News from April 2016
Window maker wants class action dismissed nearly two years after it was remanded
Pella Corporation filed a motion to dismiss in February. The action was sent back to Illinois federal court in 2014 after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit overturned approval of an estimated $90 million class action settlement involving the company and removed Chicago attorney Paul M. Weiss as class counsel. Weiss was disbarred in November by the Illinois Supreme Court.
NLRB, Fifth Circuit again disagree about class and collective action waivers
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans continue to be at odds over employment arbitration provisions that contain class and collective waivers.
Juris Publishing, Jurisnet settles after allegations of negative option marketing
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) – Juris Publishing Inc. and Jurisnet LLC (Juris) agreed to settle after allegations of negative option marketing in their advertising, selling and distributing of print, electronic and CD publications, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced.
Hotel staffing agency sued over alleged wage laws violations
DENVER (Legal Newsline) – A Colorado woman is suing a staffing agency over claims it and its clients violated federal and state wage and overtime laws.
Fan files class-action suit against St. Louis Rams over season-ticket licenses
ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) – A Missouri man is suing a National Football League team over claims his season-ticket buying license will be unusable after the team relocates.
FTC takes action against Volkswagen for alleged deceptive advertising
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken action against Volkswagen Group of America Inc., charging it with allegedly deceiving consumers through its advertising campaigns.
New Jersey rules $158,000 in penalties against 20 local health clubs
NEWARK, New Jersey (Legal Newsline) — The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs has announced administrative actions against 20 health clubs for allegedly breaking consumer protection laws.
Rhode Island House committee examines e-cigarette legislation
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (Legal Newsline) — The Rhode Island House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare recently examined legislation filed on behalf of Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin that would require child-resistant packaging for e-cigarettes and similar products.
AutoZone to revise business practices after alleged pricing controversies
NEWARK, New Jersey (Legal Newsline) — AutoZone Inc. will pay $47,500 and revise its business practices after allegedly failing to plainly mark total selling prices on certain merchandise at many of its New Jersey stores, the office of New Jersey acting Attorney General Robert Lougy has announced.
Terminix charged over allegations of federal violations in the U.S. Virgin Islands
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have announced that Terminix International Company LP (TERMINIX LP) and its U.S. Virgin Islands operation Terminix International USVI LLC (TERMINIX, USVI) have been charged with violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.
South Dakota high court upholds attorney general's ballot explanation
PIERRE, South Dakota (Legal Newsline) — South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has announced that the state’s Supreme Court upheld his ballot explanation for Initiated Measure 21, which limited the amount of interest certain money lenders can charge on loans at 36 percent.
New York attorney general joins other states to combat climate change
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has announced he will join attorneys general from across the country to create a coalition of top law enforcement officials who will continue to combat climate change and build on the recent progress the United States has made on the issue.
Cancer Fund of America, Cancer Support Services to be dissolved
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — Cancer Fund of America Inc. (CFA), Cancer Support Services Inc. (CSS) and their leader, James Reynolds Sr., agreed to settle charges CFA and CSS alleged to help cancer patients yet actually used donation funds on their families and friends.
Berkshire Power Plant agrees to charges in alleged emissions fraud scheme
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has announced that Berkshire Power Plant and its owner and management company agreed to settle after allegations they tampered with emissions equipment and submitted false information to environmental regulators.
Shareholders oppose FirstMerit, Huntington Bancshares proposed merger
AKRON, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Shareholders are suing board members of an Ohio bank holding company for trying to sell the company by means of an allegedly unfair process and for an allegedly unfair price.
VHU Express cited $80,000 for allegedly failing to pay employees in Amazon dealings
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has announced VHU Express Inc. and its owner Lisa Bythewood have been cited more than $80,000 in restitution and penalties for allegedly violating the state’s wage and hour laws.
Multiple technology companies OK settlement after price-fixing allegations
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris has announced preliminary settlements that resolve allegations that LG, Hitachi, Panasonic, Toshiba and Samsung fixed prices on Cathode Ray Tubes in televisions and TV monitors from 1995 to 2007 in order to raise prices worldwide.
Sierra Club's legal theory in frackquake case draws 'Star Trek' comparison
The Sierra Club and Public Justice are taking a novel approach in citing the Resource Conservation and Recovering Act in a lawsuit against the oil and gas industry in Oklahoma, according to several industry and environmental attorneys