Healthcare & Pharmaceutics

Expert witness was ‘confused, disoriented and out of touch’ at deposition, law firm’s suit alleges

An expert witness allegedly demanded a $20,000 advance payment before a deposition and then appeared "confused, disoriented and out of touch with the proceedings” when he showed up, according to a lawsuit filed by the law firm that hired him.

Apr 24, 2025 9:09 AM CDT

‘Secrets of the Killing State’ exposes realities of lethal injection

Execution by lethal injection is seen by many Americans as a less barbaric alternative than older methods, such as hanging, firing squads and electrocution. It is easy to assume that the process must resemble euthanasia procedures for terminally ill people or pets. The reality is very different, says Corinna Barrett Lain, a law professor and a death-penalty expert.

Apr 23, 2025 8:51 AM CDT

What can Luigi Mangione’s trial tell us about unbiased juries?

At a time when 58% of Americans have reported issues with health insurance in the past year, attorneys say finding an unbiased jury for Luigi Mangione, who’s accused of fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, will be nearly impossible without many hurdles.

Apr 22, 2025 9:54 AM CDT

Lawyer alleges BigLaw firm fired her 11 days after she disclosed epilepsy diagnosis, violating disability law

A former lawyer at Ballard Spahr has filed a lawsuit alleging that she was fired for taking medical leave after suffering gastrointestinal problems and a seizure.

Apr 10, 2025 9:00 AM CDT

‘Patenting Life’ shares tales from a career on the cutting edge of science and the law

Jorge Goldstein entered the fields of science and patent law at a time of immense change for both. In Patenting Life, he shares the fascinating histories behind some well-known medications, lesser-known scientists and groundbreaking court cases.

Apr 9, 2025 8:45 AM CDT

Federal judge who sought female attorneys among class counsel has acknowledged sex-bias concerns, order says

A federal judge who called for female attorneys to be “adequately represented” on the leadership team for plaintiffs in multidistrict contraceptive litigation has “acknowledged the concerns created by her statements,” according to an order closing an ethics inquiry.

Mar 25, 2025 9:21 AM CDT

BigLaw attorneys who are ‘frequent practitioners’ in federal district can’t be admitted pro hac vice, judge says

Two Baker & Hostetler lawyers won’t be able to represent a compounding pharmacy in a lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, at least for now, after a federal judge in the Northern District of Texas denied their application to appear pro hac vice.

Mar 5, 2025 3:45 PM CST

Silicon Valley lawyer Roger Royse pivoted to health tech after cancer diagnosis

Roger Royse, a startup and venture capital lawyer in Silicon Valley, keeps an eye on technology. When he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, “I went to the biotech companies I know. I went to the VCs that invest in that space and people in my business network that might know people who have some information on biotech,” Royse says. “What I found was there are a ton of companies out there working on really effective, cool, innovative stuff.”

Feb 20, 2025 9:22 AM CST

Federal judge blocks Trump order on health care for transgender youth

A federal judge on Thursday blocked executive orders signed by President Donald Trump that target transgender people and their health care, giving temporary relief to LGBTQ+ individuals and their families, who braced for legal battles to continue.

Feb 14, 2025 9:00 AM CST

Supreme Court agrees to review cases involving student loan debt and preventive care

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear three new cases, including challenges to a federal rule that forgives student debt and to the part of the Affordable Care Act that requires insurance companies to cover some preventive care services.

Jan 13, 2025 3:20 PM CST

SCOTUS will decide whether Medicaid beneficiaries can sue over state’s defunding of Planned Parenthood

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Wednesday to consider whether Medicaid beneficiaries can sue over South Carolina’s decision to defund Planned Parenthood.

Dec 23, 2024 9:23 AM CST

Opioid suits can’t be based on nuisance law in Ohio, top state court rules in $650M win for pharmacies

A decision by the Ohio Supreme Court on the state’s product-liability law is good news for three national pharmaceutical chains ordered to pay more than $650 million for contributing to the opioid epidemic.

Dec 12, 2024 3:23 PM CST

Lawyers spar in Supreme Court over constitutional rights in transgender health care case

The lengthy arguments this week in United States v. Skrmetti—a major case about whether a Tennessee law barring certain medical treatments for transgender minors violates the 14th Amendment—were marked by past positions, anticipation of future battles, a historical first and one justice’s curious silence.

Dec 5, 2024 2:15 PM CST

Texas AG sues pediatrician over gender-affirming care for youths

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against a Dallas-based pediatrician, accusing her of providing transition-related hormones in violation of a state ban on gender-affirming care for people under age 18.

Oct 18, 2024 11:50 AM CDT

Supreme Court blocks controversial Purdue Pharma opioid settlement

The Supreme Court has blocked a controversial proposed Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan that would have provided billions of dollars to help address the nation’s opioid crisis in exchange for protecting the family that owns the company from future lawsuits.

Jun 27, 2024 9:26 AM CDT