News from December 2017
Cigarette manufacturers release court-mandated statements about effects of tobacco
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Nov. 22 that major cigarette manufacturers in the United States have begun to issue court-ordered “corrective statements” on television and in daily newspapers.
Arizona attorney general lauds new FCC rules protecting consumers from robocalls
PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) — Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced Nov. 16 that he agreed with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision to adopt new rules to protect consumers from unwanted robocalls.
WildWater Express Carwash customers allege they were unlawfully charged for monthly plan
SANTA ANA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Two consumers allege that a car wash service company in Los Angeles and Orange counties charges customers for a monthly plan when they purchased a single wash.
Consumers claim Nature's Science supplement does not contain amount of active ingredient as advertised
SACRAMENTO (Legal Newsline) – Two consumers claim that a weight-loss dietary supplement does not contain the amount of active ingredient that it advertises.
Construction resumes at Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building
New construction is set to commence on December 15, 2017, at the Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building in Annapolis, Maryland.
Consumer claims Sherwin-Williams SuperDeck, Duckback deck products are defective
AKRON, Ohio (Legal Newsline) – A Missouri woman claims that deck products she purchased from Sherwin-Williams are defective and fail within months of application.
Beverage companies challenge Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau's ban of health claims on labels
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Two alcohol companies are seeking a judgment regarding a federal agency's ban of the use of two health-related statements on labels of alcoholic beverages.
Consumer claims Center Theatre Group of Los Angeles solicited him without consent
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A Santa Ana, California consumer alleges that he was unlawfully contacted by a theater show and ticket company for solicitation purposes.
Former employees claim The Money Source Inc. terminated them for complaints about alleged violations
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – Three New York residents allege that a Melville, New York mortgage lending business made false representations in order to recruit them.
American Infertility of New York seeks $3 million in damages over alleged Internet scheme
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – A fertility center in New York City alleges that it is being harmed by a negative search engine optimization scheme.
On day Philadelphia's 'Hellhole' status debated, jury hands first win to a Xarelto plaintiff - a whopping $28M
PHILADELPHIA – The very day that a national report is issued naming the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas as a “Judicial Hellhole” where civil lawsuits are handled unfairly against businesses, the first win for plaintiffs in Xarelto litigation is secured with a near-$28 million verdict.
Lyme disease patients file federal antitrust lawsuit over ‘bogus’ guidelines
Last month, a group of 28 plaintiff patients sued the Infectious Diseases Society of America, major health insurers and a group of medical doctors, alleging they conspired to deny coverage.
Cigar Emporium loses appeal tied to New Jersey township smoking ordinance
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – Sparroween LLC, which does business as Cigar Emporium, and Richard Yanuzzi lost their fight against the Township of West Caldwell's municipal smoking ordinance when the Superior Court of New Jersey Appellate Division upheld a lower court ruling in a Nov. 14 opinion.
Oregon Attorney General ordered to rewrite ballot title on proposed bill to limit legislators' service
SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of Oregon has sent a proposed bill back Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum for modification after a resident filed a ballot title change for Initiative Petition 19 (IP 19). The man claimed that the title did not accurately describe the immediate impact if the bill passed, most notably that the state would impose an eight-year service time limit for legislators the first time.
Justice Department alleges Springfield, Ill., violated Fair Housing Act
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced a lawsuit Nov. 28 against the city of Springfield, Illinois, alleging violating the Fair Housing Act through discrimination against persons with disabilities.
N.D. Supreme Court, adhering to ban on non-lawyer advocates, squashes husband as spokesman
BISMARCK, N.D. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of North Dakota has re-affirmed the validity of a statute barring the use of non-lawyers as courtroom representatives.
N.H. Supreme Court rules insurance company not liable for living expenses in mold case
CONCORD, N.H. (Legal Newsline) – The New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled Nov. 15 that a couple who found mold in their home is not entitled to receive compensation from their insurance company for the expenses when they had to temporarily move out of the home.
Lawyer, accused of recording off-the-record statements during wrongful death suit, facing $60K in sanctions
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) – The Connecticut Appellate Court denied a lawyer’s attempt to have financial sanctions imposed against her dropped under theories of res judicata and collateral estoppel.
California appellate court reverses decision against McAfee, Intel in share price suit
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – In a case stemming from the merger of McAfee and Intel and allegations of undervalued stock, a California appellate court recently affirmed the ruling dismissing the individual defendants but reversed the lower court as to the corporate defendants. David DeWalt, McAfee Inc., and Intel Corp. are still in the case.
Calif. court remands Ralphs Grocery Co. anti-SLAPP suit filed by petition signature gatherers
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) – A California appeals court has sent back an anti-SLAPP motion based on violation of First Amendment rights brought against a big-brand grocer by the operators of petition-signature-gathering companies.