Want to get this daily news briefing by email? Here's the sign-up.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

OUTCOME – In the first verdict to come out of an attorney general's lawsuit over transvaginal mesh devices, a San Diego judge has ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay nearly $344 million to the state of California, Amanda Bronstad reports. Johnson, which sold more than 30,000 pelvic mesh products in California from 2008 to 2014, is one of several manufacturers of the devices hit by individual lawsuits that, at one time, peaked at nearly 100,000. Many of those cases have since settled.

WITNESS? A Senate vote over calling witnesses in President Trump's impeachment trial could come as soon as today. Democrats are hoping four Republicans will join them, which would give them the 51 votes needed. Republicans are especially eager to hear testimony from former National Security Adviser John Bolton.

TESTIMONY – When aspiring actress Jessica Mann communicated with Harvey Weinstein after he allegedly sexually assaulted her, was she trying to protect her career, as prosecutors argue, or was she interested in a romantic relationship with Weinstein, as his defense team has claimed? Those are the arguments jurors in Manhattan will have to weigh when Mann is expected to testify today in the criminal trial against the ex-Hollywood producer.

ERRATUM – A story included in yesterday's Morning Minute incorrectly stated the revenue Morrison & Foerster reported for 2019. The correct number is $1.15 billion.

EDITOR'S PICKS

Cooley Adds Mental Health Benefits in Expanded Wellness Push

How Bilzin Sumberg Helped End Miami's Decadelong Super Bowl Drought

Creating a Diverse and Welcoming Legal Department: A Q&A With Ironclad's Chris Young

Boies Schiller Lawyers Says Firm Helped Hire Ex-Spies to Aid Harvey Weinstein

State Bar Association Report Backs Recreational Marijuana in NY

Clients to Firms: Ask Permission Before Storing Our  Data on the Cloud

 

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

GROWING - Professional services firm Andersen Global has entered into a collaboration agreement with a law firm based in Israel. Varsha Patel reports that the agreement with Lipa Meir & Co brings on board more than 80 legal professionals. Andersen is now in more than 70 countries, with legal services in 61.

WHAT YOU SAID

"If you think impeachment is the answer here, that really is not a good state of affairs for our country."

— Randolph Moss, U.S. District Judge in D.C., responding to a DOJ lawyer, who argued that courts have no jurisdiction in a battle over census records and that the House could use the power of impeachment to get the records.

➤➤ Sign up here to receive the Morning Minute straight to your inbox.