Category: Issue 387
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No Link Between Dietary Mercury Exposure and Cardiovascular Disease, Says New Study
A recent study based on toenail clippings has reportedly turned up “no evidence” of any link between dietary mercury exposure and coronary heart disease, stroke, or total cardiovascular disease. Dariush Mozaffarian, et al., “Mercury Exposure and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Two U.S. Cohorts,” New England Journal of Medicine, March 24, 2011. Researchers evidently used toenail…
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Cereal Maker Sues Canadian Packaging Company for Defective Liners
Kellogg Co. has filed a lawsuit in a Michigan federal court against the Canadian packaging company that supplied allegedly defective liners with “offensive characteristics” (taste and odor) that purportedly caused nausea and diarrhea in some Kellogg cereal consumers and forced a “costly nationwide recall” of four company products. Kellogg Co. v. FPC Flexible Packaging Corp.,…
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Heirs of Colombian Murder Victims Seek Damages from Chiquita
Nearly 700 heirs and estates of Colombian citizens allegedly killed by “a right-wing terrorist organization” that purportedly received financial and other support from Chiquita Brands International and its subsidiaries and affiliates have sued the companies seeking monetary, injunctive and declaratory relief. Does 1 through 677 v. Chiquita Brands Int’l, Inc., No. 11-00582 (D.D.C., filed March 17,…
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Court Advocate General Calls French Ban on GM Crops an EU Law Violation
An advocate general to the European Court of Justice has reportedly issued an opinion stating that French authorities violated European Union (EU) law by suspending the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) maize on French soil without first asking the European Commission to adopt emergency measures. While such opinions do not bind the court, sources indicate that…
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Caffeinated Alcoholic Drink Allegedly Caused Man’s Heart Arrhythmia
According to news sources, a New Jersey tire salesman has filed a personal injury lawsuit in a state court against the company that makes Four Loko®, an alcoholic beverage that until late 2010 also contained caffeine; he alleges that after drinking two and one-half cans, he was taken to a hospital with heart arrhythmia. Mustica…
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Johnny Love Vodka Sues Pucker Vodka for Infringement of Distinctive Label
The company that makes Johnny Love Vodka® has filed a trademark infringement suit against the companies making “Pucker Vodka,” alleging that the lip imprint on the Pucker labels is likely to confuse consumers because of its similarity to the registered lip imprint on the plaintiff’s flavored-vodka bottles. JL Beverage Co., LLC v. Fortune Brands, Inc., No.…
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Court Rules Tip-Sharing at Starbucks Violates Massachusetts Law
A federal court in Massachusetts has certified a class of Starbucks’ employees alleging that the company’s policy of requiring tip-sharing by baristas and their supervisors violates state law; the court also granted the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment on that issue. Matamoros v. Starbucks Corp., No. 08-10772 (D. Mass., decided March 18, 2011). So ruling,…
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Federal Court Dismisses Insurance Coverage Action in Tainted Baby Formula Case
A federal court in Virginia has issued an order dismissing without prejudice claims filed against two insurers by a company that makes baby formula; the parties stipulated to the dismissal after similar litigation concluded with a defense verdict following trial in state court. PBM Nutritionals, LLC v. Arch Ins. Co., No. 09-194 (E.D. Va., order entered March…