News from 2016
Denial of injunction paves way for addition of six pesticides to Prop 65 List
OEHHA is adding six triazines pesticides to the Prop 65 list of chemicals known to cause cancer, developmental or reproductive harm in light of a trial court denying Syngenta Crop Science's request for injunction relief.
MCCi and VP Imaging agree to void their anticompetitive arrangement
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that MCCi LLC and VP Imaging Inc., doing business as DocuNav Solutions, have agreed to settle allegations stemming from agreements the companies made not to compete in the market for enterprise content management software.
DOJ announces $18 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, Acclarent
The Department of Justice announced that Acclarent Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, will pay $18 million after allegations of false claim violations related to circumventing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process.
LAN Airlines to pay more than $22 million after allegations of improper payments
LAN Airlines, a South American-based company, will pay more than $22 million after allegations of improper payments it authorized during a labor dispute, The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced.
EEOC takes action against Oilfield Instrumentation for alleged ADA violations
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that it has filed a lawsuit against Oilfield Instrumentation USA Inc., an oilfield services company, for allegations of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Fruit of the Earth accused of misrepresenting ingredients in aloe vera product
SAN FRANCISCO – Three consumers have filed a class-action suit against a Texas company alleging it falsely advertises its aloe vera gel.
Louisiana federal judge affirms remand of former employee’s class action against auto parts retailer
Judge Susie Morgan said in an order this month that the class action should remain in state court, denying a motion for reconsideration filed by defendant Advance Stores Company, d/b/a Advance Auto Parts.
Rare data breach claim against a county settled for $1M
MILACA, Minn. (Legal Newsline) – Hundreds of Mille Lacs County, Minn. residents went to bed on July 1 with a million reasons to feel a little better.
Gasoline additives not covered by oil exemption for Mass. spill cleanups
The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ruled in June that companies are responsible for the cleanup efforts of spills of leaded petroleum.
Church bookkeeper loses ADA claim after full-time position eliminated
PASADENA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — A federal court has dismissed a bookkeeper’s lawsuit against a small parish church for an alleged violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Vroom Inc. accused of sending spam texts
LOS ANGELES – A California individual has filed a class-action lawsuit against an online used car company alleging it sent spam texts to advertise its services.
Z Foods Inc. to pay more than $1.4 million after allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that leading dried fruit processor Z Foods Inc. will pay $1,470,000 in damages after allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation.
Missouri federal judge ends class actions against retail brokerage firm Scottrade
Soon after the Missouri-based firm announced last year that its network had been breached in 2013 or 2014, several of its customers filed putative class action lawsuits based on the breach. Judge Shirley Padmore Mensah, in an order earlier this month, said the plaintiffs’ allegations were too speculative and shot down comparisons to other data breach class action cases.
T-Mobile accused of performing unauthorized hard credit check
LOS ANGELES – A consumer has filed a class-action lawsuit against a phone service provider alleging it misrepresented the nature of a credit check.
AMA: Lawyer ads alarming prescription drug users, jeopardizing health care
According to a Washington, D.C.-based firm that tracks mass tort litigation advertising, the number of ads focused on drug and medical device litigation has grown in recent years -- and so has the amount of money being spent on such ads.
LogMeIn case dismissal good news for consumer protection claim defendants
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — An order by an Eastern District of California
magistrate judge dismissing a class action filed against LogMeIn over the termination of the company’s free app could be good news for defendants facing fraud-based consumer protection claims in California.
California adopts asbestos defense, but defendant loses case anyway
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — The California Supreme Court in May formally adopted the "sophisticated intermediary doctrine," which provides an additional defense that manufacturers and suppliers can assert against asbestos and other product liability claims in California.
Judge certifies class in Wis. case against auto replacement parts
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) — Judge Lynn Adelman has granted class certification in an aftermarket automotive sheet metal parts class action lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
Class-action filed against Pictsweet Co., others over alleged Listeria-contaminated peas
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A class-action suit has been filed against a grocery chain and frozen vegetable manufacturers over allegations that a man's family was sickened by Listeria.
Escapes Inc. and owner to pay $60,000 for alleged deceptive business practices
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — Escapes Inc. and its owner, Constance Catanise, will pay $60,000 in restitution after allegedly conducting deceptive business practices, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced.