News from September 2015
Walker looks to fill open seat on Wis. SC
The governor argues there is precedent for appointing someone to fill the seat left behind by Justice N. Patrick Crooks, who died last week.
Democratic state senator to run for N.C. attorney general
Josh Stein, who once served as a senior deputy attorney general under current Attorney General Roy Cooper, made his announcement last week.
Woman sues biotech company, alleging securities fraud
A woman is suing a Massachusetts biotech company, alleging it violated federal securities laws.
Four individuals sue hospitals, alleging excessive fees for medical records
Four individuals from the Washington, D.C., area are suing two hospitals, alleging illegal and excessive charges for medical records.
Attorneys battle over fees in decertified class action against tobacco companies
Tallahassee law firm Howard & Associates, along with attorneys Phillip Timothy Howard and Richard A. Daynard, contends it should receive a portion of the fees coming in a settlement of the more than 400 Engle Progeny Cases.
Life sciences groups ‘disappointed’ with Issa’s comments on House Innovation Act
U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif. and chairman of the U.S. House Intellectual Property Subcommittee, said in an interview earlier this month that “misinformation” has been spread about the proposed patent reform bill.
Maryland man sues Ashley Madison, alleging fraudulent misrepresentations
A Maryland man is suing the operators of a popular affair website, alleging it deceptively and fraudulently misrepresents its user makeup.
Adventist Health Systems to pay $115 million settlement for alleged False Claims Act violations
The Department of Justice announced Monday that Adventist Health Systems will pay a $115 million settlement to the United States after claims of False Claim Act violations.
Texas man sues Twitter, alleging unlawful use of direct messages
A Texas man is suing Twitter, alleging it unlawfully intercepts and alters its users' private messages.
New U.S. PTO search tool allows users to look at almost 40 years of patent data
PatentsView launched Sept. 17. The database provides data from the years 1976 to 2014.
Arkansas law firms that worked on class actions against mortgage lenders claim attorneys’ requests for fees are ‘outrageous’
Both class action settlements -- Fladell et al. v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. et al. and Hall et al. v. Bank of America, N.A. et al. -- were reached in 2014. They involved lender-placed insurance, or LPI.
California AG Harris announces Comcast will pay $33 million settlement for alleged privacy violations
Comcast will pay a $33 million settlement after allegations that personal information was posted online for customers participating in Voice over Internet Protocol phone service, announced California Attorney Kamala Harris
Two men settle over alleged scheme to avoid paying customs duties
Two men will pay a settlement following a claim by the United States alleging a scheme to evade paying custom duties on aluminum extrusions from the People’s Republic of China, the Department of Justice announced Sept. 4.
Con Ed settles with female workers after discrimination allegations
New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a settlement with Consolidated Edison Company of New York (Con Edison) Sept. 9 after allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination against women working in the field.
Alabama plaintiffs attorney’s case against legal support company over alleged debt moved to federal court
Minnesota-based Civil Action Group alleges Birmingham attorney Barry Walker owes more than $400,000.
State SC suspends Pa. AG’s law license
The court’s order, issued Monday, is limited to a temporary suspension of Kathleen Kane’s license. It does not remove her from elected office.
Wis. SC Justice Crooks dies -- just days after announcing his planned retirement
Justice N. Patrick Crooks, 77, was found dead in his chambers at the state Capitol in Madison Monday.
FLSA Rising: Looming rule changes in FLSA portend more litigation, complexity for employers
Beyond seeking help with compliance, employers will likely need to rewrite their job descriptions and possibly even restructure their business, with the decision of paying current employees more, cutting their hours or terminating them completely on the docket, an attorney says.
Federal judge awards FarmVille game maker more than $1 million in attorneys’ fees
Judge Vince Chhabria said in an order this month that the lawsuit filed against social video game company Zynga over an Internet-browsing patent was “objectively baseless from the start.”
Georgia hospital, doctor to pay $25 million settlement
Columbus Regional Healthcare System (Columbia Regional) and Dr. Andrew Pippas will pay more than $25 million to settle claims of violating the False Claims Act and the Stark Law, according to the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs.