News Archive

• Johnson & Johnson Faces Patent Infringement Charges
  • Covidien Plc., a medical products company, has filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, alleging that the latter committed patent infringement in a line of its ultrasonic surgical products.
• Caltrans Agrees to $1.1 B Settlement in Inequality Charges
  • Disabled rights advocates and state officials have agreed to a $1.1 billion worth of work to provide the disabled with equal access to all public transportation, reports said.
• H1N1 Vaccines Recalled for Potency
  • At least 5,100 doses of the H1N1 vaccines manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur were recalled and shipped to Washington state.
• French Government Slaps Google with $14,300 Fine a Day over Copyright Infringement
  • A court has ruled on Friday that technology giant Google Inc. should pay $14,300 a day for infringing the country’s copyright law until the company pulls out the infringed copies of digital books online.
• CPSC Links 7 More Infant Deaths to Simplicity Cribs
  • After the recall of more than 2 million Simplicity cribs, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received seven more infant deaths linked to the products, pushing the number of fatalities to 11.
• Woman Claims CT-scan exposes her to Excessive Radiation
  • A woman has filed a damage suit against GE Healthcare over its CT-scan which allegedly released high levels of radiation resulting to hair loss, trouble with memory, and loss of balance.
• Supreme Court Mulls Worker's Privacy Rights Over Text Messages
  • After a federal appellate court has ruled that a city police officer has a right of privacy over the personal text messages he sent on his department-issued pager, the US Supreme Court is reviewing this employment issue and hope to come up with a clear definition of privacy rights in using employer-provided electronic devices.
• Democrats Struggle to Overhaul Healthcare
  • After months of discussing several options to overhaul the healthcare system, Democratic senators are struggling to come up with a consensus that will expand Medicare and Medicaid coverage, allowing more than 30 million uninsured workers to access cheaper health services.
• Apple Files Countersuit against Nokia
  • Two months after Nokia Corp. charged Apple Inc. with patent infringement case, the California-based company has filed on Friday a countersuit claiming that its rival “has copied the iPhone’s user interface".
• USDA Denies plans to close Beef Packers Inc.
  • The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has denied the other day that they did not plan to force Beef Packers Inc to close but the manufacturer had not supplied schools with food since July. They would ensure that Beef Packers Inc. would resolve their product defect problem.
• CPSC: About 13,000 Americans Injured by Christmas Décor Every Year
  • Christmas décors injure about 13,000 people every year, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said Sunday.
• Democrats Propose Medicare, Medicaid Expansion
  • In an effort to make health insurance accessible to all Americans, some Democratic lawmakers said Monday the administration should focus on expanding the two federal health programs, Medicare and Medicaid, instead of the government-provided insurance proposed by President Barack Obama.
• Mother Blames Glade Freshener over Son's Death
  • The mother of an 8-year-old boy has claimed that Glade air freshener has killed her son and plans to file a product liability lawsuit against SC Johnson which manufactures the said product.
• Family Sues Stork Craft Over Deadly Crib
  • The family of a 7-month-old baby who died after being entrapped between a crib’s drop-side rail and mattress has filed on Monday a product-related lawsuit against Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc. which recently announced a recall that covers more than 2 million defective cribs in US and Canada.
• Computer Re-Programming Can Delay Jobless Extension Checks
  • Workers whose benefits have ran-out may not be advised on time of their eligibility to the unemployment extension checks approved last November 8 because of the reprogramming of computers in the California Employment Development Department.
• Tiger Woods Suffered Injuries from Car Accident
  • Tiger Woods was involved in a car accident in Florida early morning last Friday. The accident happened while Woods was driving his Cadillac Escalade on the driveway and suddenly he hit a fire hydrant and a tree located on his neighbor’s house.
• Phone-using Pedestrians More Likely to be Hit by Cars: Study
  • A new study shows that using cell phones are not only dangerous to drivers but also to pedestrians who were found to be more likely to be hit by cars compared to walkers who are not using phones.
