Texas Tribune Daily Brief
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The Brief for June 17 | In today's Brief: A look at the Texas governor’s busy weekend — which spanned from signing the state’s 2020-21 budget to vetoing dozens of bills that passed the Legislature.
Cassi Pollock, Texas Tribune 06/17/2019    | Read Article: Texas Tribune |
South Carolina County Files Opioid Lawsuit | Georgetown County, South Carolina, has filed suit against several major pharmaceutical companies over the opioid crisis. The lawsuit was filed against Purdue Pharma, Janssen Pharmaceuticals and others, and alleges the companies downplayed the medications as safe and hid the risks associated with them. According to the county, the defendants deceptive marketing led to skyrocketing addiction, overdoses, and death. The lawsuit seeks financial relief for the county for costs associated with handling the opioid crisis.
Paola Tristan Arruda, Live 5 WCSC 06/14/2019 | Read Article: Live 5 WCSC |
Kansas Supreme Court Strikes Down Cap in Injury Cases | The Kansas Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the state’s cap on damages for noneconomic injuries in personal injury lawsuits is unconstitutional. The court ruled 4-2 that capping damages an injured person is able to recover in a lawsuit violates that person’s right to a jury trial. The decision does not apply to wrongful death cases or to punitive damages, which are rare in Kansas.
Associated Press, Yahoo News 06/17/2019 | Read Article: Yahoo News |
Amazon's Alexa Recorded Children Without Consent, Allege Two Lawsuits | Amazon is facing lawsuits alleging Alexa, the company's personal assistant device, illegally recorded children without consent. The two lawsuits were filed on Tuesday and seek class status. The plaintiffs say their children were recorded by the device without proper consent. Actions by the devices violate laws in nine states — California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Washington — by storing recordings of children, allege the lawsuits filed in Seattle and Los Angeles.
Jessica Campisi, The Hill 06/13/2019 | Read Article: The Hill |
His Keyless Car Killed Him While He Slept. The Killer was Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. | Auto safety experts want legislation mandating that automakers install automatic engine shutoffs — along with software that would make a car immobile if a driver left it in gear. Since 2005, 37 people have died by unknowingly leaving their vehicles running in their attached garage, according to data from Safety Research & Strategies Inc., which specializes in car safety. Such technology exists, and some carmakers, including the Detroit Three, offer versions of the safety technology on most of their vehicles. Toyota announced this week that it will add automatic engine shutoff and automatic park technology to its 2020 model year lineup in North America.
Jamie L. LaReau, Detroit Free Press, USA Today 06/17/2019 | Read Article: USA Today |
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