Staff, Author at Legal Reader

FDA Pulls Four R.J. Reynolds Cigarette Brands from Market

September 16, 2015

The FDA cited various reasons for the violations in its press release. As an example, the agency cited that the filter on the Camel Crush Bold cigarettes contain a capsule that when crushed, releases additional menthol flavoring. The agency found that the feature creates a significant difference from products that existed prior to the law. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids president Matthew Myers praised the decision, believing that the Camel Crush cigarettes “deliver menthol differently and at higher levels, have added sugars and other sweeteners, new filters, and tested differently for harmful and potentially harmful constituents.” According to Myers, Camel is the most popular cigarette brand among young smokers.

Is Salmonella Winning?

September 15, 2015

The problems are not confined to just California or Texas by any means. The Minnesota Department of Public Health said in a September 10th news release that 45 cases of salmonella have been reported likely involving at least 17 different Chipotle restaurants throughout the state since September 2nd. Halfway across the country in the nation’s capital, up to 70 cases of salmonella-related illnesses have been traced to the upscale chain restaurant Fig & Olive’s Washington D.C. location. Among the cases, six have been confirmed to contain a salmonella infection. These cases follow the September 2nd press release by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that New York specialty online retailer Sincerely Nuts is recalling several macadamia nut products due to traces of salmonella found during routine lab testing.

No Jason Rezaian, No Iran Deal

September 15, 2015

I am not for or against a deal per se, I think the execution and enforcement of the agreement will be much more important for the U.S. than whether a nuclear deal exists or not. But, I believe that more time is needed to rethink the demand that Rezaian, and the other journalists’ release be a component to the deal. I cannot in clear conscious reward arbitrary detention as a policy, in the U.S. or abroad.

FDA Panel Unanimously Recommends Approval for Abuse-Deterrent Painkiller Xtampza

September 14, 2015

Despite the dosing warning issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier last week amid concerns about the product’s labeling, an independent panel commissioned by the agency recommended approval for a experimental oral painkiller. The panel’s 23-0 vote is a major win for Massachusetts-based Collegium Pharmaceuticals, and its potential breakthrough drug marketed as Xtampza.

Car Manufacturers Agree to Make Automatic-Braking a Standard Feature

September 14, 2015

A recent IIHS study estimates that injury claims could be reduced by as much as 35 percent by implementing the technology. A comparative study of Volvo insurance claims found that property damage claims involving vehicles with automatic-braking systems were 15 percent lower than vehicles without the systems. IIHS president Adam Lund said about automatic-braking systems, “Most crashes involve driver error. This technology can compensate for the mistakes every driver makes because the systems are always on alert.”

DuPont Faces First Trial Involving West Virginia Chemical Leak

September 14, 2015

Bartlett, a 59 year-old resident of Guysville in Athens County, Ohio was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 1997. Among other charges, Bartlett accuses DuPont management of negligence for allowing the leak, fraud and concealment for failing to inform the public of the dangers, and trespass and battery for letting the pollutants enter her bloodstream. DuPont attorneys blame Barlett’s kidney cancer on other factors instead, including obesity.

DOJ, Appellate Court Debate “Lenient” Iran-Trading Settlement

September 14, 2015

Fokker had admitted to have violated the International Emergency Economic Powers Act between 2005 and 2010 by trading aircraft parts and other components to Iran, Burma (now Myanmar), and the Sudan, in violation of U.S. sanctions. The division, Fokker Services, voluntarily admitted the violations during the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) four-year probe in the matter, agreeing to forfeit $10.5 million in proceeds and pay a $10.5 million penalty as part of an 18-month deferred prosecution agreement.

Obama Scraps Federal College Ranking System for “Scorecard”

September 13, 2015

Unlike most college rating platforms, the scorecard contains a plethora of useful data that is usually unavailable from the private sector. Although prefacing by saying the data is based on students who have received federal grants and loans, the site contains income information, not just for recent grads, but also containing 10-year median income for graduates and loan default rates. The search-engine styled site also contains net costs for students from high-income and low-income families, as well as the ethnic diversity of particular colleges.

2nd Circuit Reinstates EEOC Gender Bias Suit vs. Parent Company of Jared, Kay Jewelers

September 13, 2015

The lawsuit’s reinstatement follows the April Supreme Court decision regarding Mach Mining v. EEOC, in which the Court ruled that judges could only review the details of the EEOC’s claims “on a limited basis.” The 2nd Circuit elaborated on April’s ruling, with Judge John Walker writing in the panel’s opinion that “Under Title VII, courts may review whether the EEOC conducted an investigation, but not the sufficiency of an investigation.” Judge Walker also explained the court’s rationale for such limitations, writing “Extensive judicial review of this sort would expend scarce resources and would delay and divert EEOC enforcement actions from … eliminating discrimination in the workplace.”

California Legislators Agree on Medical Marijuana Regulatory Framework

September 12, 2015

The bill also comes as residents will likely vote on legalizing marijuana for recreational use next year. As the current medical marijuana industry is regulated through a patchwork of city and local ordinances, Brown and other legislators have been trying to mitigate the concerns of industry lobbyists, law enforcement, local administrators, and opposition lawmakers in advance of the likely 2016 ballot measure.

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