News from March 2017
Consumers sour on coconut water that they say has added sugar
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — Consumers have filed a class action lawsuit against Zico Beverages LLC, alleging that the firm's 100% Coconut Water beverage contains added sugar despite a label that says otherwise.
Beer drinker says he was tricked into thinking Kona Brewing products brewed in Hawaii
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — A consumer has filed a class action lawsuit against a Hawaiian brewery that alleges several enterprises falsely promoted products as being brewed in Hawaii when, in fact, they're not.
N.Y./N.J. Port Authority beats whistleblower lawsuit
NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – On March 15, the Appellate Division of the
Superior Court of New Jersey handed down an opinion on a case filed by a former Port
Authority employee who alleged retaliation and civil conspiracy against the
agency.
Late notice deemed to be no issue in D&O insurance coverage case
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Legal Newsline) – National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has lost its appeal of a Maryland decision that hinged on whether late notice of a Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations case against Fund for Animals Inc. (FFA) hurt National Union in related litigation.
Education Department fends off ACICS' request for injunction
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The United States Department of Education has fought off a request for an injunction after stripping the Accrediting Council on Independent Colleges Schools of its authority.
Doctors in Kentucky might soon be able to express sympathy without fear of being sued
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) – Medical professionals in Kentucky may soon be able to express slightly more emotion with a patient and not be worried about being sued for doing so.
Targeted by patent trolls, J.C. Penney & Co. joins with LOT Network
PLANO, Texas (Legal Newsline) – A senior counsel for J.C. Penney & Co. has all but
given up waiting on the federal cavalry to arrive and protect her client from
patent trolls. Instead, she and others have joined a community of patent-protectionist
businesses in an effort to ward off what they say is a growing problem.
Kansas Supreme Court orders back pay to fired country appraiser
TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) – The Kansas Supreme Court recently issued a ruling stating that the firing of a former county appraiser was in violation of state law.
Maine Supreme Court rules 'business necessity' standard used in age discrimination cases
PORTLAND, Maine (Legal Newsline) – The Maine Supreme Court has issued an answer in a disparate age discrimination evaluation question from a federal court.
SCOTUS to hear Montana case over FELA jurisdiction
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – In April, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide the question of whether plaintiffs can bring a lawsuit under a federal law in a state in which there is no personal jurisdiction.
ExxonMobil not responsible for paying for cleanup of two contaminated sites, Texas Supreme Court rules
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) – The Texas Supreme Court ruled Feb. 24 that ExxonMobil does not have to pay to clean up soil contamination at two inactive oil drilling sites at the Lazy R Ranch in west Texas. The court did ask a trial court to revisit the case for two oil sites still in operation at the same property.
Va. SC reinstates lawsuit over man struck by train while wearing ear buds
RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) – The Virginia Supreme Court has sent a wrongful death claim back its trial court, the Richmond City Circuit Court, in the case of a man struck by a train while wearing ear buds.
Acosta, Trump’s pick to head DOL, says he will follow order to review fiduciary rule
R. Alexander Acosta, President Donald Trump’s labor secretary nominee, faced members of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, or HELP, Committee during his confirmation hearing Wednesday.
Trump’s pick for U.S. SC denies he’s against class actions
Neil Gorsuch, a conservative who serves as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, faced four days of confirmation hearings by the U.S. Senate this week.
Mafia reference in racketeering lawsuit used to lure reporters, accused attorneys say
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - Attorneys accused of a “Mafia-style” racketeering scheme are fighting allegations they conspired to develop professional plaintiffs for the purpose of bringing class action lawsuits.
Shoppers claim LuLaRoe overcharges sales tax
PITTSBURGH (Legal Newsline) — Women's clothing company LuLaRoe is facing a class action lawsuit for allegedly overcharging sales tax.
L.A. water group accuses waste management company of pollution
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — A nonprofit water protection group is suing USA Waste of California, Inc., claiming the corporation discharges polluted stormwater from its industrial facility in violation of federal law.
Stockholder brings class action against Netflix
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — A stockholder has filed a class action lawsuit against Netflix and two of its top executives, alleging the media company understated the impact of its subscription price hike in violation of federal law.
Maryland Judiciary introduces attorney information system for improved record management
The Maryland Judiciary has announced the launch of the Attorney Information System (AIS), a new database that consolidates information about attorneys in Maryland.
Bill to limit use of forced arbitration clauses reintroduced
U.S. Sens. Al Franken, D-Minn., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., along with U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., reintroduced the Arbitration Fairness Act March 7. The legislation, previously introduced in 2011 and 2015, would eliminate forced arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, civil rights and antitrust cases.