News from October 2014
Frozen milkshake maker suing companies over blender patents
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - The maker of a popular line of frozen milkshakes contends Hamilton Beach Brands Inc. and Hershey Creamery Co. are infringing on its blender patents.
Ohio AG files lawsuit against locksmith company
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Yossi Assaraf and his companies, Add Source LLC, AdSource LLC and 24/7 Locksmith Advertising LLC, for allegedly violating the state's Consumer Sales Practices Act.
Craft company agrees to NJ settlement
The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs reached a settlement with JKM Products Corp., an arts and crafts supply company, following allegations of consumer fraud, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced on Tuesday.
Kentucky to receive portion of $31M Medicaid fraud settlement
Kentucky is part of a $31 million settlement agreement reached with drug manufacturer Organon that stems from accusations of Medicaid fraud, Attorney General Jack Conway announced on Wednesday.
Texas-based Mission Pharmacal settles patent suit over prenatal vitamins
SAN ANTONIO (Legal Newsline) - Mission Pharmacal said Tuesday a Texas federal court has upheld its dual-iron patent covering one of the most prescribed prenatal vitamins.
Roll Call calls Callis' U.S. House campaign a 'flameout'
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (Legal Newsline) – Roll Call continued to paint congressional hopeful Ann Callis as dead in the water Tuesday, placing the Democrat on its “9 Biggest Candidate Flameouts” list.
Corn farmers file seven class actions against Syngenta
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Corn farmers have filed seven class action lawsuits against Syngenta Corporation in five states for allegedly releasing a genetically-engineered corn seed prematurely.
Court: Statute of limitations for asbestos bankruptcy trust’s insurance claim has not run out
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – A California appeals court concluded that an asbestos bankruptcy trust seeking insurance relief may still bring a claim against one of its insurance companies because the statute of limitations has not run out.
College athletes say ESPN, others reap profits from players' likenesses without permission
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - Ten college athletes have filed a class action lawsuit against ESPN and other major broadcasters for allegedly reaping profits from the use of players' likenesses without those players' permission.
Resin manufacturer files for bankruptcy; asbestos cases are stayed
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) – A North Carolina resin manufacturer and its affiliates that have been named in numerous asbestos lawsuits have filed for protection under Chapter 11 bankruptcy in order to address its current and future asbestos liability.
Chicago Gasket wins summary judgment in Ill. asbestos case
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (Legal Newsline) – An Illinois district judge has granted summary judgment to a gasket manufacturer in a take-home asbestos exposure case in which the defendant claims it never even manufactured asbestos-containing gaskets.
U.S. SC hears arguments in Teva patent case
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court must decide whether a district court’s factual finding in support of its patent claim construction may be reviewed de novo or only for clear error.
N.C. U.S. Senate race: Polls have Tillis, Hagan virtually tied
RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) – A new round of polls show state Rep. Thom Tillis, the Republican challenger to Democratic U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, in a virtual dead heat with the incumbent with only a few weeks remaining until Election Day.
Former Wendy Williams Show intern says Lions Gate owed minimum wage
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - A former intern for the Wendy Williams Show is suing Lions Gate Entertainment for allegedly misclassifying interns and failing to pay them minimum wages.
Wash. AG disagrees with Pacific Power and Light rate hike
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) - Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is recommending a significant decrease in the 9.5 percent residential rate hike proposed by PacifiCorp, which operates as Pacific Power and Light Company in Washington.
Aaron's settles with California for $28.4M
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris reached a $28.4 million settlement with Aaron's Inc. on Monday, resolving allegations that America's second largest rent-to-own company violated the state's consumer protection and privacy laws.
Paid fundraiser agrees to Vermont settlement over misrepresentation claims
Attorney General William H. Sorrell reached a $23,000 settlement agreement on Tuesday with a paid fundraiser who allegedly misrepresented itself to Vermont residents and failed to disclose prior legal actions as required by state law.
Kansas fines Florida law group for violating consumer protection laws
Cypress Law Group Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will pay $21,000 in fines and another $5,400 in restitution for violations of the Kansas consumer protection laws, Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced on Tuesday.
NYC developers barred from selling condos as part of fraud settlement
Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman reached a settlement on Tuesday with developers Joseph Scarpinito and Shiraz Sanjana, and their five collective companies, that bans them from selling securities, including condos and co-ops, in or from New York state.
Mentor Graphics wins patent infringement case, awarded $36 million in damages
WILSONVILLE, Ore. (Legal Newsline) - Mentor Graphics Corp. said last week a federal jury found in its favor in a patent infringement case it filed against a rival company.