Mark Iandolo News
New York alleges music producer canceled festival, failed to refund consumers
BUFFALO, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced a lawsuit Dec. 6 against Buffalomusic producer Cody Conway and his company Buffalove Music Festival LLC for allegedly defrauding music festival consumers out of more than $14,000.
Montana attorney general targets Purdue Pharma for role in opioid crisis
HELENA, Mont. (Legal Newsline) — Montana Attorney General Tim Fox announced a consumer protection lawsuit Dec. 4 against Purdue Pharma LLC for allegations of deceiving consumers about its prescription opioids such as OxyContin.
District of Columbia secures nearly $200,000 for consumers victimized by alleged student aid scam
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine announced Dec. 4 that Student Aid Center Inc. will pay $425,000 in restitution and civil penalties after allegations of deceiving student borrowers into paying fees for services that could be obtained for free.
California attorney general: EPA shirking Clean Air Act duties
SACRAMENTO (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced a lawsuit Dec. 7 against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the agency’s alleged failure to designate certain areas across the nation as having too much smog.
California attorney general alleges jewelry manufacturer sells items with lead to children
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced a lawsuit Dec. 5 against Los Angeles jewelry manufacturer Luxy Accessory Inc. (Luxy), and its owner Hyun Sook Kim, for allegations of selling jewelry with elevated levels of cadmium and lead.
Arizona attorney general seeks to stop serial litigator from preying on state businesses
PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) — Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced Dec. 5 that his office has filed a motion to intervene in a federal court case to stop serial litigators from filing frivolous lawsuits against businesses in the state.
New Jersey secures $57,920 for woman who suffered persistent sexual harassment
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) — New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced Dec. 4 that Statewide Roadside Assistance of Toms River and its owner, Neal K. Prashad, will pay $57,920 for emotional distress and lost wages after allegations of persistent sexual harassment against a female employee.
FTC: Federal judge bans operators of gold, silver investment scam
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Dec. 6 that a federal judge banned the operators of Discount Gold Brokers’ alleged fraudulent investment scheme.
FTC targets alleged Florida credit card interest-rate reduction scam
ORLANDO, Fla. (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Dec. 4 that it has filed a complaint in federal district court in Orlando to stop to an alleged credit card interest rate reduction scam.
FTC: Dallas auto dealer deceived Spanish-speaking consumers in advertisements
DALLAS (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Dec. 1 that Cowboy AG LLC, a company in Dallas that does business as Cowboy Toyota and Cowboy Scion (Cowboy Toyota), has agreed to settle allegations of deceptively advertising loan and leasing terms in ads delivered in a regional Spanish-language newspaper.
Fugitive lawyer apprehended in Honduras to face Social Security fraud charges
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Dec. 6 that Eric Christopher Conn of Pikeville, Kentucky, was apprehended abroad after fleeing Social Security fraud charges.
Justice Department targets Saipan restaurant for alleged discrimination against U.S. job applicants
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Dec. 4 that JET Holding Co. Inc. (JET) has paid $40,000 to nine citizens after allegedly violating the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Dallas hospital to pay $7.5 million after alleged physician kickback scandal
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Dec. 1 that Pine Creek Medical Center LLC (Pine Creek), a Dallas/Fort Worth physician-owned hospital, will pay $7.5 million after allegations of violating the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks for surgical referrals.
Connecticut: Behavioral health center to pay nearly $900,000 after alleged violations
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) — Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen announced Dec. 8 that APT Foundation Inc. (APT), a behavioral health and substance use disorder services provider, and its chief executive officer Lynn Madden, will pay $883,859 after allegations of submitting improper claims for payment to the state’s Medicaid Program.
N.J. gentleman's club, of 'Sopranos' fame, to shut down
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) — New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the Division of Alcohol Beverage Control announced Dec. 7 an order for two North Jersey “gentleman’s clubs” to sell or transfer their liquor licenses to a third party by Jan. 3.
SEC alleges California audit firm conducted flawed audits
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Dec. 4 that Anton & Chia LLP, an audit firm based in California, will be charged with conducting flawed audits and reviews of financial statements.
FTC announces defendants posing as lawyers are banned from debt collecting
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Dec. 6 that after a settlement, three defendants posing as lawyers that falsely threatened consumers into paying debts they did not owe will be banned from the debt collection business.
California secures $8.9 million settlement with DirecTV after hazardous waste allegations
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley announced Nov. 22 that DIRECTV has agreed to pay $8.9 million to settle allegations that it has disposed of large volumes of hazardous waste at facilities in the state.
Rhode Island attorney general seeks to ban credit bureaus from charging 'credit freeze' fees
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline) — Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced Nov. 20 that his office will file legislation to ban credit bureaus from charging consumers in the state to place, temporarily lift, or remove security freezes on their accounts.
Mississippi secures $1.3 million additional settlement funds in prison bribery case
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) — Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood announced Nov. 29 that Sentinel Offender Services LLC, an inmate electronic monitoring services firm, will pay $1.3 million to resolve allegations of prison bribery.