Mark Iandolo News
Arizona targets local jet ski rental company for alleged deception
PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) — Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced June 27 that his office has filed a lawsuit against Malows Jet Ski Rentals LLC, and its owner Fariba Badre and manager Mahriar Akbari, for alleged consumer fraud.
Montana seeks to intervene in multistate lawsuit over Interior Department coal leases
HELENA, Mont. (Legal Newsline) — Montana Attorney General Tim Fox announced June 29 that he has filed for intervention on behalf of Montana in a lawsuit filed in federal court against the U.S. Department of the Interior.
New York attorney general leads amicus brief in sexual orientation harassment case
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced June 27 that he has led an amicus brief filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, arguing that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act bars discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation.
U.S. secures $1.2 million settlement from Tennessee doctors after alleged violations
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced June 27 that Dr. Anindya Sen and Patricia Posey Sen will pay $1.208 million to resolve state and federal False Claims Act allegations.
GE agrees to divest GE Water to complete transaction with Baker Hughes
HOUSTON (Legal Newsline) — Baker Hughes Incorporated and General Electric Company announced June 12 that they have reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to continue their proposed transaction.
California attorney general urges U.S. Senate to oppose Regulatory Accountability Act
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced June 28 that he has drafted a letter urging U.S. Senate leaders to oppose legislation that would halt the federal regulatory process and obstruct the implementation of laws aimed at protecting consumers from predatory companies, toxic chemicals and more.
Justice Department secures $400K settlement with Panda Express
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced June 28 that Panda Restaurant Group Inc. (Panda Express), a restaurant chain with more than 1,800 locations across the country, will settle allegations of discriminating against non-U.S. citizens in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) when re-verifying their permission to work.
California medical center to pay $42 million penalty after kickback allegations
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced June 28 that PAMC Ltd. and Pacific Alliance Medical Center Inc. will pay $42 million to settle allegations of violating the False Claims Act via improper payments to physicians.
FTC OKs court action to block Sanford Health's proposed acquisition of Mid Dakota Clinic
FARGO, N.D. (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced June 22 that it authorized a federal court action to block Sanford Health’s proposed acquisition of Mid Dakota Clinic.
Labor Department alleges Florida business guilty of profit-sharing plan embezzlement
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Labor announced June 19 that the Secretary of Labor has filed a complaint against Andrea Lynn McCarthy, Lisa Hall, Truss Systems LLC and Truss Systems LLC Profit Sharing Plan.
Florida to receive $1.4 million of multistate settlement with CareCore National
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced June 20 that her office has joined 20 other states and the federal government in a settlement with CareCore National LLC after allegations the company submitted false claims to Medicaid.
Texas settles with online contact lens distributor over deceptive trade allegations
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced June 21 that THEG Inc, an online contact lens distributor and wholesaler doing business as Fine and Clear, will pay $36,000 after allegations of violating the Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the Texas Optometry Act.
New York targets anti-choice protesters in Queens for allegedly harassing patients
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced June 20 that he has filed a federal lawsuit against a group of anti-choice protesters over allegations of harassing, threatening, and menacing patients, families, escorts and clinic staff at the Choices Women’s Medical Center (“Choices”) in Jamaica, Queens.
Georgia joins 20-state coalition urging the EPA to review its 2015 WOTUS Rule
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced June 20 that he joined a 19-state coalition urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to roll back the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule and protect states’ rights in protection the water resources in the country.
FTC seeks to update rules as part of regulatory reform initiative
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced June 22 that it will take steps to ensure its regulations keep pace with technological advances in the marketplace as part of a regulatory reform initiative brought forth by acting chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen.
Two foreign companies to pay $1.9 million after allegations of violating ship pollution law
BEAUMONT, Texas (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced June 20 that two companies based in Egypt and Singapore will pay $1.9 million after allegations of violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS).
New York resolves allegations of failing to abide by National Voter Registration Act
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced June 20 that the state of New York has agreed to resolve allegations of failing to voter registration opportunities required by Section 5 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA).
SEC adds charges in case involving a leading Wall Street securities firm
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced June 22 that it is adding additional charges in a case involving improper handling of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) by a Wall Street firm’s securities lending desk.
Federal judge backs Justice Department in case against EnergySolutions
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced June 21 that a federal judge ruled in favor of the department in its civil antitrust lawsuit to block radioactive waste disposal provider EnergySolutions’ $367 million acquisition of rival Waste Control Specialists.
FTC finalizes order settling anticompetitive allegations in ChemChina-Syngenta merger
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced June 16 that, following a public comment period, the agency has approved a final order settling charges that the China National Chemical Corporation’s (ChemChina) proposed merger with Swiss global agricultural company Syngenta AG would harm competition in the U.S. markets for the herbicide paraquat, the insecticide abamectin and the fungicide chlorothalonil.