Mark Iandolo News
FTC to mail checks to consumers victimized by Kentucky-based FHTM's alleged pyramid scheme
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced this week it is mailing 285,361 checks totaling more than $3.7 million to victims of Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing’s (FHTM) alleged pyramid scheme.
American Hope Group to pay $1.6 million to resolve fraudulent mortgage scam allegations
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — American Hope Group Inc. and its principal, Mauricio Villamarin Martinez (collectively “American Hope Group”), have agreed to a $1.6 million settlement after allegations involving a fraudulent mortgage scam, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman recently announced.
CashCall to suspend collections on $6.5 million in payday loans
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) — CashCall Inc. and related entity Western Sky Financial Inc. have agreed to suspend collections on roughly $6.5 million in payday loans made to consumers in Georgia between 2009 and 2013.
FTC files amicus brief in Amphastar v. Momenta case
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced this week that it has filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in which it urges the court to reverse a district court’s dismissal of the complaint in Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc. v. Momenta Pharmaceuticals.
Ohio attorney general certifies petition calling for state supreme court term limits
COLUMBUS (Legal Newsline) — Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced this week that his office has certified a petition for the proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution imposing term limits for Ohio Supreme Court members.
LA Fitness to revise policies in New York to better comply with ADA laws
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — Fitness International LLC, the owner and operator of LA Fitness gyms across the country, has agreed to revise its policies to expand access for patrons with disabilities, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has announced.
Vito Glazers to pay $200,000 judgment from 2014 text message spam case
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced this week that a federal court judge has approved the lifting of the partial suspension of a $200,000 judgment imposed against Vito Glazers, a defendant in a 2014 text spam case.
Biocompatibles to pay $36 million penalty for allegedly misbranding LC Bead medical device
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Department of Justice announced this week that medical device maker Biocompatibles Inc., a subsiadiary of BTG plc, will pay more than $36 million after allegations it misbranded its embolic device LC Bead. LC Bead is used for the treatment of liver cancer and other diseases.
FTC approves modified final order in Koninklijke, Delhaize merger case
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Oct. 31, following a public comment period, that it has approved a modified final order settling charges against Koninklijke Ahold and Delhaize Group over their merger.
EPA announces $150,000 settlement with Specialty Materials over alleged violation of federal law
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Oct. 27 that Specialty Materials Inc., a manufacturer of fiber products in Lowell, Massachusetts, will pay $150,000 after allegations of violating the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Massachusetts waste management regulations.
Consumer Education Group banned from making allegedly illegal telemarketing calls
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced on Nov. 1 that a collection of
entities known as Consumer Education Group operating out of California and
Colorado will settle charges of making millions of illegal telemarketing calls
to consumers on the national Do Not Call (DNC) Registry.y.
Vanity Cosmetic Surgery settles allegations related to its refund and cancellation policies
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced last week that Vanity Cosmetic Surgery Inc. will settle allegations related to its refund and cancellation policies.
California AG Harris comments on $14.7 billion Volkswagen settlement
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris released a statement Oct. 25 commenting on a U.S. District Court’s approval of the $14.7 billion
settlement with Volkswagen.
Utah business barred from making unsolicited phone calls to Kansas consumers
TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt recently announced a Utah-based medical device company has been barred from making unsolicited phone calls to Kansas consumers.
Experian, TransUnion, Equifax to change business practices in Mississippi after deception allegations
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) — Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood recently announced that the nation’s three major credit card reporting agencies agreed to change their businesses practices in Mississippi after allegations of deceptive marketing activities and making mistakes on credit scores.
Texas AG: City of Austin has abused taxing power
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently intervened in a lawsuit against the city of Austin that challenges a labor agreement with the Austin Firefighters Association, Local 975.
Maryland attorney general alleges Sojourner-Douglass College misused grant funds
BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh announced Nov. 4 that his office filed a lawsuit against Sojourner-Douglass College Inc. over allegations of not repaying grant funds.
EEOC alleges Bayou City Wings in Houston failed to hire applicants because of age
HOUSTON (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit on Nov. 3 against Bayou City Wings, a restaurant chain in Houston, over allegations of engaging in an unlawful pattern of intentional age
discrimination.
Safeway agrees to EEOC settlement of $27,000 to resolve disability discrimination allegations
BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced Nov. 2 that Safeway agreed to pay $27,000 in monetary damages and return an employee to work after allegations of disability discrimination.
Company allegedly required woman to wear pants, EEOC says
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit Nov. 3 against Akebono Brake Corp., a company in Michigan that designs and manufactures automotive brakes, over allegations of violating federal civil rights laws.