Missouri lawsuit accusing China of hoarding pandemic gear can proceed, appeals panel says

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A Missouri lawsuit accusing China of hoarding masks and other protective gear during the COVID-19 pandemic can move forward, federal judges ruled Wednesday. A panel of the U.S. Eighth District Court of Appeals panel, however, otherwise agreed with a lower court’s 2022 ruling that tossed out Missouri’s case entirely, finding that … Read more

A judge has temporarily halted enforcement of an Ohio law limiting kids’ use of social media

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A federal judge issued an order Tuesday temporarily halting enforcement of a pending Ohio law that would require children to get parental consent to use social media apps. U.S. District Court Judge Algenon Marbley’s temporary restraining order came in a lawsuit brought Friday by NetChoice, a trade group representing TikTok, Snapchat, Meta … Read more

More women join challenge to Tennessee’s abortion ban law

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — More women on Monday joined a Tennessee lawsuit challenging the state’s broad abortion ban that went into effect shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. The legal challenge is part of a handful of lawsuits filed across the U.S. in Republican-dominant states seeking clarity on the circumstances … Read more

LGBTQ+ advocates’ lawsuit says Louisiana transgender care ban violates the state constitution

Advocates for LGBTQ rights have announced a lawsuit to block enforcement of Louisiana’s new ban on transgender health care procedures including hormone treatments, gender reassignment surgery or puberty-blocking drugs for anyone under 18 NEW ORLEANS — A lawsuit to block enforcement of Louisiana’s new ban on transgender health care procedures for anyone under 18 was … Read more

Lawsuit limits, antisemitism are among topics Georgia lawmakers plan to take on

ATLANTA — Georgia’s General Assembly begins its 2024 regular session Monday and the top intrigue is whether Republicans, after longtime opposition, may agree to a further expansion of health care for poor adults under the state’s Medicaid program. Republican House Speaker Jon Burns of Newington said he wants to explore the idea, and Republican Lt. … Read more

Trial canceled in Berkshire Hathaway suit by Haslam family

Jimmy Haslam, CEO of Pilot Flying J. and Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Lacy O’Toole | CNBC A billion-dollar trial that was to determine if Berkshire Hathaway improperly used an accounting method that would significantly short-change the Haslam family in a purchase of the family’s remaining minority stake in Pilot Travel Centers … Read more

Nigel Lythgoe stepping aside as ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ judge after sexual assault allegations

LOS ANGELES — TV producer Nigel Lythgoe said Friday that he is stepping aside as a judge on “So You Think You Can Dance” after lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault, including one from Paula Abdul. Lythgoe is also co-creator and executive producer of the Fox dance competition series, whose 18th season is set to … Read more

Paula Abdul accuses ‘American Idol’ producer Nigel Lythgoe of sexual assault in lawsuit

LOS ANGELES — Paula Abdul has accused former “American Idol” producer Nigel Lythgoe of sexually assaulting her in the early 2000s when she was a judge on the reality competition show, according to a new lawsuit. The lawsuit filed Friday in Los Angeles also accuses Lythgoe of sexually assaulting Abdul after she left “American Idol” … Read more

Judge allows lawsuit that challenges Idaho’s broad abortion ban to move forward

An Idaho judge on Friday denied a request by the state’s top legal chief to throw out a lawsuit seeking to clarify the exemptions tucked inside the state’s broad abortion ban. Instead, 4th District Judge Jason Scott narrowed the case to focus only on the circumstances where an abortion would be allowed and whether abortion … Read more

West Virginia starts distributing funds from the settlement of opioid lawsuits

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia is issuing the first checks from a fund established by the settlement of opioid lawsuits in the state, which has by far the nation’s highest drug overdose death rate. The Kanawha County Commission said Thursday it received a $2.9 million check and plans to discuss how it will be spent … Read more