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Articles by Thomas Azar
Remember the military as we mark the nation's 250th birthday | Opinion
Thomas Azar Sept. 6, 2026, 5:01 a.m. ET Have you noticed how media outlets constantly rank the Top 50 key people, events or documents that shaped our country? As citizens, we certainly should read the documents, visit historical sites, tour museums, enjoy our rich arts, and pay respect to notable figures. Yet one foundational element is continuously downplayed or missing: the military cemeteries, museums, and bases that serve as the cornerstone for every discipline on those lists.
Column: Folded on the 4th of July
At a recent flag-folding ceremony, many veterans and widows inquired about the meaning behind each fold conducted by our Air Force Honor Guard. Some had never heard the explanation before. The following is my personal rewrite, which I have used for many services across both military and civilian events. Our flag represents the democratic and religious principles on which our country was founded. It inspires passion and recalls our shared history.
GUEST VIEW: Folded on the 4th of July
At a recent flag-folding ceremony, many veterans and widows inquired about the meaning behind each fold conducted by our Air Force Honor Guard. Some had never heard the explanation before. The following is my personal rewrite, which I have used for many services across both military and civilian events. Our flag represents the democratic and religious principles on which our country was founded. It inspires passion and recalls our shared history.
GUEST VIEW: Folded on the 4th of July
At a recent flag-folding ceremony, many veterans and widows inquired about the meaning behind each fold conducted by our Air Force Honor Guard. Some had never heard the explanation before. The following is my personal rewrite, which I have used for many services across both military and civilian events. Our flag represents the democratic and religious principles on which our country was founded. It inspires passion and recalls our shared history.
The meaning behind the folding of the American flag | Opinion
At a recent flag-folding ceremony, many veterans and widows inquired about the meaning behind each fold conducted by our Air Force Honor Guard. Some had never heard the explanation before. The following is my personal rewrite, which I have used for many services across both military and civilian events.
Mother's Day 2026: Honoring the silent strength
May is a month defined by the weight and wonder of military service. Our calendars are full of significant observances: Military Caregiver Month, National Nurses Week, Armed Forces Day and the solemnity of Memorial Day. Yet, standing behind every service member, every peace officer and every fallen patriot is a foundation of love that makes all other service possible. This May, I want to focus on the heart of the home, our mothers. k9bm%96 A2E:6?46 @7 2 >:=:E2CJ |@?52Jk^9bm kAm(9:=6 2 4:G:=:2?
In My Opinion: Honoring the silent strength, Mother's Day 2026
May is a month defined by the weight and wonder of military service. Our calendars are full of significant observances: Military Caregiver Month, National Nurses Week, Armed Forces Day and the solemnity of Memorial Day. Yet, standing behind every service member, every peace officer and every fallen patriot is a foundation of love that makes all other service possible. This May, I want to focus on the heart of the home, our mothers.
In My Opinion: Honoring the silent strength, Mother's Day 2026
May is a month defined by the weight and wonder of military service. Our calendars are full of significant observances: Military Caregiver Month, National Nurses Week, Armed Forces Day and the solemnity of Memorial Day. Yet, standing behind every service member, every peace officer and every fallen patriot is a foundation of love that makes all other service possible. This May, I want to focus on the heart of the home, our mothers. k9cm%wt !p%xt}rt ~u p |x{x%p#* |~}sp*k^9cm kAm(9:=6 2 4:G:=:2?
Johnson & Johnsons Settles $3.9M Pelvic Mesh Lawsuit - The National Trial Lawyers
West Virginia has reached a $3.9 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson in a lawsuit over the company’s marketing of a surgical mesh used to treat pelvic conditions in women, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced Monday. Morrisey filed a consumer protection case against the company in September, saying it misrepresented the risks and effectiveness of the medical implant.
Lawsuit Accuses Juul of Targeting Children With Marketing - The National Trial Lawyers
Anne Arundel and Howard counties sued e-cigarette maker Juul Labs and affiliated companies, joining a growing onslaught against the billion-dollar company over claims that it marketed its products to children. They joined Garrett County in filing separate but identical federal lawsuits against the California-based company in early April, following the lead of Montgomery County, which retained a national law firm late last year.
