News from February 2017
Court grants former Heartland Payment employee jury trial in whistleblower suit
NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – A New Jersey appeals court has ruled Heartland Payment Systems Inc. will again face a former employee’s whistleblower claim, overturning a $2 million attorneys’ fee that was previously awarded to the credit and debit card processing services firm.
CEI paper: Attorneys general abuse power with relationships with trial lawyers
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Dangling the prospect of taking on an unpopular industry, trial lawyers are getting state attorneys general to team up on cases.
EEOC targets three Hawaii tour companies for sexual harassment allegations
HONOLULU (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit Feb. 15 against three related Hawaii tour companies for allegations of sexual harassment of male employees.
United Staffing OKs $24,500 EEOC settlement after discrimination allegations
FRESNO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced Feb. 14 that United Staffing Associates LLC, a staffing agency in Visalia, Calif., will pay $24,500 after allegations of retaliatory discrimination.
Class action filed against Sprint over termination fees
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newswire) — A California woman has filed a class action lawsuit against Sprint, alleging false advertising and violation of Unfair Competition Law.
Policyholders accuse Farmers Insurance of violating Texas insurance code
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) — Two policyholders have filed a class action lawsuit against Farmers insurance, alleging discrimination and violation of state law.
Nordstrom sued over pricing
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Legal Newsline) — An Alaska woman filed a class action lawsuit against Nordstrom, alleging fraud and negligent misrepresentation.
California consumer alleges Re/Max violated phone harassment laws
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — A California woman has filed a class action lawsuit against Re/Max, alleging violation of telephone harassment statutes.
Stockholder accuses pharmaceutical company, officers of fraud
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — A Tennessee stockholder has filed a class action lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company and its officers, alleging fraud, negligent misrepresentation and violation of federal law.
Class action filed over Jolly Ranchers
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — A California man is suing Hershey, alleging fraud and unfair competition.
Linda Singer changes firms, not focus
A plaintiff's attorney who’s built a reputation for representing attorneys general and other public entities has traded one prominent law firm for another.
Attorney: Ruling in birthday reminder case against Facebook a blow to free speech
A recent decision by a federal court in California not to dismiss a Telephone Consumer Protection Act case against Facebook is a blow to First Amendment freedom, a TCPA defense attorney based in Costa Mesa said during a recent interview.
Virginia Supreme Court rejects battery claim against spinal surgeon
RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) – The Virginia Supreme Court has reversed the decision of a trial court while making a distinction between tort of battery and tort of negligence in medical cases.
North Carolina customer accuses Walmart of phone violations
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Legal Newsline) — A North Carolina man has filed a class action lawsuit against Walmart, alleging violation of telephone harassment statutes.
Changes proposed to Virginia Bar's advertising rules
RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) – Technology has changed the way almost everyone does business, and lawyers are no exception.
Consumers accuse Inventure Foods of false advertising
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (Legal Newsline) — Residents of St. Clair County, Illinois, and St. Louis have filed a class action lawsuit against Inventure Foods Inc., citing alleged fraud, negligent misrepresentation and unfair competition.
Attorney: Teamwork necessary for CFPB, N.Y. attorney general to sue RD Legal Funding
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – A company accused of scamming 9/11 heroes and NFL concussion victims is facing an uphill legal battle, according to one lawyer.
Court imposes shorter suspension for nurse who discharged patient during snowstorm; Patient died from hypothermia
PORTLAND, Maine (Legal Newsline) – The Maine Supreme Court recently refused to uphold a two-year suspension against a nurse who was accused of professional misconduct for releasing a disoriented, sparsely dressed patient into a snowstorm in 2008. The patient died just feet from the hospital.
Ky. bill would prevent medical peer reviews from being used as evidence in malpractice cases
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) – A new bill that would limit access for plaintiffs in medical malpractice suits to hospital peer reviews as evidence has passed the Kentucky Senate.
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.