Mark Iandolo News
FTC closes case involving Essilor's acquisition of Luxottica
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced March 1 that it ihas ssued a statement after it voted to close its case related to Luxottica Group’s proposed merger with Essilor.
SEC accuses 3 companies of defrauding small businesses
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Feb. 28 that Steven J. Muehler has been charged with a litany of offenses, including defrauding small businesses.
SEC settles with Ameriprise over allegations company disadvantaged customers
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Feb. 28 that Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. will pay $230,000 in penalties and consent to a cease-and-desist order and censure after allegations of disadvantaging certain requirement account customers.
Massachusetts: Dealer sold unapproved handguns, will pay $7,000 penalties
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced Feb. 22 that Outback Arms, a gun dealer, and its owner Gene Steve Beliveau, will pay $7,000 to resolve allegations of selling handguns that are not listed on the approved roster for Massachusetts. Outback Arms also agreed to come into compliance with state law.
Mississippi attorney general secures additional $750,000 in prison bribery case
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) — Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood announced Feb. 22 that CGL Facility Management LLC will pay $750,000 for its alleged involvement in the MDOC prison bribery scandal.
California attorney general announces new Bureau of Environmental Justice
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced Feb. 22 the establishment of the Bureau of Environmental Justice (Bureau) within the environment section at the California Department of Justice.
New Jersey joins 20-state coalition urging Education Department to deny accreditation for ACICS
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) — New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced Feb. 20 that he has joined a coalition of 20 state attorneys general in a letter urging the U.S. Department of Education to deny an application for accreditation by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).
Michigan joins multistate settlement with TK Holdings in airbag safety case
LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) — Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced Feb. 22 that TK Holdings Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Takata, will settle multistate allegations of concealing safety issues with airbag systems that were installed in numerous vehicles sold to U.S. consumers.
Louisiana attorney general, governor plan legal actions against opioid manufacturers
BATON ROUGE, La. (Legal Newsline) — Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Feb. 20 they will coordinate efforts in pursuing opioid manufacturers for their alleged role in the opioid crisis.
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U.S. settles with vacation management company that allegedly failed to offer communications to the deaf
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Feb. 20 that Atlantis Events Inc. (Atlantis), a cruise and resort vacation company, will pay $10,000 in civil penalties and $9,000 in damages to the complainants after settling allegations the company failed to provide individuals who are deaf with effective communication on a cruise.
U.S. settles with NYC restaurant that allegedly discriminated against non-Korean, non-Japanese applicants
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Feb. 20 that Food Love 125 Inc., which does business as Ichiba Ramen, a restaurant in New York City, will change its business practices and pay a civil penalty after allegations of violating the Immigration and Nationality Act’s (INA) anti-discrimination provision.
U.S. secures $2 million for servicemembers after SCRA settlement with BMW Financial
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Feb. 22 that BMW Financial Services N.A. (BMW SF) will pay more than $2 million after allegations of violating the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).
FTC report examines web-hosting services for small businesses
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Feb. 20 that its staff has released a report detailing whether 11 web-hosting services for small businesses provide default email authentication and anti-phishing technologies.
FTC reaches settlement with company that allegedly misrepresented 'anti-aging' benefits
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Feb. 21 that Telomerase Activation Sciences Inc. (TA Sciences) and CEO Noel Patton will settle allegations of making false or unsubstantiated claims about two “anti-aging” products.
FTC to host workshop for contact lens marketplace
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Feb. 23 that it has posted the agenda for its upcoming workshop on the contact lens marketplace and proposed changes to its Contact Lens Rule.
District of Columbia targets landlords who allegedly neglected properties
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine announced two new actions Feb. 16 against a group of landlords for allegedly neglecting their properties and collecting rent from tenants living in unsafe and unsanitary apartments.
Former Arkansas judge gets 5-year sentence for fraud, bribery
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Feb. 21 that O. Joseph Boeckmann, a former state judge in Arkansas, was sentenced to 5 years in prison after allegations he conducted a six-year fraud and bribery scheme.
Justice Department: Diabetic Care RC paid kickbacks to induce TRICARE prescriptions
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced allegations Feb. 23 against Diabetic Care RC LLC, which does business as Patient Care America (PCA), a compounding pharmacy in Pompano Beach, Florida. The Justice Department says the pharmacy paid illegal kickbacks to induce prescriptions for TRICARE-reimbursed drugs.
FTC calls Wilhelmsen's acquisition of Drew anti-competitive, violation of antitrust laws
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Feb. 23 that Wilhelmsen Maritime Services’ proposed $400 million acquisition of Drew Marine Group would violate antitrust laws and reduce competition for marine water treatment chemicals that are used by global fleets.
SEC alleges Bitcoin platform operated as unregistered securities exchange
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced charges Feb. 21 against BitFunder, a Bitcoin-denominated platform, and its founder Jon E. Montroll, for allegedly operating an unregistered securities exchange, as well as for defrauding users of that exchange.
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