Saturday, February 15, 2003

Finally, an end to the madness may be in sight.  Legislation aimed at curbing asbestos lawsuits has been introduced in the United States Senate.  Read more in this article on findlaw.com.  This followed a recommendation that came earlier in the week from the American Bar Association. 9:26:35 PM     Gentlemen Start Your Engines.  Next week in Texas, Bayer Corporation will defend itself in the first lawsuit to go to trial seeking damages for injuries that allegedly resulted from taking Baycol.  The plaintiffs' lawyer, Mikal C. Watts, wants $100 million in punitive damages.  Wow!  Read more in this article from law.com 9:20:39 PM     Difficult but not impossible.  Anyone considering a lawsuit against NASA or the contractors who built the space shuttle Columbia may face significant hurdles that arose following the explosion of the Challenger seventeen years ago.  Under Boyle v. United Technologies, 487 U.S. 500 (1988), a government contractor may not be held liable for building a dangerous product in accordance with government specifications.  Apparently, sovereign immunity displaces State tort law where the federal government approves and the contractor meets "reasonably precise specifications."  Still, this hurdle may be overcome by pleading alternative theories.  Read more in this article from law.com 9:05:34 PM

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