News from April 2018
Group fixed 'societal wrong' by funding lawsuits vs. Lois Lerner and IRS, but won't break even
CINCINNATI (Legal Newsline) – A conservative political group that funded watchdog litigation against Lois Lerner and the Internal Revenue Service won’t be making any money off its investment but has helped “correct a societal wrong,” court papers state.
Sugar in lollipops? Of course, says candy maker fighting 'nonsensical' lawsuit
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A woman who says she was tricked into thinking lollipops are healthy will be able to continue her lawsuit in a California court, as the defendant that has labeled the case as “nonsensical” attacks the class action lawyers who filed it.
SEC approves proposal to establish transaction fee pilot in NMS stocks
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently approved a proposal to establish a transaction fee pilot in National Market System (NMS) Stocks Rule 610T of Regulation, designed to obtain data on transaction fees and rebates.
EEOC: Florida wealth management company to pay $180,000 to resolve alleged sexual harassment
MIAMI (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced April 4 that Coral Gables Trust Company (CGTC), a wealth investment management and trust services company in South Florida, will pay $180,000 to settle allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation.
EEOC: Salvation Army violated ADA; to pay $55,000, come into compliance
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced April 3 that The Salvation Army, a global humanitarian organization, will pay $55,000 after allegations of disability discrimination in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
EEOC: Embassy Suites San Diego Bay operators committed disability discrimination
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit April 3 against Merritt Hospitality LLC and HEI Hotels and Resorts LLC, the dual operators of the Embassy Suites San Diego Bay, for allegedly denying reasonable accommodation to an employee with asthma in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
EEOC: Nation's largest organic tree fruit grower to pay $95,000 after alleged sexual harassment
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced April 3 that Stemilt Growers, the largest organic tree fruit grower in the United States, will pay $95,000 to a Latina tractor driver after allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination.
Massachusetts settles with wastewater management company after alleged improper management
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced April 10 that Veolia Water North-America-Northeast LLC (Veolia) will pay $1.6 million after allegations of failing to properly maintain and operate the wastewater treatment plant and collection system for the town of Plymouth.
Jury hits C.R. Bard with $35 million in punitive damages in N.J. pelvic mesh implant trial
HACKENSACK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – A jury on April 13 hit New Jersey maker of mesh implant devices C.R. Bard with $35 million in punitive damages in addition to the $33 million in compensatory damages awarded the previous day for the alleged physical damage its mesh device caused a North Carolina woman.
Third-party litigation funding a topic of discussion at plaintiffs lawyer seminar
LAS VEGAS (Legal Newsline) – Plaintiff lawyers and those in legal marketing and funding businesses gathered last week in Las Vegas for an annual mass tort conference.
Pet medication distributors allege merger between VIP Petcare Holdings, PetIQ will hurt business
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – Two Florida-based whole distributors of veterinary pharmaceutical products and over-the-counter pet medications allege a merger threatens their businesses.
Massachusetts joins 16-state coalition defending ACA against Texas challenge
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced April 9 that she has joined 16 other attorneys general to intervene in a lawsuit that attempts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
FCC secures $11.6 million from Sprint, Mobilitie after allegations of violating national laws
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced April 10 that Sprint and Mobilitie will settle two separate but related cases regarding wireless structures that were allegedly built without proper tower registration and environmental or historic impact reviews.
New Jersey seeks explanation from Interior Department why Florida received offshore exemption
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) — New Jersey Attorney General Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced April 6 that he is urging the U.S. Department of the Interior to better explain its reasoning for allowing Florida to be exempt from offshore drilling but not New Jersey.
New Jersey: Major medical group to pay $417,000 after data breach exposed patients' medical records
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) — New Jersey Attorney General Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced April 4 that Virtua Medical Group P.A. (VMG) will pay $417,816 after an alleged data breach in which 1,650 patients had their medical records exposed.
New York attorney general releases 'critical information' on mutual fund fees
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced April 5 that his office has released a new report on mutual fund fees and that 13 major mutual fund firms agreed to voluntarily publish information about their fees to retail investors.
Montana attorney general battles South Dakota online sales tax
HELENA, Mont. (Legal Newsline) — Montana Attorney General Tim Fox announced April 4 that his office is fighting against sales tax expansion efforts that he believes are harmful to states like Montana.
Georgia secures major consumer protection settlement with debt collection company
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) — Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced April 4 that National Check Resolution Inc. will pay $8.5 million to resolve allegations it violated the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Georgia Fair Business Practices Act.
Consumer board seeks comments, information about financial education programs
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced April 4 that it is seeking comments and information from interested parties about the overall efficiency and effectiveness of its consumer financial education programs.
California attorney general: World's largest online brothel shut down
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced April 9 that Backpage.com, the largest online brothel in the world, and affiliated websites have been seized and shut down.