News from 2017
University of Minnesota files suit over substances present at WWII site
MINNEAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) – A university claims it has spent millions in environmental response costs for a property it owns that was formerly owned by the government for use in World War II.
Consumer board amends 2015 updates to Home Mortgage Disclosure Act
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced Aug. 24 that it has issued a rule amending the 2015 updates to the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) rule.
FTC settles with final three defendants in alleged deceptive marketing of dietary supplements
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Aug. 23 that the final three defendants in a case of allegedly deceptive marketing of dietary supplements have agreed to settle charges the agency filed in February.
AGs say electric grid study shows need for clean energy
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced Aug. 25 that she has joined a coalition of attorneys general in issuing a statement in response to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) electric grid study.
EPA reaches settlement with Ricoh Electronics over alleged substance reporting failures
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Aug. 24 that Ricoh Electronics Inc. has agreed to settle allegations of inaccurate reporting on chemical substances by paying a $245,900 penalty and changing its business practices.
New York secures $945,000 from property group for alleged anti-competitive business practices
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Aug. 21 that Simon Property Group will pay $945,000 to the state to settle allegations of using anti-competitive tactics to thwart the development of competing outlet centers in New York City.
EPA secures cesspool shutdown agreement with Hawaii company
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Aug. 24 that the owner of two Big Island hardware stores and a commercial property has agreed to close four large-capacity cesspools (LCCs) at properties in Naalehu, Kamuela and Hilo, Hawaii.
EEOC targets Atlanta cemetery over allegations of wrongfully firing employee
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced a lawsuit Aug. 22 against Lincoln Cemetery Inc., an internment arrangement corporation in Atlanta, over allegations of firing an employee who participated in an EEOC case.
Washington state proposes updates to the Public Records Act Model Rules
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) — Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Aug 23 that he has filed a proposed update to the Public Records Act (PRA) Model Rules.
Labor Department seeks to fill vacancies on its pension benefits advisory council
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced Aug. 18 that its Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is soliciting nominations to fill five three-year vacancies on the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council. The DOL noted that Aug. 31 is the deadline for nominations.
New York attorney general alleges pharmacist defrauded Medicaid
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Aug. 24 that that his office has filed a lawsuit against pharmacist Hin T. Wong and NY Pharmacy Inc. (“NY Pharmacy”) for allegations of defrauding the New York State Medicaid program out of millions of dollars.
EPA settlements include public report of chemicals
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Aug. 24 that three Connecticut companies have agreed to publicly report on their use of required toxic chemicals, which the agency says will help create a safer environment for the public. The companies each agreed to separate settlements.
EEOC alleges San Diego dietary supplement company fired female employee for being pregnant
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit Aug. 18 against Tarr Inc. and Zenith LLC, a dietary supplement company based in San Diego, for allegations of firing an employee after learning of her pregnancy.
Groups, including AAJ and AFL-CIO, argue splitting Ninth Circuit would be a mistake
Last week, more than 150 groups and organizations sent a letter to members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, urging them to oppose any “ill-considered efforts” that would split the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. So far, three such bills have been introduced in Congress this year.
Bill that would require large Calif. companies to publish pay info put in holding
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – A bill aimed at introducing more transparency on the gender pay gap attempting to move through the California legislature has been put in holding.
Napoli firm's Actos suit tossed because of paralegal's mix-up
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) – The Delaware Superior Court has rejected a woman’s lawsuit over the prescription drug Actos because of a mix-up at the law firm representing her.
Med-mal plaintiffs lose attempt to disqualify juror; Rehearing requested at Missouri Supreme Court
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of Missouri has affirmed a lower court’s verdict in favor of the defendant in a medical negligence case in which two plaintiffs claimed a juror should have been disqualified.
Wash. SC rules man's injuries were occupational
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) – The Washington Supreme Court has ruled against a company that challenged whether a former employee's lower back injuries were the result of his occupation.
Company loses lawsuit against former employees; N.J. court ruled no agreement existed
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – The New Jersey Superior Court Law Division has found in favor of two former employees of Technology Dynamics Inc., doing business as Nova Battery Systems (NBS), in a lawsuit brought by NBS that alleged a scheme to steal employees away from the company.
Will Jerry Brown tilt California Supreme Court against business?
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - At the end of this month, California Supreme Court Justice Kathryn Werdegar is scheduled to retire, giving Gov. Jerry Brown the opportunity to appoint his fourth justice to the highest court in the nation’s most populous state, ending a Republican majority and sealing his influence over the court for decades.