News from January 2018
Georgia secures $8.8 million from allegedly abusive debt collection practice
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) — Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced Jan. 9 that Williamson and McKevie LLC, a debt collection business, has agreed to pay $8.8 million in penalties after allegations of violating the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Georgia Fair Business Practices Act.
FTC, Nevada charge MyEx.com operators with violating FTC Act
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Jan. 9 that, in association with the state of Nevada, the agency has charged a group of defendants operating an adult content website with federal and state law violations.
California leads coalition in defending the Clean Power Plan from potential dismantling
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced Jan. 9 that he is leading a coalition of 19 states and municipalities in defending the Clean Power Plan (CPP). The coalition drafted a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about proposed rulemaking to dismantle the CPP.
California attorney general: BP overcharged state, to pay $102 million in penalties
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced Jan. 11 that BP Energy Company and affiliates (BP) will pay $102 million to resolve allegations of intentionally overcharging the state for natural gas purchased between March 2003 and August 2012.
Arizona attorney general targets 'toner pirates'
PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) — Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced an Arizona consumer fraud lawsuit Jan. 5 against NT Sourcing LLC, Premiere Office Supplies LLC, and their owner James R. Deremiah, for allegedly tricking consumers into paying for office supplies.
FTC settles with business coaching scheme that bilked consumers out of millions
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Jan. 9 that it has reached a settlement with the operators of telemarketing scheme that allegedly bilked consumers out of millions of dollars.
Amplify Snack Brands Inc. stockholder alleges proxy statement omitted information
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) – A stockholder in an Austin, Texas-based snack food company is seeking to enjoin a proposed transaction until allegedly omitted information from a proxy statement is disclosed.
Consumers claim Navient developed practices to make borrowers stay in debt longer
CAMDEN, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – Two New Jersey consumers allege their student loans were fraudulently serviced.
Bazaarvoice Inc. stockholder alleges proxy statement regarding merger omitted information
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) – A stockholder of an Austin, Texas-based corporation is seeking to enjoin a proposed merger until information is disclosed that was allegedly omitted from a proxy statement.
If you don't want to tip 15%, an NYC lawyer will help you sue Applebee's
NEW YORK CITY (Legal Newsline) – Customers suing Applebee's after eating at two Times Square locations would apparently rather hire an attorney than add a few bucks when tipping their servers, and the owners of those restaurants are telling a federal judge that the plaintiffs have no case.
Usual Suspects: Lawyers used to getting their way in MDL process to lead opioid litigation
CLEVELAND (Legal Newsline) - There will be a lot of familiar faces in U.S. District Judge Dan Polster’s courtroom in Cleveland on Jan. 31, when lawyers gather for a hearing on multidistrict litigation against the nation’s opioid manufacturers and distributors.
Judge upholds unfair competition claims in suits against Uber by Mass. taxi companies, dismisses antitrust claim
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) – A federal magistrate judge has ruled in more than seven consolidated actions combining more than 30 lawsuits filed by dozens of cab companies against Uber.
Law firm's arbitration agreement not good enough, Maine Supreme Court rules
PORTLAND, Maine (Legal Newsline) – An arbitration agreement between one of New England's largest law firms and a former client is unenforceable because the firm didn't clearly explain what rights the client would lose in arbitration, Maine's Supreme Judicial Court ruled last month.
Second Circuit defers decision on credit card fee disclosure case until clarification from N.Y. high court
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has sent the question of whether merchants who display credit card fees for customers still comply with state merchant laws to the New York Court of Appeals for certification.
Maryland Judiciary launches new website design with key updates
The Maryland Judiciary is set to unveil its revamped website on January 26, 2018.
Southwest Airlines Co. employees file suit over biometric information
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – Current employees of an airline company allege that their biometric identifiers are collected, captured and stored without informed written consent.
Consumer files suit over alleged non-natural ingredients in Pampers Natural Clean baby wipes
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A San Pedro, California consumer alleges a brand of baby wipes is falsely advertised as being "natural" and actually contains artificial ingredients.
Lawyer: Bill proposed to outlaw mandatory arbitration in sex discrimination disputes 'flawed'
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Several lawmakers have introduced a new bill with the goal of preventing employers from requiring employees to submit to arbitration to resolve sexual harassment and discrimination claims.
Injunctive relief debated as parties in liver detoxifier lawsuit plan for motion to dismiss
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – As a class action lawsuit over an allegedly bogus liver detoxifier, the two sides have written a federal judge about the prospect of injunctive relief.
New York attorney general lauds U.S. District Court's dismissal of state's gun law challenge
NEW YORK —New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is applauding the recent dismissal of a lawsuit by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, which was filed by the Libertarian Party of Erie County and challenged the state's permit laws for pistols.