When Minor Classroom Misbehavior Escalates to a Federal Court Lawsuit
March 4, 2020
by Devin R. Bates
In a recent case, a seventh grade boy was written up by his teacher because she saw him selling candy in class. The student told an assistant principal that he had hidden the candy in the bottom of a garbage can, and a later search uncovered candy right where the student said it would be. A search…
Court of Appeals Limits Defendant's Right to Allocate Fault to Nonparties
The Arkansas Court of Appeals recently limited a defendant’s right to allocate fault to nonparties. The allocation of fault to nonparties has long been a source of confusion and uncertainty for litigants in Arkansas. This is in part due to tension between the judiciary and the legislature over tort…
Products Liability Series: Does Arkansas Law Require an Expert Witness?
Does Arkansas products liability law require an expert witness? Technically, the answer is “it depends.” But for a plaintiff to make a claim in a products case, the answer is almost always “yes.” Rule. The general rule of when an expert witness is required is that for plaintiff to meet their burden…
Winning Early in Complex Business Litigation Alleging Fraud
In a recent case alleging common law and consumer fraud, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed dismissal because the plaintiff failed to meet the requisite pleading standard. The plaintiff, a commercial printing company, purchased a printing press from the defendant technology company. Four…
Product Manufacturer Wins Strategic Victory at the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
Plaintiff sued a wood chipper manufacturer alleging products liability and failure to warn claims under both strict liability and negligence. The manufacturer filed timely, strategic motions resulting in dismissal of the lawsuit in federal district court. In this recent decision by the Eighth…