News from January 2018
California consumer claims Home Depot falsely advertises wood as mahogany
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – A California consumer alleges that wood he purchased from a home improvement store was not mahogany as advertised.
Colorado hospital to pay $400,000 to settle age discrimination charges
MONTROSE, Colo. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced Jan. 4 that Montrose Memorial Hospital will pay $400,000 after allegations of age discrimination.
Consumer claims Güd products are misrepresented as natural
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – A California consumer has filed a class-action lawsuit over allegations that a brand of health and beauty products is falsely represented as natural.
Texas woman drops lawsuit against Burr & Forman over contingency fee
HOUSTON (Legal Newsline) – A Harris County, Texas woman who alleged a law firm that represented her in an arbitration matter charged more than what was agreed upon has instead dropped that case.
Aloha Auto Group reaches $30,000 settlement with EEOC over retaliatory discrimination suit
HONOLULU — Aloha Auto Group, Ltd,, has agreed to a $30,000 settlement after the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit against the company for retaliatory discrimination.
DOJ wants dismissal of lawsuit alleging uncertainty over Mulvaney's CFPB appointment
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The Department of Justice (DOJ) continues to maintain that a New York credit union shouldn’t be able to file a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s appointment of Mick Mulvaney as acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
NLRB reversal on joint employer issue should please business community
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Well-versed in federal and state labor law matters, award-winning attorney James Nicholas has much to say about two recent National Labor Board Relations (NLRB) verdict reversals.
GEO Group to pay $550,000 for sexual harassment, retaliation suits
PHOENIX — The GEO Group Inc., will pay $550,000 as part of a consent decree to settle two lawsuits for sexual harassment and retaliation filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Arizona Civil Rights Division of the Attorney General's Office (ACRD).
New book details attorney’s frustrations with MDL: Handling of cases becoming ‘more and more deplorable’
TAMPA, Fla. (Legal Newsline) – Nearly 40 percent of civil cases pending in federal courts across the country are consolidated into multidistrict litigation, resulting in “a shift away from the rule of law to a system of arbitrary justice,” says Tampa attorney Brian Donovan in his new book on his experience and frustrations with MDL.
Pioneer Health Services agrees to $85,000 settlement after alleged ADA violation
JACKSON, Mississippi — Pioneer Health Services Inc. of Mississippi, recently agreed to pay a settlement of $85,000 after a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) lawsuit alleged the company illegally fired an employee after she underwent liver transplant surgery.
FTC reaches $650,000 settlement with VTech for allegedly violating U.S. children's privacy laws
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reached a $650,000 settlement with VTech Electronics to settle charges that the electronic toy manufacturer violated U.S. children's privacy laws.
False Claims Act defendant challenges civil penalties as excessive before any amount determined
RICHLAND, Wash. (Legal Newsline) – A False Claims Act lawsuit in Washington state could help defendants challenge excessive fine amounts early in the litigation process.
Much on the line as Disney seeks injunction against Redbox
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – Mickey Mouse will likely prevail in a lawsuit against Redbox if he can obtain the preliminary injunction he's asking a federal judge for, according to entertainment law attorney Jody Simon.
Phoney Lawsuits: Polish immigrant concludes six-figure run by settling 31st lawsuit
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – The last of a Polish immigrant's 31 Telephone Consumer Protection Act lawsuits, which paid out more than $800,000, has settled, but the need to reform telemarketing regulation continues, a privacy and securities class actions defense lawyer says.
Navient says it is the victim of a pointless, copycat lawsuit from Pennsylvania's AG
HARRISBURG – Student loan provider Navient has filed a motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit brought by the state of Pennsylvania, calling it a copycat lawsuit that is "pointless" and legally deficient.
Federal judge joins others, says bankruptcy court not allowed to impose punitive sanctions
BURLINGTON, Vt. (Legal Newsline) – A U.S. district court judge has overturned a bankruptcy court ruling that level $375,000 in punitive sanctions against PHH Mortgage Corp. in three Chapter 13 cases pending in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Vermont.
Six Flags case could clarify requirements for biometric claims used in class actions
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – A closely watched Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) case could have bearing on Illinois' one-of-a-kind biometric privacy law after an appeals court ruled last month the plaintiff alleged no actual harm, an attorney who defends businesses against such cases said during a recent interview.
Maryland Judiciary releases educational rent court videos for landlords and tenants
Three new videos have been released to assist landlords and tenants in understanding the rent court process in the District Court of Maryland.
FTC charges 'work from home,' 'get rich quick' scheme operators with FTC Act violations
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Dec. 28 that it has charged a group of defendants with allegations of deceiving consumers about a “work from home” scheme.
FTC finalizes settlement with Lenovo, resolves security infringement case involving U.S. laptops
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Jan 2 that it has finalized a settlement with Lenovo Inc., resolving allegations the company’s laptops with pre-loaded software that harmed consumers.