$130.4M Settlement To Help Combat Smoking In Indiana - The National Trial Lawyers
Indiana has secured $130.4 million from tobacco product manufacturers this year under the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, Attorney General Curtis Hill announced today. “Our office works diligently to enforce the terms of this settlement,” Attorney General Hill said. “Our efforts in this regard are directly responsible for our ability to maintain the maximum levels of funding available to our state.
Cure Boredom with Courtroom Video Coverage by CVN - The National Trial Lawyers
Tired of Netflix and itching to get back into court? Let the country’s top attorneys help. CVN’s curated collection of trial videos highlights some of the nation’s best lawyers in critical moments of their biggest trials. With a library featuring hundreds of video clips, you will discover the trial techniques that The National Trial Lawyers leaders Joe Fried, Mark Lanier, John Romano, and others used to secure blockbuster verdicts.
$1M Settlement in Wrongful Death Lawsuit For UConn Student Run Over by Fire Vehicle - The National Trial Lawyers
The parents of a UConn student who was run over and killed by a campus fire department truck in 2016 have settled a wrongful death lawsuit against the state and other defendants for about $1 million, according to a probate court official. Jeffny Pally, a 19-year-old sophomore from West Hartford, fell asleep in front of a fire department garage door after drinking alcohol at an off-campus party, authorities said.
UCLA Professor Sues Seyfarth Claiming $24M Malpractice - The National Trial Lawyers
A UCLA linguistics professor is suing Big Law’s Seyfarth Shaw and one of its former partners over their investigation of her discrimination and harassment complaints against her former employer, California State University at Fullerton. The professor, Natalie Operstein, seeks $24 million in compensatory damages, plus a punitive award, attorneys fees and costs. Seyfarth was supposed to be “an impartial tribunal,” according to her April 17 complaint.
$4M Verdict Over Doctor’s Failed Attempts to Insert Catheter - The National Trial Lawyers
West Palm Beach attorneys William D. Zoeller and Michael V. Baxter of Schuler Halvorson Weisser Zoeller Overbeck obtained a $4 million jury verdict for the family of a 72-year-old man who died after his doctor tried to insert a catheter 14 times—for a procedure the plaintiffs alleged could have waited. But not all the facts were on their side. Gerald Sanford had a history of mitral valve regurgitation, a heart problem that can cause a back flow of blood.
Canadian Couple Receives $9M Jury Verdict Over Bike Wreck - The National Trial Lawyers
A jury has awarded greater than $9 million in damages to a person and girl from Vancouver, British Columbia, who had been struck by an 18-wheeler truck whereas using their bikes alongside Interstate 84 in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. The eight-member jury discovered Exel Inc. — extra generally referred to as the delivery firm DHL — responsible for the Aug. 3, 2016, collision late Friday after a five-day trial in US District Court docket in Portland.
GM Settles Ignition-Switch Lawsuit for $120 Million - The National Trial Lawyers
General Motors has agreed to pay $120 million to settle more claims that its deadly ignition-switch defect caused car owners economic harm, according to a settlement filing on Friday in New York City’s U.S. District Court.
Rochester Settles Sex Harassment Case for $9.4M - The National Trial Lawyers
The University of Rochester settled a long-running legal case over alleged sexual harassment within its brain and cognitive sciences program for $9.4 million, parties announced Friday. In a joint statement, Rochester thanked the nine former students and professors who sued it in 2017, alleging misconduct by T. Florian Jaeger, professor of brain and cognitive sciences.
Philip Morris Lost Appeal of $41 Million Verdict - The National Trial Lawyers
A $41 million jury award for a former smoker whose decades-long habit allegedly led to a life with debilitating pulmonary disease isn’t excessive, the Eleventh Circuit said in a ruling against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Philip Morris USA Inc. The jury’s $15.8 million compensatory award, reduced to $12.8 million to reflect Florida resident Kenneth Kerrivan’s own fault, was “consistent with the evidence,” Judge Jill Pryor said Tuesday for the appeals court.
Supreme Court Declines to Hear $100M Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over Parris Island Recruit’s Death - The National Trial Lawyers
The Supreme Court declined to hear a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit brought on by the parents of a Parris Island, South Carolina, recruit after a lower court dismissed the lawsuit in 2019, according to a court document. Siddiqui’s parents, Ghazala and Masood, brought on the lawsuit claiming their son and Marine recruit Raheel Siddiqui endured torture and abuse because he was Muslim.