• Discrimination Based on Genetic Information Banned in US Workplace
  • The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) said a new federal law that prohibits discrimination based on genetic information took effect Saturday, preventing employers to make decision based on the result of medical and laboratory tests.
• Crib Recall Biggest in History
  • The federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced the other day that the recall of Drop down cribs may be the biggest in history.
• Vicks Sinex May cause Complications
  • Vicks Sinex nasal spray has been recalled by the Procter & Gamble Co, after finding out from the test that it contains bacteria.
• Nasal Spray Recalled Over Presence of Bacteria
  • About 120,000 bottles of Vicks Sinex nasal spray are being recalled after Procter & Gamble has found bacteria in some products during a routine testing, the company spokesman said in an interview.
• Clothing Retailer Accused of Discriminating African-American Worker
  • A former employee of a clothing retail giant claimed he was denied promotion because of his race and was “wrongfully terminated” after charging the company with a class-action lawsuit for allegedly committing racial discrimination.
• Six Retail Giants Warned Over Lead-Tainted Products
  • The state Attorney General’s Office on Tuesday issued a warning to six major retailers which were found selling lead-tainted products that can affect the nervous system and lower the IQ especially of young children.
• New Federal Law Prohibits Discrimination Based on Genetic Information
  • A federal law that prohibits discrimination based on genetic information will take effect next weekend, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) said.
• Replacement Device Recalled due to Possible Harmful Side Effects
  • A replacement device for damaged spine could have harmful side effects to the body prompting the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to recall the products the other day.
• Ohio Senator Introduces Bill to Combine VA and Social Security Application for Veterans
  • Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) has introduced a bill that would address the concern about redundancy and bureaucracy in the application of disabled veterans medical and social security benefits the other day.
• Strollers Recalled Due to Reports of Children's Amputated Fingers
  • The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced a massive recall of Maclarren strollers after at least 12 incidents of children’s fingers being amputated by strollers were reported.
• 14 Million Nokia Chargers Recalled Over Risk of Electrocution and Burn Injuries
  • Mobile phone maker Nokia Corp. on Monday has announced a global recall that covers approximately 14 million chargers over risk of electrocution and burn injuries.
• Hit-and-Run Suspect Sought; Victims Still Critical
  • A hit-and-run accident on Halloween night near N. Lacy Street left a 62-year-old man in serious condition as police continue to search for his assailant.
• Online Music Store Charged with Copyright Infringement over Beatles Songs
  • Online music store Bluebeat.com was charged on Tuesday with copyright infringement for allegedly distributing Beatles songs without seeking permission from UK-based music giant EMI which owns the rights to the band’s recordings.
• Police Investigates Fatal Laguna Hills Crash
  • Authorities are investigating an accident that left an elderly woman dead and two others injured.According to police, the woman who was identified as Cheryl Louise Jordan, 60, from San Diego, was killed when a Cadillac she was riding in was hit from behind by an Acura being driven by a 27-year-old driver.
• Teacher Absolved in Death of Five-year Old Boy Hit by Car
  • Authorities did not file any charges against the teacher, involving an accident that resulted in the death of a five year old boy. The police are still determining the cause of the accident and the liability of different parties in it.
• Study Finds Bad Driving Linked to Certain Gene Variant
  • Researchers found that approximately 30 percent of Americans with a certain genetic variant are more likely to commit traffic violation and lapses than those people who do not have this gene, according to a study published by medical journal Cerebral Cortex.
• Investigators Blame Toyota's Gas Pedal Design, Brake System in Fatal Crash
  • Federal investigators have claimed that the gas pedal design and brake system of a Toyota has caused the crash that killed California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer Mark Saylor and three of his family members in August.
• Ice Cream that Causes Wheat Allergies Recalled
  • Breyer’s All Natural Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream were ordered to be pulled out due to possibility that it may cause wheat allergy, Unilvever had announced recently. The products were recalled from the Giant Food Stores and Martin’s Food Markets.
