News from April 2016
United drops plans to purchase more slots at Newark airport
NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) — The Department of Justice has announced United Continental Holdings Inc. (United) has dropped plans to purchase 24 takeoff and landing slots at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Justice Department seeks to block Halliburton's acquisition of Baker Hughes
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) — The Department of Justice has announced it has filed a civil antitrust lawsuit attempting to block Halliburton Company’s proposed acquisition of Baker Hughes Inc.
FTC to mail checks to consumers victimized by alleged debt collection scheme
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced it will mail 1,701 checks to consumers victimized by an alleged debt collection scheme run by Kirit Patel, Broadway Global Master Inc. and In-Arabia Solutions Inc.
EEOC, Neenah Paper OK $33,000 deal to settle disability discrimination allegations
DETROIT (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has announced Neenah Paper Inc. has agreed to pay $33,000 to resolve allegations it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Bank of America to pay $30,000 after allegedly discriminating against deaf employee
LAS VEGAS (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced that Bank of America NA has agreed to pay $30,000 and furnish other relief to resolve allegations the company engaged in disability discrimination.
Consumers allege My Pillow misrepresents itself
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - Two women are suing a pillow and bedding products company, alleging it misrepresents itself to consumers.
California consumer alleges Wild Planet Foods under-fills tuna cans
EUREKA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - A California consumer is suing a food company, alleging it under-fills its tuna cans.
Illinois woman alleges Smarte Carte collects biometric data without consent
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - An Illinois woman is suing the owner of electronic lockers, luggage carts, commercial strollers, and massage chairs, alleging it collects customers' biometric information without consent.
Easy Access: Shops hit with ADA accessibility lawsuits likely to be targets of 'serial litigators'
Earlier in the year, Margie Milovich’s neighbor had been hit with a lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act. But she said it still didn’t prepare her for the moment the same plaintiff delivered a similar lawsuit to the door of LaSalle Flowers, a family-owned River North flower shop at 731 N.
Customer accuses RelayRides of charging twice
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A Chicago man is suing a car rental company, alleging it unlawfully charges customers twice.
Fourth Circuit also finds district courts, not arbitrators, must decide class action arbitrability
The federal appeals court reversed, vacated and remanded the decision of a South Carolina federal court, saying the parties did not “unmistakably provide” that the arbitrator would decide whether their agreement authorizes class arbitration. The ruling is similar to those from the Third and Sixth circuits.
Investor alleges FLY Leasing violated securities laws
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - An investor is suing a commercial aircraft leasing company and two of its chief officers, alleging it failed to disclose to investors certain information about the company.
Consumer alleges 3 companies made unsolicited calls
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - A Los Angeles man is suing timeshare vacation companies, alleging they made unsolicited calls to consumers' phones.
Kansas attorney general continues fight against potential federal energy regulations
TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has announced his state’s strategy to combat what it believes are illegal federal energy regulations and will continue to focus on protecting consumers.
California targets Morgan Stanley for alleged role in global financial crisis
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris has filed a lawsuit against Morgan Stanley for allegedly misrepresenting complex investments like mortgage-backed securities that contributed to the global financial crisis and to major losses by investors that included California’s public pension funds, which provide retirement security to California peace officers, firefighters and teachers.
Green Paradise Landscaping to pay $31,000 for allegedly violating Massachusetts wage laws
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has announced Green Paradise Landscaping and owner Bruno M. Amaral will pay $31,000 in restitution after allegations of violating the state’s wage and hour laws.
Attorney: Ohio HITECH case a 'misguided attempt' to invoke False Claims Act
CINCINNATI (Legal Newsline) – A now-dismissed whistleblower lawsuit over impermissibly accessed medical records that took an odd view of the HITECH Act wasn't exactly a misuse of the False Claims Act, an Indianapolis attorney says.
Hertz class action among latest in rising number of New Jersey TCCWNA cases
NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – The largest car rental company in the U.S. is studying a class action lawsuit filed by a New Jersey man who claims the company’s terms and conditions on its website for rewards program enrollees violate the state's Truth-in-Consumer Contract, Warranty and Notice Act (TCCWNA).
Defendants mum in Illinois class action over text messages
FREEPORT, Ill. (Legal Newsline) – A tax-preparation services firm, an American multinational financial services corporation and a restaurant marketing and promotional company are staying quiet in the wake of a federal class action lawsuit filed against them.
College group: Plaintiffs bar, feds, state AGs teaming against for-profit colleges
Last month, the DOE released a proposal that would establish borrower-friendly processes for seeking and obtaining loan relief triggered by what the agency describes as “unscrupulous conduct” by higher education institutions. As part of the proposal, the department provided options to negotiators that would protect students from the use of mandatory arbitration provisions in enrollment agreements.