Businesses in the dietary supplement supply chain are taking cover after the New York Attorney General (NYAG) ordered four major retailers to cease and desist the sale and alleged mislabeling of certain herbal supplements. After genetically testing store-brand product samples of Ginko Biloba, St. John’s Wort, Ginseng, Garlic, Echinacea, and Saw Palmetto, the NYAG alleged that the supplements were unrecognizable or contained substances other than those disclosed on their packaging labels. Class action lawsuits already have been filed, and the NYAG directed the targeted retailers to provide it with detailed information regarding the manufacturing, testing, and procurement of the herbal supplements, and announced that it may bring charges for alleged deceptive practices in advertising.
Continue Reading Pursuing Insurance Coverage for Alleged Mislabeling of Dietary and Herbal Supplement Products
Regulatory
On the Coattails of United States v. Trek Leather, Make Sure You Have Suitable D&O Coverage
By Andy Moss & Stephen Winter on
Corporate directors and officers have a long list of things that can keep them up at night. Personal liability for civil fines and penalties arising out of negligence or even gross negligence committed in the course of their service to the company should not be one of them. But recently, in United States v. Trek Leather, Inc., 767 F.3d 1288 (Fed. Cir. 2014) (en banc), a federal appeals court held that the government could hold a corporate officer liable for a civil penalty based on gross negligence committed by the officer or his or her agents acting in the scope of their duties to the company, and without the government establishing fraudulent intent or attempting to pierce the corporate veil.
Continue Reading On the Coattails of United States v. Trek Leather, Make Sure You Have Suitable D&O Coverage