News from November 2016
Consumer Education Group banned from making allegedly illegal telemarketing calls
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced on Nov. 1 that a collection of
entities known as Consumer Education Group operating out of California and
Colorado will settle charges of making millions of illegal telemarketing calls
to consumers on the national Do Not Call (DNC) Registry.y.
Vanity Cosmetic Surgery settles allegations related to its refund and cancellation policies
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced last week that Vanity Cosmetic Surgery Inc. will settle allegations related to its refund and cancellation policies.
California AG Harris comments on $14.7 billion Volkswagen settlement
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris released a statement Oct. 25 commenting on a U.S. District Court’s approval of the $14.7 billion
settlement with Volkswagen.
Woman claims she faced retaliation from Higher Education Inc. for reporting alleged violations
DENVER (Legal Newsline) – A woman alleges the operator of for-profit colleges in Colorado retaliated against her for reporting purported violations.
Man alleges 1st American Automotive Sales Training falsely advertises job placement
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A California consumer has filed a class action lawsuit over allegations a corporation makes false claims regarding its sales training course and job guarantees.
Tow Busters policyholders allege they should be credited for unexpired terms
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Legal Newsline) – Motorists have filed a class action lawsuit against insurers, alleging they are unjustly enriched by users of the Tow Busters policies.
Utah business barred from making unsolicited phone calls to Kansas consumers
TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt recently announced a Utah-based medical device company has been barred from making unsolicited phone calls to Kansas consumers.
Experian, TransUnion, Equifax to change business practices in Mississippi after deception allegations
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) — Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood recently announced that the nation’s three major credit card reporting agencies agreed to change their businesses practices in Mississippi after allegations of deceptive marketing activities and making mistakes on credit scores.
Texas AG: City of Austin has abused taxing power
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently intervened in a lawsuit against the city of Austin that challenges a labor agreement with the Austin Firefighters Association, Local 975.
Maryland attorney general alleges Sojourner-Douglass College misused grant funds
BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh announced Nov. 4 that his office filed a lawsuit against Sojourner-Douglass College Inc. over allegations of not repaying grant funds.
EEOC alleges Bayou City Wings in Houston failed to hire applicants because of age
HOUSTON (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit on Nov. 3 against Bayou City Wings, a restaurant chain in Houston, over allegations of engaging in an unlawful pattern of intentional age
discrimination.
Safeway agrees to EEOC settlement of $27,000 to resolve disability discrimination allegations
BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced Nov. 2 that Safeway agreed to pay $27,000 in monetary damages and return an employee to work after allegations of disability discrimination.
Company allegedly required woman to wear pants, EEOC says
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit Nov. 3 against Akebono Brake Corp., a company in Michigan that designs and manufactures automotive brakes, over allegations of violating federal civil rights laws.
EEOC takes action against El Chaparo over allegations of sexual harassment
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit Nov. 4 against El Chaparo Inc. over allegations one of its male owners sexually harassed four female servers at the company's Tex-Mex restaurant in Greensboro, Georgia.
Valeant will divest Paragon Holdings to new business entity, FTC announces
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Nov. 7 that Canadian pharmaceutical conglomerate Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., parent company of Bausch + Lomb, will divest Paragon Holdings Inc.
EEOC files lawsuit against JL Schwieters Construction Inc. over racial harassment allegations
MINNEAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit Nov. 3 against JL Schwieters Construction Inc. of Hugo, Minnesota, over allegations of subjecting African-American employees to a hostile work environment based on their race.
Michigan municipality accuses EPA of violating federal law
DETROIT (Legal Newsline) — A Michigan municipality is suing the Environmental Protection Agency and other EPA officials, over water treatment costs.
Man files class action against Comenity over allegations it keeps calling to reach another person
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A California man alleges an Ohio corporation continues to call him in an attempt to collect a debt from an unknown individual.
LG, Samsung under anti-poaching scrutiny in three separate lawsuits
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — In the most recent of three class action lawsuits filed by different plaintiffs attorneys, a California man alleges LG Corp. and Samsung Group engaged in an agreement with each other to provide fixed compensation to their
employees to avoid competition.
Ind. wine dealer challenges Illinois law barring importation of alcoholic beverages
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - Illinois officials aren't commenting on a challenge to the laws barring retailers from importing wine and other alcoholic beverages into the state.