action lawyers who hit FedEx with a lawsuit over whether the company's drop boxes could be accessed by wheelchair-bound individuals are now fighting over nearly $1 million in fees.
States want changes to $12.5B PFAS settlement with 3M
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - State attorneys general want to hold up the $12.5 billion settlement 3M has reached with local water districts over chemicals known as PFAS over concerns the agreement doesn't go far enough.
Asbestos lawyers succeed in keeping info from public
ERIE, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - The public won't have access to information from a case that accuses an asbestos bankruptcy trust from giving out money to lawyers without double-checking their claims.
Lewistown sued by man who wants to burn Trump flags
HARRISBURG - A flag-burning activist has sued the Borough of Lewistown, one of many lawsuits he has filed through the years.
Track coaches used 'shin splints' to hide racist reasons to bench bi-racial runner, lawsuit claims
PITTSBURGH - A bi-racial high school student has filed a lawsuit that alleges racism led her coach to benching her at a championship track meet.
Lawsuit: Fired concessions company at Pittsburgh airport trying to take security deposit
PITTSBURGH - Turmoil at Pittsburgh International Airport has a company that operates some of its concessions fighting in court to keep its six-figure security deposit.
Wrongful death lawsuit filed against Montgomery County over inmate's suicide
PHILADELPHIA - The mother of a 30-year-old man who committed suicide while incarcerated is suing Montgomery County, as well as corrections officers and mental health care providers she blames.
Class action targets use of Meta Pixel on ESPN's website
HARRISBURG - Sports media giant ESPN faces a class action lawsuit in Pennsylvania federal court over its use of Facebook's Meta Pixel on its website.
Lawsuit says cop drove recklessly as arrested woman was tossed around backseat
PHILADELPHIA - A Falls Township police officer is accused of swerving his vehicle while the woman he arrested flew around the backseat without her seatbelt on.
Exonerated Scranton school official sues those involved in arrest
SCRANTON - A former Scranton school official who was charged with ignoring asbestos and lead issue has filed a federal lawsuit more than a year after he was cleared of wrongdoing.
Honeywell says audit didn't scratch surface of asbestos lawyers' shenanigans
ERIE, Pa. (Legal Newsline) – Honeywell International calls claims submitted by asbestos lawyers “copy-and-paste” allegations that they have had to spend $128 million to resolve.
Names of asbestos claimants to be redacted - for now - in upcoming trial over trust money
ERIE, Pa. (Legal Newsline) – The names of asbestos claimants will be redacted when a trial gets started in Pennsylvania federal court that will determine if millions of dollars have been rightfully handed out.
States sue Postal Service for not choosing electric vehicles
OAKLAND, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Several states are suing the U.S. Postal Service over its decision to purchase new gas-powered vehicles.