News from February 2017
Truth in advertising 'enforcer' sues Conagra over 'butter' cooking spray
TAMPA, Fla. (Legal Newsline) — A Florida consumer is suing Conagra, alleging misleading advertising, fraud by inducement, negligent misrepresentation and fraud by concealment.
Anne Arundel students learn consequences through court program
Approximately 130 high school students visited the Anne Arundel County District Court on February 16.
Oregon woman claims Issues & Answers Network violated phone call laws
PORTLAND, Ore. (Legal Newsline) — An Oregon woman has filed a class-action lawsuit against Issues & Answers Network, Inc., and Does 1 through 10, citing alleged violation of telephone harassment statutes.
California woman claims Sue Bee products are not all-natural
SANTA ANA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — A California woman has filed a class-action lawsuit against Sioux Honey Association, citing alleged deceptive and misleading business practices.
Orange County man says Express overcharges for shipping
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — An Orange County, California, man has filed a class-action lawsuit against Express, LLC and Does 1-10, citing alleged fraudulent and/or deceptive practices.
Women say certain L’Oreal, Matrix Essentials products don't contain keratin as advertised
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — Two consumers have filed a class-action lawsuit against L’Oreal USA, Inc. and Matrix Essentials, LLC, citing alleged false, deceptive and misleading advertising.
Wash. SC: Medical device manufacturers have duty to warn hospitals, too
The court majority, in its Feb. 9 opinion, said hospitals need these warnings to credential the operating physicians and to provide optimal care for patients.
D.C. attorney general targets local personal care aid, alleging Medicaid fraud
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine announced Jan. 27 that his office has filed a False Claims Act lawsuit against Deborah Kale, a personal care aide, for alleged Medicaid fraud.
D.C. attorney general intervenes in lawsuit against Department of Education
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) —District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine announced Jan. 24 that he has motioned to intervene, along with four other state attorneys general, in a lawsuit to defend the Department of Education (DOE).
Michigan files amicus brief in case involving legally blind plaintiff's lawsuit against ABA
LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) — Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced Jan. 18 that he has filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in Angelo Binno v. the American Bar Association (ABA). Binno, who is legally blind, is suing the ABA for its refusal to exempt blind people from the logic games section of the LSATs.
Florida to receive $111,000 of multistate settlement involving Ameriprise Group subsidiaries
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) — Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, along with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and the Florida Department of Financial Services, announced Jan. 30 that subsidiaries of the Ameriprise Group, RiverSource Life Insurance Company and RiverSource Life Insurance Company of New York, will pay $1.5 million in a life claim settlement.
Seven Advanced Auto Part locations agree to alter New Jersey practices after price violation allegations
NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) — New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced Feb. 1 that Advance Stores Company Inc., an automotive parts and accessories retailer, will pay $69,000 and reform its business practices after allegations of price violations.
Attorney maintains Minnesota's unclaimed funds process unconstitutional despite court's ruling
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) – A class action lawsuit over the fate of $750 million in unclaimed cash and other assets signified as abandoned was recently nixed by the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
Calif. SC upholds $90M verdict in rest break case, helps define rules for breaks
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – An ABM Security Services employee has kicked off the new year with a major $90 million win against the company after the California Supreme Court ruled in her favor on Dec. 22 in a lawsuit concerning the definition of a rest break in California.
Ninth Circuit denies Samsung's motion for arbitration in Galaxy S4 case
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A lawsuit against Samsung over allegations that storage and speed claims are misrepresented in its Galaxy S4 is not eligible for arbitration, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has ruled.
Rhode Island Supreme Court shuts down appeal based on 'mode of operation' theory
PROVIDENCE, RI (Legal Newsline) – The Rhode Island Supreme Court recently upheld a jury’s verdict in a case involving a slip-and-fall at a West Warwick market, with the court striking down the plaintiff’s adoption of the “mode of operation” theory.
Washington's move to curb tobacco among young adults 'encouraging,' professor says
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) – Raising the minimum legal purchasing age could help young adults in Washington from becoming established smokers, according to one researcher.
EEOC targets HP Pelzer, alleges it fired employee who complained about sexual harassment
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit Feb. 3 against HP Pelzer Inc., an Athens, Tenn.-based manufacturer of automotive components, for allegedly firing a female employee because she complained about sexual harassment in the workplace.
AG Hood again targets Google
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) – A recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Fifth Circuit dismissed a lawsuit brought by Google against Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, clearing the way for Hood to pursue allegations that Google profits from the personal information of school children who use G Suite for Education.
Fired by sister-in-law, brother gets second shot at severance pay lawsuit
PIERRE, S.D. (Legal Newsline) – The South Dakota Supreme Court has granted a man the chance to prove he had an agreement with his terminally ill brother that included a $100,000 severance payment if he was fired by his sister-in-law.