Honolulu resident Lois Takamori has filed a lawsuit against drug giant Merck, alleging that Fosamax, a drug used to treat osteoporosis by strengthening bone density, actually weakened her bones and caused her thigh bone to break.

Takamori, who now walks with a cane, and said she is worse off than before taking the medication, joins a growing number of lawsuits filed around the country. 40 of those lawsuits are being consolidated in New Jersey. More Hawaiian Woman Files Fosamax Lawsuit

While Sony is working to regain credibility, a class action lawsuit filed in California federal court makes serious allegation against the company regarding actions before, during and after the massive Playstation Network data breach in April.

The lawsuit alleges that the company “laid off employees in a unit responsible for network security two weeks before a massive data breach”, but “spent lavishly on security for its own data,” according to Reuters. More Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Sony Laid Off Network Security Group Two Weeks Before Hack

The settlement, which U.S, District Judge Richard Berman called “another important step for the financial industry and the SEC in righting the wrongs of the recent financial crisis,” was over civil charges that JPMorgan’s collateralized debt obligation (CDO), marketed as Squared CDO 2007-1, defrauded bank investors at the time of the housing collapse, as reported by Reuters.

An attorney for JPMorgan Chase & Co said that the allegations had been thoroughly investigated and that “ a fair and reasonable agreement” had been reached. An attorney for the SEC said that settlement was in the interest of the parties involved and the public interest. More SEC and JPMorgan Chase & Co Reach $153.6 Million Settlement

Florida resident Ormond Dees has filed a malpractice lawsuit in Bartow Circuit Court against Winter Haven Hospital alleging medical malpractice after fire broke out during a procedure causing second and third degree burns to his thigh and right hand, and amputation of his fourth and fifth fingers.

In the lawsuit, Dees names cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon Dr. David K. Evans and the Florida Heart and Vascular Surgeons P. A., as defendants,  and claims the hospital and attending nursing staff were negligent by not having the proper non-alcoholic sterilization solution nearby, and by using too much alcohol preparation solution, which was not allowed to dry before the procedure began. More Man Who Lost Two Fingers Files Lawsuit Against Winter Haven Hospital

Claiming that environmentalists will push for stiffer fines than the government would, the Sierra Club had requested a “seat at the table” in the U.S. civil lawsuit against BP over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, which is seeking billion of dollars for pollution law violations and damage to the country’s natural resources. The court denied the environmental group’s request.

The lawsuit, which is being heard in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, is seeking between $1,100 to $4,300 per barrel of oil spilled, and billions of dollars for restoration of wetlands, marshes, beaches, fisheries and wildlife harmed by the spill, Bloomberg reports. More Sierra Club Can Not Join Governments Civil Lawsuit Against BP

Medical malpractice lawsuits may be more difficult to win as Florida Gov. Rick Scott has signed HB 479 into law which prevents out-of-state experts from giving testimony against doctors, gives legal immunity to doctors who volunteer their services to college and high school sports teams, and allows sales of medical malpractice insurance that gives doctors the ability to settle out of court.

Opponents of the bill say that it will make it harder for those bringing the lawsuits to be fairly compensated for harms caused by others. More Lawsuit Limitations Established In Pennsylvania and Florida

Bonnie  and Anthony Wilson, parents of 4-year old Ronan Wilson have filed a lawsuit against the Clark County Public Health department in Washington state alleging that negligent failures by the county were causes of Ronan’s death, after he contracted E. coli at the Fletch Family Daycare center.

The lawsuit alleges that the health department was negligent and didn’t “reasonably alert the medical community, the general public or the public schools of the E. coli outbreak in a timely manner.” More Lawsuit Filed Against Clark County Public Health Over Day Care Death

Bank of America has agreed to pay $8.5 billion to settle claims regarding refunds demanded by mortgage bondholders, including BlackRock Inc., and Pacific Investment Management Co., and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

In the lawsuit, the investors demanded that BofA repurchase home loans that had been packaged into the bonds by Countrywide Financial Corp, which BofA owns. Nearly 530 mortgages are involved in the suit, totaling $424 billion, Bloomberg reports. More BofA Settles Mortgage Bond Lawsuits For $8.5 Billion

A Circuit Court Judged has denied a lawsuit filed by Northeast Natural Energy in Monongalia County Circuit Court requesting a temporary injunction be placed to prevent an ordinance passed last week in Morgantown to prevent deep, horizontal gas drilling, otherwise known as fracking.  Enrout Properties LLC has joined Northeast in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges that Morgantown ‘overreached’ its authority and is illegally depriving the companies and private landowners their rights. According to Business Week, Morgantown Mayor Bill Byrne said the city is trying to protect its water supply and its residents, and that state legislators have failed to adopt regulations specific to fracking. He also said that state law gives authority to municipalities areas up to one mile outside city limits. More Northeast Natural Energy Sues Morgantown WV Over Drilling Ban

The Department of Justice is scrutinizing a whistle-blower lawsuit filed against Home Depot and several other companies, alleging that purchases made under governmental contract violated the Buy American Act of 1933.

According to the Dow Jones Newswire, two former employees of Actus Lend Lease filed the suit against several companies, Actus and Home Depot included. Actus settled last year for less than $1 million, but Home Depot remains as a defendant. More Justice Department Takes Close Look At Home Depot Whistle-blower Lawsuit