Telework with The National Trial Lawyers’ CVN Essentials Member Value Upgrade - The National Trial Lawyers
Trials on hold? Currently teleworking? The National Trial Lawyers, in partnership with Courtroom View Network (CVN), is providing current members with FREE access to CVN Essentials, a curated legal video library of 250+ video clips featuring key moments of trials from all around the country. Members of The National Trial Lawyers also receive a NEW upgraded discount of 25% off an annual subscription to the entire CVN video archive using code NTL25.
Lawyer’s ‘Death Warrant’ Remarks Get $18M Verdict Reversed - The National Trial Lawyers
The Georgia Court of Appeals reversed a verdict of $18 million Monday, citing “inflammatory remarks” a lawyer made during closing arguments. Judge Brian Rickman wrote a unanimous opinion tossing the results from a damages-only Mitchell County Superior Court trial in the small town of Camilla before South Georgia Circuit Judge Heather Lanier. The defense had admitted liability. The fight was over how much to pay.
$1.2M Sex Discrimination Lawsuit Filed Against Central Oregon Hospital - The National Trial Lawyers
A former pharmacist is suing central Oregon’s largest health care provider for $1.2 million, saying the hospital maintained a hostile work environment that included gender discrimination and sexual harassment. Darcy Martin filed the lawsuit against St. Charles Health System on Thursday in Deschutes County Circuit Court, The Bulletin reported. Martin worked for St. Charles as a staff pharmacist from March 2015 until she was fired in December 2019.
$520M Settlement Approved in Santee Cooper lawsuit - The National Trial Lawyers
A South Carolina judge gave preliminary approval to a $520 million settlement that would provide refunds to customers of a state-owned utility who were charged increased rates for a failed nuclear construction project. Judge Jean Toal gave an initial approval to the Santee Cooper settlement Tuesday, a big first step to ending a long-standing dispute between the utility and its customers, which include 2 million people who get power from electric cooperatives.
Texas Personal Injury Attorney, Greg Baumgartner, Named to Elite National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 - The National Trial Lawyers
Greg Baumgartner this week received an honor limited to just 100 individuals in each state. He was named to the National Trial Lawyers: Top 100. And that is no minor accomplishment considering there are 1.3 million attorneys in the United States and that the American Bar Association is actively working to address a shortage of qualified trial lawyers. Baumgartner is the founder of the Baumgartner Law Firm, a leading personal injury practice based in Houston.
Class-Action Lawsuit Over B. Braun Plant Emissions of Cancer-Causing Chemical - The National Trial Lawyers
A man who lives and works near B. Braun Medical’s plant in Lehigh County has sued the company over emissions of a cancer-causing chemical used to sterilize medical equipment. Adam Akarsoy of Whitehall Township is the lead plaintiff in a proposed class-action lawsuit on behalf of up to 24,000 people in areas identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as having an elevated lifetime cancer risk because of the plant’s emissions of ethylene oxide. B.
$18M Church St. South Settlement Reached - The National Trial Lawyers
Hundreds of tenants who were displaced from the mold-infested former Church Street South apartment complex are slated to receive upwards of $17,000 each, under a proposed $18.75 million settlement agreed to by the Massachusetts-based landlord and the tenants’ civil rights attorney. Local lawyer David Rosen and representatives from Northland Investment Corp.
Jet Gift Basket Roll Out - The National Trial Lawyers
Members of The National Trial Lawyers now receive 20% OFF on www.jetgiftbaskets.com using code NTL20! Jet Gift Baskets is one of the biggest American online gift basket retailers that delivers gift baskets of wine, chocolates, and gourmet treats that are perfect for any occasion. Posted in Blog
Teens Misidentified After Deadly Car Crash: “Just heart-dropping” - The National Trial Lawyers
The bodies of two Florida teenagers were misidentified after they were killed in a car crash near Pensacola last July. The mistake wasn’t caught until just before a wake, and not until after organs had been taken from the wrong body. Now the families of 15-year-old Samara Cooks and 18-year-old Deleigha Gibson are suing Florida Highway Patrol, the county medical examiner’s office and two funeral homes. “I’m not at peace. I’m not at peace.
Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against St. Joseph Hospital for Unfair, Abusive, and Predatory Practices - The National Trial Lawyers
An Inland Empire-based firm specializing in matters including consumer class actions and catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death, filed a class action lawsuit against St. Joseph Hospital Orange, St. Joseph Health, and Paratus Partners LLP (the St. Joseph Defendants) on March 4, 2020 in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
$1.25B West Virginia Opioid Settlement Trial Date Set - The National Trial Lawyers
West Virginia communities seeking a $1.25 billion settlement with the opioid industry are set to go on trial against the companies in late August, a federal judge said Thursday. The Aug. 31 trial date will serve as a deadline for the proposed settlement, which would be a first of its kind deal even as opioid businesses consider settling thousands of lawsuits across the country.
Women With Transvaginal Mesh Implants to Share $21.5M in Settlement - The National Trial Lawyers
A group of Canadian women who suffered ill-effects from implantation of a medical device called transvaginal mesh will receive a total of $21.5 million in compensation under a proposed class-action settlement, court records show. The settlement, between the women and Boston Scientific, involves about 325 women who received the implants. Their share of the money would depend on the severity of their medical issues.
Member value increases for The National Trial Lawyers with CVN Essentials - The National Trial Lawyers
The National Trial Lawyers is excited to announce a new partnership with Courtroom View Network (CVN) to provide current members with FREE access to CVN Essentials, a curated legal video library of 250+ video clips featuring key moments of trials from all around the country. Members of The National Trial Lawyers are also eligible for 15% off an annual subscription to the entire CVN video archive of over 1,500 fully recorded proceedings.
$12.5 Million Verdict in Tobacco Case - The National Trial Lawyers
Fort Lauderdale litigators Catherine Darlson of Kelley Uustal and Eric S. Rosen of Rosen Injury Law collaborated to secure a $12.5 million jury verdict for the widow of a South Florida homicide detective who died in 2009 after more than 40 years of smoking cigarettes. It was a trial that required the plaintiff’s team to defend their deceased client from allegations that he wasn’t really a victim in the way his loved ones had described. Rosen began working on the case while at Kelley Uustal.
Judge Upholds $6.7 Million Ruling For 5Pointz Graffiti Artists - The National Trial Lawyers
A New York appeals court has upheld a ruling to pay a group of graffiti artists $6.7 million. Developer Jerry Wolkoff asked the artists in 2002 to convert the dilapidated warehouses in Long Island City, Queens. The project became known as “5Pointz” and became a tourist attraction. From 1993 until 2013, graffiti artists were allowed to use the building as a canvas, but the owner got the city’s permission to tear 5Pointz down and build 800 luxury condos and 200 affordable units.
Bayer Asks California Court to Reverse $86M Roundup Cancer Verdict - The National Trial Lawyers
Bayer AG has asked a California appeals court to overturn an $86 million verdict that found it was responsible for a couple’s cancer caused by its glyphosate-based weed killer Roundup. In a Friday night filing with the California First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco, the company said the jury’s verdict could not be reconciled with either the law or sound science.
St. Louis County Settles $10.25M Lawsuit with Gay Police Officer - The National Trial Lawyers
St. Louis County Executive Sam Page announced the county settled the discrimination lawsuit with gay police officer, Lieutenant Keith Wildhaber. Page announced the settlement they reached was for about $10.25 million. “Which is substantially less than the $20 million judgement by the jury. And substantially less than up to $22 million which is what it could have cost us during an 18-month appeal,” Page said Monday in a press conference.
Lawsuit Seeks $100M Over Claims Florida Hotels Didn’t Stop Sex Trafficking - The National Trial Lawyers
Two Florida women who were victims of sex trafficking have sued almost two dozen hotels where they were forced to have sex, claiming the businesses did nothing to stop the illegal activity. At the hotels around the affluent Naples area, women wandered the hotel hallways strung out on drugs and wearing little clothing, according to the lawsuit by the women who are only using their initials in the complaint.
$4.5M Tobacco Settlement Funds to Kentucky Farms - The National Trial Lawyers
Gov. Andy Beshear and Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Goodman announced Thursday that 705 projects in 82 counties to receive a total of $4,554,818 in tobacco settlement funds for projects on Kentucky farms. The projects were selected by the Kentucky Soil and Water Conservation Commission. The majority of the projects being funded will install fencing for facilitation of rotational grazing or watering facilities to offer alternative water sources for livestock.
