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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

POST-VERDICT – With a $572 million bench verdict in Oklahoma against Johnson & Johnson opioid maker Janssen Pharmaceuticals, pro-business groups are taking issue with the legal basis for the state's win and fretting over its impact, should the judgment stand. Amanda Bronstad reports that the outcome of closely-watched trial, which has preceded an MDL trial in October with more than 20 defendants, has defense groups worried about expanding the public nuisance doctrine, the basis for liability found by Oklahoma Judge Thad Balkman. Such an interpretation of public nuisance means "almost any industry could be the target of large-scale litigation," said Lisa Rickard, president of the U.S. Chamber's Institute for Legal Reform.

GRIEVING – The Georgia Court of Appeals is dealing with the emotional fallout from the death of Judge Stephen Goss, who took his own life, Jonathan Ringel reports. Fellow Judge Ken Hodges, former president of the State Bar of Georgia, said that Goss' death was a reminder of the importance of mental health treatment and suicide awareness in the legal profession, which the Georgia bar has been promoting in recent years. Goss, who was elevated to the Court of Appeals last year, was found Saturday morning behind his house, dead from a single gunshot. To find mental health resources for legal professionals, go here.

MILL'S MORNING – The Philadelphia DA's office is expected to announce at a status conference this morning whether it will drop the case against hip-hop artist Meek Mill or continue to pursue charges. In July, a Pennsylvania appeals court granted a new trial to Mill, who's real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, after Judge Genece Brinkley sentenced him to two-to-four years in prison for a probation violation in an underlying drug and gun case, even though neither prosecutors nor Williams' probation officer sought jail time. The July decision also said Brinkley should not preside over any further proceedings involving Williams.

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EDITOR'S PICKS

Midlevel Associates Are Feeling the Burn From All That Work

3rd Circuit Grants En Banc Review of Amazon's Liability for Defective Products Sold by 3rd Parties

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WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

THAI PUSH – Japan's largest law firm, Nishimura & Asahi, will merge with a Thai firm, becoming just the second major Japanese firm to do so. John Kang reports that Nishimura & Asahi's eight-lawyer Bangkok office will merge with 60-lawyer SCL Law Group in October, and the merged Bangkok office will operate under the new name SCL Nishimura. SCL was founded in 2005 by managing partner Chavalit Uttasart, who focuses on intellectual property and mergers and acquisitions.

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WHAT YOU SAID

"Just as the court cannot overstate the potential harm to plaintiffs if the injunction is denied, the court cannot overstate the potential harm to unvaccinated individuals if the injunction is granted."

—  DENISE HARTMAN, ALBANY COUNTY SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, IN DECIDING AGAINST AN INJUNCTION, FOR NOW, THAT WOULD HAVE BLOCKED A NEW YORK LAW THAT REMOVES RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS TO VACCINES FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN.

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