News from 2017
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.
Alaska Supreme Court affirms ruling in car accident case involving Peter Pan Seafood
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Legal Newsline) – The Alaska Supreme Court has affirmed a ruling after a plaintiff claimed she beat the offer of judgment by the defendant sea food company and alleged that the Superior Court wrongly excluded costs for her award.
Ruling: Dog wasn't training to be service animal when Calif. restaurant denied entry
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – The Second Appellate District of the California Court of Appeals affirmed a summary judgment on Sept. 12 in favor of the owner of two seafood markets in a lawsuit that alleged it denied service to a handicapped man whose service dog was not fully trained.
Confusion at federal government: Are transgender persons protected under Civil Rights Act or not?
WAUSAU, Wis. (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed suit against a Colorado-based auto retailer for not hiring a transgender candidate.
Industry unhappy with risk of higher verdicts in New York's asbestos court
The order, released in June, holds, among other things, that punitive damages awards are no longer deferred for cases placed on the trial calendar after the CMO’s effective date.
Ultherapy procedure has not received premarket FDA approval, consumers claim
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Consumers have filed a class action lawsuit against the manufacturers and sellers of a nonsurgical cosmetic procedure over allegations that it is deceptively advertised as being Food and Drug Administration approved.
Sierra Club claims New York facilities are violating Clean Water Act
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – Nonprofit environmental organization Sierra Club alleges four facilities in New York are unlawfully discharging polluted stormwater.
Consumer claims Starburst Gummies candy has more calories than advertised
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – A consumer claims that type of Starburst candies are sold with false calorie information.
Lawsuit: CFPB’s anti-arbitration rule will mean ‘significant’ costs for businesses
More than a dozen groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Financial Services Association and Financial Services Roundtable, filed a lawsuit Sept. 29 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s new rule, finalized in July.
Consumer claims Vitafusion Extra Strength Biotin Gummies does not support healthy hair, skin
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – A class action plaintiff alleges a biotin supplement alleged to support healthy hair, skin and nails does not perform as advertised.
Ply Gem vinyl siding is defective, consumers claim
ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – Four property owners allege a vinyl siding used on their homes is defective and degrades when exposed to normal environmental and building construction conditions.
Consumers claim Reservations.com charged hidden fee
ORLANDO, Fla. (Legal Newsline) – A hotel booking company is alleged to use unfair and deceptive marketing practices.
Trustee, U.S. Bank poke noses in CFPB's $21M student loan settlement
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) – Two financial agencies have filed motions to intervene in a federal agency's $21.6 million settlement with student loan trusts over allegations of illegal debt collection.
Federal government denied right to appeal climate change decision; Youths accused it of not addressing global warming
EUGENE, Ore. (Legal Newsline) – As the issue of climate change continues to entrench itself into the public conscious, the judicial system is being forced to reckon with the matter itself.
Consumers claim DietWorks supplement is 'ineffective' in aiding weight loss
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) – Two consumers have filed a class-action lawsuit against the manufacturer and the trademark owner of DietWorks products alleging that one product is falsely advertised.
Doctors can keep apologizing after death without fear of lawsuit in Ohio
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) – Doctors and other health care professionals will continue to be able to express sympathy without the threat of persecution after the Ohio Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Stewart v. Vivian.
Maryland expands electronic court filing system to four more counties
The Maryland Judiciary has expanded its electronic case filing system, known as the Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC), to Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties.
Law firm drops suit against pissedconsumer.com over user reviews about 'sexual dalliances'
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – A consumer website has filed a memorandum in opposition to a law firm’s defamation complaint and request for injunctive relief in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.