• Deadly Robes Recalled
  • The Consumer Product Safety Commission has recommended recall of of Blair’s highly flammable women’s chenille bath robes from Pakistan after nine deaths attributed to the use of the product were reported lately. The products were first recalled in April when there were three robe malfunction reported.
• California Spends $800 Million Overtime Pays on State Hospitals' Employees
  • State employees from two Bay Area hospitals have received overtime pays amounting to thousands of dollars over the past five years, almost doubling their salary while others received no overtime work, according to state auditor.
• 39-Year Old Booked for 210 Freeway Crash that Killed Passenger
  • A 39-year old man was booked at Van Nuys Jail after a single car crash on the embankment off the foothill (210) Freeway that killed his passenger the other day, police officials said.
• Apple and other Computer Giants facing Ethernet Lawsuit
  • Apple, together with several computer manufacturers were now in trouble because of a patent infringement lawsuit filed against them by US Ethernet Innovations.
• Ford Engineer Indicted for Trying to Sell Trade Secrets to Chinese Companies
  • Ford Motor Co. on Wednesday has filed a lawsuit against its former engineer for allegedly stealing company trade secrets and trying to sell these to several Chinese companies.
• CPSC Expands Electra Bicycle Recall
  • The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) included 6,400 additional Electra Bicycles 2009 model over its defective front tray or basket which may detach and fall on the front tire, posing fall hazard to consumers.
• GE Denies Product Defect Liability on CT Scan Radiation Overdose
  • General Electric (GE) has denied any defects with their CT scan machines at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center that cause radiation overdoses. or eight times more than the necessary amount as previously claimed by some patients.
• 2 Teen Girls Struck by Suspected Drunken Driver in Critical Condition
  • Two 19-year-old girls are in critical condition after being struck by a suspected drunken driver on the Freeway 10 while changing a flat tire, officials said.
• LG Files Patent Infringement Suit against Whirlpool
  • LG Electronics Inc. on Monday has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against appliance manufacturer Whirlpool for allegedly violating its patent design used in refrigerators.
• DOL Notes Lower Unemployment Claims
  • The Department of Labor (DOL) said Thursday that claims for unemployment insurance had significantly decreased last week, which is lesser compared to January’s statistical records.
• Lawmakers Push for Tougher DUI Law
  • Lawmakers are proposing a bill that will require DUI offenders to install their cars with an ignition interlock device which will prevent the engine from starting if it detects that the blood alcohol level in a person’s breath exceeds the 0.08 percent limit.
• Twitter retaliates against TechRadium’s patent infringement lawsuit
  • Twitter filed a defense in a patent infringement lawsuit filed against them by TechRadium of Texas.
• USC Victim in Hit and Run Found Drunk
  • The autopsy report of the USC victim who was killed in a hit and run accident was found to be drunk, according to information obtained by a USC student news website.
• Toyota Faces Court Injunction for Destroying Evidences Related to Product Liability Lawsuits
  • A federal judge has ordered carmaker giant Toyota Motor Corp. to preserve all documents showing the crashworthiness of every car model. In July, the company has been accused of destroying evidences to avoid product-related lawsuits and claims.
• Same Sex Couple's Lawsuit over Discriminatory Medical Procedure Ends in Settlement
  • The long-running suit of a lesbian couple against two physicians has ended through a settlement.
• Union Employees March to Ask for a New Contract
  • More than 500 public workers have marched to ask for a new employment contract at the county’s headquarters, 36 hours prior to the expiration of contracts for 55,000 employees, authorities reported.
• Ford conducts survey on cell phone texting while driving
  • Ford Motor Company and Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates conducted a new study on cell phone texting while driving. 86 percent of drivers described doing it as perilous. The results were release on September 25.
• Woman Fails to Stop at Red Light; Hit by Garbage Truck
  • A 51-year-old woman was critically injured after she failed to stop her pick-up truck and obstructed the way of a garbage truck that hit her Tuesday morning, the California Highway Patrol said.
• Consumer Agency Recalls Kid's Shoes over Choking Hazard
  • The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Thursday announced a voluntary recall on more than 2,000 pairs of infant’s shoes which have rubber pieces on the sole that may detach, posing choking hazards to young children.
