News from December 2017
California attorney general vows to monitor DeVos' Corinthian decision
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced Dec. 20 that he has issued a statement on news that U.S. Education Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos will only provide partial federal student loan relief to students allegedly defrauded by Corinthian Colleges.
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Consumer board will not require resubmission of certain data for HMDA reporting
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced Dec. 21 the issuance of a public statement about its intention not require the resubmission of certain data for Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) reporting in 2018 and 2019.
D.C. attorney general: Home health care company failed to pay 27 employees in 2015
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine announced a lawsuit Dec. 20 against J.D. Nursing & Management Services, a home health care service provider, and its CEO, James N. Ibe, for allegations of violating wage laws in the district.
California, New Mexico continue defense of Waste Prevention Rule, sue Trump administration
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced a lawsuit Dec. 19 against the Trump administration over a decision to suspend the Waste Prevention Rule.
California to receive $857,000 as part of multistate settlement with pharmaceutical firm
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced Dec. 20 that Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc. (BIPI) has settled allegations of deceptive and misleading marketing of prescription drugs with a $13.5 million multistate penalty. California will get $857,000.
New York attorney general leads coalition urging House to reject EPA budget cuts
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Dec. 21 that he is leading a coalition of 12 states and the District of Columbia in urging the U.S. House of Representatives to reject budget cuts for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Kansas leads coalition supporting president's authority to select CFPB acting director
TOPEKA, Kansas (Legal Newsline) — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Dec. 20 that he joined 12 other attorneys general in filing a brief in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia arguing that only the president has the legal authority to select the acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
D.C. accuses company of defrauding Kickstarter consumers for personal gain
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine announced a lawsuit Dec. 19 against Sivil Inc. over allegations it used the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter to raise money for personal use.
New Jersey secures $275,000 from brokerage firm that allegedly mismanaged conservation group account
NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) — New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Bureau of Securities, announced Dec. 20 that Garden State Securities Inc., a brokerage firm in Red Bank, will pay $275,000 to resolve allegations of failing to reasonably supervise a broker involved with the company.
Advance Auto Parts settles allegations of religious discrimination
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) — New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the Division on Civil Rights announced Dec. 22 that Advance Auto Parts will pay $10,000 to a former employee after allegations it cut his work hours after he asked for time off to observe his Jewish faith.
Justice Department settles with 2 physician groups after kickbacks allegations
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Dec. 19 that EmCare Inc. (EmCare) and Physician’s Alliance Ltd (PAL) have agreed to settle kickback allegations.
Justice Department: Oil and gas company violated False Claims Act during natural gas extraction
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Dec. 19 that Citation Oil & Gas Corp. and its affiliates, Citation 2002 Investment Limited Partnership and Citation 2004 Investment Limited Partnership (collectively, “Citation”), will pay $2.25 million after allegations of violating the False Claims Act during natural gas extraction from federal lands.
U.S., Pennsylvania reach agreement with company that allegedly violated Clean Air Act
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Dec. 20 that ArcelorMittal Monessen LLC (AMM) will settle allegations of violating the Clean Air Act with a payment of $1.5 million divided equally between the U.S. and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. AMM will also implement air pollution controls worth roughly $2 million.
U.S. secures $210 million from pharmaceutical company in kickback case
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Dec. 20 that United Therapeutics Corporation (UT), a pharmaceutical company in Silver Spring, Maryland, will pay $210 million after allegations of violating the False Claims Act.
Justice Department: $3.7 billion recovered in fraud, false claims cases in fiscal 2017
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Dec. 21 that during the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, it secured more than $3.7 billion in settlements and judgments from fraud and false claims cases.
FTC finalizes divestiture order to allow Mars to continue acquisition of pet care company VCA
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Dec. 19 that it has finalized a settlement agreement with Mars Inc. that will allow the company to continue its $9.1 billion acquisition of pet care company VCA Inc. The approval of the final order comes after the end of a public comment period.
FTC approves application for Fresenius to establish dialysis clinic in Michigan
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Dec. 19 it has approved an application by Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA, allowing the company to establish a new outpatient clinic in a location where it previously divested a clinic.
California court rejects class certification in inflatable pool case against Rite Aid
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – The California Court of Appeal 1st Appellate District, Division Four has let the air out of class certification of a lawsuit filed against Thrifty Payless Inc. over allegations that a swimming pool purchased at a Rite Aid store did not match the pictures on the packaging.
Investor fails to prove he'd been misled by DuPont, judge says in ruling
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) – A Connecticut man's lawsuit claiming he and other shareholders had been intentionally misled by DuPont executives about the potential of the company's chemicals division spinoff Chemours Co. has been tossed out by a state judge who said he failed to make his case.
R.I. Supreme Court affirms judgment for nurses sued for negligence
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline) – The Rhode Island Supreme Court affirmed the Superior Court’s summary judgment dismissing a negligence case against two nurses.