News from January 2018
New York alleges Buffalo-Niagara home improvement contractor violated court order
BUFFALO — New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has filed a lawsuit against a Buffalo-Niagara area home improvement contractor, alleging violation of a court order by operating illegally under a different business name.
Fetch Media LTD alleges Uber has failed to pay more than $19 million for services
OAKLAND, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – A U.K. mobile advertising agency alleges that Uber has failed to pay more than $19 million in invoices.
FTC reaches $1.4 Million settlement with Southern California auto dealerships
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reached a $1.4 million settlement agreement with a Southern California auto dealership group for allegedly misrepresenting consumer’s costs to finance or lease a vehicle.
General Electric Co. alleges New York individual has misappropriated trade secrets
ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – General Electric alleges a current or former employee residing in New York misappropriated its trade secrets.
New York attorney general seeks further consumer protection against data breaches
NEW YORK — New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has put forward legislation designed to further protect New Yorkers from data breaches and close gaps in the state’s current security laws.
Petworth Holdings alleges changes in Washington, D.C. code violate constitution
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The owners of a Washington, D.C. property that currently houses a gas station alleges that a law in the District of Columbia violates two constitutional amendments.
Texas attorney general targets gas price gouging during Hurricane Harvey
AUSTIN — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed two additional lawsuits against businesses for alleged price gouging of gasoline during Hurricane Harvey.
Red Ventures, Bankrate agree to settle FTC charges against $1.4 billion merger
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Red Ventures and Bankrate have agreed to a divestiture of Bankrate’s caring.com business unit as part of a settlement for Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges against the two company’s $1.4 billion merger.
Hilton reaches $700,000 settlement with New York for 2015 data breaches
NEW YORK — The Hilton Domestic Operating Company Inc., has reached a $700,000 settlement with the New York Attorney General’s Office for two data breaches that occurred in 2015 exposing more than 350,000 credit card numbers.
Seeds of anti-Exxon campaign were planted at 2012 climate change conference, company says
LA JOLLA - A 2012 climate change conference in La Jolla, Calif., was designed to impose a uniform perspective on climate policy that has resulted in abuses of government power, according to a major oil producer that says it's been unfairly targeted.
Consumer board fines Xerox $1.1 million For flawed software
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has issued Xerox Business Services LLC, now Conduent Business Services, a $1.1 million civil penalty for its failed software, which allegedly led to incorrect consumer information being sent to credit reporting agencies.
Consumer board orders Citibank to pay $3.75 million for alleged illegal student loan practices
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is ordering Citibank NA, to pay $3.75 million in compensation to consumers as well as pay a $2.75 million civil penalty for illegal student loan servicing practices.
Rhode Island attorney general joins lawsuit against EPA for protection against downwind pollution
PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin has joined seven other attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), seeking to force the agency to protect upwind states from downwind state's pollution, in accordance with the Clean Air Act.
17 attorneys general urge Transportation Department to reverse decision on hidden fees
JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood recently joined 16 other attorneys general urging the the U.S. Department of Transportation to reverse its decision on the withdrawal of the Transparency of Airline Ancillary Service Fees rule established last year.
New York attorney general reaches settlement with lumber company for $50,000 In penalties
BUFFALO — In a recent settlement agreement with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, owner Fred DeNormand and his company Classic Fence and Lumber will shut down his company and pay more than $50,000 in penalties, costs and restitution for allegedly defrauding consumers.
Panel: Chapter 15 eases the way for cross-border bankruptcy proceedings
SANTA MONICA (Legal Newsline) – A panel of experts on Chapter 15 cross-border bankruptcy proceeding indicated the increasing use of the legal option allows a greater harmony and coordination between foreign and U.S. courts.
Maryland Judiciary appoints Robert Bruchalski as new Chief Information Officer
The Maryland Judiciary has appointed Robert "Bob" Bruchalski as the new Chief Information Officer and Assistant Administrator for Judicial Information Systems.
Victims of IRS's tea party bias - and taxpayers - must see Lois Lerner's testimony, lawyer says
CINCINNATI (Legal Newsline) - Lois Lerner, formerly of the Internal Revenue Service when it discriminated against applicants for tax exemptions based on their viewpoints, claims Americans have no right to read statements she made under oath about why she did it.
Litigation funder spending cash on political candidates like AGs of New York and Pennsylvania
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – Companies that fund lawsuits can find themselves in the crosshairs of state regulators, and a recent New York Post article revealed that one such business has given tens of thousands of dollars to one of the nation’s most important public officials – who happens to have sued a competing company.
Ingredients in Pre-JYM sport supplement have no scientific backing, consumer claims
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – An Illinois consumer claims a California company misrepresents a supplement and is seeking restitution.