News from February 2016
Drug makers want Cohen Milstein law firm off New Hampshire investigation
A group of five pharmaceutical companies being investigated by state Attorney General Joseph Foster for their marketing of prescription opioids have filed motions with a state court to have the plaintiffs law firm barred, along with the enforcement of subpoenas from Foster’s office. The companies argue the firm has too much of a financial stake in the investigation.
FTC charges two office supply operations over defrauding non-profits allegations
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has charged two different office supply operations, alleging they targeted non-profit organizations and tricked them into overpaying for supplies.
Three customers allege Dunkin' Donuts unlawfully surcharges for coffee
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Three New York men are suing Dunkin' Donuts, alleging it illegally surcharges for pre-packaged coffee.
Uber to pay out $28.5 million to settle class action lawsuits
A California federal judge still needs to approve the proposed settlement, which was filed with the court last week. As part of the settlement, the rideshare and taxi service said it also will implement various changes.
New Jersey man alleges Spark sent unsolicited e-mails
NEWARK, New Jersey (Legal Newsline) - An Englewood man is suing a dating services marketing company, alleging he was not able to unsubscribe from unsolicited e-mails.
EEOC details 2015 workplace discrimination
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has released breakdowns of all 89,385 workplace discrimination charges the agency received during fiscal 2015.
Stock holder alleges Chipotle violated securities laws
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - A shareholder is suing Chipotle, alleging the fast food chain made false and misleading statements about its business to investors.
DeVry University planning to fight action by federal agencies
The Federal Trade Commission is alleging in a federal lawsuit that advertisements by DeVry cited inaccurate graduate employment and earnings statistics. John Culhane, of Ballard Spahr in Philadelphia, said the signs point to some pushback from the company.
Federal judge says patent board didn't adequately explain reasoning in decision
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The Patent Trial and Appeal Board failed to explain why it ruled the way it did in a dispute, a federal judge has ruled.
Federal judge to decide whether to sanction attorneys for using court as ‘bargaining chip’ in negotiating class action settlement
Chief Judge Paul K. Holmes III for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas has set a show-cause hearing for later this week. The parties dismissed a class action settlement in his court in June, but re-filed the matter, along with a motion for preliminary approval of the settlement, in a state court one day later.
Pre-trial proceedings set for State of Maryland v. Edward Nero
Pre-trial proceedings for the case of State of Maryland v. Edward Nero are set to commence on February 19, 2016.
New Jersey woman alleges Household Finance failed to fulfill loan promise
NEWARK, New Jersey (Legal Newsline) - A New Jersey woman is suing subsidiaries of a banking and financial services company, alleging they never followed through on a promise of a permanent loan modification.
MoneyGram Payment Systems agrees to $13 million deal over fraud allegations
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — MoneyGram Payment Systems Inc. has agreed to pay $13 million over allegations of customer fraud, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman recently announced.
Amphastar to increase naxalone rebates for non-federal government agencies
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline) — Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc. will increase the company-offered rebate for its Naloxone kits purchased by non-federal government agencies in the state from $4 to $6 per dose, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin recently announced.
Fleet Lease sued over alleged unlawful sales practices
NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - Two Staten Island residents are suing a used car dealership, its owner and its president over claims of unlawful and deceptive sales practices.
Indiana AG opposes new CFPB proposed rule
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller testified before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Financial Institutions opposing a new rule proposition from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Kansas attorney general settles with K-Designers for $110,000 in telemarketing case
TOPKEA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced that Judson Enterprises Inc. (K-Designers) of Gold River, California, will pay $110,000 due to allegations it violated the No-Call Act and the Kansas Consumer Protection Act.
Massachusetts attorney general asks Senate to help stop debt-collection robocalls
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) – Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey advised the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to advance legislation that would bar debt-collection robocalls to consumer cellphones.
New York attorney general settles in multiple cases involving fraudulent Internet content
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced agreement deals with Machinima Inc. and three other companies over allegations of posting fraudulent content on the Internet.
New York consumers received $2 million in refunds related to lemon vehicles in 2015
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced that more than $2 million was refunded to 53 New York consumers in 2015 who claimed that their cars were lemons.