News from December 2016
Deutsche Bank settles for $37 million in case involving automated order router
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Dec. 16 that Deutsche Bank will settle allegations it misled clients about the performance of a core feature of its automated order router that primarily sent client orders to dark pools.
AshleyMadison.com operators settle with FTC after massive data breach
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Dec. 14 that the operators of Toronto-based AshleyMadison.com will settle allegations they deceived consumers and failed to protect 36 million users’ accounts and profile information. The failure led to a massive July 2015 network breach.
Twenty AGs allege conspiracy of drug-makers
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (Legal Newsline) — Delaware Attorney General Matt Denn announced Dec. 15 that he had joined with 19 other state attorneys general in filing a federal lawsuit against Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc., Auribindo Pharma USA Inc., Citron Pharma LLC, Mayne Pharma (USA) Inc., Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.
Saint-Gobain Corp. facilities in Massachusetts pursue compliance with clean water laws
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Dec. 13 that manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts, subsidiaries of a multinational building materials company, have taken steps to comply with federal clean water laws.
Plumbing 911 in Alabama settles for $250,000 after allegations of violating state law
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) — Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange announced Dec. 13 that his office and the Alabama Plumbers and Gasfitters Examining Board have settled with Plumbing 911 Inc. of Moody and its owner and president, Tony C. Gowins of Talladega.
Florida reaches multimillion-dollar settlement with doctor over false claims allegations
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) — Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Dec. 13 that her office reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with Dr. Rasiklal Dhanji Nagda, an obstetrician and gynecologist in Ocala, after allegations of false claims.
New York consent order bans local business from conducting legal document preparation
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Dec.14 that a consent order and judgment has banned Derek Distenfield and his businesses from conducting legal document preparation business for New York consumers unless certain consumer protection conditions are met.
Consumers claim Dollar General aloe product's ingredients are falsely advertised
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – Two consumers have filed a class action lawsuit against a retailer over claims its aloe products do not contain "true" aloe vera.
Nestle accused of falsely advertising Lean Cuisine meals as preservative-free
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – A consumer has filed a class action lawsuit over allegations that a brand of frozen meals is falsely listed as being made with no preservatives
Data breaches likely to cost Yahoo in major ways
PROVIDENCE, R.I (Legal Newsline) — Yahoo’s data breaches are a wake-up call to users that online information needs to be protected, a data privacy lawyer says.
Woman claims Apple Homecare Medical Supply terminated her for not engaging in fraud
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) – An operations manager for a medical supply company in Texas alleges she was terminated because she would not agree to fraudulently bill Medicaid.
Consumer claims Tradewinds tea beverages are not 'all-natural' as labels claim
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – An Ohio corporation is accused of falsely advertising its tea beverages as being all-natural.
Turmeric sold at Big Lots, Grocery Outlet stores allegedly contained high levels of lead
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – A San Francisco consumer has filed a class action lawsuit over allegations that a spice product contained high levels of lead.
Plaintiffs attorneys argue tort reform group’s ‘judicial hellholes’ report is ‘rigged’
The Circuit Court for the City of St. Louis is the nation’s No. 1 “judicial hellhole,” according to the American Tort Reform Association’s 2016-17 report, meaning it is the “most unfair” in the nation in terms of handling civil litigation.
Framework established but uncertainty remains over 'pay-for-delay' drug payments
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) -- An appeals court ruling in favor of two drug companies accused of hurting insurance plans, wholesalers and consumers by blocking the entry of a generic product to market will provide some framework for deciding future similar cases, according to legal observers.
FTC settles with Aura Labs in case targeting mobile blood pressure app's accuracy
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Dec. 12 that Aura Labs Inc., doing business as AuraLife and AuraWare, agreed to settle allegations that their blood pressure-measuring mobile app deceived consumers.
EPA to finalize standards for restricted-use pesticides
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Dec. 12 that it is finalizing standards for applicators who apply restricted-use pesticides that are not available for purchase by the general public and require special handling.
FTC rules against California Naturel over 'all natural' advertising
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Dec. 12 it has granted a summary decision against California Naturel Inc. for allegations of false “all natural” advertisements related to its sunscreen product – claims that violated Sections 5 and 12 of the FTC Act.
Justice Department targets Virginia county, alleging violating religious land use law
ROANOKE, Va. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Justice Department announced a lawsuit Dec. 12 against Culpeper County, Virginia, alleging violation of the Relig ious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA) by denying a sewage permit application to the Islamic Center of Culpeper (ICC).
Kansas district court orders roofing contractor to pay $46,000 for alleged consumer violations
LAWRENCE, Kan. (Legal Newsline) — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Dec. 9 that Aaron Joshua Damm, who did business as Kaw Valley Roofing, has been ordered to pay roughly $46,000 in restitution to consumers after allegedly violating the Kansas Consumer Protection Act.