News from August 2016
Alabama customer accuses Serra Nissan of fraud
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Legal Newsline) — A consumer is suing Serra Nissan/Oldsmobile and other car-related businesses, alleging fraud, unjust enrichment and violations of RICO.
California consumer accuses market research firm of invading privacy
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — A Los Angeles man is suing a market research firm, alleging it has constantly harassed him with phone calls.
7 consumers accuse refrigerator manufacturer of product liability
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Legal Newsline) — Seven consumers are suing a Pompano Beach refrigerator company, alleging several models of gas absorption refrigerators are defective.
New York settles with developers who allegedly violated Long Island Pine Barrens Protection Act
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and John Pacevic, executive director of the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission, have announced a settlement with the owners of the Hampton Hills Golf and Country Cub over allegations of violating state laws protecting the Long Island Pine Barrens.
Eight-state coalition urges EPA to reconsider regional haze rules
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) — Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is leading a coalition of eight attorneys general in pleading with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to consider the effects and costs of its proposed changes to regional haze rules.
Plaintiffs drop suit against constitutionality of Kansas' school funding system
TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has announced a 6-year-old federal lawsuit that challenged the constitutionality of the Kansas school funding system has been dismissed by its plaintiffs.
Company wants its lawsuits against asbestos attorneys to be consolidated; firm argues cases aren’t related
John Crane Inc. wants the two lawsuits it filed in early June, against Shein Law Center in Philadelphia and Simon Greenstone Panatier Bartlett PC in Dallas, to be heard before a single federal judge. Shein has filed an opposition to the request, along with a motion to dismiss the case against it altogether.
Washington's settlement with trial lawyers group happened by accident
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) – On July 15, the Washington State Association for Justice, a trial lawyers group, agreed to pay the state of Washington $9,240 to resolve allegations it did not properly report lobbyist information.
Attorney: N.Y. AG's action against direct marketers to have ripple effect in industry
ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – Direct marketing companies are facing legal challenges over allegedly deceptive marketing practices in New York.
TCPA settlements continue to cost banks millions
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – From Bank of America to Wells Fargo, the banking industry has been rocked by multimillion-dollar lawsuits over the Telephone Customer Protection Act (TCPA).
California attorney general supports EPA's New Source Performance Standards
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris has joined eight other states and the city of Chicago in a motion to intervene in support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) New Source Performance Standards.
Ex-pro wrestler alleges WWE failed to pay royalties
Woodstock, Georgia resident accuses World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. of failure to pay royaltiesHARTFORD U.S.
Medicaid recipient accuses bill collector, health care providers of false practices
LITTLE ROCK (Legal Newsline) — An Arkansas woman is suing bill collectors for health care providers, alleging unjust enrichment and deceptive business practices.
WLF to Arkansas federal court: U.S. Department of Labor’s ‘persuader rule’ is too ‘aggressive,’ should be struck down
The Washington Legal Foundation, a D.C.-based public interest law firm, recently filed an amicus brief in Associated Builders and Contractors of Arkansas v. Perez. The foundation, citing a recent Texas federal court ruling, argues the new Persuader Advice Exemption Rule violates First Amendment protections.
New York consumer accuses data storage providers of overcharging
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — A New York consumer is suing data storage providers, alleging deceptive and misleading business practices.
Citrus and Allied to pay $59,472 after allegations of hazardous waste violations
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced Citrus and Allied Essences Ltd. will pay $59,472 to resolve allegations of hazardous waste regulations at a facility in Belcamp, Maryland.
EPA announces decision in Bayer CropScience facility explosion case
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced Bayer CropScience LP will pay $5.6 million for penalty and safety improvements after allegations it violated federal chemical accident prevention laws. The alleged violations occurred in 2008 at Bayer’s facility in Institute, W. Va., where an explosion killed two people.
Consumers file suit against Spotify after allegedly being automatically charged for a monthly service without prior knowledge
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — Consumers have filed a class-action lawsuit against Spotify USA Inc. and Does 1-10, citing alleged fraud and unfair competition after they claim they were unknowingly charged a monthly renewal rate once their free trial to Spotify had ended.
Dish Network alleges Tribune Broadcasting aired defamatory content
DENVER — A Colorado company has filed suit against Tribune Broadcasting Co. LLC, claiming that the broadcasting company allegedly made defamatory content about the plaintiff and broadcast it via its channels and various websites.
Individual alleges violation of Freedom of Information Act against federal agency
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — An individual is suing the United States Office of Special Counsel, claiming the agency violated the Freedom of Information Act when the plaintiff requested documents that were withheld from him by the defendant.