In a recent order, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria significantly scaled back the request, originally estimated to give $800 million to lead counsel in the Roundup multidistrict litigation. He also found the common fund doctrine inapplicable in the cases and called on a federal rules committee to consider new methods to compensate lead counsel in MDLs.

Insurers have sued Blue Bell Creameries USA and other defendants in Texas Western District Court alleging that their policies do not provide coverage for a Listeria outbreak involving the ice cream products.

New Jersey has been leading the pack of legislation in response to the pandemic.