Class action lawsuits

Aformer employee of Pantasote, a defunct PVC processor in Passaic, N.J., is reported to have filed a class-action lawsuit against the company, its suppliers and insurers in Essex County Superior Court in Newark, N. J. The former worker claims the firms conspired to hide health risks associated with exposure to vinyl chloride monomer. The claim is that all the VCM and PVC people knew about the danger and concealed it for 40 or 50 years, says Ron... 

Sibutramine (Meridia), a weight-loss drug introduced in 1998, inhibits the reuptake of the brain chemicals norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin, but does not promote monoamine release like the amphetamines. Yet the drug has been linked to serious side effects, including rapid heart rate, increased blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, seizure, and mental impairments. In March 2002, Italy s Health Ministry announced that it was immediately withdrawing all sibutramine products from the market due to health-related problems. Also, Meridia was the subject of a class action lawsuit filed in the United States. 

Vioxx could soon return to market after a panel of regulatory experts in the US ruled that the benefits outweigh the risk. And on the same day US curbs class action suits, and Bush administration introduces legislation to curb frivolous class action lawsuits. ... 

Federal contractors are expected to have robust affirmative action plans in place to increase diversity in the workforce. They are also expected to analyze workplace practices and systems that create adverse impact. Gaps in such systems can lead to cosdy class action lawsuits if not monitored closely. 

If the EEOC, in their investigation, determines that there is reasonable cause that discrimination has taken place. Title VII provides that the EEOC, or the individual applicant or employee with a right-to-sue notice, can begin a legal action in federal district court if specific conditions are met including jurisdiction, time limitations, complaint drafting requirement and other specific requirements. Safety professionals should also be aware that class action lawsuits are permitted under Title VII, however, there are very specific requirements under Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as well as other requirements which must be met to certify the class action. 

Example Situations Resulting in Class Action Lawsuits... 

A carbon black manufacturing company defended itself against multiple class action lawsuits in Alabama and Oklahoma brought by cities, businesses, and property owners alleging property damage from particulate emissions from carbon black facilities. 

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