News from May 2015
Pet clothing maker sues competition for patent infringement
The makers of pet clothing has filed a lawsuit against a similar company claiming patent infringement over its “pressure-applying” pet garments.
Retailers group, pointing to prolific patent lawsuit filer, calls for reform
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A leader of the largest retailers group in the nation says a Texas non-practicing entity’s prolific and continued filing of patent infringement lawsuits against retailers is further evidence that reform is essential.
Electric company sued for 'deceptive' billing practices
A New Jersey man is suing an electric company over allegations it engaged in “deceptive” billing practices.
KFC to pay restitution to employees for violating labor laws
A KFC franchisee in New York will pay $375,000 to settle a lawsuit with the New York Attorney General's Office for violating labor laws, said Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
San Francisco cement company to pay $7.5M for environmental violations
A California cement company will pay $7.5 million to settle a lawsuit that accused the company of violating state environmental laws, said state Attorney General Kamala Harris.
Causation standards are needed to fix Illinois’ Workers' Comp system, policy experts say
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. (Legal Newsline) – As president of the Jacksonville, Ill., Regional Economic Development Corp., Terry Denison visits regularly with major companies like Nestle USA that have expanded their operations into Illinois.
Ga. SC vacates injunction against Miss. law firm’s ad against nursing home
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) - The Georgia Supreme Court, in a ruling Monday, vacated an injunction against a Mississippi law firm’s full-page newspaper advertisement aimed at a Toccoa area nursing home.
Calif. water conservation company facing shareholder class action
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - A California land and water resource development company is facing a federal securities class action lawsuit over allegations it filed false statements with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
U.S. wants Black and Decker to report hazardous complaints about lawnmower
The U.S. government has sued Black and Decker for allegedly dragging its feet in reporting dangerous defects in its cordless electric lawnmower.
U.S. tells Minnesota company: Follow law or stop operations
The U.S. Attorney General's Office has sued to force a Minnesota medical device manufacturer to obey federal law in its operations.
Wis. SC to release filings in ‘John Doe’ cases this week
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - The Wisconsin Supreme Court is set to release hundreds of pages of court filings Wednesday in three cases it is reviewing, deciding whether to allow a secret, or “John Doe,” investigation into Gov. Scott Walker and his 2012 recall campaign to continue.
Prolific patent lawsuit filer continues to bring lawsuits in Texas federal court
PLANO, Texas (Legal Newsline) - A Texas-based company that was tagged the most prolific patent “troll” in 2014 has filed a string of patent infringement lawsuits in recent weeks.
Wis. officials want lawsuit filed against them over new chief justice amendment dropped
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin officials are asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed against them by Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Shirley Abrahamson over a constitutional amendment approved by voters last month.
N.J. woman files class action against airline after not being able to use purchased in-flight television service
NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - A New Jersey woman has filed a proposed class action lawsuit against United Airlines, alleging that the airline failed to inform her after she bought in-flight television service that it would be inoperable for most of her flight.
Jury finds cigarettes, not asbestos, cause of pipefitter’s lung cancer in asbestos case
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - After a federal judge denied the plaintiff the ability to use the “any exposure” theory to press his asbestos-related claim, a federal jury has ruled a pipefitter’s lung cancer may have been caused by his pack-and-a-half a day cigarette smoking habit, rather than asbestos exposure, handing a win at trial to a group of industrial defendants.
Ill. AG Madigan says Rauner lacks standing to sue unions in federal court
CHICAGO – Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is asking a federal judge to bow out of Governor Bruce Rauner’s dispute with state employee unions so a St. Clair County judge can resolve it.
Politically and academically connected economists endorse $7B Price v. Philip Morris award
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - Economist George Akerlof, husband of Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, endorses a $7 billion award of damages against cigarette maker Philip Morris now under review at the Illinois Supreme Court.
Senators introduce bill to require open proceedings of U.S. SC to be televised
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Chuck Grassley have introduced legislation that would require all open proceedings of the U.S. Supreme Court to be televised.
Federal lawmakers say PATENT Act, with some changes, has best chance of passing
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A bill introduced last week by a bipartisan group of U.S. senators aimed at ending patent abuses still needs some tweaking, but lawmakers said Thursday the legislation, compared to other reform bills, has the best chance of passing.
Asbestos firm says Garlock's attempt to probe claimants' info 'brazen' and its argument 'highly indignant'
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Legal Newsline) – The latest filing by a New York asbestos plaintiffs firm that has been accused of racketeering calls a bankrupt company’s attempt to access asbestos claimants’ records “brazen.”