News from February 2018
Kansas urges Supreme Court to support states' ban on electioneering near polling places
TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Feb. 14 that he has joined a coalition of 11 state attorneys general in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to find that states may lawfully ban electioneering near polls.
Consumer financial board releases 5-year strategic plan, refocuses mission
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced Feb. 12 that it has released a five-year Strategic Plan, which includes updates to its mission, strategic goals and strategic objectives.
FTC targets nation's 3 largest dental supply companies, alleging anti-price discount conspiracy
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Feb. 12 that it has sued the nation' three largest dental supply companies over an alleged conspiracy to not provide discounts to a certain customer segment.
FTC mails $2.9 million to 72,836 victims of alleged payday loan scheme
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Feb. 15 that it is mailing a total of more than $2.9 million to 72,836 victims of an alleged payday loan scheme conducted by CWB Services LLC.
Arizona joins coalition urging Congress to end forced arbitration for sexual harassment
PHOENIX — Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich has joined a coalition of 56 states and territories urging Congress to help protect employees from sexual harassment by ending forced arbitration agreements.
Maine, FTC target alleged weight loss supplement scammers
AUGUSTA, Maine (Legal Newsline) — Maine Attorney General Janet Mills announced Feb. 6 that the state will work with the Federal Trade Commission to take action against Marketing Architects Inc., a Minnesota company, for allegations of using false, misleading and deceptive claims while marketing and promoting the weight loss supplements “AF Plus” and “Final Trim.”
Paris may join U.S. governments suing energy producers over global climate change
PARIS (Legal Newsline) – City officials in Paris appear poised to enter the trend of government officials using lawsuits to fight global climate change by suing energy companies.
New Jersey court upholds $225 million settlement regarding Bayway Refinery
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – An appeals court has upheld a settlement between the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and ExxonMobil over damaged sites at the Bayway Refinery.
Talent agency not liable for injuries at Ala. Cannibal Corpse show
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) – A talent agency was exonerated recently by the Supreme Court of Alabama regarding incidents allegedly leading to a teenager’s injuries on the grounds that the multi-national company did not fall under the state’s jurisdiction.
Rhode Island community center cleared after teen stole van, caused fatal accident
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline) – Exonerating a Providence community center in a tragic 2010 accident involving a stolen vehicle, the Supreme Court of Rhode Island recently upheld a Providence County Superior Court’s opinion that the facility had no liability in the incident.
'Cross examination is going to be brutal': NYU law prof says climate change litigation is a loser
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – California officials who made dire climate change predictions about their localities' future in litigation against energy companies, but not in bond offerings, probably know by now their litigation is doomed, a New York University law professor said during a recent interview.
Woman alleges Drunk Elephant LLC eye serum doesn't work as advertised
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – A New York woman alleges she paid $73 for an eye serum that did not work as advertised.
Samsung plasma televisions fail early, consumers allege
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – Two consumers claim a Samsung plasma television they purchased failed prematurely.
New York entities allege American Locker Group Inc. site contaminated soil, groundwater
BUFFALO, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – Officials in New York allege a site in Gowanda has contaminated the soil and groundwater and are seeking to hold several companies responsible for cleanup costs.
Former AARP Medigap policy owner alleges charges were artificially inflated
FORT PIERCE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) – A Stuart, Florida consumer claims that he was deceived into paying artificially inflated charges for Medicare supplement health insurance.
U.S. district court rules Energy Department must implement energy efficiency standards
SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has ruled the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) must put national energy efficiency standards into effect and that the department violated its error correction regulation under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.
Kansas secures $39,000 from company that deceived students about loan consolidation
TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Feb. 8 that Brelvis Consulting, a Florida company that does business as The Student Loan Help Center, will pay $39,000 to a consumer after allegations of violating consumer protection laws in Kansas.
California challenges EPA, Army Corp of Engineers over Clean Water Rule
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced Feb. 6 that California will join a coalition of 11 states in suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) over their decision to suspend the Clean Water Rule, which was enacted in 2015 under the Obama administration.
California urges Trump administration to respect consumer board's independence
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced Feb. 7 he has joined a coalition of 17 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief urging the Trump administration to respect the independence of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
California accuses Justice Department of violating Freedom of Information Act
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced Feb. 7 that his office has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice and its Office of Justice Programs (OJP) over allegations of violating the Freedom of Information Act.