News from 2017
Honeywell, in motion over ballots, contends asbestos claims holders already have been exposed
Honeywell International has interjected itself into the bankruptcy proceeding of the successors to Chicago Fire Brick and Wellsville Fire Brick, companies that spent a decade creating a trust that would pay individuals with asbestos claims. In May, Honeywell asked the federal bankruptcy court in Oakland, Calif., to make those ballots public.
Cordray plans to step down as CFPB head at month’s end
Richard Cordray, who has served as the executive director of the Obama-era watchdog agency since its creation in 2010, made the announcement in an email message to colleagues Wednesday.
California couple accuses Sirius XM Radio of violating phone privacy law
SAN DIEGO — A California couple has filed a class action lawsuit against Sirius radio, alleging violation of telephone harassment statutes.
Purdue Pharma, others seek dismissal of man's opioid marketing suit, alleges claims are 'defective'
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (Legal Newsline) – A group of pharmaceutical manufacturers and sellers has moved to dismiss a class action suit filed by a consumer who alleges prescription opioids were fraudulently marketed.
N.J. court reopens discovery in accident case allegedly caused by defective motorcyle
NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – A New Jersey Superior Court in Essex County has reopened discovery in the case of a man who alleges he was injured by a defective motorcycle he rented and that evidence had been lost.
Kansas finalizes negotiation details with tobacco companies
TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Nov. 6 that his office has finally resolved a years-long negotiation over a dispute with tobacco companies related to how the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) should be implemented.
Lawsuits over this summer's Outer Banks power outage consolidated
RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) – Chief Justice James C. Dever III of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina has ordered plaintiffs in multiple lawsuits against a construction company to consolidate their lawsuits, which focus on damages and losses suffered by a power outage in July.
More than 40 states allege additional companies involved in generic drug price fixing
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) — Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced a coalition of 46 attorneys general seeks to expand their complaint to include more companies in the alleged generic drug price-fixing conspiracy.
Phoney Lawsuits: How to sue your way out of college debt
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Legal Newsline) – Former students still saddled with college loans were urged by lawyers and debt-relief companies to stop making payments because filing a lawsuit was an easier way to get out of debt, according to racketeering allegations against two law firms.
Peter Angelos, facing the loss of thousands of asbestos lawsuits, wants lawmakers' help
On Dec. 1, the Maryland Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, is scheduled to hear an appeal of Duffy v. CBS, a 2015 decision that applied Maryland’s 20-year statute of repose to an asbestos lawsuit.
Backpage.com asks court to dismiss latest complaint related to alleged sex trafficking
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) – Backpage.com LLC, Carl Ferrer, Michael Lacy and James Larkin are asking the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to dismiss a lawsuit filed June 12 against them by three Jane Doe plaintiffs who allege that the defendants’ website was used to force them to participate in sex trafficking.
Class action against Water of Life Community Church over investment adviser continues
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A district court has ruled that a lawsuit against a church by two of its former members will continue. The members claimed that the church required them to attend financial planning courses conducted by a member who had lost his license to sell securities.
Court denies Hobby Lobby's motion to dismiss pricing lawsuit
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) – A class action suit over Hobby Lobby’s pricing policies will continue despite Hobby Lobby moving to dismiss.
Court says size of 2x4s isn't misleading, but class action plaintiffs appealing to Seventh Circuit
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – Two plaintiffs who accused a hardware store chain of violating the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act (ICFA) have appealed a trial court’s dismissal of their claims.
Settlement reached in Burger King BOGO coupon lawsuit; $185K requested for attorneys
BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) – The parties in a class action case against Burger King Corp. have asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland to preliminarily approve a settlement between the parties.
Amplify Snacks seeks dismissal of class action, says plaintiff knew difference between sugar and evaporated cane juice
BENTON, Ill. (Legal Newsline) – Attorneys for a snack food company are asking the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois to dismiss the case against one of two consumers who filed a class action lawsuit against the business over allegations of fraud and negligent misrepresentation.
Certification requested in class action over slack fill in Whoppers, Reese's Pieces
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) – The plaintiff in a case against Hershey has asked the U.S District Court for the Western Division of Missouri to grant a request for class action certification.
New Jersey secures $975,000 from firm that allegedly sold unsuitable investments
NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) — New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced Nov. 1 that LPL Financial LLC will pay $975,000 after allegations of selling unsuitable alternative investments.
Justice Department secures largest False Claims Act settlement from hospice company
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Oct. 30 that Chemed Corporation and various subsidiaries will pay $75 million after allegations of submitting false claims for hospice services to Medicare and thereby violating the False Claims Act.
ExxonMobil to spend $300 million to install pollution control systems at Texas, Louisiana facilities
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) announced Oct. 31 that Exxon Mobil Corp. has agreed to spend roughly $300 million to install air pollution control technology at eight petrochemical facilities in Texas and Louisiana.