Mark Iandolo News
Massachusetts AG announces injunction against debt collection law firm that allegedly harassed consumers
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced on July 13 that Robert R. White and his law firm Levy & White have been barred by a Middlesex Superior Court from threatening consumers with arrest or imprisonment for not paying small debts.
DOJ settles Boston Harbor electrical cable case, allowing government to move forward with renovation project
The U.S. Department of Justice announced on July 12 that NSTAR Electric Company, which does business as Eversource Energy (NSTAR), NSTAR subsidiary Harbor Electric Energy Company (HEEC) and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) will settle allegations related to a permit for an electrical cable beneath Boston Harbor.
New Mexico AG secures $54.2 million payout from Big Tobacco
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced on April 20 that the state received $54.2 million in settlement payouts from Big Tobacco, the largest settlement received to date.
FTC OKs final order settling anti-competitive charges in Emerson-Pentair acquisition case
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced June 30 that, following a public comment period, it has approved a final order settling charges that Emerson Electric Co.’s acquisition of Pentair would be anti-competitive.
U.S. charges former Audi executive with fraud for role in massive VW environmental case
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced July 6 that Giovanni Pamio, an Italian citizen, has been charged in connection with conspiracy to cheat U.S. emissions tests.
EPA, Justice Department, Colorado settle with Rocky Mountain Bottle in emissions case
DENVER (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the state of Colorado announced June 30 that Rocky Mountain Bottle Company LLC (RMBC) has agreed to install emissions controls on the glass furnaces at its glass bottle manufacturing facility in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.
District of Columbia joins attorneys general coalition seeking to ban pesticide Chlorpyrifos
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine announced July 6 that, as part of a coalition of six state attorneys general, he has intervened in a lawsuit to force the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to effectively ban Chlorpyrifos, a toxic pesticide.
Ala. pharmacy agrees to injunction
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced July 5 that a district court has delivered a permanent injunction against a group of defendants to prevent distribution of allegedly adulterated and misbranded drugs and unapproved new drugs.
U.S. settles with Massachusetts real estate company that allegedly practiced racial discrimination
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced July 6 that J&R Associates will settle allegations of discrimination against tenants of South Asian descent at the company’s Royal Park Apartments complex in North Attleboro, Massachusetts.
Massachusetts secures $455,000 in refunds in DeVry settlement
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced July 5 that DeVry University, a for-profit school, will pay $455,000 in refunds after allegations of deceptive job placement rates in the marketing of select online programs.
Arizona, 30-state coalition urge FCC to allow telephone providers to block illegal robocalls
PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) — Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced July 5 that he has addressed a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging it to adopt rules that would allow telephone providers to block illegal robocalls. Brnovich is joined by a bipartisan coalition of 30 attorneys general.
Georgia leads coalition defending constitutionality of Congressional Review Act
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) — Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced July 5 that he has joined with Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel to lead a coalition of attorneys general who are intervening in Center for Biological Diversity v. Ryan Zinke and Department of the Interior.
FTC settles charges Broadcom's acquisition of Brocade would cause anti-competitive effects
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced July 3 that semiconductor manufacturer Broadcom Limited will establish a firewall to remedy FTC concerns related to its $5.9 billion acquisition of Brocade Communications Systems Inc. The FTC had alleged the acquisition would likely be anti-competitive.
California targets Trump administration's delay in implementing Waste Prevention Rule
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced July 5 that he has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration alleging an illegal delay in implementing the Waste Prevention Rule.
Former Birdsall Services executive pleads guilty in New Jersey pay-to-play violation case
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) — New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced July 7 that Alan Hilla of Jupiter, Florida. has pled guilty to his role in the Birsdall Services Group (BSG) scheme that involved more than $1 million illegal political contributions made through firm employees to evade the state’s pay-to-play laws.
California alleges Department of Education unlawfully delayed implementation of regulations
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced July 6 that he has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). Becerra alleges the DOE is unlawfully delaying a regulation that would protect students from deceptive practices and fraud.
FTC settles fraud charges against loan application assistance company, suspends $104 million judgment
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced July 5 that Blue Global Media LLC and CEO Christopher Kay will settle charges of misleading consumers into applying for loans and then selling the applications to virtually anyone who would buy them.
EEOC targets Florida gentlemen's club for alleged gender discrimination
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit June 29 against Gold Inc., doing business as Sammy’s Gentlemen’s Club in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, for allegations of refusing to hire a male applicant due to his gender and failing to maintain federally required employment records.
SEC charges clandestine founder of Bitcoin platform with fraud
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced June 30 that it has filed charges against Renwick Haddow, a British citizen living in New York, for allegations of bilking investors in two different companies.
EEOC alleges Time Warner committed disability discrimination
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit July 6 against Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications, doing business as Spectrum Inc., for allegedly failing to provide reasonable accommodation for an employee with a disability.