News from October 2015
Ohio hospital will pay $4.1 million settlement in Medicare/Medicaid fraud case
West Chester Memorial in Cincinnati has agreed to a $4.1 million settlement after allegations of billing federal health care programs for medically unnecessary spinal surgeries, the U.S. Department of Justice recently announced.
Maine alleges EPA is setting double standard for water quality in state
Maine will amend a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to challenge alleged unlawful actions creating a double standard regarding water quality protections in the state.
NuVasive reaches $13.5 million settlement with Maryland, other states
Allegations by six states against medical device company NuVasive for improperly marketing a spinal surgery product and providing illegal kickbacks have been settled for $13.5 million, Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh recently said.
Frosh: Prohibit arbitration clauses in long-term care contracts
Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh was among 14 state attorneys general who recently told the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that arbitration agreements should be prohibited in long-term care contracts.
Kentucky AG asks makers of Four Loko to lower alcohol content
Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway recently joined 16 other state attorneys general in writing a letter to Phusion Projects asking that the alcohol content in its malt beverage product Four Loko be lowered.
Maryland expands self-help legal services for civil cases statewide
The Maryland Judiciary has announced an expansion of its free self-help services for individuals representing themselves in civil cases within the state's trial courts.
Flushable wipes not causing septic problem, INDA president says
Lawsuits seeking recovery from harm allegedly caused by flushable wipes are “missing the target,” according to Dave Rousse, president of the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry.
Alaska, Justice Department won't seek additional damages in Exxon Valdez settlement
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Legal Newsline) -- The Department of Justice and the state of Alaska have announced they will not seek additional damages under the 1991 Exxon Valdez oil spill settlement.
ATRA, plaintiffs lawyer dispute status of asbestos docket in Newport News
This year, a national legal reform group shed more light on an asbestos docket in Virginia by downgrading Newport News to a “Judicial Hellhole,” though an asbestos attorney there claims the report is propaganda.
Attorney: UFC's lawsuit against New York likely to succeed, leading to 2016 event
A lawsuit filed by the UFC with the goal of changing the state’s laws on combative sports looks “likely” to succeed, lawyer and combat sports law consultant Erik Magraken believes.
Missouri sues Charter Communications, alleging illegal telemarketing
The state of Missouri is suing a media provider, alleging illegal telemarketing practices.
Third Circuit: ‘Regular users’ of telephone lines can sue under TCPA
The federal appellate court said in a ruling this month that such a user has standing to sue under the federal law even if he or she is not the intended recipient of the call or the line subscriber.
Plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees in shareholder class actions doubled
A North Carolina business court ruled that the attorneys are entitled to $550,000 instead of $275,000, but refused to award fees any higher than North Carolina’s rate for such litigation.
Firm that allegedly took $93M in financing to buy thousands of pelvic mesh cases leads in TV advertising, report says
Trial lawyers will spend almost $900 million this year in broadcast advertising, a new report projects, with a firm that allegedly recently took in more than $90 million in funding to purchase lawsuits leading the way.
MDL cases are basically class actions, attorney feels
Individual lawsuits that end up being consolidated in federal courts are being treated like class actions, a Skadden Arps attorney said Tuesday.
Settlement reached in class action over Subway sandwich sizes
Earlier this month, a federal judge gave preliminary approval and certified a settlement class in a lawsuit filed against the restaurant chain over its six- and 12-inch-long subs. A group of plaintiffs alleged the sandwiches were not the advertised length.
Report: Data breach cases coming from all directions
Federal and state regulators, along with plaintiffs attorneys, are focusing more and more on the data security practices of companies, a new report says.
Iowa city files class action lawsuit over so-called ‘flushable’ bathroom wipes
The City of Perry, in its lawsuit filed in a New York federal court earlier this month, claims the wipes have damaged its sewer lines and some of its buildings.
Attorney: Federal consumer protection agency should enforce laws, not create them
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is considering a new rule that would ban companies from using arbitration clauses that block class action lawsuits.
Big Heart Pet Brands 'deeply concerned' over slave labor allegations
In response to a recent lawsuit that alleges Big Heart Pet Brands knowingly contracted with an overseas partner that used slave labor, a statement made by the company said that it has been conducting an "aggressive" review of all its suppliers.