News from February 2016
FTC targets Stratford Career Institute over misleading advertising allegations
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) took action against Stratford Career Institute by charging the online distance education school with allegations of misleading consumers but its high school equivalency program.
FTC settles with defendants over allegations of selling sensitive consumer information
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has settled with John Ayers, LeapLab and Leads Company over allegations of knowingly providing scammers with hundreds of thousands of consumers’ sensitive personal information.
EEOC, VRI reach $125,000 settlement over sexual harassment allegations
MIAMI (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has announced Vacation Resorts International (VRI) will pay $125,000 and furnish other relief to resolve allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation.
EEOC, Pharmacy Solutions reach $85,000 deal resolving pregnancy discrimination allegations
DALLAS (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced a settlement agreement that will see Tomeldon Company Inc., which does business as Pharmacy Solutions, pay $85,000 and furnish other relief to resolve a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit.
Florida appellate court: Extensive delay can warrant denial of class certification
The state appeals court, in a ruling earlier this month, cited both the case’s delay and plaintiffs’ counsel’s “inaction” in upholding a lower court’s non-final order denying class certification. The plaintiffs claimed the defendant companies made usurious mortgage loans to them and 400 other borrowers.
California Attorney General discusses protecting against data breaches
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris has announced a comprehensive report to the Stanford Cyber Initiative that details the nature of data breaches her office has dealt with over the past four years.
Customer alleges Children's Place engages in price scheming
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - A San Diego woman is suing a children's apparel retailer, alleging price scheming.
Brazilians accuse Westgate of illegal timeshare sales practices
ORLANDO, Florida (Legal Newsline) - Three Brazilian citizens are suing an Orlando timeshare developer, alleging it deceives foreign-language speakers into purchasing timeshares.
New York hands Grateful Toad store court order to stop alleged sale of kratom
PLATTSBURGH, New York (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has announced a consent order and judgment against The Grateful Toad store to stop it from stocking allegedly mislabeled or unlabeled products.
Maryland seeks review of Virginia decision on pollutants that could affect Potomac
RICHMOND, Virginia (Legal Newsline) — In an appeal filed with the commonwealth of Virginia, the state of Maryland is calling for an official review of a recent Virginia Department of Environmental quality decision that approves a coal ash water discharge permit for Dominion Virginia Power.
Fourth Circuit affirms dismissal of FCA lawsuit against Purdue Pharma
The federal appeals court ruled in January that the False Claims Act’s pre-2010 public disclosure bar prohibits a relator’s attorney from bringing the same claims with a new relator, or whistleblower.
California man alleges Amazon.com concealed additional charge
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - A Los Angeles man is suing Amazon, alleging it falsely advertises its services.
Virginia attorney general comments on Walgreen's naloxone availability statement
RICHMOND, Virginia (Legal Newsline) — Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring recently issued a statement after Walgreen’s announced it would take additional steps to combat heroin and prescription drug abuse.
U.S. announces consent decree against Sullivan Harbor over alleged adulterated seafood
PORTLAND, Maine (Legal Newsline) — The Department of Justice has announced the U.S. District Court of Maine has entered a consent decree of permanent injunction against Mill Stream Corporation, which does business as Sullivan Harbor Farms, and its owner, Ira J. (Joel) Frantzman, to prevent distribution of alleged adulterated seafood.
Missouri woman claims maker of ‘nothing artificial’ blueberry muffin mix deceived her
The St. Louis resident filed a class action lawsuit against the maker of a Duncan Hines-brand muffin mix last month, accusing it of “deceptive, unfair and false” merchandising practices. She contends two of the mix’s ingredients are, in fact, artificial and synthetic substances. The company, which removed the lawsuit to federal court, wants the case dismissed.
FTC releases comments on West Virginia APRN legislative proposal
CHARLESTON, West Virgnia (Legal Newsline) — Staff from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has released comments on the competitive impact of a legislative proposal that would modify the supervision requirements imposed on advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in West Virginia.
Vail Run Community Resort agrees to $1 million deal over harassment allegations
DENVER (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has reached a $1,020,000 settlement with Vail Run Community Resort Association Inc. to resolve allegations of sexual harassment, national origin discrimination and retaliation.
EEOC takes action against Sappyann Inc. for discrimination allegations
GREENSBORO, North Carolina (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has charged Sappyann Inc., which operates Yesterday’s Pub & Grille in Sanford, North Carolina, with allegations of discriminating against an HIV-positive applicant.
Customer alleges Whirlpool misrepresented washing machine efficiency
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - A New York man is suing Whirlpool, alleging it misrepresents the efficiency of certain models of its washing machines.
California woman alleges Monster produced defective tablets
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A California woman is suing a consumer electronics manufacturer, alleging one of its tablet computer models is defective.