TTLA Pharmaceutical & Medical Device Seminar | Oct 22- 23 | Royal Sonesta, Houston | This year, experience something REAL at the premier Texas Pharmaceutical Seminar. Click the headline for more information on the 3rd Annual TTLA Pharmaceutical & Medical Device Seminar. You won't want to miss this sell-out seminar with our lineup of in-demand topics, storied speakers and unparalleled insight. Real Torts. Real Talk. Real Time. | Dallas Car Wrecks CLE Seminar, October 8, 2015 | Earn up to 7.25 hours MCLE credit including 1.0 hr ethics credit. TTLA's Car Wrecks CLE Seminar features practical, in-depth tips and strategies to help you WIN YOUR CASES. Come away with the tools you need to compete in the courtroom! Join the TTLA Advocates Board of Directors at Happy Hour after the Seminar from 5:00-7:00pm (included in registration). Click on the headline to learn more and register. | TTLA Annual Meeting & Advanced PI CLE Seminar December 2-4 | Mark your calendar and register today! TTLA Annual Meeting & Advanced PI CLE Seminar, December 2-4, Four Seasons Hotel, Houston. CLE speakers are confirmed and the program agenda is set. Registration is now open. Hotel room rate of $195 per night expires November 10. Reserve your room today using promo code CI1215LA or call 800-734-4114 and mention the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. Click on the headline to learn more. | Texas Tribune Daily Brief | | DuPont Slammed in Report on Fatal Plant Leak | | Ten months after four DuPont workers died from a toxic gas release at the company's La Porte plant, federal investigators presented their most comprehensive assessment yet of the chemical manufacturing giant's facility near the Texas coast. It was a scathing assessment, particularly of DuPont's insecticide manufacturing unit where the accident occurred. Neena Satija, Texas Tribune 10/01/2015 | Read Article: Texas Tribune | Travis County Prosecutor-For-Hire Deal Postponed | | A controversial agreement between the Travis County District Attorney's Office and Texas Mutual Insurance under which the company pays prosecutors to pursue its fraud cases will be suspended ' at least for now, officials said Wednesday. District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg said in a statement that a contract between her office and the mega-insurer ' set to be renewed Oct. 1 ' will be placed on hold. The insurer will continue to fund the four-person fraud unit handling Texas Mutual's cases through the end of the year. Tony Plohetski (Statesman) and Jay Root (Texas Tribune), Texas Tribune 10/01/2015 | Read Article: Texas Tribune | Full State Funding for Seat Belts on School Buses Diverted | | In 2009 Texas lawmakers earmarked $10 million to equip the vehicles with seat belts. Six years later, the money is gone - with less than half a million dollars ever awarded to school districts for the devices. The Texas Education Agency distributed the only state funding for seat belts in 2011, totaling $416,582. The rest of the $10 million was returned to state coffers or moved to other areas in the agency's budget - such as fine arts programs and data collection - when finances were tight. Ericka Mellon, Houston Chronicle 10/01/2015 | Read Article: Houston Chronicle | Jury Awards $1.9M to California Woman Burned by e-Cigarette | | A California woman badly burned by an exploding electronic cigarette was awarded nearly $2 million Wednesday by a jury in a product liability suit, her lawyer said. Jennifer Ries was scarred for life by second-degree burns on her buttocks, thighs and hand, according to the lawsuit. Riverside Superior Court jury awarded $1.9 million to Jennifer Ries in the lawsuit against VapCigs, which distributes the Chinese-made e-cigarette and charger, wholesaler Cartons 2 Go and retailer Tobacco Expo. Associated Press, The New York Times 10/01/2015 | Read Article: The New York Times | 380,000 Ford Vehicles Recalled | | Ford Motor Co. has issued recalls on about 380,000 of its vehicles due to safety and compliance issues. The recalls were announced on Wednesday and include Ford's F-150, Windstar, Escape and Mercury Mariner, among others. The recalls include five safety recalls and one compliance recall, according to the recent announcement. The company is aware of several incidents in connection with the recalls, but no injuries have been reported. David Muller, MLive 09/30/2015 | Read Article: MLive | Court May Decide Future of Class-Action Cases | | The long-running battle over class-action lawsuits goes into full swing in the US Supreme Court term beginning next week with cases that could shift the rules for group lawsuits against businesses. The court will hear several cases involving a wide range of disputes, from consumers alleging a pay-television provider overcharged them to meatpacking workers claiming they were underpaid. JESS BRAVIN, Wall Street Journal - $$ Subscription Required 10/01/2015 | Read Article: Wall Street Journal - $$ Subscription Required($) | | |