We don’t like class action tolling. We don’t think that plaintiffs should be rewarded for filing a meritless class action (or any other meritless act) with a potentially broad and lengthy exemption from the relevant statute of limitations. We particularly don’t like cross-jurisdictional class action tolling, which makes a state’s enforcement of its own statute
New York
New York Chantix Case: Great on Preemption, Not So Hot on “Failure to Test.”

Recently, largely related to the dubious pleasure of home ownership, we have had multiple occasions on which we were forced to shrug our shoulders and proclaim, “Nothing’s perfect.” To wit, we recently noticed a small wet spot on our bedroom ceiling. The roofing company discovered that the corresponding section of the roof was too shallow…
An English Lesson From An Essure Case

Not long ago, an EPL (evil plaintiff lawyer) relayed to us that, based on reading our posts, another EPL had assumed we had a particular political view. As we laughed at the notion, we pondered the issues of assumption and incomplete information. Much like the old quip about what happens when you assume, many assumptions…
Making It Snappy in New York
There’s a reason plaintiffs hate removal before service – “snap removal.” It has the potential to wreak havoc on their mass tort business models, which are largely based on confronting defendants with as many cases as possible in the worst jurisdictions possible. While federal courts are hardly perfect, they are usually better than the state-court…
New York Holds that Registration to do Business does not Constitute Consent to General Personal Jurisdiction

When we see a case title with the same name on both sides of the v, we think of Jarndyce v. Jarndyce, the will contest described by Dickens in Bleak House. That fictional case dragged on for years and throughout the course of the book, ending only when legal expenses devoured all the…
Never Too Much of A Good Thing

Well, at least that’s true when we are blogging about defense wins. And this week, we have another good gadolinium case. This time from New York.
Just a quick reminder – gadolinium is a contrast agent that is injected into a patient before undergoing an MRI. The gadolinium is intended to pass through the body,…
What is Past is Prologue for Personal Jurisdiction (or maybe it’s Not?)

The actual words written by Shakespeare and spoken by Antonio in The Tempest are “Whereof what’s past is prologue.” Antonio is trying to convince Sebastian to murder his father the king and take the crown for himself. When Shakespeare wrote these words, he intended Antonio to convey to Sebastian that everything that had happened in…
Court Tosses Cookie Cutter Allegations

One size does not in fact fit all. Cookie cutters are great for ensuring uniformity. The type of uniformity you want on a beautiful dessert tray. Uniform size, shape, and color appeal to the eye. It’s precise. It’s inviting. And while the term “mass tort” may conjure up the image of complaint after complaint stamped…
Statute of Limitations – Not Just Pretty Words

Anytime we start to write a post about a decision from New York, our heads start swimming in music lyrics. Rose trees never grow in New York City… Concrete jungle where dreams are made of… Living just enough for the city… Soon you will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem… I don’t care if it’s…
One, Two, Three Strikes You’re Out

With new grass on the field, the 2019 baseball season is underway and optimism springs eternal. Here in Philadelphia, the Phillies have actually around the top of the NL east for the first time since, umm…., last year actually. But this year, having added possibly the best player and best catcher in the league,…