News in Brief August 15 – Walmart, Toyota and More

Wal-Mart Truckers Move Toward Final Resolution in Wage Case

On Friday, California federal judge Susan Illston announced that she is leaning toward denying Wal-mart’s motion to decertify a group of truckers who claim they weren’t paid properly. If she decides to deny Wal-Mart’s bid, the plaintiffs will be one step closer to getting their day in court. The case was filed on behalf of nearly 900 past or present Wal-mart truck drivers in California and alleges the retail giant broke laws concerning minimum wage pay, meal and rest breaks, and paystubs.

NCAA Escapes Claims Over Sham Classes

A North Carolina federal judge has decided to dismiss claims alleging that the NCAA didn’t see to it that athletes who received scholarships were getting a proper education. According to the order, the plaintiffs failed to show that it was the NCAA’s legal duty to ensure classes that were made up mostly of athletes provided a quality learning opportunity. The suit claimed that many of these “sham classes” didn’t require students to attend and weren’t supervised by professors or faculty.

Suit Filed Over Antibiotic Nerve Damage Risk

On Thursday, a suit was filed in Pennsylvania against Johnson and Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals alleging that they hid the risk of irreversible nerve damage when selling and marketing the antibiotic Levaquin. According to the suit, the plaintiff took Levaquin, which belongs to a group of drugs known as fluoroquinolones, and, as a result, developed a type of injury known as peripheral neuropathy. She is seeking to represent a class of patients who took the drug and developed this same condition.

More Toyotas Recalled Over Suspension Issues

Nearly 340,000 Toyotas have been recalled by the carmaker over problems with the vehicles’ suspension. Models included in the recall are 2006-2011 Lexus HS 250h and Toyota RAV4s. Toyota announced that all known owners will be sent notices about the recall with information on how they can have their suspension arm assemblies replaced.