Supreme Court Denies Epic in Game Suit
Background Fortnite is a massively popular video game developed and produced by Epic Games. Because of the popularity of Fortnite on video game consoles, Epic Games made the decision to publish the game on mobile devices. Both Android and Apple devices received the game on their respective versions of the built in app store. The […]
New Test for Law School Admittance
New Kid on the Block A new standardized exam, JD-Next, whose proponents say, unlike the long-dominant Law School Admission Test, predicts academic success with little score disparities for under-represented groups. This could be a massive change to law school admissions, especially in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision banning race-conscious admissions. In […]
Supreme Court to Review OxyContin Settlement
The History Purdue Pharma’s aggressive marketing of OxyContin is often cited as a catalyst of a nationwide opioid epidemic. Oxycontin is a powerful prescription painkiller that hit the market in 1996. The company pleaded guilty to misbranding the drug in 2007 and paid more than $600 million in fines and penalties. Opioid-related overdose deaths have […]
Summary of 2023 Purdue Study of PFAS and Testicular Cancer among U.S. Air Force Servicemen
Scientists worldwide are actively exploring the potential health risks associated with PFAS. While researchers have traditionally focused on the health impacts of PFAS through public drinking water exposure, recent scientific investigations are expanding their scope to consider other potential sources. Mark Purdue of the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute led this […]
Health Risks of PFAS Exposure
Scientific investigators around the world continue to explore the human health risks of PFAS. The chemical group PFAS includes reference to PFOS and PFOA chemicals. Dupont and 3M created PFAS chemicals and hold patents on their chemical composition. Although most research primarily concerns drinking water exposure, scientific investigations have turned to look at other exposures, […]
OxyContin Settlement Plan Analysis
The History Purdue Pharma’s aggressive marketing of OxyContin is often cited as a catalyst of a nationwide opioid epidemic. Oxycontin is a powerful prescription painkiller that hit the market in 1996. The company pleaded guilty to misbranding the drug in 2007 and paid more than $600 million in fines and penalties. Opioid-related overdose deaths have […]
California Bans Toxic Chemicals in Food
Last month, California became the first state to enact a law banning certain chemicals commonly found in processed food. The law does not ban food, but only the additives. The law urges manufacturers to use safer alternative ingredients. What chemicals are banned? The banned chemicals include brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propyl paraben, and Red […]
Evolution and Advancements in Firefighting Foams
In 1902, Russian engineer and chemist Aleksandr Loran spearheaded the development of the first firefighting foam. Loran’s innovative solution addressed the inefficiencies of water in combating oil and flammable liquid-based fires. NRL and 3M Collaboration in the 1960s Delving into the 1960s, the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) collaborated with the 3M Company to enhance firefighting […]
Active PFAS Laws on Wastewater and Sludge
The persistence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment and potential health risks have thrust these chemicals into the regulatory spotlight. As scientists delve deeper into the impact of PFAS, regulatory frameworks are evolving to address these concerns. PFAS-related laws focusing on wastewater and PFAS-containing sludge are emerging but remain rare. PFAS and […]
Taxotere Multidistrict Litigation Update
Since 2016, lawsuits involving Taxotere, a drug used to treat metastatic breast cancer, have been consolidated in a Multidistrict litigation (“MDL”) in Federal Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana. Judge Triche-Milazzo oversees the litigation. Who are the plaintiffs? Plaintiffs in the MDL are women who received Taxotere to treat breast cancer. As a result […]