News from August 2016
California consumer accuses sports betting tips provider of invading privacy
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — A Los Angeles County man is suing a sports betting tip provider, alleging telephone harassment.
Wal-Mart: Former employee who complained to EEOC never requested accommodation
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently announced that the retail chain will pay the man, who is intellectually disabled and worked for the company since 1994, $90,000 to settle the allegations of disability discrimination.
Consumers alleges nutritional supplements manufacturers misbranded items
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) — Two consumers are suing nutritional supplements manufacturers, alleging false advertising.
Federal court: Debt relief law firms not exempt from CFPB’s authority
A Wisconsin federal judge recently ruled that the owners of two law firms offering debt relief services may be held liable by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for allegedly violating federal consumer protection laws.
Artist alleges Fresno event organizers violated his freedom of speech
FRESNO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — A Fresno man is suing California state officials, alleging they violated his freedom of speech by not displaying his Civil War painting.
New Jersey attorney general targets couple who allegedly deceived Sandy victims
Newark, N.J. (Legal Newsline) — New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the Division of Consumer Affairs have announced a lawsuit against Jeffrey Colmyer and Tiffany A. Cimino and their companies Rayne Construction Management Services LLC (RCMS) and Colmyer and Sons Construction LLC (Colmyer and Sons).
Apollo Global Management to pay $52.7 million after allegedly misleading investors
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — Four private equity fund advisers affiliated with Apollo Global Management will pay $52.7 million for allegedly misleading fund investors about fees on a loan agreement, the Securities and Exchange Commission has announced.
Consumer accuses hair-growth manufacturer of fraud
SAN FRANCISCO — A California woman is suing two hair-growth products, alleging fraud, unfair competition, and unjust enrichment.
Windsor Inn to pay $200,000 after allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation
BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced R.V. Associates Limited, doing business as Windsor Inn, will pay $200,000 after allegations of violating federal sexual harassment and retaliation laws.
EEOC targets Wayne Farms for alleged discrimination against disabled employees
DECATUR, Ala. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced a lawsuit against Wayne Farms LLC, alleging illegal discrimination against a class of employees because of their disabilities.
Resident accuses Santa Monica of commerce discrimination
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — A local resident is suing Santa Monica, alleging the city will not let her and others rent our their properties on a short-term basis.
Two Florida medical clinics to pay $17 million to settle deceptive marketing allegations
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has announced that two Florida companies will pay $17 million after allegations of deceptive marketing related to erectile dysfunction medications and services.
Maryland judiciary releases videos to aid homeowners facing foreclosures
The Maryland Judiciary, in collaboration with the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS), has produced two new educational videos aimed at assisting homeowners in understanding the foreclosure process.
WLF: Disbarment, criminal charges should be possibilities for corrupt attorney
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – Federal prosecutors should consider criminal charges against the lawyer who pursued Chevron for alleged contamination of the Ecuadorian Amazon after an appeals court upheld a lower court's ruling that it was all a fraud, a public interest attorney said during a recent interview.
Stockholder alleges company, board violated federal law
SALT LAKE CITY (Legal Newsline) — A shareholder is suing a company and its board, alleging they provided misleading information to public stockholders regarding the sale of the company.
Third-party funders that chased Liberian judgment face sanctions by federal judge
PHILADELPHIA — Called out for violating a U.S. district court order, a group of third-party litigation funders faces sanctions in a case that a defense attorney says illustrates the dark side of a growing industry.
Johnson & Johnson appealing multimillion-dollar verdicts in talcum powder cases
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – Johnson & Johnson believes it has “strong grounds” for appeals against two multimillion-dollar jury verdicts that linked the company’s talcum powder product and ovarian cancer.
Harley-Davidson agrees to settlement after allegations of Clean Air Act violations
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — Harley-Davidson Inc., Harley-Davidson
Motor Company Group LLC, Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company Inc., and Harley-Davidson Motor Company Operations Inc. (collectively Harley-Davidson) have agreed to settle allegations of Clean Air Act violations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) have announced.
Fifth Circuit deems gun rights more important than employer rights, attorney says
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals court recently reinstated a lawsuit brought by an employee who alleged he was wrongly terminated for possessing a concealed weapon on company property.
CFPB receives thousands of comments on proposed arbitration rules
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an independent agency of the federal government responsible for consumer protection in the financial sector, published its proposal in the Federal Register on May 24, with a 90-day comment period. All comments were due no later than Monday.