Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Suboxone and Baby Food Claims Drive Daily Federal Mass-Tort Filings

Federal mass-tort dockets absorbed 98 new filings on June 3, 2026, led by the Suboxone Film Products Liability Litigation (MDL 3092), where ASK Law drove a concentrated slate of 23 new complaints over allegations the buprenorphine-based opioid addiction treatment causes severe and permanent dental decay. The Baby Food Products Liability Litigation (MDL 3101) followed with 9 suits anchored by Dicello Levitt LLP over infant nutrition products allegedly tainted with neurotoxic heavy metals, while the Hair Relaxer Products Liability Litigation (MDL 3060) added 7, paced by Johnson Law Group, over chemical straighteners tied to uterine and ovarian cancer. Rounding out the top five, the Depo-Provera Products Liability Litigation (MDL 3140) and the Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Litigation (MDL 2738) each logged 6 filings — the former pressing claims the injectable contraceptive causes brain tumors such as meningiomas, the latter alleging ovarian-cancer risk from asbestos-tainted cosmetic talc — leaving defense counsel to watch whether these bursts of plaintiff coordination presage a broader leadership push ahead of the summer's status conferences.

Medtronic Unit Must Face Bellwether Hernia Mesh Claims

On June 4, 2026, a federal judge ruled that Medtronic's Covidien unit must face upcoming bellwether trials over allegations its synthetic hernia mesh implants are defective. The decision in the Covidien Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation (No. II) (MDL 3029) advances the sprawling multidistrict litigation toward crucial jury trials designed to test the strength of plaintiffs' design defect and failure-to-warn claims. Plaintiffs allege the surgical mesh devices are prone to premature failure, requiring invasive revision surgeries and causing severe chronic pain. With over 2,300 actions pending, the court's refusal to dismiss the initial bellwether cases significantly heightens the stakes for Medtronic as both sides prepare for high-profile courtroom showdowns.

Assembly of God Faces Abuse Lawsuit Over Hidden Cameras

On June 4, 2026, a civil lawsuit advanced against the Assemblies of God and its regional leadership, alleging the denomination shielded a children's minister who molested young girls and secretly filmed them for 15 years. The litigation centers on Anthony Waller, who is currently serving a life sentence after pleading guilty to rape and sexual abuse charges. Plaintiffs assert that church officials ignored explicit warnings as early as 2000 and temporarily suspended Waller after a hidden bathroom camera was discovered in 2004, only to restore him to ministry without notifying authorities. For attorneys litigating systemic institutional abuse, the case underscores the severe liability risks religious organizations face when internal handling of sexual misconduct allegations supersedes mandatory reporting and child protection protocols.