News from August 2018
Trump administration files appeal in ongoing case against California over 'sanctuary' laws
SACRAMENTO (Legal Newsline) – The United States of America has filed an appeal in federal court in an ongoing case in which it claims that the state of California overstepped its authority in its “sanctuary” state laws and violated the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
NYC Bar: Lawyers shouldn't split fees with litigation funders
New York City's bar association has decided that it is unethical for lawyers to enter into agreements with companies that finance lawsuits in exchange for a percentage of the recovery.
Office Sense alleged to have unlawfully sent fax advertisements to businesses
MIAMI (Legal Newsline) – A Miami, Florida law firm alleges faxes sent by another Miami company caused it harm.
California law firm owner alleges FindLaw did not deliver services promised
POMONA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – The owner of a law office headquartered in Glendale, California alleges that that an online legal information and marketing services company failed to deliver the services she paid for.
Payday lending company settles allegations of violating consumer financial laws
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The federal government has reached a settlement in its lawsuit against Hydra Group over allegations the payday lending company violated federal consumer financial laws.
Royal Bank of Scotland to pay $4.9 million to resolve U.S. charges of misleading investors
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A recent $4.9 million settlement reached between the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is the largest penalty imposed on a single entity by the department for financial crisis-era misconduct, according to the federal government.
EEOC alleges Arkansas company fired worker after he suffered stroke
LITTLE ROCK — A federal agency has filed a lawsuit against an Arkansas custom fabrication company, alleging it refused to allow a long-term employee to return to work after he suffered a stroke and then firing him for reporting the incident to the U.S. government.
Connecticut Supreme Court upholds $12 million ruling in medical malpractice suit
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) – The Connecticut Supreme Court has overturned part of an Appellate Court decision in a $12 million medical malpractice case.
California court rules WinCo employees' bargaining agreement 'clear and unmistakable' regarding meal breaks
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) ‒ California’s 4th District Court of Appeal, Division Two on Aug. 13 upheld a judgment in a case involving WinCo Foods LLC and some of employees who claimed unfair break-time practices.
Citing 'character assassinations' of witnesses, Goodyear asks for new trial in $40 million asbestos case
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – A lawyer for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., which was ordered by pay $40.1 million to a man who claimed he developed mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos, is asking a judge for a new trial.
Whistleblowers get more thanks to Virginia Supreme Court ruling
RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) – The Virginia Supreme Court affirmed a lower court decision that ruled that in a Medicaid qui tam case, the relator is eligible for 28 percent of the gross proceeds of the settlement.
Mississippi Supreme Court rules state's Medicaid suit against pharmacies to stay at circuit court
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) ‒ The state of Mississippi’s lawsuit against three pharmacies will stay at the circuit court level, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled Aug. 9.
Calif. trial judge and appeals court reject jury's elder abuse verdict in $1.6M case
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) ‒ The state of California’s 4th District Court of Appeals, Division Three has upheld a judgment in a case involving a large care facility group and the estate of a man who died while in its care.
Massachusetts behavioral health center agrees to settle alleged excessive fees for opioid treatment
BOSTON — A Massachusetts behavioral health care center will pay $612,000 for allegedly charging patients excessive cash fees for opioid addiction treatments that already were covered by the state's Medicaid program (MassHealth).
Attorneys general coalition to challenge revision of offshore drilling regulations
BALTIMORE — The federal Bureau of Safety Sulfur Operations' (BSEE) plans to revise offshore drilling regulations is being challenged by a 10-state coalition of attorneys general.
LA Terminals challenges city of Los Angeles' site contamination allegations
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A company is disputing a California city's allegations that it is responsible for contamination at a site.
CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU: Bureau Of Consumer Financial Protection Settles With Defendants In Hydra Group Payday Lending Case
A federal district court in the Western District of Missouri entered an Order effectuating a settlement between the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) and Richard Moseley, Sr., Richard Moseley, Jr., and 20 interrelated corporate entities controlled by Moseley, Sr. and Moseley, Jr., in the Bureau’s lawsuit regarding the unlawful origination and servicing of short-term, small-dollar online loans to consumers nationwide.
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION: Southeast Food Services / Wendy’s Settles EEOC Retaliation Charge For $20,000
Southeast Food Services, a large franchisee formerly operating over 30 restaurants as Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers, will pay $20,000 to settle a retaliation charge filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced.
CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU: Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Updates Regulation P To Implement Legislation Amending Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) finalized amendments to implement legislation that allows financial institutions that meet certain requirements to be exempt from sending annual privacy notices to their customers.
GEORGIA OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL: Carr Reaches Settlement with Title Pawn Company to Resolve Allegations of Unlawful Practices
Attorney General Chris Carr announced that Complete Cash Holdings LLC and its owner Kent Popham (together, “Complete Cash”) have entered into a settlement with the State of Georgia in response to allegations that it engaged in unlawful practices that violated the Georgia Fair Business Practices Act and the Georgia Pawn Shop Act.