Class III Medical Device Product Liability Claims Under <i>Twombly</i> and <i>Iqbal</i>
It is well founded that the pleading standard set forth in <i>Twombly</i> and <i>Iqbal</i> applies to claims involving Class III medical devices. In these actions, however, federal courts have taken different approaches to the application of the two rulings.
Features
Health Care Policies and Procedures As a Basis for Liability
Well-crafted policies and procedures are an essential part of the operation of modern health-care facilities. However, in the event of a bad outcome, policies and procedures become evidence in litigation, and "violations" frequently become the central focus of malpractice claims.
Reconciliation and Settlement
It is not uncommon for a couple to reconcile. The issue is what, if any, impact the couple's reconciliation has on their settlement agreement. The answer is: It depends.
Features
Physician-Assisted Suicide
On Feb. 6, 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada issued a landmark ruling, overturning precedent only two decades after it held that Canadian citizens have the right to end their lives, but if done with the assistance of a physician, that physician could be held liable. This highly anticipated decision is expected to encourage the efforts of right-to-die advocates in the United States and abroad.
Columns & Departments
Case Notes
In-depth analysis of two important rulings.
Features
Patent Reform Bills Target Patent Trolls
On Sept. 16, 2011, the America Invents Act became effective, including provisions directed at non-practicing entities, commonly known as "patent trolls." Many believe, however, that patent trolls are still a plague, and that more must be done to curtail abusive patent litigation. This has led to the introduction of several patent reform bills.
Columns & Departments
Drug & Device News
A manufacturer goes to court to challenge the FDA's restrictions on off-label drug use promotion.
Limiting Successor Liability Under Assigned Medicare Provider Agreements
This article discusses the risks associated with accepting assignment of a distressed health care provider's Medicare provider agreement, as well as providing suggestions for managing those risks.
LAW vs. LORE: The Lack of Judicial Precedent in FCPA Cases
When it comes to significant chunks of the white-collar criminal and regulatory landscape, practitioners often are forced to provide advice based on professional lore derived from negotiated settlements rather than enacted laws or judicially established case law.
IP News
Federal Circuit Interprets 'Broadest Reasonable Interpretation' Claim Construction Standard <br>Federal Circuit: Order Vacated After Claim At Issue Was Cancelled<br>Fed. Circuit: Claim Construction Based on Understanding of 'One Skilled In the Art' Is Reviewed For Clear Error
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MOST POPULAR STORIES
- Protecting Innovation in the Cyber World from Patent TrollsWith trillions of dollars to keep watch over, the last thing we need is the distraction of costly litigation brought on by patent assertion entities (PAEs or "patent trolls"), companies that don't make any products but instead seek royalties by asserting their patents against those who do make products.Read More ›
- Risks of “Baseball Arbitration” in Resolving Real Estate Disputes“Baseball arbitration” refers to the process used in Major League Baseball in which if an eligible player's representative and the club ownership cannot reach a compensation agreement through negotiation, each party enters a final submission and during a formal hearing each side — player and management — presents its case and then the designated panel of arbitrators chooses one of the salary bids with no other result being allowed. This method has become increasingly popular even beyond the sport of baseball.Read More ›
- Private Equity Valuation: A Significant DecisionInsiders (and others) in the private equity business are accustomed to seeing a good deal of discussion ' academic and trade ' on the question of the appropriate methods of valuing private equity positions and securities which are otherwise illiquid. An interesting recent decision in the Southern District has been brought to our attention. The case is <i>In Re Allied Capital Corp.</i>, CCH Fed. SEC L. Rep. 92411 (US DC, S.D.N.Y., Apr. 25, 2003). Judge Lynch's decision is well written, the Judge reviewing a motion to dismiss by a business development company, Allied Capital, against a strike suit claiming that Allied's method of valuing its portfolio failed adequately to account for i) conditions at the companies themselves and ii) market conditions. The complaint appears to be, as is often the case, slap dash, content to point out that Allied revalued some of its positions, marking them down for a variety of reasons, and the stock price went down - all this, in the view of plaintiff's counsel, amounting to violations of Rule 10b-5.Read More ›
- The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year LaterThe DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.Read More ›
- The DOJ Goes Phishing: The Rise of False Claims Act Cybersecurity LitigationWhile the DOJ Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative is still in its early stages and cybersecurity regulations are evolving, whistleblower plaintiffs have already begun leveraging the FCA to pursue alleged noncompliance with government cybersecurity requirements.Read More ›