News from December 2015
More than $5 million spent on advertising for Risperdal clients in 2015
Plaintiffs lawyers continue to spend a significant amount of money on advertising to drum up Risperdal clients, the president of a mass torts litigation research firm says.
Class actions filed over packaged seafood companies’ alleged price-fixing consolidated
This month, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation selected the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California to handle the lawsuits.
FTC reaches $100 million settlement with LifeLock
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reached a $100 million agreement with LifeLock over contempt charge allegations.
Dynasplint will pay $10.3 million over False Claims Act violation allegations
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The Department of Justice announced that Dynasplint Systems Inc. will pay $10.3 million over alleged False Claims Act violations.
Daikin sued over allegedly defective coils
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A Los Angeles woman is suing a heating and air conditioning company over allegedly faulty evaporation coils.
Excellus, others sued following data security breach
Rochester, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – A New York woman is suing one of the state's largest health insurance companies following a data security breach.
Taxi companies sued over alleged FACTA violation
RENO, Nev. (Legal Newsline) – Three California residents are suing several taxi cab companies for allegedly printing more than five digits of credit/debit card numbers when the cards are used for transactions with the companies.
Caliber Home Loans, American Security Insurance sued over illegal kickback allegations
MIAMI (Legal Newsline) – Two Florida residents and a Pennsylvania resident are suing a mortgage servicing firm and an insurance company over allegedly taking unlawful kickbacks.
Maryland students honored for art promoting peaceful conflict resolution
Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera of the Maryland Court of Appeals recognized young artists for their contributions to promoting peaceful conflict resolution.
S.C. legal reform group endorses FACT Act
The South Carolina Civil Justice Coalition, a legal reform group, has endorsed the Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency (FACT) Act of 2015, which seeks to create transparency and access to information regarding asbestos claims.
Federal judge dismisses class action claim over Trader Joe's soymilk
A federal judge has dismissed a class action lawsuit against Trader Joe's that alleged products were mislabeled or certain ingredients were not disclosed on the label.
Attorney: Class actions over social casino games driven by plaintiffs lawyers' quest for payday
A Washington federal court has dismissed a class action lawsuit claiming that under Washington State law, social casino games that use purchasable virtual casino chips or coins constitute gambling because they allow users to “extend gameplay” and can be sold in a secondary market.
Department of Justice recovered $3.5 billion in False Claims Act cases in fiscal 2015
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney Benjamin C. Mizer recently announced that the Department of Justice recovered more than $3.5 billion from False Claims Act cases in the 2015 fiscal year.
Maryland AG joins efforts to block Exelon's acquisition of Pepco and Delmarva
BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh recently announced that he would join the efforts to prevent Exelon Corp. from acquiring Pepco and Delmarva Power and Light.
Warner Chilcott will pay $125 million to resolve alleged health care fraud scheme
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Warner Chilcott U.S. Sales LLC, a subsidiary of pharmaceutical manufacturer Warner Chilcott PLC, has agreed to plead guilty to felony health care fraud scheme charges.
New study finds that low-quality financial services patents are more open to litigation
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – Josh Lerner, head of the entrepreneurial management unit at Harvard Business School, led a study that found that low-quality financial services patents are subject to more litigation.
Texas AG files suit against the federal government over Affordable Care Act
AUSTIN (Legal Newsline) – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently filed a suit against the federal government over the Affordable Care Act.
New York AG announces $550 million settlement with tobacco companies
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman recently announced a settlement with major tobacco companies over the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA).
Tristar Food, Kindly King Foodstuff sued over alleged egg roll product slack-fill
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – A New York resident is suing food products manufacturers over claims their egg roll product contains illegal slack-fill.
Hyundai sued over allegedly defective sunroofs
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – An Alabama man is suing Hyundai over claims the company's panoramic sunroofs spontaneously shatter.