Mark Iandolo News
D.C. attorney general intervenes in lawsuit against Department of Education
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) —District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine announced Jan. 24 that he has motioned to intervene, along with four other state attorneys general, in a lawsuit to defend the Department of Education (DOE).
Michigan files amicus brief in case involving legally blind plaintiff's lawsuit against ABA
LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) — Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced Jan. 18 that he has filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in Angelo Binno v. the American Bar Association (ABA). Binno, who is legally blind, is suing the ABA for its refusal to exempt blind people from the logic games section of the LSATs.
Florida to receive $111,000 of multistate settlement involving Ameriprise Group subsidiaries
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) — Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, along with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and the Florida Department of Financial Services, announced Jan. 30 that subsidiaries of the Ameriprise Group, RiverSource Life Insurance Company and RiverSource Life Insurance Company of New York, will pay $1.5 million in a life claim settlement.
Seven Advanced Auto Part locations agree to alter New Jersey practices after price violation allegations
NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) — New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced Feb. 1 that Advance Stores Company Inc., an automotive parts and accessories retailer, will pay $69,000 and reform its business practices after allegations of price violations.
EEOC targets HP Pelzer, alleges it fired employee who complained about sexual harassment
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit Feb. 3 against HP Pelzer Inc., an Athens, Tenn.-based manufacturer of automotive components, for allegedly firing a female employee because she complained about sexual harassment in the workplace.
IPC Healthcare's successor to pay $60 million for allegedly violating False Claims Act
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Feb. 6 that TeamHealth Holdings, a successor in interest to IPC Healthcare Inc., will pay $60 million to resolve allegations of violating the False Claims Act.
NE Diving to pay $64,000 for allegedly violating Massachusetts wage laws
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced Jan. 26 that Northeast Diving Services LLC (NE Diving) and owner Richard B. Spring will pay $64,000 in restitution and penalties after allegations of failing to pay employees the prevailing wage rate for work on the town of Falmouth Long Pond Water Treatment Facility public works project.
Connecticut targets Fairfield County doctor, husband for alleged False Claims Act violations
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) — Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen announced a lawsuit Feb. 2 against a Fairfield County doctor and her husband, a University of Connecticut employee, for alleged violations of the Connecticut False Claims Act.
Consumer board targets law firms over alleged illegal fees
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) —The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced Jan. 30 that it has filed a complaint in federal court against a group of law firms and attorneys who allegedly collaborated to charge illegal fees to consumers seeking debt relief.
SEC bans private equity adviser Scott Landress from securities industry
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced Feb. 7 that Scott M. Landress, a private equity adviser, has been barred from the securities industry and will need to pay $1.25 million in penalties after allegedly withdrawing improper fees from two private equity funds he managed.
EEOC alleges Pioneer Health Services committed disability discrimination
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit Feb. 3 against Pioneer Health Services Inc., a health care company in rural Georgia, alleging it unlawfully discriminated against an employee due to her disability.
FTC to mail refunds to 1,300 consumers affected by alleged Mercola tanning deception
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) —The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Feb. 7 that it will mail refund checks to more than 1,300 consumers who had purchased Mercola indoor tanning systems. The checks amount to a total of roughly $2.59 million.
EEOC targets Dollar General Stores for alleged sexual harassment
OXFORD, Miss. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit Feb. 9 against Dolgencorp LLC, doing business as Dollar General Stores Inc., for allegations of subjecting female employees to sexual harassment.
District judge blocks merger of Anthem, Cigna
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — A Washington, D.C., judge sided with the U.S. Department of Justice in a lawsuit attempting to block Anthem Inc. from acquiring Cigna Corp.
Stratford Career Institute settles FTC charges it misled consumers, to pay $250,000
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) —The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Feb. 3 that Stratford Career Institute has agreed to stop making claims about education programs that the FTC had alleged were deceptive.
MasterCard, UniRush to pay $13 million in penalties for alleged system breakdowns
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has taken action against MasterCard and UniRush following allegations of system breakdowns that caused harm to tens of thousands of economically vulnerable RushCard users.
FTC chairman appoints Thomas Pahl as acting director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Acting Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen has appointed Thomas Pahl as acting director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
VIZIO settles New Jersey case related to consumer protection allegations, to pay $2.5 million
NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) — New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the Division of Consumer Affairs announced Feb. 6 that Smart TV manufacturer VIZIO Inc. (VIZIO) and its subsidiary VIZIO Inscape Services LLC (Inscape) will pay $2.5 million after allegations of illegally tracking consumers’ television viewing habits.
New York attorney general issues alert to help consumers pick internet plans
BUFFALO, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has issued a consumer alert to help New Yorkers pick the best internet service plan options.
Bausch + Lomb's parent company settles charges that it illegally acquired contact lens maker
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Feb. 8 approved a final order settling charges that Bausch + Lomb's parent company illegally acquired another business.