• Skype Founders Sues eBay for Copyright Violations
  • Niklas Zennstrom and Januus Friis, the founders of Skype, has filed a copyright lawsuit against eBay in the United States District Court of Northern California.
• Copyright Lawsuit against Veoh Networks Dismissed
  • U.S. District Judge Howard Matz has dismissed the 2007 lawsuit filed by Universal Music Group against Veoh Networks Inc. for supporting and inducing copyright infringement.
• Tenet Healthcare Employees Denied Overtime Receive $85M Worth of Checks
  • An estimated 23,000 current and former Tenet Healthcare employees who were denied extra pay for overtime rendered were sent checks ranging from $150 to $30,000 as part of the $85 million class action settlement.
• La Jolla Sweatshirts Recalled Over Strangulation Risk
  • The US Consumer Product Safety Commission recently announced a voluntary recall on more than 2,300 hooded sweatshirts which have a design that puts people, especially young children, at risk of strangulation.
• Thousands of Green Onion Recalled Because of Salmonella Scare
  • An inspection made by the US Department of Agriculture found which salmonella in green onions has prompted a recall of several thousand cases supplied by an onion farm in Mexicali, Mexico.
• Obama Announces Measures to Help Retirement Savings
  • US President Barrack Obama unveils new government measures that will spur Americans to save more money for retirement last Saturday, a move that would put the economy on a stronger footing in the future according to the White House.
• Google finally received patent from UPTO
  • Google finally has successfully patented its home page last Tuesday, September 2. The US Patent and Trademark Office awarded the company’s software engineer Mountain View—for its “ornamental design for a graphical user interface for a display screen of a communications terminal"—with Patent Number D. 599,372
• Court Orders Microsoft to Stop Selling Word-based Products that Infringe a Patent
  • A US District Court judge found Microsoft guilty of patent infringement and asked the technology giant to stop selling its Word-based software or redesign the products to remove the infringed benefit within 38 days. Few weeks ago, the court also asked the company to pay $290 million damages to i4i, a Canadian software firm which filed the lawsuit.
• Blizzard to Release New Games with Anti-Piracy Efforts
  • Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. a popular American video game developer and publisher in Irvine, California has announced that it will undertake anti-piracy efforts along with its release of two-highly anticipated games, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty and Diablo III.
• TiVo Files Patent Infringement Case Against AT&T, Verizon
  • TiVo Inc., the company which pioneered the digital video recorder, filed a patent infringement lawsuit against communication giants AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc.
• EEOC Files Discrimination Charges against Target
  • The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on Thursday filed a discrimination lawsuit against Target Stores Inc. based on allegations that the retailer failed to provide reasonable accommodations to a worker with cerebral palsy.
• Microsoft Asks Court to Lift Injunction to Sell Word Programs
  • Software giant Microsoft Corp. has filed an emergency motion to lift the court ruling that orders the company to pull out its Microsoft Word software from the market for violating the patent rights of a Canadian technology firm.
• Kraft Recalls 8,000 Pounds of Frozen Pizza
  • Foodmaker giant Kraft Foods Global, Inc. announced a recall on more than 8,000 pounds of its frozen pizza products which may contain an undeclared amount of soy protein, one of the most common causes of food allergies in the US.
• Hit and Run Drunk Driver Seriously Injures Female Pedestrian
  • A 27-year old man from San Marcos, Leopoldo Morales was arrested by the police following a hit and run crash where he dragged a woman about 40 feet with his car in the parking lot before engaging in a chase with the police.
• Two Firefighter Receive $8.1 million in Lawsuit
  • The city council approved Wednesday the increased payouts to the two firefighters after their appeal on the verdict in 2007 regarding retaliation and discrimination lawsuits filed against the city’s Fire Department.
• 24 People Stuck in Rollercoaster Ride
  • Twenty-four people were stuck for hours in a rollercoaster ride that stopped approximately 80 feet high from the ground due to mechanical failure on Monday afternoon, authorities said.
