The federal government has acknowledged it received 32 truckloads of potentially tainted roasted peanuts and peanut butter from a peanut producer linked to a nationwide salmonella outbreak, raising new questions about the government’s ability to keep dangerous substances out of the food supply. Although officials said they are not aware of any illnesses linked to [...]

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An attorney for a Vermont family whose child was sickened after eating tainted peanut butter crackers said Thursday that they will add Kellogg Co. to their lawsuit. The addition of Kellogg as a defendant comes as the Peanut Corporation of America’s sole insurance carrier announced it would seek to limit liability in connection with the [...]

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Federal officials on Friday said they had launched a criminal investigation into the peanut processor linked to a nationwide salmonella outbreak. Investigators said they will seek to determine whether the Peanut Corp. of America violated any criminal laws by allegedly shipping contaminated peanut butter to other food companies. The salmonella outbreak has been linked to [...]

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Andrew Ross Sorkin of the New York Times has reported that as companies have accelerated layoffs, workers are increasingly turning to the courts with claims that they were improperly terminated. From Lehman Brothers to Dell, companies face allegations of discrimination and other employment-related violations, and attorneys predict employment litigation will continue to grow. According to [...]

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Wal-Mart has reached a confidential settlement with the family of a Maryland man who died after receiving the wrong prescription from a Wal-Mart pharmacy, an attorney for the family said. George Smith died in 2007 after becoming ill when he took prescriptions intended for someone else. An attorney for the family declined to comment on [...]

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The growing number of food-related recalls in recent years is attracting increased attention on government regulations for food safety. During the Bush administration, calls for stricter oversight of the food industry were largely ignored. Now, many manufacturers, trade associations and consumer advocates hope the Obama administration will support legislation aimed at reforming the system. You [...]

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A Vermont family whose son was sickened by tainted peanut crackers will seek punitive damages following the release of a report that claims the defendant knowingly sold contaminated products. According to the Food and Drug Administration report, the Peanut Corp. of America had detected salmonella in some of its products on several occasions yet failed [...]

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The signing of the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act may prove to be a fleeting moment of triumph for labor rights advocates as Congress shifts its focus to more contentious labor initiatives. Not surprising, business groups and leadership within the Republican minority have vowed to pose strong opposition to upcoming labor legislation. President Obama on Friday [...]

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Federal health officials had to seek permission from the company blamed for a nationwide salmonella outbreak before they could initiate a recall, the New York Times reports. Under current Food and Drug Administration rules, the agency must consult with companies on the wording of recalls before they can take effect. President Obama and congressional Democrats [...]

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