News from December 2015
Lawsuit alleges conspiratorial trust against Land Rover dealers
A California used car seller claims the defendants include in their vehicle sales an agreement prohibiting buyers from selling or exporting vehicles for one year.
Lawsuit alleges Old Fashioned Kitchen misrepresents potato product
A St. Louis woman claims the New Jersey frozen food products company labeled its Golden Potato Blintzes as "all natural" even though it contains a synthetic chemical.
Whistleblower’s complaint against Vanguard dismissed by New York SC
The court, in a ruling last month, found that the whistleblower, a former in-house tax attorney, improperly disclosed and used information he obtained while employed at the company.
Attorney: Plaintiffs lawyers using 20-year-old law designed to regulate data collection in filing lawsuits
A McGuire Woods attorney says the language of the Video Privacy and Protection Act of 1988 can be “broadly interpreted” to include the streaming of online data.
MDL established for class actions filed over Volkswagen emissions scandal
The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, in an order this week, selected the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to handle the litigation.
Tenn. SC says judge was too quick to overturn caps on non-economic damages
In October, the state’s high court determined that a ruling by a Chattanooga trial judge was premature. The judge ruled in March that the attempt by state lawmakers to restrict non-economic damages in personal injury cases was a violation of the Tennessee Constitution.
Suit alleges too much slack-fill in CVS pill containers
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – CVS is being sued over allegations that the company packages pills with too much slack-fill.
Suit claims APS Pharmacy sent unsolicited faxes
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – An Illinois man is suing a Florida pharmacy over claims it sent unsolicited fax advertisements.
California man claims no breach of duty to CourtTrax in separate suit
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) – A California man is suing CourtTrax to clear his name from the company's allegations that he breached fiduciary duty to the company in another suit.
Attorney: Retail pricing class actions on the rise
On Nov. 11, JCPenney agreed to dole out a $50 million settlement to more than 8 million class members who filed suit against the retailer for false advertising.
Maryland Judiciary launches mobile app for easier access to legal resources
The Maryland Judiciary has introduced a new mobile application aimed at enhancing public access to legal resources and information.
Robo-calls lead to suit against Uber
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – A New York woman is suing Uber after the company allegedly placed pre-recorded robo-calls to her and other New Yorkers.
Chicken of the Sea, Bumble Bee forsake tuna merger following DOJ scrutiny
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The company behind Chicken of the Sea International and Bumble Bee Foods LLC recently discarded their plan to merge after the Department of Justice related serious misgivings about the proposed transaction’s harmful effect on competition.
Electrolux, GE end acquisition plans after four-week trial
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Electrolux and General Electric announced that they have abandoned a purchase plan which would have created a virtual monopoly under pressure from the U.S. Department of Justice, which filed suit against the firms July 1.
Massachusetts settles with Hess Oil over funding fraud allegations
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) – Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced the resolution of claims involving falsified information by Hess Corp. last week in Boston, ordering damages payable to the Commonwealth and a private trust for alleged fallacious funding applications.
Texas AG praises ‘victory for the taxpayers’ with Austin dismissal
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) – Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general, responded to the court’s decision supporting the Travis Appraisal Review Board in a lawsuit filed by the city of Austin to “rewrite” state tax policy this week in Austin, Texas.
New York’s AG Schneiderman leads 25 jurisdictions upholding EPA’s Clean Power Plan
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – In the wake of multiple lawsuits challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman’s office led a 25-member-strong coalition to intercede in the EPA’s defense last week in New York.
Minnesota man brings suit against Hutchinson to prevent merger
MINNEAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) – A Minnesota man is suing a Hutchinson Technology and members of its board of directors to prevent its proposed merger with Hydra Merger Sub.
Lawsuit alleges Calif. law firm uses ‘for-hire plaintiffs’
Natural Immunogenics Corp., known for its “Sovereign Silver” product, accuses Newport Trial Group of paying plaintiffs to sign false affidavits, pleadings and other legal filings. The Florida-based company alleges it fell victim to the firm’s extortion scheme.
MasterCard responds to class action filed over charity promotion; calls lawsuit ‘disappointing’
The credit card issuer says it is “extremely proud” of its promotion related to the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s Stand Up To Cancer program.