News from July 2016
Recordkeeping a must to avoid certain EPA refrigerant claims, attorney says
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – After allegedly failing to comply with regulations regarding the repair of leaky refrigerant from its in-store coolers, grocery chain Trader Joe’s will have to pay a $500,000 civil penalty.
Texas attorney general secures final judgment, permanent injunction against ex-immigration lawyer
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced his office has secured an agreed final judgment and permanent injunction against Paul A. Esquivel, Juan Carlos Penaflor and Olvia Martinez. Esquivel was a former immigration attorney, while Penaflor was his associate and Martinez his office manager.
Attorney: New sick leave laws in L.A., Santa Monica could boost class actions
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – Los Angeles and Santa Monica are among several cities within California changing the paid sick leave benefits to employees working within their city limits.
ASUS Computer gets infringement case moved to California
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – A California-based computer company was granted a transfer of venue in an infringement suit with a mobile electronic transaction products manufacturer.
Cease-and-desist order follows Calif. Workers' Comp ruling
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – California employers may be forced to find
alternate Workers’ Compensation insurance programs following a ruling from the
California Department of Insurance.
Ill. facial recognition law leads to wave of class actions against Facebook, others
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - At the opening of this millennium, the idea of computer programs using facial recognition software to target ads to people was the stuff of such science fiction stories as the 2002 film “Minority Report.”
EEOC takes action against Desco Industries in retaliation-based discrimination case
RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit against Desco Industries, charging the California-based manufacturer with violating federal law by firing an employee for complaining about race discrimination at its Sanford, North Carolina facility.
Attorney: Since Ill. law applied to Facebook, expect more BIPA lawsuits
MENLO PARK, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – California’s choice-of-law provision was recently used as an argument in a lawsuit between three Illinois residents and Facebook.
Two separate yet similar lawsuits against Calif. AG Harris: One wins, one loses
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Two Washington, D.C.-area organizations with separate lawsuits against California Attorney General and U.S. Senate-hopeful Kamala Harris over the same issue reached different outcomes.
DOL overtime rule change could impact staffing at nonprofits
WASHINGTON – A lawyer specializing in nonprofits says organizations have several options when considering how to comply with new overtime rules imposed by the Department of Labor, including whether to reclassify employees as non-exempt.
Should employers accommodate pasta worshippers?
LINCOLN, Neb. (Legal Newsline) – People can worship a Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) if they so choose, but that doesn’t make FSMism a religion, a Nebraska federal judge ruled this year.
North Carolina, feds file suit against Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority
CHARLOTTE (Legal Newsline) – The federal government and a state have filed a suit against a medical provider accusing it of imposing insurance steering restrictions.
Class-action suit filed against Chiasma
BOSTON – A biopharmaceutical company is facing allegations that it carried out a scheme designed to deceive investors and persuade investors to purchase overpriced securities.
Woman accuses Home Depot of fraud over cabinet installation
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – A Sonoma County, California resident is suing a home improvement products retailer alleging that the home improvement products retailer failed to provide the plaintiff the agreed products and services.
Pet owner files class action against Whitebridge Pet Brands over Made in USA label
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A Los Angeles County pet owner has filed a class-action lawsuit against a Chicago pet treats manufacturer alleging it misrepresents its products.
FTC and Florida settle charges with Vast Tech Support and OMG Tech Help
MIAMI (Legal Newsline) – The Federal Trade Commission announced that, along with the State of Florida, it has settled charged with Vast Tech Support LLC and OMG Tech Help LLC over allegations the company scammed thousands of consumers out of millions of dollars through the sale of bogus tech support services.
Medford Multicare Center for Living to pay $28 million after alleged fraud
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – Medford Multicare Center for Living Inc. will pay $28 million after allegations its owners looted the corporation and committed fraud and illegality in operating a business, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced.
B-G Mechanical Contractors to pay $220,000 after allegedly violating M/WBE rules
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) – Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced that B-G Mechanical Contractors Inc. (B-G) will pay $220,000 to resolve allegations of falsely certifying compliance with equal opportunity requirements on two public contracts.
FTC files complaint to bar merger of Superior Plus Corp. and Canexus Corp.
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the filing of an administrative complaint against Superior Plus Corp. and Canexus Corp., alleging that their proposed $982 million merger would violate antitrust laws.
California consumer accuses insurance company of phone harassment
LOS ANGELES — A California man is suing an insurance firm and others, alleging they sent him automated text messages without his consent.