News from November 2016
Krispy Kreme donuts don't have actual fruit, class action says
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — A California man is suing Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc., alleging breach of contract, breach of implied warranty, fraud, and negligent misrepresentation.
Arkansas McDonald's to pay $103,000 after allegations of HIV discrimination
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced Nov. 10 that a McDonald’s restaurant owned and operated by Mathews Management Co. and Peach Orchard Inc. in Bentonville, Arkansas, will pay $103,000 after allegations of disability discrimination.
LBGTQ community watching transgender bathroom case before Supreme Court
WASHINGTON (Florida Record) – The LBGTQ community has much riding on the outcome of a case the U.S. Supreme Court has allowed to hear regarding whether a 17-year-old Virginia high school student should be allowed to use the boys' restroom, said a transgender inclusion expert during a recent interview.
Tobacco farmers accused of filing false claims under federal crop insurance program
WAYCROSS, Ga. (Legal Newsline) – The federal government alleges several individuals filed false claims under the federal crop insurance program.
Consumer alleges Yummi Bears vitamins are falsely labeled as 'Made in USA'
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – An Illinois man alleges a Santa Ana, California, company uses misleading and inaccurate labels on its vitamins.
CitiMortgage, Safeguard Properties accused of charging for unnecessary inspections
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – An Illinois homeowner has filed a class action lawsuit against a mortgage service provider and its vendor over allegations he was subjected to unreasonable and unnecessary property inspections.
Pension funds allege Stericycle's fraudulent practices harmed them
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – Two pension funds allege they suffered damages because of a company's fraudulent practices.
Horse owners allege animals died because of ADM's contaminated feed
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – An animal feed manufacturer is accused of manufacturing a horse feed containing an ingredient that is poisonous to the animals.
Tenet HealthSystem enters $513 million agreement to settle criminal, civil charges
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Texas-based, investor-owned Tenet Healthcare Corp. and subsidiary hospitals in Atlanta are paying a significant settlement and will stay under the shadow of corporate integrity agreements.
Warning letters from FDA cited in Ninth Circuit's decision in Dole class action
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — A federal appeals court has allowed a class action lawsuit against Dole over the term "all natural fruit" to proceed.
Nevada attorney general intervenes in lawsuit involving possible endangered grouse
CARSON CITY, Nev. (Legal Newsline) — Nevada Attorney General Adam Paul Laxalt announced Nov. 4 his intent to intervene in a lawsuit on behalf of Nevada over conservation efforts of the Bi-State sage-grouse, a species of sage-grouse living along the Nevada-California border.
Washington can continue case against U.S Energy Department
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) — Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Nov. 3 that a federal judge has rejected the U.S. Department of Energy’s motion to dismiss his lawsuit over worker safety issues at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.
After EPA action, two construction companies to correct alleged violations in Massachusetts
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Oct. 27 that an enforcement action has led to K.R. Rezendes Inc., an excavation company, and Bacon-Agostini Construction Co. Inc., a general contractor, correcting alleged violations of the EPA permit to discharge stormwater.
EPA settles for $400,000 with Halliburton Energy Services over diesel truck allegations
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement Oct. 27 valued at more than $400,000 with Halliburton Energy Services Inc. for a fleet of diesel trucks that allegedly violated California’s Truck and Bus Regulation.
Wash. judge issues $18M verdict against Grocery Manufacturers Association
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) — Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Nov. 2 that a Thurston County Superior Court judge has ordered the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) to pay $18 million in penalties and punitive damages after allegations of intentionally violating campaign finance laws.
Dana Container pays $12,000 EPA settlement for alleged violations of hazardous waste storage laws
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Oct. 18 that Dana Container Inc., owner and operator of a rail car cleaning and refurbishing facility in Wilmington, Delaware, will pay $12,000 after allegations related to hazardous waste storage violations.
WestRock settles with EPA, agrees to payout to resolve hazardous waste allegations
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement Nov. 3 with WestRock CP LLC. The company will pay $1.6 billion in cash, plus stock shares valued at $3 million to resolve allegations related to hazardous waste near Prescott, Arizona.
Washington AG accuses Freedom Foundation of campaign finance violations
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) — Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Oct. 28 he had filed a complaint in Thurston County Superior Court alleging campaign finance violations by the Freedom Foundation.
Comments sought on proposed changes to federal class action rule
Civil Rule 23, which governs class action lawsuits, has been amended four times since its adoption in 1934. Most recently, it was revised in 2003.
Non-profit group pushes Congress to stop new labor rules, including DOL’s potentially costly fiduciary rule
Those within the financial services community seem hopeful, with Donald Trump’s presidential win Tuesday, that the U.S. Department of Labor’s conflicts of interest rule is in play.