News from 2016
Kentucky lawyer accuses Lawyer.com of defamation
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — A Kentucky attorney is suing website operators, alleging defamation.
FTC announces settlement with ringleader of alleged IWorks billing scheme
LAS VEGAS (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced that the ringleader and two other defendants of the alleged IWorks online billing scheme have agreed to settle allegations of taking more than $280 million from consumers.
U.S. settles with owners of Michigan apartment complexes who allegedly violated Fair Housing Act
DETROIT (Legal Newsline) — The owners and operators of seven Michigan apartment complexes have agreed to settlements resolving allegations of violating the Fair Housing Act, the Justice Department has announced. The defendants allegedly discriminated against families with children.
Priest and hedge fund manager files defamation lawsuit against Bloomberg over news article
Father Emmanuel Lemelson, the chief investment officer of Lemelson Capital Management, argues the article, published in March, has hurt his business and his standing within the Eastern Orthodox Church. Bloomberg had the lawsuit removed to a Massachusetts federal court in August.
FTC targets online academic journal OMICS for allegations of deceiving consumers
LAS VEGAS (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has charged OMICS Group Inc. and two affiliated companies with deceiving academics and researchers about the nature of its publications and hiding fees that range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
D.C. Circuit affirms SEC's use of administrative law judges
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - On Aug. 9, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia rejected a petition for review of a decision by U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) administrative law judges.
U.S. Rep: Obamacare killing healthcare market, legal reform needed
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- Litigation reform should go hand-in-hand with healthcare reform, but don't expect any substantive reform of the Affordable Care Act anytime soon, says a congressman from North Carolina.
Serial plaintiff's days might be numbered
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Legal Newsline) — Cory Groshek has applied for hundreds of jobs and, though he has barely worked a day at any of them, he’s still managed to receive plenty of payments from those companies.
Five attorneys sanctioned in Ark. class action suit
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) – While initially calling out 16 lawyers for possible sanctions on both sides of a class action settlement, a federal judge has ordered five of those attorneys to be sanctioned.
Class action against Nuun & Company lasts less than a month
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — A lawsuit filed by a New Yorker against a drink tablet manufacturer didn't last long.
Subway takes steps to protect itself from wage, hour claims
MILFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) -- Going by the volume of investigations and litigation involving individual franchisee-owned Subways by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), it wasn’t surprising when Subway — one of the largest franchisers in the world — recently adopted a different approach to stymie wage and hour claims.
U.S. Postal Service accuses City of Berkeley of property interference
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Postal Service is suing the City of Berkeley, alleging interference with an an attempt to dispose of the plaintiff's property.
NRG enters consent decree after allegations of violating nitrogen exceedance permits
BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) — NRG Chalk Point LLC (NRG) has entered a consent decree after alleged nitrogen exceedances at the Chalk Point and Dickerson electric generating stations, Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh has announced.
Court reporting firm accuses board of examiners of unlawful conspiracy
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) — A New Jersey court reporting firm is suing members of a Louisiana board of examiners, alleging unlawful behavior.
FTC finalizes amendments to the HSR Premerger notification rules
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced the approval of final amendments to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Premerger notification rules.
EEOC accuses Frontier Hot-Dip Galvanizing of race-based harassment
BUFFALO, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced a lawsuit against Frontier Hot-Dip Galvanizing Inc., a Buffalo provider of metal coating, for allegations of race-based harassment.
EEOC targets Midwest Freight Systems for allegedly breaching mediation agreement
PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against Midwest Freight Systems Corporation, a freight transportation company, noting allegations of failing to comply with its obligations under a mediation settlement agreement that had resolved two employment discrimination charges.
Resource to pay $435,000 to resolve allegations of race, national origin discrimination
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced Resource Employment Solutions (Resource) will pay $435,000 to resolve allegations of race and national origin discrimination.
Federal judge backs employee in Hobson Bearing International discrimination case
ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced a federal judge has ordered Hobson Bearing International Inc. to pay Tera Lopez $37,500. Additionally, the company must drop its lawsuit against her.
Regis settles EEOC claims over claustrophobic hair stylist
MIDLAND, Texas (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has announced that Minnesota-based Regis Corporation, doing business as SmartSyle, will pay $60,000 after allegations of federal disability discrimination.