Mark Iandolo News
FTC bans American from telemarketing after allegedly helping India-based call centers deceive consumers
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Feb. 15 that Joel S. Treuhaft and his company, PHLG Enterprises LLC, have been banned from aiding any telemarketers. This comes after the FTC charged him with allegations of helping telemarketers in India defraud cash-strapped U.S. consumers.
Three U.S. companies settle with FTC in case involving deception allegations
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Feb. 22 that three U.S. companies will settle allegations of deceiving consumers about their participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Cross-Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) system.
Abbott Labs, St. Jude Medical to divest certain business assets to complete merger
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Feb. 23 the approval of a final order settling charges that Abbott Laboratories’ $25 billion acquisition of St. Jude Medical Inc. would be anti-competitive. The approval comes following a public comment period.
FTC settles with one defendant in ongoing case against alleged fake prize scheme
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Feb. 21 that Ian Gamberg will settle FTC allegations in an alleged fake prize scheme that tricked consumers via mail into thinking that they had won $1 million. Gamberg is one of the defendants.
Enbridge, Spectra Energy agree to conditions for merger to preserve competition
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Feb. 16 that Enbridge Inc. and Spectra Energy Corp have agreed to settle allegations that their merger would harm competition for pipeline transportation of natural gas in three production areas off the coast of Louisiana.
FTC: Leader of alleged debt relief scheme banned from selling mortgage or debt services
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Feb. 23 that Gabriel D. Stewart, the alleged leader of a debt relief scheme, has been banned from selling mortgage or debt relief services.
GC Services to pay $700,000 after FTC alleges unlawful use of tactics to collect debts
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Feb. 14 that debt collector GC Services will pay $700,000 after allegations of using unlawful tactics to collect federal student loans.
New York, Illinois lead coalition supporting federal protections for higher education students
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Feb. 22 that he joined with Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and a coalition of other attorneys general in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Education Secretary and leaders in Congress.
HealthDrive dental practice to pay $1.5 million after allegedly overbilling MassHealth for nursing home visits
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) – Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced Feb. 17 that dental provider Dr. Alec H. Jaret, doing business as HealthDrive Dental Group, and its billing agent, HealthDrive Corp., will pay $1.5 million after allegations of overbilling MassHealth for nursing home visits.
SEC charges Terminus Energy with allegations of misleading investors about its products
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Feb. 14 that it charged Terminus Energy, a California-based penny stock company, and four corporate officers with allegations of misleading investors.
SEC obtains emergency court order freezing brokerage accounts of a Chinese national suspected of insider trading
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Feb. 10 that it obtained an emergency court order freezing brokerage accounts amassed by Shaohua (Michael) Yin in the wake of Comcast Corp.’s acquisition of DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. after allegations of insider trading.
IWLA to settle allegations about business practices
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Feb. 22 that The International Women’s Leadership Association (IWLA) agreed to settle allegations that it has misrepresented the methods it used to select recipients for a business networking program.
Morgan Stanley pays $8 million penalty after allegations linked to single inverse ETF investments
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Feb. 14 that Morgan Stanley Smith Barney will pay $8 million and admit wrongdoing after allegations related to single inverse ETF investments it recommended to advisory clients.
JFK Courtyard settles price-gouging allegations
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Feb.13 that Granite JFK LLC and Crossroads Hospitality Company, which own and operate, respectively, the Courtyard by Marriott New York JFK Airport hotel, have agreed pay $48,000 to settle allegations of illegal price gouging during the Jonas ice storm in January 2016.
New York attorney general joins opposition to Commercial Vessel Incidental Discharge Act
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Feb. 15 that his office has joined 10 other attorneys general in writing a letter to Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Charles Schumer of New York, asking for them to oppose to the Commercial Vessel Incidental Discharge Act.
New York targets David Barton Gyms for allegedly failing to refund customers after closing
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced a lawsuit Feb. 15 against Club Ventures Investments LLC,doing business as David Barton Gyms (DBG), and related entities that own and operate four David Barton Gyms in New York City.
New York settles with multiple app developers that allegedly failed to disclose data collection practices
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Feb. 9 that his office has reached settlements with mobile application developers AB Mobile Apps LLC and Bizness Apps LLC for alleged failures to disclose data collection practices in privacy policies.
EEOC targets three Hawaii tour companies for sexual harassment allegations
HONOLULU (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit Feb. 15 against three related Hawaii tour companies for allegations of sexual harassment of male employees.
United Staffing OKs $24,500 EEOC settlement after discrimination allegations
FRESNO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced Feb. 14 that United Staffing Associates LLC, a staffing agency in Visalia, Calif., will pay $24,500 after allegations of retaliatory discrimination.
D.C. attorney general targets local personal care aid, alleging Medicaid fraud
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine announced Jan. 27 that his office has filed a False Claims Act lawsuit against Deborah Kale, a personal care aide, for alleged Medicaid fraud.