News from January 2017
Pa. AG suing construction company; Complaints include unfinished work on barn
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) – Pennsylvania Attorney General Bruce R. Beemer announced a civil lawsuit Dec. 20 against Lloyd A. Davis and his company, LD Construction LLC, for allegations of engaging in unfair and deceptive business practices.
Maine AG files suit over Volkswagen's alleged national fraud scheme
AUGUSTA, Maine (Legal Newsline) – Maine Attorney General Janet T. Mills announced a lawsuit Jan. 6 against Volkswagen AG and its affiliates Audi AG and Porsche AG, as well as their American subsidiaries, for selling diesel automobiles with defeat devices designed to circumvent emissions controls.
Kansas AG joins bipartisan coalition regarding class action settlement with United Healthcare
TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Dec. 30 that he has joined a bipartisan coalition of 14 state attorneys general in filing a brief in federal court asking for the court to reject a proposed class action settlement with United Healthcare.
DOJ charges former VP of Poseidon Concepts Corp. with securities fraud
BISMARCK, N.D. (Legal Newsline) – The Department of Justice announced Jan. 6 that Joseph A. Kostelecky has been charged with operating a $100 million securities fraud
scheme while acting as the vice president of Poseidon Concepts Corp.
FTC, Schneiderman target marketers of Prevagen
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced Jan. 9 that they have charged the marketers of dietary supplement Prevagen with making false and unsubstantiated claims about the product’s ability to improve memory.
FTC issue paper concludes that consumers are being harmed by resort pricing practices
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Jan. 5 the release of an issue paper authored by an FTC staff economist concluding
consumers are likely being harmed by resort price listing practices.
Kansas AG seeks penalties from three roofers
TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Dec. 16 that three roofing contractors have been banned from doing business in the state due to temporary court orders.
Massachusetts publishes archive of data breaches and personal security violations
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) – Massachusetts-based victims of data breaches now have a new way to find out about how their personal information and data has been affected, thanks to a new archive published by the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR).
Pa. AG files lawsuit against contractor
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) – Pennsylvania Attorney General Bruce R. Beemer announced a consumer protection lawsuit Dec. 20 against Shawn Gerety and BuildTREND Construction LLC for allegations of violating the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HIPCA) and the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.
H. Jack Price named administrative judge for Allegany and Garrett counties
Allegany County District Judge H. Jack Price, Jr., has been appointed as the Administrative Judge for District 12, which includes Allegany and Garrett counties in Maryland.
SquareTrade hit with class action
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — A Brooklyn man is suing a California business, alleging fraud and negligent misrepresentation.
Cab companies sue Uber, State of Massachusetts
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) -— More than 30 cab companies are suing Uber and the State of Massachusetts, alleging unfair competition and violation of state law.
Starbucks facing FCRA class action from rejected applicant
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) — A Colorado man is suing Starbucks, alleging violation of federal law.
TCPA claim filed against Infogroup
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — A California woman is suing a data solutions business, alleging invasion of privacy and violation of telephone harassment statutes.
Pension alleges Alexion Pharmaceuticals violated law
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) — A pension plan is suing a Connecticut company and its officials, alleging violation of federal law
California consumer accuses Hair Club of privacy violations
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — A California woman is suing Hair Club for Men Ltd., alleging invasion of privacy and violation of telephone harassment statutes.
Minnesota student accuses Walden University, Laureate Education of negligent misreprentation
MINNEAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) — A Minnesota man is suing an educational institution, alleging negligent misrepresentation.
Sixth Circuit decision opens the door for local right-to-work laws
CINCINNATI (Legal Newsline) – A federal appeal's court’s decision to uphold a Kentucky county’'s right-to-work ordinance and restrict labor unions' roles in the workplace could motivate other local governments to fight for right-to-work legislation, and may have been the push for Kentucky to become the 27th state to enact a state-wide, right-to-work law.
EEOC targets North Dakota company for allegedly harassing employee due to sexual orientation
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit Dec. 22 against Rocky Mountain Casing Company for alleged sexual harassment.
Kevothermal settles with EEOC, resolving allegations of EPA, civil rights violations
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced Jan. 3 that Kevothermal, a manufacturer of vacuum insulation panels, will pay $60,000 after allegations of violating the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.