Legal news affects our everyday lives, whether we notice it or not. Here’s a summary of a few of this month’s major cases.
Man Sues Zaxby’s After Getting Hepatitis A
A man has filed suit against Zaxby’s claiming that he developed Hepatitis A after eating food from one of their restaurant locations in North Charleston. The plaintiff says he purchased a chicken sandwich, french fries, and an unsweetened tea on May 22. After eating the food, he fell ill and was diagnosed with Hepatitis A, the lawsuit states. The restaurant posted an advisory after the fact stating than customers who visited the restaurant were at risk because an employee had Hepatitis A.
$9M Awarded to Family of Student Who Died of Blood Clots Tied to Birth Control
A wrongful death suit filed by the family of an Auburn University student who died from a pulmonary embolism linked to birth control medication has closed. According to the complaint, doctors prescribed the young woman birth control despite her heightened risk of blood clots and doctors failed to diagnose her when she was dying in 2014. The family was awarded $9 million in punitive damages by a jury in Lee County, Alabama. The lawsuit was filed against Auburn Urgent Care and two doctors.
Infant Died in Rock ‘n Play Sleeper, Family Sues Fisher-Price
A New York family whose infant son died in a infant sleeper has filed suit against Fisher-Price and its parent company Mattel. The lawsuit alleges the Rock ‘n Play Sleeper the child was napping in when he died was not made for sleeping infants. Almost 5 million of the sleepers were recalled in April after they were linked to the deaths of 10 babies nationwide. Fisher-Price was named in two class action lawsuits linking the company’s sleeper to the deaths of 32 babies.
Michigan’s Ban on Flavored E-Cigarettes Blocked by Judge
The state of Michigan’s ban on flavored e-cigarettes has been blocked by a judge. Last month, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer ordered the ban, stating that teenagers’ use of e-cigarettes, known as vaping, was a public health emergency. Two weeks after the ban was enacted and hours after a lawsuit was filed over the death of a teen e-cigarette user, Judge Cynthia Diane Stephens of the Michigan Court of Common Claims blocked the decision. She stated that while vaping is a public health concern, she did not see a basis for the governor to use her emergency powers. The wrongful death lawsuit was filed against Juul by the mother of a Florida teen who died in his sleep.
Our attorneys at McCoy, Hiestand & Smith strive to keep our community informed so check back with us monthly for a Legal News Update!
