Most Addictive Verdict: Teva Pharma to Dole Out $1.6M for Opioid Sham-marketing Claims
Teva Pharmaceuticals agreed to pay $1.6 million to settle with California prosecutors after the company allegedly used deceptive advertising practices for its opioid painkillers, according to an article from the Orange County Register.
Teva is one of several companies fingered as a catalyst of the opioid addiction “epidemic.” The company was said to have engaged in a “decades-long scheme,” downplaying the risks of the drugs while “exaggerating” their benefits. However, the company denied any wrongdoing. Purdue Pharma, Endo Health Solutions, Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Actavis also stand accused of deceptive marketing, according to the article.
Most Surveilled Verdict: NY Court of Appeals Rules Unprovoked License Plate Scans Legal
"New York’s top court affirmed a lower court ruling that police can scan the license plates of vehicles even if they have no reason to believe a crime was committed,” according to an article from the Times Union.
The scans do not constitute a search, wrote Court of Appeals Chief Judge Janet DiFiore. The court also said police can use information about vehicle registration violations from those scans as “probable cause” to stop a vehicle. The case originated when Andrew R. Bushey drove past a Buffalo State University police officer and was pulled over in August of 2014.
The officer did not witness a traffic violation, but entered Bushey’s plate number into a database, revealing his license and registration were suspended. He was arrested for driving while intoxicated.
Most Murderous Verdict: NC ‘Serial Killer’ Gets 7 Consecutive Life Sentences
Todd Kohlhepp of South Carolina pleaded guilty to murdering seven people spanning 13 years, according to information from NBC News.
As part of the plea deal, he was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences with no chance at parole. Kohlhepp ran a real estate business and was arrested in November after a woman was found chained in a shipping container on his 95-acre property. Several of his victims were buried on his property. His victims included motorcycle shop employees and laborers he hired on his property. Kohlhepp's attorney said there are no additional victims and he has “come clean.”
Most Entertaining Verdict: Marketer Ordered to Pay $90K in Nearly-Made Broadway Play
After a series of twists and turns associated with Rebecca, the Broadway-play-that-never-was, the show’s press agent Marc Thibodeau was found not liable for defamation, but was still ordered to shell out $90,000 in damages, $85,000 for tortious interference and $5,000 for breach of contract, according to Playbill.
Thibodeau was sued by the show’s producers for more than $10 million. The show was delayed several times before being suspended indefinitely and included cast members dropping out and being arrested, according to the article. Thibodeau was sued after allegedly sending cautionary emails, using a fake name, to a potential investor about fraud committed by other investors. The investor eventually backed out. The producers have since lost the rights to the show.
Most Int'l Verdict: Footballer Messi’s May Not Spend Time in Jail Despite Sentence
Soccer star Lionel Messi’s 21-month jail term has been upheld by Spain’s Supreme Court, however, he may not end up behind bars, according to an article from the BBC.
Messi and his father Jorge, who manages his money, were convicted of tax fraud, but the footballer has since paid back some of the taxes. According to Spanish law, prison sentences under two years can be served “under probation,” the article reads.
Messi and his father were initially convicted of fraud after they reportedly used “tax havens” in Uruguay and Belize. Other players have also been recently embroiled in allegations like defender Javier Mascherano, Brazilian star Neymar and former club president, Sandro Rosell.