News from March 2016
EEOC targets ABC Phones of North Carolina for alleged sex discrimination
WILMINGTON, North Carolina. (Legal Newsline) — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against ABC Phones of North Carolina Inc., charging the company with subjecting a female employee to a sexually hostile work environment.
N.J. appeals court puts an end to class action filed against TGI Fridays over drink prices
The New Jersey Superior Court’s Appellate Division ruled last week that a trial court incorrectly certified the class, noting that it wrongly included all persons who bought an unpriced soda, beer or mixed drink regardless of whether they reviewed a menu before making their purchases. The matter has been sent back to the lower court for further proceedings on the plaintiffs’ individual claims.
CDC's new opioid guidelines will be used by plaintiffs bar, WLF says
The agency’s final guidelines were released earlier this month, recommending primary care physicians use other therapies for chronic pain and exercise caution when prescribing the prescription drugs. The Washington Legal Foundation says it fears plaintiffs firms, some of which have ties to the guideline development committee, will end up using them in their pending litigation against drug makers.
Judges handling ADA website lawsuits not waiting on DOJ regulations
While companies continue a years-long wait for guidance from the Department of Justice on how to make their websites compliant with federal disabilities law, judges aren’t hitting the pause button on a growing area of litigation.
FTC comments on proposed Kentucky denturist legislation
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) – The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has released comments on proposed legislation in Kentucky that would license and regulate denturists.
Arkansas judge sentenced for accepting bribe
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) – The Justice Department announced that former state Circuit Judge Michael A. Maggio was sentenced to 120 months for allegedly accepting bribes for reducing a sentence against a company.
FTC submits testimony for proposed Alaska telehealth legislation
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Legal Newsline) – The Federal Trade Commission submitted comments as public testimony to the Alaska Legislature for proposed legislation that would allow licensed Alaska physicians from out-of-state to provide telehealth services.
Suit claims Chesapeake, SandRidge, others conspired on leaseholds
OKLAHOMA CITY (Legal Newsline) – A Kansas woman is suing oil and natural gas assets companies over their alleged anti-competitive practices.
Massachusetts woman accuses Williams-Sonoma of privacy invasion
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - A Massachusetts woman is suing Williams-Sonoma, alleging it unlawfully invaded customers' privacy.
Benefits system alleges Sprouts violates SEC regulations
PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) - A Mississippi retirement benefits system is suing a grocery store company and several of its chief officers, alleging it made false and misleading statements to investors.
Class action alleges Facebook wrongfully mined cancer websites
This month, a Missouri man sued the social media giant and major cancer institutes in federal court for allegedly using his and others’ private health data to create targeted advertising campaigns.
Ill. appeals court affirms $3 million award to Chicago State whistleblower
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - A former attorney for Chicago State University will still receive $2 million in punitive damages after an Illinois appellate court on March 2 affirmed a jury's decision in a whistleblower case.
Dwolla the target of first data security enforcement from CFPB
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The facts leading to $100,000 in fines were not on the side of the first company targeted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over data privacy concerns, a Reed Smith attorney says.
Law prof: CFPB database is government-sponsored Yelp
Though initially heralded as a consumer voice that would restrain deceptive and abusive business practices, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has come under increasing fire from critics, with one George Mason University law professor concluding that the bureau’s complaint database serves no coherent regulatory purpose.
Federal judge agrees to stay RICO cases against asbestos plaintiffs firms
On Monday, Judge Graham Mullen granted Garlock Sealing Technologies’ motion for stay, pointing to the pending consideration of the company’s consensual plan of reorganization. Garlock reached an agreement on the principal terms of a plan this month. Also Monday, John Crane Inc., in light of the settlement, withdrew its motion to intervene in one of the racketeering lawsuits.
Tort reform bill, passed by U.S. House, unlikely to become law
The Fairness in Class Action Litigation and Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act of 2016, which passed the House along largely partisan lines in January, most likely will be blocked by the Senate. If it does pass, it almost certainly will be vetoed by President Barack Obama.
Seventh Circuit shoots down 'bounty hunter' claim
The federal appeals court, in January, affirmed a lower court's dismissal of a qui tam lawsuit against two companies, Medline and Tutera Group.
CEI attorney cites chilling effect of state investigations of ExxonMobil
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is not pleased that ExxonMobil questions the impact of global warming and that it donates to think tanks that occasionally challenge conventional wisdom.
Customer alleges Drugstore.com charged for continuous service without consent
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - A California woman is suing a vitamin supplements and related drugstore products company, alleging it charged consumers' cards without consent.
Tennessee woman alleges companies illegally tried to collect debt
NASHVILLE (Legal Newsline) - A Tennessee woman is suing a debt collector and a law firm, alleging they illegally tried to collect on a debt.