News from May 2016
Halliburton and Baker Hughes abandon potential $34 billion merger
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Halliburton and Baker Hughes have abandoned a $34 billion planned merger according to the Department of Justice.
Trolice Consulting Services mandated to pay $2.5 million civil penalty
NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – Trolice Consulting Services LLC and president James R. Trolice have been mandated by the New Jersey Bureau of Securities to pay a $2.5 million civil penalty for allegations of selling unregistered securities to investors.
New York attorney general reaches $7 million agreement with art collector
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – Aby J. Rosen, a contemporary art collector, has agreed to pay $7 million to resolve allegations he failed to pay millions in sales and use taxes on art acquisitions, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced.
Michigan attorney general files cease and desist against Corporations for Character
LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) – Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced that his office filed a cease and desist against professional fundraiser Corporations for Character for allegedly violating the Public Safety Solicitation Act.
New York attorney general notes 40 percent increase in data breaches this year
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced that so far this year as compared to last year, his office has received a 40 percent increase in data breach notifications.
New Jersey customer accuses Apple of illegal terms, conditions
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - A New Jersey customer is suing Apple, alleging certain provisions of its terms and conditions are illegal.
6 consumers allege certain Chipotle foods contain GMOs
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - Six consumers are suing Chipotle, alleging its GMO-free advertising campaign is misleading.
Hikma to divest certain products to complete major acquisition
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has approved a modified final order that settles anti-competitive allegations for Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLCS’s $2 billion acquisition of Roxane Laboratories Inc. and Boehringer Ingelheim Roxane Inc.
2 California consumers allege Ashley Furniture conceals nature of blended leather
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - Two California consumers are suing a furniture chain, alleging it misrepresents the upholstery in certain of its furniture.
Investors file second class action against law firm for alleged role in Stanford Ponzi scheme
The named plaintiffs in the instant lawsuit, filed in a Texas federal court last week, contend the law firm and a former partner helped Robert Allen Stanford conceal the scheme from government regulators. A similar lawsuit was dismissed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in March.
Clarence Mitchell Courthouse remains closed due to ongoing fire restoration efforts
The Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr.
FTC settles with Vipvape over allegations of consumer deception
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a settlement with Very Incognito Technologies Inc., which does business as Vipvape, after allegations of deceiving consumers about participation in the East-Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Cross-Border Privacy Rules (CBRP) system.
BSG settles with FTC after allegations of unauthorized telephone bill charges
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Legal Newsline) – The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a proposed $5.2 million settlement agreement with Billing Services Group (BSG) that resolves allegations the company placed crammed charges on consumers’ phone bills.
BlueHippo Capital CEO to owe $13.4 million for alleged deception
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – A federal court, at the request of the Federal Trade Commission, has found BlueHippo Funding LLC, BlueHippo Capital LLC and Joseph Rensin in contempt for allegedly operating a computer financing scheme that deceived consumers in violation of a 2008 agreement.
Vermont GMO labeling law could have widespread effects
MONTPELIER, Vt. (Legal Newsline) – A law set to take effect in Vermont on July 1 has food producers considering effects that could extend far beyond one small state.
U.S. SC strikes down Md. program to develop new power plant
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – In a decision that outlines the boundaries between federal and state energy jurisdictions, the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that states may not attempt to get around certain federal regulations while providing energy to their residents.
Former Ark. lawmaker attempting to gain signatures for tort reform ballot measure
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - The leader of Advance Arkansas Institute and a former lawmaker is ready to start seeking signatures after Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge certified a name and ballot title for a proposed measure.
Turo confident it can resolve class action out of court
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A representative of the car rental company RelayRides Inc. says that the company is confident it will be able to resolve the class action lawsuit filed against it in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Plaintiff's death dismisses potential TCPA class action
BUFFALO, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — A New York court has dismissed the lawsuit of a man who died before certification of a class in his claim against a company that allegedly violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
CFPB proposes prohibiting mandatory arbitration clauses
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s release of its set of proposed rules coincided with a field hearing held in New Mexico Thursday. Under the bureau’s proposal, companies would still be able to include arbitration clauses in their contracts. However, for contracts subject to the proposal, the clauses would have to say explicitly that they cannot be used to stop consumers from being part of a class action in court.