• Schwarzenegger Sued for Budget Cuts
  • Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg filed a lawsuit Monday against California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger after slashing around $500-million from the budget last month, reports said.
• US Signs UN Disability Treaty
  • In a landmark event, the United States signed a UN treaty on Thursday that will ensure that the world’s 650 million disabled individuals will enjoy equal rights and employment opportunity.
• Additional $2Billion Budget Approved for Cash for Clunkers
  • Due to the unexpected strong response and demand of American consumers for the “cash for clunkers”, the House has approved of the additional $2 billion to replenish the fund for the said program. A $1 billion budget was appropriated by the Congress to it just last month.
• Democrats Push for Ban on Texting while Driving
  • Several Democratic senators are pushing for a new traffic law that will prohibit people from texting while driving following recent studies which suggested that operating electronic devices behind the wheel is more dangerous than drunk driving.
• Community Commemorates Tragic Boy's Death on Interstate 280
  • Friends and family commemorated the death of a 15-year-old boy who was crushed by a gravel truck after climbing to its tow bar that connects the front to rear trailer in July 10.
• Claremont Crash Kills One
  • A woman was killed and at least two more were injured following a multi-car collision that also involved a motorcycle Thursday morning, officials said.
• Technology Giants Charged Over Touchpad Patent Infringement
  • Several technology giants including Apple Inc, Microsoft, LG, and Philips have been charged with patent infringement case for allegedly violating another company’s patented touch-sensitive interface.
• ITC Favors Asus in Patent Dispute Against IBM
  • The International Trade Commission (ITC) on Monday turned down the International Business Machines Corporation’s (IBM) request to review the initial court decision that rejected the firm’s proposed injunction to prevent Taiwan-based technology company Asustek from importing computer hardwares to the US.
• Blogger Who Posted Guns N' Roses Songs Online Sentenced
  • Kevin Cogill, a blogger was sentenced to a year of probation after he pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of copyright infringement.
• GM, Chrysler Shielded from Lawsuits after Filing Bankruptcy Protection
  • After filing bankruptcy protection, carmaker giants General Motors (GM) and Chrysler Group LLC are shielded from any lawsuit involving defective auto parts that have killed or injured consumers. However, the companies’ dealers and suppliers are now the main targets of several product liability lawsuits.
• California Company Sues Apple, Nintendo, Sony over Patent Infringement Claims
  • A technology company has charged industry giants Sony, Apple Inc., and Nintendo with patent infringement lawsuit based on allegation that the three firms have illegally used a patented technology that allows its devices to manage the flow of data effectively.
• Man Dies after Falling in Chocolate Vat
  • A man died after falling into a vat of melted chocolate Wednesday morning.
• Groups Propose Speed-limiting Device in Trucks to Improve Road Safety
  • The American Trucking Assns. (ATA) and Stephen Owings, whose 22-year-old son died when a speeding truck hit his car, are urging the government to pass a law that will require all trucks to install speed-limiting device.
• Authorities Pull Out Hazardous Baby Floats, Cribs
  • The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced a recall on children’s products including four million inflatable baby floats and more than 400,000 cribs which may cause serious injuries and death.
• Abbot to Appeal Court Ruling over Patent Lawsuit
  • Drugmaker Abbott Laboratories said on Tuesday it will appeal the court ruling that asked the company to pay its rival Johnson & Johnson with $1.67 million damages over patent infringement lawsuit.
• Court Orders Abbott to Pay $1.67 Settlement for Patent Infringement
  • A federal court ordered drugmaker Abbott Laboratories to pay $1.67 billion in settlement for infringing Johnson & Johnson’s patented rheumatoid arthritis drugs.
• Gifford, NBC Scores in Preliminary
  • A judge granted the motion filed by singer/actress Kathie Lee Gifford and NBC finding the suit against them to have insufficient details.
• Nestle Recalls Cookie Dough over E. Coli Scare
  • Multinational food company Nestle announced a recall on its Toll House refrigerated