Class Action Litigation Report® Index-Summary

ILLINOIS

– Air pollution, oil refinery emissions, homeowners' verdict reinstated (Ill. App. Ct.), 501
– Privacy, consumers' purchase history data posted at Sears Web site not protected, suit alleges (Ill. Cir. Ct.), 5
– Product liability

– – Lead paint, Thomas the Tank Engine toy maker settles consumer suit (Ill. Cir. Ct.), 108; insurer has duty to defend toy maker (N.D. Ill.), 589
– – Stoves prone to tipping over, Sears settlement approved by court (Ill. Cir. Ct.), 198

– Temporary employment agency raided for harboring illegal aliens is sued for wage and hour violations (Ill. Cir. Ct.), 575

IMMIGRATION

See ALIENS AND CITIZENSHIP

IMMUNITY

– Product liability, Rezulin diabetes drug makers may be sued, state law fraud exception to immunity not preempted (U.S., aff), 208
– Securities fraud, New York Stock Exchange shielded from suit alleging misconduct by specialist firms (U.S., rev den), 239
– Sovereign immunity does not bar removal of La. attorney general suit against insurers for nonpayment of Hurricane Katrina claims (5th Cir.), 337

IMPLANTS

See MEDICAL DEVICES

IMPORTS

See INTERNATIONAL TRADE

INSURANCE

– Annuities, trial court improperly barred insurer from discussing settlements of other lawsuits (9th Cir.), 384
– Antitrust

– – Auto body repair shops allege unfair trade practices by Hartford Fire Insurance, class certified (Conn.), 450
– – Price fixing by brokers and consultants, state attorney general may file parens patriae suit for general economic damages (Conn.), 349

– Employer's policy coverage can be source of funds for settlements, conferees told, 563
– Employment contract breach by Allstate, agents may proceed with suit (N.D. Ill.), 296
– Health

See HEALTH INSURANCE

– Homeowners charged different prices for identical Travelers Indemnity policies, class certified (N.D. Ohio), 327
– Hurricane Katrina, La. attorney general suit filed on behalf of state and private citizens properly removed (5th Cir.), 337
– Overtime

– – Adjusters' FLSA claims (7th Cir.), In Brief, 28
– – Prudential Insurance agents class certified (D.N.J.), 324

– Pensions, N.Y. Life Insurance workers sue for breach of fiduciary duty, settlement approved by court (E.D. Pa.), 201
– Product liability, lead paint used on Thomas the Tank Engine toys, insurer has duty to defend maker (N.D. Ill.), 589
– Telephone Consumer Protection Act, insurer's duty to defend or indemnify defendant, court declines to hear declaratory judgment suit (S.D. Ohio), 69

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

– Computer firm sued for misrepresenting development of novel memory technology, suit dismissed (8th Cir.), 466

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

– Alternative dispute resolution used by European firms to avoid complexities of U.S. legal system, survey released, 352
– Canada

See CANADA

– Class action features of U.S. legal system, European countries' adoption of, Analysis and Perspective, 257
– Environment, Amazon region pollution

– – Ecuadorian Amazon damaged by Chevron oil activities, court-ordered damages assessment report to be released, 336
– – Peruvian villagers' suit against Occidental Petroleum dismissed for forum non conveniens (C.D. Cal.), 341

– Poland, legislation being drafted to allow class actions, 562
– Privacy

– – European Union e-Privacy Directive, proposed revisions reviewed by EU data protection official, 335
– – South Korean online auction firm sued for security breach of customer database (K.R. Cent. Dist. Ct.), 317
– – Spam law enacted in Israel, 477

– Product liability, Agent Orange herbicide, Vietnamese nationals' Alien Tort Statute claims dismissed (2d Cir.), 284

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

– Antitrust

– – Airline passengers assessed fuel surcharges, British Airways and Virgin Airlines settle U.S. and U.K. price fixing claims (E.D.N.Y.), 157
– – Automobiles, conspiracy to bar lower-priced cars from Canada

– – – Indirect purchasers, car lessee claims (1st Cir.), In Brief, 594
– – – Nationwide injunctive relief class decertified (1st Cir.), 269

– Food importers challenging retaliatory duties on European Union products denied class certification (Ct. Int'l Trade), 449
– Product liability, jurisdiction asserted by U.S. courts to hear suits against foreign makers (N.D. Cal., S.D. Tex.), 456
– Securities fraud, increase in class suits filed in England, Analysis and Perspective, 356

INTERNET

– Ed. Note: For electronic sales of goods and services, see ELECTRONIC COMMERCE. Electronic mail is covered under E-MAIL. For a list of electronic resources and Web sites, see back page of each issue.
– Privacy

– – Children's postings about their eating disorders, health insurer entitled to discovery of (D.N.J.), 143
– – Consumers' purchase history data posted at Sears Web site not protected, suit alleges (Ill. Cir. Ct.), 5
– – Electronic Communications Privacy Act claim against domain name registry is subject to forum selection clause in registration agreement (N.D. Cal.), 145
– – Spam law enacted in Israel, 477

INTERVENTION

– Environmental groups to intervene to challenge dismissal of class action nuisance claims, 337
– FLSA suit seeking compensation for time spent donning and doffing protective gear, Tyson Foods workers cannot intervene (11th Cir.), 252
– Securities fraud

– – Bank merger challenged for misrepresentations in prospectus, pension fund's motion to intervene untimely (7th Cir.), 585
– – Merrill Lynch broker cannot intervene as lead plaintiff to challenge research analysts' reports (S.D.N.Y.), 542