News from August 2016
Consumer accuses food manufacturer of deceptive business practices
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — A New York consumer is suing a food manufacturer, alleging deceptive and misleading business practices with its salad dressing products.
Southtowne enters Assurance of Voluntary Compliance after lemon law buyback allegations
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) — Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens has announced Southtowne Motors of Newnan Inc., doing business as Southtowne Chevrolet Buick GMC, Southtowne Motors, Inc., doing business as Southtowne Hyundai Riverdale, and Southtowne Motors of Newnan II, Inc., doing business as Southtowne Hyundai of Newnan (together “Southtowne”) entered Assurances of Voluntary Compliance after allegations of improper disclosure practices.
New York attorney general reports progress by companies accused of deceptive marketing
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — Six of seven companies that were sent cease and desist letters for alleged deceptive “Zika-preventative” marketing have reformed their advertising practices, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has announced.
EZContactsUSA to pay $100,000 after alleged data breach potentially exposed consumer information
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — Provision Supply LLC – doing business as ZcontactsUSA.com – will pay a $100,000 penalty and strengthen its data security practices after allegations of a data breach, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has announced.
HSBC to pay $434,500 to resolve allegations of violating Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) — HSBC Finance Corporation, successor to HSBC Auto Finance Inc., will pay $434,500 after allegations of violating the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), the Justice Department has announced.
FTC targets 1-800 Contacts for allegedly anticompetitive agreements with competitors
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced a lawsuit against 1-800 Contacts, charging the online retailer of contact lenses with allegations of unlawfully orchestrating and maintaining a web of anticompetitive agreements with rival companies.
Barclays to pay $93.35 million after allegedly manipulating benchmark recession interest rates
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) — Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen has announced Barclays Bank PLC and Barclays Capital Inc. will pay $93.35 million in restitution to government and nonprofit entities after alleged manipulation of benchmark interest rates during the financial crisis.
Exxon Mobile subsidiary to $300,000 penalty for alleged toxic waste discharges
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) — Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane has announced that her office has reached an agreement with XTO Energy Inc., a subsidiary of Exxon Mobile Corp., after allegations the company illegally discharged toxic waste from a Marcellus shale gas site.
DOJ appealing FCA loss to AseraCare after unusual trial
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will appeal three orders in a lawsuit against a hospice chain that allegedly submitted fraudulent claims on the eligibility of patients needing hospice care.
Plaintiffs lose fight against Massachusetts utility
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) -- The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on July 29 decided to reverse a Superior Court order that granted class certifications for two classes of residential and business customers of the defendant, Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company.
Court affirms pro-plaintiff NYCAL ruling
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – New York's highest court has found that the former manufacturer of a product that was intended to be used with asbestos from a third-party product had a duty to warn consumers.
Second Circuit rules for Chevron, agrees $9.5 billion judgment against oil giant was product of fraud, racketeering
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit this week sided with the company, finding “no basis” for overturning the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York’s judgment in 2014.
Attorney: FCC exempting federal government from TCPA lawsuits ‘hypocritical’
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The federal government has made a declaration exempting itself from lawsuits brought through the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, a law at the center of numerous class actions filed every week against businesses.
Arkansas consumer accuses cooler sellers of deceptive practices
LITTLE ROCK (Legal Newsline) — A Pope County man is suing Yeti cooler sellers, alleging breach of warranty and unconscionable, false or deceptive practices.
With class members unaware of settlement, firm, founder and charities cash in
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Early this year, Howard Bernstein helped direct $1.7 million to 11 charities near his home in Lake Worth, FL -- among them, the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach.
Consumer accuses vitamin supplement manufacturer of deceptive marketing
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Florida woman is suing a vitamin supplement manufacturer, alleging unqualified representation.
EPA fines three New Hampshire companies for allegedly violating RRP Rule
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that three N.H. companies face penalties after allegations of failing to follow federal lead paint regulations at a commercial and residential property in Manchester.
Two workers allege employers owe wages
PITTSBURGH — Two Pennsylvania men are suing their employers, alleging violation of their settlement agreement.
California consumer accuses health care provider of telephone harassment
LOS ANGELES — A California woman is suing a health care provider, alleging telephone harassment.
Doctors file class action lawsuit over osteopathic association’s membership fees
A group of some 32,000 osteopathic physicians claim the American Osteopathic Association’s requirement that they purchase an annual membership at a cost of nearly $700 is illegal and “serves no purpose.”