News from April 2017
California participates in multistate settlement with Western Union
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced April 12 a multistate settlement with Western Union that resolves allegations that third parties were using the service to defraud consumers.
Consumer financial board issues proposal to facilitate compliance with 2015 HMDA rule
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced April 13 that it has issued a proposal to facilitate compliance with the 2015 updates to the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) rule.
FTC supports repeal of Alaska's certificate-of-need laws
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced April 12 that it has recommended that Alaska repeal its certificate-of-need (CON) laws.
FTC settles with ringleader behind allegedly illegal nationwide telemarketing scheme
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced April 13 a settlement with Justin Ramsey, the ringleader behind an alleged telemarketing scheme that robocalled consumers and called phone numbers listed on the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry.
Massachusetts insurance agent, broker to refund consumers $130,000
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced April 11 that seniors in the state will receive more than $130,000 in refunds due to a settlement her office has reached with mortgage broker Direct Finance Corp., its employee Daniel Matthews and insurance agent James Moniz.
De-recognized Dartmouth fraternity loses another round in frat house zoning fight
CONCORD, N.H. (Legal Newsline) – A de-recognized fraternity at Dartmouth College lost yet another round in a dispute with the town of Hanover related to the zoning status of its house when the Supreme Court of New Hampshire ruled April 11 that the house was no longer “grandfathered” to comply with updated zoning regulations.
New York attorney general unveils legislation to combat tenant harassment
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced April 12 that his office has unveiled new legislation that would hold New York City’s most unscrupulous landlords accountable for harassing tenants.
California urges U.S. Labor Department to implement 'fiduciary' conflict of interest rule
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced April 13 that he has urged acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Edward Hugler to immediately implement the “fiduciary” conflict of interest rule.
Massachusetts settles for $150,000 with waste transport company over alleged hazardous waste violations
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced April 12 that EQ Northeast Inc. will pay $150,000 after allegations of illegally transporting hazardous waste and storing it at an unlicensed facility.
Massachusetts attorney general testifies against Eversource's proposed rate hikes
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced April 11 that she testified before the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) in support of 200,000 ratepayers in western Massachusetts.
Lenders: Alabama task force was unfair, created by governor as distraction from scandal
Now former Gov. Robert Bentley, a Republican who resigned last week amid scandal, issued a directive last June ordering the creation of the Alabama Consumer Credit Task Force.
Alaska SC says company looking to make outdoors smartphone entitled to nominal damages
The state’s high court, in a ruling last month, concluded the state’s Third District Superior Court erred in granting defendant Trimble Navigation Limited a judgment notwithstanding the verdict but said the lower court was correct in concluding that plaintiff Recreational Data Services Inc. failed to prove any amount of lost profits to a reasonable certainty.
Ultracare Las Vegas settles sex discrimination allegations with $15,000 penalty
LAS VEGAS (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced March 22 that ultrasound technician provider Ultracare Las Vegas will pay $15,000 after allegations of sex discrimination involving sex-role stereotypes.
EEOC files suit against trucking company after employee said he couldn't work on Sabbath
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit March 20 against J.C. Witherspoon Jr. Inc., a South Carolina corporation, for allegations of refusing to accommodate the religious belief of one of its truck drivers.
KASCO settles discrimination allegations brought by Muslim, EEOC
ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced March 22 that KASCO LLC, a company based in St. Louis that manufacturers and sells butcher supplies, will pay $110,000 after allegations of employment discrimination based on national origin and religion, as well as unlawful retaliation.
Massachusetts transportation department fined over stormwater runoff
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — A construction company and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (DOT) will pay $21,600 over allegations that they violated a construction permit and caused excessive stormwater discharges into local rivers.
California man's lawsuit over damages from fire barred by statute of limitations
COLUSA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Superior Court Justice Jeffrey A. Thompson affirmed a trial court's ruling that a plaintiff who was late in filing his complaints will not receive recompense for his property damage.
Mississippi SC boots lawsuit over La. incident to plaintiff's home county
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - A Georgia man suing a Missouri-based railroad for a work-related injury has been granted legal right to pursue the case in his home county after the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that preserving plain language, simplicity of law and less complex litigation had precedent.
Ind. man's malpractice case can proceed after Supreme Court ruling
INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) – A decision by the Indiana Supreme Court in a closely watched case on April 7 found in favor of a man pursuing a medical malpractice complaint against a doctor alleged to have failed to adequately care for his wife, resulting in her death.
R.I. Supreme Court affirms decision in fatal accident case
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline) – The Rhode Island Supreme Court has affirmed a lower court’s decision stipulating that no basis exists for holding a defendant individually liable in a case where the plaintiffs had already accrued $395,000 from other defendants.