News from November 2017
EEOC targets Chicago staffing agency after alleged sexual harassment, retaliation
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) —The U.S. Equal Employment Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit Nov. 2 against Anchor Staffing, an agency in Chicago, for allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation.
Vitatech International will only get original settlement amount in contract dispute, court rules
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) – The California 4th District Court of Appeal, Division 3 has reversed and remanded a trial court’s judgment in a contract dispute in which the plaintiff wanted four times the agreed-upon settlement amount because the defendants allegedly didn’t pay the lower amount by the designated date.
SEC secures disgorgement, penalties from insider trader who worked for Apache Corp.
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Nov. 1 that petroleum engineer Christopher J. Lollar, who worked at the Apache Corporation energy company, will settle allegations of insider trading.
SEC: Investment advisory firm to pay $630,000 in disgorgement, penalties
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Oct. 31 that Millennium Management LLC will pay more than $630,000 after allegations of a U.S. stock short-selling scheme.
FTC reaches settlement with Chicago operators of alleged fake debt collection scheme
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Nov. 1 that the agency and the Illinois Attorney General have reached settlements with the operators of a fake debt collection scheme in the Chicago area. The operators will be banned from the debt collection business and from selling debt portfolios.
Administrative law judge upholds FTC complaint against 1-800 Contacts; Company is appealing
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Oct. 30 that Chief Administrative Law Judge D. Michael Chappell upheld an agency complaint against 1-800 Contacts, which the FTC says created anti-competitive agreements with rival businesses.
FTC secures more than $760,000 from alleged fake rental property scheme
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Oct. 30 that it has obtained a court order against two individuals for their role an alleged rental property scheme.
New York says health insurance company failed limited English proficiency enrollees
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) —New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Oct. 31 that Molina Health Care of New York (Molina), formerly Total Care of New York (Total Care), will change certain business practices and pay $25,000 in penalties after allegedly violating rules related to limited English proficiency notices.
California joins 36-state coalition urging Supreme Court to reconsider 'physical presence' retail rule
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced Nov. 3 he has joined a bipartisan coalition of 36 attorneys general urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider the “physical presence” rule.
New York City Board of Elections to restore 117,000 to voter registration list
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice and the U. S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York announced Oct. 31 that the Board of Elections in the city of New York (NYCBOE) will settle allegations of removing voters from voter registration rolls in violation of Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA).
Consumer alleges he paid for but never received ear buds from Kanoa Inc., others
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – A California man alleges that he preordered ear buds and that the product was never delivered.
Conn. SC: Firefighter’s rule does not extend to cases alleging ordinary negligence
According to the state Supreme Court, the common-law firefighter’s rule provides, in general terms, that a firefighter or police officer who enters private property in the exercise of his or her duties generally cannot bring a civil action against the property owner for injuries sustained as the result of a defect in the premises.
Howard County celebrates drug court graduates with upcoming ceremony
The Howard County District Court is set to hold a graduation ceremony for participants of its Adult Drug/DUI Court program.
Subway restaurant owner seeks dismissal of Chicago soda tax case
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – A federal court is being asked to dismiss a class action lawsuit alleging that an improper Chicago soft drink tax of 5 cents was charged for an orange drink sold at Chicago Subway stores when the drink should have been exempt.
Odebrecht S.A. alleged to have engaged in 'massive bribery and kickback scheme'
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – A state agency that manages retirement funds for public employees alleges that lost millions after purchasing notes for a Brazil-based company.
Koch Industries puts Bestwall unit, a small player in asbestos, in bankruptcy
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Legal Newsline) - Koch Industries has put a division of its Georgia-Pacific unit in Chapter 11 bankruptcy after failing to stem a rising tide of lawsuits by mesothelioma victims who attribute their disease to asbestos-containing drywall compound.
Plaintiffs in class action lawsuit over Subway’s ‘footlong’ sandwiches abandon litigation
The plaintiffs filed a two-page stipulation of dismissal without prejudice in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Oct. 24. Their voluntary dismissal comes nearly two months after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit dismissed a proposed settlement agreement, describing it as “utterly worthless.”
Phoney Lawsuits: Man has filed 80 lawsuits and uses sleuthing skills to track down defendants
A Tennessee man, described as a professional plaintiff and sleuth with three cell phones, is allowed to continue one of his many lawsuits after faking interest in a free home security system to identify whom he wanted to sue for calling him about it.
Banking industry leaders applaud Senate vote against CFPB arbitration rule
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Financial institutions and free-market advocates generally applauded the recent U.S. Senate vote striking down a federal rule that would have eliminated mandatory arbitration clauses in consumer credit contracts.
California appeals court grounds JetSuite’s taxation appeal
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – The California Court of Appeal for the 2nd District has upheld a lower court’s ruling in favor of Los Angeles County in its court battle against JetSuite Inc. over personal property taxes.