West Virginia Legislative Session Produces Batch of Legal Reform Bills Signed by Gov
Governor Jim Justice signs four key bills aimed at improving the state’s civil justice system
(3rd Cir., filed October 18, 2016): Arguing that an expert cannot premise a causation analysis on a single statistically-significant association when the larger body of epidemiological studies fails to find any such association. Also, arguing that an expert cannot massage the data with after-the-fact analyses to create associations that were not found by the statistical methodologies originally selected by the scientists who performed the study. Trial court judges must act as gatekeepers over the reliability of expert testimony, carefully evaluating whether such testimony is based on sound scientific principles or is simply bought-and-paid for “junk science.”
Status: On June 2, 2017, the Third Circuit ruled in favor of ATRA’s position. The Court held that the lower court did not abuse its discretion when it excluded the expert witness’s testimony.
Governor Jim Justice signs four key bills aimed at improving the state’s civil justice system
State Senator from Shreveport-Bossier seeks to curb over-the-top, dishonest ads
Bill on seat belt admissibility heads to Governor
SCOTUS Determining Whether to Hear Appeal by Defendant
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signs covid liability protections into law in the state which has seen a disproportionate amount of legal services ads related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Writing for The Hill, ATRA President Tiger Joyce discusses the Biden administration’s plans to allow a settlement slush fund and issues the practice has caused at the state level.