News from March 2017
Illinois judges: Racketeering lawsuits against asbestos lawyers belong elsewhere
Judges Amy St. Eve and John J. Tharp Jr., both of whom sit on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, each filed orders March 23 in John Crane Inc.’s lawsuits against Dallas asbestos firm Simon Greenstone Panatier Bartlett PC and Philadelphia-based Shein Law Center.
Seventh Circuit to address alleged civil rights violations in Wisconsin's controversial John Doe raids
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) –The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is considering the appeal in a Wisconsin civil rights case brought by Cindy Archer, former assistant to Gov. Scott Walker. Walker was the target of two John Doe investigations by Milwaukee District Attorney John Chisolm in 2010 and 2011.
Texas Supreme Court upholds decision on sovereign immunity in contract breach case
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) – The Texas Supreme Court has upheld an appeal from the 13th District of Texas and negated a judgment on grounds that the law has changed regarding the entity’s sovereign immunity.
Hawaii appeals court says aggregate settlement amount in asbestos case was sufficient
A three-judge panel of the state’s Intermediate Court of Appeals, or ICA, ruled March 16 that the aggregate settlement amount provided was good enough, upholding the Circuit Court of the First Circuit’s Dec. 21, 2015 order.
Washington state lawmaker to pay nearly $6,500 after campaign finance probe
Washington Rep. Frank Chopp will pay $6,469.78 for alleged campaign finance violations, the Washington Attorney General's Office said.
Judge denies settlement with Google; Attorneys would have received $2.2M
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – A federal judge is criticizing the deal obtained by a lawyer in California in a lawsuit involving Google and email privacy issues.
Nevada Supreme Court denies Minimum Wage Amendment relief to cab company
CARSON CITY, Nev. (Legal Newsline) – The Nevada Supreme Court on March 16 denied Western Cab's petition for extraordinary relief under the state’s Minimum Wage Amendment, which allows employers to pay lower wages to employees when they also offer them health benefits.
Maine Supreme Court sides with lawyer in malpractice case filed by union worker
PORTLAND, Maine – The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that a union worker failed to prove a legal malpractice claim against John R. Lemieux.
Stockholder sues San Jose tech company over merger bid
A stockholder has filed a class action lawsuit against GigPeak Inc. and its board of directors, citing alleged negligent misrepresentation and violation of federal law over a merger proposal.
Class action suit alleges biotin product has no health benefits
A consumer has filed a class action lawsuit against NBTY Inc. and Nature's Bounty Inc., alleging the defendants' vitamin product falsely claims it supports skin and hair health.
Class action suit accuses Samsung of spying on consumers
A consumer has filed a class action lawsuit against Samsung Electronics America Inc. and other parties, alleging that Samsung's high-tech televisions contain hidden devices that record consumers' private communications.
U.S. sues counseling firm over Medicaid debts
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Western Oklahoma is suing a mental health counseling company and its owner for $4.7 million, citing alleged fraud and misrepresentation in debt collection.
Nonprofit sues to void city of L.A. local hiring law
A nonprofit corporation is suing the city of Los Angeles over a local hiring provision of a ballot measure adopted in 2016, citing alleged violation of federal law.
Vitamin Shoppe pays Oregon $545,000 penalty over allegedly unsafe supplement
Vitamin Shoppe Inc. will pay $545,000 and stop selling certain dietary supplements in Oregon stores after the company was accused of selling products containing unsafe or unlawful ingredients, state Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said.
N.Y. vacation home firm sued over deception allegations
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has filed a lawsuit against Henry Dean and his company, FLGH LLC, seeking a permanent injunction barring them from the vacation rental home business.
Louisiana AG petitions EPA to revise risk-management rule
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has filed a petition urging Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt to revise the agency's Risk Management Program Rule.
Texas AG sues federal agencies over nuclear waste storage
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against several federal agencies for allegedly violating the Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA).
Virginia AG settles with pawnbrokers over alleged excessive fees
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring said his office has settled with Pawnking LLC and All Star Pawn & Gold LLC, two affiliated Fredericksburg-area pawnbrokers, for more than $70,000 over alleged violations of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.
Calif. appeals court rules health care providers OK to allow employees to waive meal breaks
SANTA ANA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Workers hoping to hit their employer with a class action over meal breaks have been dealt an adverse ruling by a California appeals court.
Wendy's wants dismissal of shareholders' data breach lawsuit
CINCINNATI (Legal Newsline) – Major fast-food restaurant Wendy’s is asking an Ohio federal judge to dismiss claims made against it by stockholders following a major data breach in 2016.