LEGALBRIEFS
LEGALBRIEFS
By Top Class Actions
Purdue Pharma agrees to $ 7.4B opioid settlement , largest to date
On Jan . 23 , a bipartisan coalition of states announced a $ 7.4 billion settlement in principle with the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma Inc ., marking the largest settlement to date with the family accused of fueling the opioid epidemic .
The settlement ends the Sacklers ’ control of Purdue Pharma and their ability to sell opioids in the United States , according to a news release from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton .
The states claimed that under the Sacklers ’ leadership , Purdue Pharma invented , manufactured and aggressively marketed opioid products for decades , contributing to addiction and overdose deaths nationwide .
New York , California and 13 other states led the negotiations , following the Supreme Court ’ s overturning of a previous $ 6 billion deal . The settlement now awaits approval from additional states , municipalities and bankruptcy and state courts .
84 The Trial Lawyer
NHTSA to investigate General Motors over engine failure complaints
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched a preliminary investigation into almost 878,000 General Motors vehicles following complaints of engine failures , Reuters reports .
The probe targets specific models from the 2019-2024 production years , including Chevrolet Silverado , GMC Sierra , Chevrolet Tahoe , Chevrolet Suburban , GMC Yukon , and Cadillac Escalade trucks and SUVs equipped with the L87 V8 engine . In total , an estimated 877,710 vehicles are involved in the investigation .
The NHTSA received 39 complaints and additional early warning field reports from drivers , many of whom noted that there were no signs of trouble before the engines failed .
The investigation , categorized as a preliminary evaluation , will allow NHTSA ’ s Office of Defects Investigation to determine how widespread the issue is and whether it poses significant safety concerns . This phase will also help assess the severity of the problem .
Vehicle owners have so far reported incidents of bearing failures leading to engine seizures or cases where the engine block was breached by a connecting rod , according to the auto safety regulator .
Such failures could cause the engine to lose power suddenly , increasing the risk of accidents . However , no crashes or fires have been linked to the issue so far .
GM has said it will cooperate with NHTSA throughout the investigation , affirming its commitment to addressing
safety issues . The outcome of the probe will determine whether a broader recall or additional safety measures are necessary , the Associated Press reports .
Meanwhile , GM recently issued a recall for more than 7,600 model year 2025 Chevrolet Equinox electric vehicles over concerns they may not make a sound loud enough to alert pedestrians of their approach .
And last year , GM reached a $ 35 million fuel pump settlement resolving claims the company equipped GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado trucks with defective engine parts . The class action lawsuit claimed GM sold trucks with defective fuel injection pumps that cause engine failure . These pumps allegedly generate metal shavings that contaminate the fuel injection system .
Blue Ridge Beef issues dog food recall due to salmonella contamination
Blue Ridge Beef is recalling 5,700 pounds of its two-pound log Natural Mix dog food as it may be contaminated with Salmonella .
The dog food recall was published Jan . 31 to the U . S . Food & Drug administration website . It applies to Blue Ridge Beef two-pound log Natural Mix dog food with Lot No . N25 / 12 / 31 and Universal Product Code 854298001054 .
According to the recall , food safety watchdogs in North Carolina found the product tested positive for Salmonella . It notified Blue Ridge Beef on Jan . 27 .
“ Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated