Abortion Measures Split State Voters In Midterm Election

By Chris Villani

Reproductive and gender-affirming care rights were on ballots in several states Tuesday night, as the Idaho electorate rejected a measure that would have overturned its anti-abortion laws, while voters in Nevada and other states passed measures expanding abortion protections.

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CVS To Split In 2, Unraveling Decade-Old Megamerger

By Al Barbarino

CVS Health said Wednesday that it plans to split into two independent, publicly traded companies, separating its Aetna- and Caremark-led healthcare businesses from its 9,000 retail pharmacy locations, reversing its nearly decade-old combination of the businesses.

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Mass. Justices Doubt Nantucket's Rationale For PFML Denial

By Julie Manganis

Massachusetts' highest court appeared to push back Wednesday on assertions by Nantucket that it cannot implement the state's Paid Family and Medical Leave Act for employees of the island enclave, despite a town meeting vote, because some of its unions have not agreed to bargain over the cost.

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AGs Say Taro's $200M MDL Deal Doesn't Bar Their Claims

By Bryan Koenig

Dozens of state attorneys general urged a Connecticut federal judge Tuesday not to let Taro Pharmaceuticals block a swath of their price-fixing claims with a $200 million settlement it struck with plaintiffs in separate multidistrict litigation, arguing the claims and plaintiffs are too separate to bind one another.

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MVP: Holland & Knight's Jennifer Weaver

By Danielle Ferguson

Dubbed the "Queen of the False Claims Act" by an opposing counsel, Jennifer Weaver of Holland & Knight LLP convinced the government to drop its investigation into California's Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and successfully defended a Puerto Rican cardiologist against FCA and kickback claims, earning her a spot as one of the 2026 Law360 Healthcare MVPs.

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Analysis

Anti-Pot Group Eyes New Repeal Pushes After Mass. Loss

By Sam Reisman

After Election Day, anti-cannabis activists are pledging to bring repeal efforts to other states despite a decisive defeat in Massachusetts, while pro-cannabis industry and consumer-focused groups say they hope to work with a Democrat-controlled Congress to secure federal reform.

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Brief

EU Committees OK Tighter Controls On Drug Inputs

By Jack McLoone

Two European Parliament committees voted Wednesday to advance draft measures they said would strengthen controls on chemicals used to manufacture illegal drugs like heroin and cocaine.

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Feature

4 Argument Sessions For Benefits Attys To Watch In Nov.

By Kellie Mejdrich

JPMorgan Chase & Co. will defend its win in a 401(k) forfeiture suit at the Ninth Circuit, Aetna will ask the Second Circuit to push a multiemployer health plan's suit into arbitration, and the Tenth Circuit hears from pharmacy benefit managers who want an opioid nuisance battle moved to federal court. Here, Law360 looks at four arguments that benefits attorneys may want to keep an eye on in November.

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Highmark Health Network Hit With Suit Over AI Recording Use

By Gianna Ferrarin

Allegheny Health Network and its parent Highmark Health failed to get informed consent from patients for use of an artificial intelligence-based clinical documentation tool in exam rooms, according to a patient's proposed class action complaint in Pennsylvania state court.

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Anthem Fights Rework Of Neurosurgery Group Antitrust Case

By Matthew Perlman

A pair of Anthem units are pushing back against a Long Island, New York, neurosurgery practice's bid to file an amended complaint accusing the insurer of driving down reimbursement rates, telling a New York federal court the changes fail to fix the problems that resulted in a previous dismissal.

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2nd Circ. Told To Not Expand Antitrust Patent Fraud Standing

By Bryan Koenig

A pharmaceutical industry trade group has backed Bristol-Myers Squibb and its Celgene subsidiary in the Second Circuit, warning that health plans asking the appeals court to reinstate a proposed class action against the companies are seeking to expand who can bring antitrust cases alleging fraudulently obtained patents.

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Pharmacy Worker Says Dosage Machine Cut Off Fingertip

By Jonathan Capriel

A pharmacy worker suffered a "traumatic" finger amputation when a machine that dispenses liquid medication caught her index finger and ripped part of it off, according to a lawsuit in Pennsylvania state court that accuses medical device manufacturer Precision Products Group Inc. of defective design.

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Colo. Co. Accused Of Misusing $400K Loan For HHS Deal

By Rachel Konieczny

A Colorado public benefit corporation breached a loan agreement by failing to use the $400,000 loan for its intended purpose and instead diverting the loan to settle a nearly $600,000 civil penalty with a federal government agency, according to a lender's lawsuit in Colorado state court.

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Walgreens Seeks Sanctions In Investors' Pharma Growth Suit

By Sydney Price

Walgreens has asked an Illinois federal judge to sanction investors and their attorneys in a securities fraud class action, arguing they continued to falsely attribute statements about the company's plans to open hundreds of clinics to a former executive even after a recording showed his statement was taken out of context.

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What To Expect From Calif.'s Incoming Health AI Laws

California's new statewide ground rules for artificial intelligence in clinical care, set to take effect on Jan. 1, reveal the Legislature's choice to regulate healthcare AI primarily though institutions, rather than direct product regulation, and providers should shape their compliance plans accordingly, say attorneys at Reed Smith.

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Opinion

The Invisible AI Danger That May Undermine Legal Profession

A public database tracking cases involving hallucinations generated by artificial intelligence recently surpassed 2,200 entries, but the bigger risk underlying attorneys’ use of such tools is that they will slowly surrender their judgment to AI and lose analytical skills, says Massachusetts District Court Associate Justice Brian Palmucci.

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Faegre Drinker Hires Morgan Lewis Tax Specialist In Philly

By Jack Rodgers

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP has hired a Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP tax associate to join its Philadelphia office as a partner working on federal income tax and other tax matters, according to a Wednesday announcement.

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Controversial DOJ Civil Rights Division Leader Steps Down

By Alison Knezevich

Harmeet K. Dhillon, a U.S. Department of Justice official who instituted dramatic changes as leader of the Civil Rights Division, has stepped down from her role.

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Analysis

Racing Against Whistleblowers Could Cost Companies

By Phillip Bantz

The U.S. Department of Justice's new cash rewards program for tips on criminal fraud threatens to ramp up the pressure on companies to hurry internal investigations and quickly report suspected misconduct to the government before whistleblowers do, which could backfire in some cases, according to experts.

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Which GCs Sold Stock In Oct.? Chevron, Micron & More

By Sue Reisinger

If Halloween threw a scare into legal chiefs, it didn't keep them from selling company stock in October. Chevron's R. Hewitt Pate and United Therapeutics' Paul Mahon each sold nearly $10 million worth, while Michael Ray of Micron was a distant third with $5.88 million in sales last month.

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Maynard Nexsen Adds 9 Constangy Attys Across 3 States

By Christine DeRosa

Maynard Nexsen PC said Thursday the firm has added nine labor and employment attorneys from Constangy Brooks Smith & Prophete LLP, expanding its presence in New York, New Jersey and Missouri.

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Sullivan & Cromwell Brings On Weil Capital Markets Leader

By Isaac Monterose

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP has hired the co-leader of Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP's capital markets team for a capital markets partner role in its New York City office, the firm announced Thursday.

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Toshiba, DTE Are Worlds Apart On Bond For $394M Judgment

By Melanie Dorsey

Toshiba Corp. urged a Michigan federal judge Thursday to limit its appeal bond to $37 million rather than the $549 million sought by two Michigan utilities, arguing that a state law capping appeal bonds should apply as the company challenges a $394 million judgment over a botched power plant overhaul.

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Trump's Hush Money Conviction Examined By Wary NY Panel

By Frank G. Runyeon

A New York State appellate court Thursday quizzed attorneys for President Donald Trump and state prosecutors over his hush-money conviction, exploring defense counsel's claims that the district attorney trespassed into federal jurisdiction by charging election violations and trampled on presidential immunity in a case "infected with multiple fatal errors."

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