News from October 2017
New Mexico Nissan dealer to pay $205,000 after alleged race, religion, national origin harassment
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced Oct. 11 that Reliable Inc., doing business as Reliable Nissan, will pay $205,000 after allegations of race, religion and national origin harassment.
EEOC: Jones Lang LaSalle Americas rescinded job offer after learning of disability
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit Oct. 11 against the Atlanta office of Jones Lang LaSalle Americas Inc. (JLL), a commercial real estate and investment management company, for allegations of disability discrimination.
SEC alleges snack product company owners defrauded investors
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Oct. 11 it has charged three individuals who owned Starship Snack Corp. for allegations of defrauding investors.
Connecticut targets behavioral health specialist for alleged massive Medicaid fraud scam
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) — Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen and state Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Roderick L. Bremby announced a False Claims Act lawsuit Oct. 11 against Waterbury behavioral health provider Elijah Caldwell.
New Jersey secures $600,000 from cell phone retailer that allegedly failed to list sales prices
NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) — New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs announced Oct. 12 that Spring Communications, a company selling cell phones and accessories in the state, will pay $600,000 after allegations of consumer protection law violations related to pricing and refund policies.
'Secret analysis' pushing CFPB's lawyer-friendly rule, U.S. senators told
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A federal agency is keeping its research secret as it forces a controversial rule that will harm consumers and businesses alike, a fellow regulator is telling members of a U.S. Senate committee.
Consumers claims Atkins Nutritionals misrepresents net carbs on products
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – A New York consumer has filed a class action lawsuit against a low-carbohydrate lifestyle company falsely advertises the amount of carbs in its products.
Chemtall Inc. seeks trial over patent dispute with BASF SE
SAVANNAH, Ga. (Legal Newsline) – A Georgia company alleges that a competitor is damaging its business with a civil lawsuit filed in Texas.
Nonprofits allege Florida county's law banning pit bulls is unconstitutional
MIAMI (Legal Newsline) – Two nonprofits are challenging a Florida county's ban that outlaws pit bulls or those who exhibit the physical characteristics of the dogs.
Elite Home Energy alleged to have recorded calls without consumers' consent
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A California individual has filed a class action lawsuit against a company over allegations that it invaded consumers' privacy with calls.
Employee alleges Haldez Brake Products Corp. terminated job because of consumer report
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) – A Kansas City man alleges his employer terminated him because of information in his consumer report but failed to provide him with a copy of the report.
New rules regarding contraception coverage are unconstitutional, Medical Students for Choice claims
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – A group and individuals are challenging the federal government's new rules regarding contraception coverage on the grounds the rules are constitutional.
Alleged scheme: Men filled cups with unsweet tea after paying Cook Co. soda tax so they could file lawsuit
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – A Subway franchisor has asked a Chicago federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit alleging violations of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act in connection with a sweetened beverage tax.
FTC has claims against D-Link dismissed, given chance to amend
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – New developments in a legal dispute between the Federal Trade Commission and the company D-Link Systems has the data security community intrigued.
Ohio Supreme Court rules Columbia Gas of Ohio was right to cut off gas to homes where 'stray' gas a hazard
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) – The Ohio Supreme Court has affirmed orders issued by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) deciding that Columbia Gas of Ohio was right to discontinue service to customers after stray gas was found near their properties.
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings alleged to have charged excessive rates
GREENSBORO, N.C. (Legal Newsline) – Several consumers allege that a laboratory testing service company charges fees that are in excess of fair market prices.
Law Offices of Timothy Carl Blake seeks damages over fax that allegedly did not contain opt-out notice
MIAMI (Legal Newsline) – A Miami law firm alleges that a copy machine business sent it an unsolicited fax.
Consumer claims Ghirardelli packages contain one less chocolate than advertised
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) – A San Diego consumer alleges a chocolate manufacturer underfills its packages.
Controversial rule would increase interest rates to create lawsuits, OCC head tells CFPB
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – A battle of opinions has broken out between the heads of two regulatory bodies, with the Comptroller of the Currency criticizing a controversial rule that he says will increase costs in the financial services industry for the sake of creating lawsuits.
Baltimore Backlog: Angelos firm not pursuing trials for asbestos clients, lawmakers told
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Legal Newsline) - Asbestos attorneys from the main firm in one of the largest – but apparently not busiest – dockets in the country told Maryland lawmakers on Tuesday of their plan to push their dormant cases through the system to eliminate a backlog of nearly 30,000 lawsuits.