Monday, June 29, 2026

Talcum Powder and Depo-Provera Lead Weekly Docket Volume as Mass Torts Expand

A major single-firm filing push and expanding pharmaceutical dockets drove robust federal multidistrict activity this past week, reinforcing a trend of high-volume intake across mature mass torts. The Talcum Powder (MDL 2738) litigation led the nation's dockets with 154 filings, propelled by a 121-case wave from Duncan Stubbs alongside secondary filings from Wagstaff Law Firm. Close behind, the rapidly growing Depo-Provera (MDL 3140) contraceptive docket added 105 new complaints, spearheaded by Vogelzang Law and Hochman Law Firm PLLC. Environmental chemical claims also saw steady gains, as Krentsel & Guzman LLP and Napoli Shkolnik directed 65 new actions into the aqueous film-forming foams (MDL 2873) litigation. Meanwhile, the Hair Relaxer (MDL 3060) docket logged 50 new cases divided evenly between Keller Postman LLC and Wallace Miller, and the Social Media Addiction (MDL 3047) proceeding added 25 filings led by the Law Offices of Charles H Johnson and Frantz Law Group APLC. See the full filing feed and firm-level breakdowns here.

Problem Gambling Foundation Demands TV Ban as Sports Betting Litigation Mounts

On June 28, 2026, the Problem Gambling Foundation called for a legislative ban on television advertising for sports betting in New Zealand, citing a massive influx of marketing that advocates argue fuels severe addiction. This regulatory push mirrors escalating civil litigation in the United States targeting the aggressive marketing tactics of major platforms. In the federal complaint Dane Miller v. DraftKings Inc., filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, a Chicago resident alleges that the operator used complex algorithms and personalized VIP incentives to exploit his gambling disorder. The plaintiff alleges he placed over $2 million in total wagers—draining his wedding fund, borrowing against his 401(k) retirement account, and running up credit card debt to finance his betting. After losing his job and being hospitalized for suicidal ideation, Miller seeks damages for financial ruin, emotional distress, and medical expenses over the platform's alleged failure to implement adequate responsible gaming safeguards.

ECT Submits PFAS Destruction Technology for Key EPA Guidance Review

On June 29, 2026, Environmental Clean Technologies Limited submitted a formal public comment submission to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as part of the agency’s ongoing review of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances destruction and disposal guidelines. The Australian company highlighted lab-scale performance data for its Rapid Electrothermal Mineralisation technology, showing over 99 percent removal of toxic compounds from treated soils and granular activated carbon. By demonstrating near-complete fluorine mass balance, the process addresses critical regulatory concerns regarding the formation of harmful chemical byproducts during thermal disposal. This submission targets the federal agency’s updated interim guidance on managing these persistent chemicals, aiming to secure a commercial foothold in the domestic remediation market. Litigators in the AFFF Products Liability Litigation (MDL 2873) are closely tracking these emerging destruction solutions, as the viability of such technologies remains central to evaluating long-term environmental remediation and cleanup liabilities.