News from 2016
New Mexico's poor showing in Harris Poll has business leaders looking for solutions
New Mexico Ranks 45th for State Liability Systems Creating Challenges for Local Businesses and Legal Organizations
United Airlines pilot alleges he was not credited sick benefits while serving in reserves
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – A United Airlines pilot and former U.S. Air Force (USAF) lieutenant colonel and pilot is bringing suit against the airline for allegedly not crediting him sick benefits accrued over a four-month period during which the U.S. Air Force Reserve assigned him to serve at an Air Force base in southwest Asia.
Beanfield lawyer: Suit claiming snacks' false advertising is way to 'harass' company into settlement
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – The attorney who represents the Beanfield Snack Corp. says a recent class-action lawsuit filed against it claiming false advertising is without merit and an attempt to pressure the company into an out-of-court settlement.
Refund not enough for woman suing Welspun over alleged Egyptian cotton fraud
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – A North Carolina customer is suing a textile company, alleging it fraudulently marketed certain bed linens as made from 100 percent
Egyptian cotton.
Court declines to certify class in case against Widener University School of Law
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. District Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit recently backed the rejection of a class certification in a lawsuit filed over allegations that Widener Law School purposely overstated its graduates’ employments status.
Appeals court reversal on Amazon consumer arbitration consent adds to controversy
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) -- Online retailers are being plagued by an increasing number of lawsuits that assert they did not clearly and/or adequately inform consumers that in purchasing goods via the retailers' e-commerce sites they were agreeing to resolve any resulting problems via arbitration rather than the courts.
Fla. man continues to file ADA lawsuits in N.Y. federal court; group says suits are ‘abuse,’ ‘shakedowns’
Palm Beach County resident Lawrence Feltzin, a paraplegic who uses a wheelchair to move about, has filed his cases -- more than 50 since October 2014 -- in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He has filed five against small businesses in the court so far this month.
Court will let Ariz. AG intervene in deluge of ADA cases
PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) -- Arizona’s Attorney General Mark Brnovich has been given the green light by the Maricopa County Superior Court to intervene in a collection of state-level Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) complaints he labeled as systemic abuse of the judicial system.
QBE agrees to refund Massachusetts homeowners after allegations of improper insurance policies
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has announced that QBE Insurance (QBE) agreed to refund state homeowners to whom it allegedly charged improper force-placed insurance policies.
CFPB orders Bridgepoint Education to refund students after allegations of deception
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has taken action against Bridgepoint Education Inc., a for-profit college chain, for allegations of deceiving students into loans that cost more than advertised.
SFI of Tennessee to pay $210,000 to resolve race discrimination allegations
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced SFI of Tennessee LLC will pay $210,000 after allegations of race discrimination.
U.S. settles with Regions Bank for $52.4 million after alleged False Claims Act violations
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) — The Department of Justice has announced Regions Bank (Regions) will pay $52.4 million after allegations of violating the False Claims Act.
Center for Social Change in Maryland to pay $331,000 after allegedly defrauding state Medicaid
BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) — Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh has announced the Center for Social Change Inc. will pay $331,000 after allegations the nonprofit organization received payments from Maryland’s Medicaid program for staffing it did not provide to group homes for individuals with development disabilities.
Greenville Ready Mixed Concrete to pay $42,500 to resolve religious discrimination allegations
WINTERVILLE, N.C. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced that Greenville Ready Mixed Concrete Inc. in North Carolina will pay $42,500 after allegations of religious discrimination.
New Jersey contractor fined $100,000 for allegations of consumer fraud
NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) — New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced that Harbor View Restoration Limited Liability Corporation (Harbor View), owner Frank A. Hoffman Sr. and his wife, Joan Hoffman, will pay $100,000 after allegations of consumer fraud.
Portugal Telecom to pay $1.25 million fine after allegations of misleading investors
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — Portugal Telecom SGPS S.A. will pay a $1.25 million fine after allegations it failed to properly disclose credit risk in its investments and debt instruments issued by companies of Portuguese conglomerate Grupo Espirito Santo, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced.
EEOC targets 2 South Carolina trucking companies for racial harassment allegations
ROCK HILL, S.C. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced a lawsuit against two interconnected South Carolina trucking companies for allegations of subjecting black employees to a racially hostile work environment.
Minnesota's Montevido School District settles gender discrimination charges, pays $50,000
MINNEAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced the signing of a conciliation agreement with the Montevido School District in Minnesota.
EEOC alleges Scion Dental in Wisconsin guilty of racial discrimination
MILWAUKEE (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has charged Scion Dental, a dental administration company in Wisconsin, with allegations of race discrimination.
EEOC targets Colorado's Montrose Hospital for alleged age-based discrimination
DENVER (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced a lawsuit against Montrose Memorial Hospital in Colorado for allegations of age-based discrimination.