News from 2016
Wal-Mart pays former employee $90,000 after alleged disability discrimination
ROCKFORD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will pay a former, long-term employee $90,000 to settle allegations of disability discrimination.
New York attorney general joins coalition backing EPA greenhouse gas regulations
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has released a statement supporting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the oil and gas industry.
Southwest Kia allegedly violated FTC administrative order, must pay $85,000
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced that three Dallas area auto dealers collectively known as Southwest Kia will pay $85,000 in civil penalties after allegations of violating an FTC administrative order barring them from deceptive advertising.
My Pillow to pay New York $1.1 million after allegations of failing to collect, remit taxes
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — My Pillow Inc. will pay $1.1 million after allegations of knowingly failing to collect and remit New York sales taxes on sales made to New York consumers through its website and over the phone, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has announced.
Washington attorney general targets port of Tacoma officials for alleged campaign finance violations
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) — Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson has announced his office has filed a complaint against the Economic Development Board of Tacoma-Pierce County (the EDB) and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce (the chamber) over allegations of campaign finance violations. These defendants are port of Tacoma officials.
EPA reaches settlement with Missouri city after Clean Water Act allegations
LENEXA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a proposed settlement with the city of Columbia, Missouri, that resolves allegations the city violated the Clean Water Act by discharging pollutants from the Columbia Landfill and Yard Waste Composting Facility.
FTC withdraws consent order in Energy Transfer Equity case
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced the withdrawal of its acceptance of a proposed consent order that would have required Energy Transfer Equity L.P. (ETE) to divest assets.
Complete Maintenance to pay $45,600 after sexual harassment allegations
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that Complete Maintenance will pay $45,600 after allegations of sexual harassment.
SCOTUS opinion on standing impacts Wisconsin 'serial plaintiff's' case
GREEN BAY, Wis. (Legal Newsline) — A key U.S. Supreme Court decision has derailed a scheme that netted one so-called “professional plaintiff” more than $230,000 in individual settlements.
Customer accuses Illinois business of false advertising
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) — A Pennsylvania man is suing an Illinois business, alleging false claims on the size of a storage shed.
Alabama customer accuses Serra Nissan of fraud
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Legal Newsline) — A consumer is suing Serra Nissan/Oldsmobile and other car-related businesses, alleging fraud, unjust enrichment and violations of RICO.
California consumer accuses market research firm of invading privacy
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — A Los Angeles man is suing a market research firm, alleging it has constantly harassed him with phone calls.
7 consumers accuse refrigerator manufacturer of product liability
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Legal Newsline) — Seven consumers are suing a Pompano Beach refrigerator company, alleging several models of gas absorption refrigerators are defective.
New York settles with developers who allegedly violated Long Island Pine Barrens Protection Act
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and John Pacevic, executive director of the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission, have announced a settlement with the owners of the Hampton Hills Golf and Country Cub over allegations of violating state laws protecting the Long Island Pine Barrens.
Eight-state coalition urges EPA to reconsider regional haze rules
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) — Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is leading a coalition of eight attorneys general in pleading with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to consider the effects and costs of its proposed changes to regional haze rules.
Plaintiffs drop suit against constitutionality of Kansas' school funding system
TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has announced a 6-year-old federal lawsuit that challenged the constitutionality of the Kansas school funding system has been dismissed by its plaintiffs.
Company wants its lawsuits against asbestos attorneys to be consolidated; firm argues cases aren’t related
John Crane Inc. wants the two lawsuits it filed in early June, against Shein Law Center in Philadelphia and Simon Greenstone Panatier Bartlett PC in Dallas, to be heard before a single federal judge. Shein has filed an opposition to the request, along with a motion to dismiss the case against it altogether.
Washington's settlement with trial lawyers group happened by accident
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) – On July 15, the Washington State Association for Justice, a trial lawyers group, agreed to pay the state of Washington $9,240 to resolve allegations it did not properly report lobbyist information.
Attorney: N.Y. AG's action against direct marketers to have ripple effect in industry
ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – Direct marketing companies are facing legal challenges over allegedly deceptive marketing practices in New York.
TCPA settlements continue to cost banks millions
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – From Bank of America to Wells Fargo, the banking industry has been rocked by multimillion-dollar lawsuits over the Telephone Customer Protection Act (TCPA).