Paralyzed Buffalo Man gets $4.5M Settlement - The National Trial Lawyers
The now 24-year-old Buffalo man has needed a wheelchair since he was paralyzed by a bullet fired by a Buffalo Police officer. On Tuesday, the Buffalo Common Council approved a $4.5 million payout to settle a civil lawsuit against the Buffalo Police Department. There are conflicting versions of what happened on the night of June 24, 2012. Based on court documents, Morales was driving illegally. He was 17 and did not have a license. He was out to pick up a pizza for his family.
Missouri Paid Out More Than $24M for Lawsuits Last Year - The National Trial Lawyers
Lawsuits against the state cost taxpayers at least $24.2 million in 2019, according to Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office. The figure is down from the prior two years, but remains a vexing issue for lawmakers who are drafting the state budget and cannot count on that money for schools and social services. In 2018, the total paid out of the state’s Legal Expense Fund was $28.8 million, compared to $25 million in 2017.
Cox Communications Challenges $1B Piracy Verdict - The National Trial Lawyers
In December of 2019, Cox Communications, a major US-based provider of television, telephone, and internet services, lost a high-profile lawsuit to Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group, among other plaintiffs. The litigating labels alleged that Cox failed to address repeated copyright violations committed by its internet users—and was therefore liable for damages.
Illinois Facebook Users Awarded a Portion of $550M in Settlement Money - The National Trial Lawyers
Facebook users in Illinois could soon see a portion of a $550 million settlement over the company’s alleged breach of Illinois’ biometric information law. The social media giant disclosed that it had come to a tentative agreement over a 2015 lawsuit that alleged the company violated Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act each time it stored a person’s facial data to then notify them about photographs posted on the platform.
Facebook Reaches $550M Settlement in Facial Recognition Lawsuit - The National Trial Lawyers
Facebook Inc said on Wednesday it reached a $550 million settlement in principle related to a lawsuit that claimed it illegally collected and stored biometric data for millions of users without their consent. The lawsuit began in 2015, when Illinois users accused Facebook of violating the state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act in collecting biometric data.
Judge Grants Preliminary Approval of $14M Lawsuit Settlement - The National Trial Lawyers
A federal judge on Wednesday granted preliminary approval of a $14-million settlement in the class action sexual misconduct lawsuit against Dartmouth brought by nine former students who claim the College turned a blind eye to years of allegations against three former psychological and brain sciences professors.
U.S. Attorney Reaches Settlement Over Deaf Patient’s Complaint - The National Trial Lawyers
Lawrence + Memorial Hospital has settled a complaint filed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Connecticut on behalf of a deaf patient who alleged the hospital failed to provide her with an American Sign Language interpreter when she arrived for an appointment. Without a qualified interpreter, the patient, who cannot hear at all, alleged she was unable to effectively communicate with the hospital’s staff, including those providing her health care.
The Nexus 6P $9.75M Settlement Pay Out - The National Trial Lawyers
Recently, the Google/Huawei Nexus 6P was the subject of a class action lawsuit in which the claimants experienced a disproportional amout of battery drain, bootloops or both. This case was settled, and the beneficiaries have now been informed that they will receive their respective compensation. It should be issued from now until February 29, 2020.
Schools Sue Juul Labs Over Youth Vaping Epidemic - The National Trial Lawyers
San Diego’s public school schools have filed suit against Juul Labs, Inc., the largest U.S. producer of e-cigarettes, accusing the company of deliberately marketing its vaping products to young people, effectively rolling back years of progress made by anti-smoking campaigns.
Ford to pay $30M for Lawsuit Over Transmissions - The National Trial Lawyers
Ford will pay at least $30 million in a proposed settlement over a class-action lawsuit related to failing transmissions in its Fiesta and Focus vehicles. The lawsuit represents nearly 2 million owners and former owners of the cars, which had bad dual-clutch transmissions, the Detroit Free Press reported, citing court documents.
$3.55M Settlement Reached in Medical Malpractice Suit - The National Trial Lawyers
A medical malpractice lawsuit will settle out of court for $3.55 million, an amount both sides had asked to keep confidential. Last month, U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall denied the request to seal the settlement reached between Sherecia Willis, as the mother of “C.W.”, and Community Health Systems, Dr. Venkatesan Gorantla and the Augusta Physicians Group. Willis also filed suit against the United States, and a separate settlement is to be finalized.
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