News from January 2018
Settlement reached In EEOC case against Vador Ventures for alleged sex discrimination
WASHINGTON — Vador Ventures, Inc., has reached a $36,461 settlement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for a federal lawsuit alleging the company paid a female employee lower wages than her male counterpart and then retaliated against her.
Adding 'alter ego' claims when suing companies gets risky, following Calif. decision
SANTA ANA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – A defendant has been awarded attorneys’ fees even though summary judgment in the case was awarded to the plaintiff, an Orange County law firm.
Montana Supreme Court upholds denial of ARCO's motion in restoration damage claim
HELENA, Mont. (Legal Newsline) – The Montana Supreme Court has upheld a ruling against Atlantic Richfield Co. in a lawsuit over whether the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) bars a state law claim for restoration damages.
California county files suit against pipeline owners over alleged lack of shutoff system in ruptured pipeline
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A California county alleges an oil spill that occurred two years ago could have been prevented by proper maintenance and care.
J&J Snack Foods Corp. alleged to have mislabeled amount in cup of Luigi's Real Italian Ice
WHITE PLAINS. N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – Two customers allege that containers of Luigi's Real Italian Ice do not contain the amount of product advertised.
Stock purchaser alleges AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. issued inaccurate registration statement
WHITE PLAINS. N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – A purchaser in common stocks of a theatrical exhibition business alleges a registration statement contained untrue statements.
Nonprofit claims 'all-natural' labels on some Bigelow brand teas are false, misleading
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – A nonprofit advocacy group is suing a tea company over allegations the all natural labeling on some of its products is misleading.
Consumer claims Transworld Systems Inc. invaded privacy with collection calls meant for another person
TAMPA, Fla. (Legal Newsline) – A Pennsylvania debt collector is alleged to have invaded a Florida woman's privacy with calls meant for another person.
Man alleges Liberty University Inc. illegally contacted him via phone
SACRAMENTO (Legal Newsline) – A California man alleges a university unlawfully contacted him on his cellphone.
FTC: Telemarketing company to pay $250,000 after misleading consumers during charitable calls
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Jan. 10 that InfoCision Inc., a company that makes calls to consumers on behalf of charitable organizations and is based in Akron, Ohio, will pay $250,000 after allegations of misleading consumers.
FTC: $1.3 million to be reimbursed to consumers victimized by alleged tech support scam
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Jan. 10 that the assets of the operators of an alleged tech scam will be used to reimburse consumers victimized by the scheme.
FTC: Health product company misled consumers about quality of cancer-related products
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Jan. 11 that CellMark Biopharma LLC and its CEO, Derek E. Vest, will settle allegations of making unsupported claims about two health products that the company sold.
New York joins coalition urging Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to examine utility rates
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Jan. 10 that he is urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to be proactive in ensuring public utility companies do not harm consumers while receiving a major windfall. Schneiderman joins other attorneys general, as well as state agencies and consumer advocates, as part of a bipartisan coalition to defend consumers in this issue.
New York attorney general probes propane companies' possible misconduct
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Jan. 9 that his office will examine potential misconduct by propane suppliers operating across the state.
FTC OKs order allowing ACT to acquire Jet-Pep
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Jan. 9 that, following a public comment period, that the agency has approved a final order settling antitrust law violation allegations against Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (ACT), which has been attempting to acquire competitor Jet-Pep Inc.
Lawsuit could determine if companies funding litigation are violating Florida interest rates laws
TAMPA, Fla. (Legal Newsline) – Absent guidance from Florida regulators, a man is taking it upon himself to attempt to show that companies that finance lawsuits charge interest rates in excess of state law.
Ballot initiative would provide $2 billion fund for statewide remediation of wide range of hazards
SACRAMENTO - A ballot initiative to fund a $2 billion bond for statewide remediation of lead paint, mold, asbestos, radon, pests, and other environmental hazards in homes, schools and senior citizen facilities will protect home values and alleviate a state housing crisis, supporters believe.
Del. SC refuses to twist established law on slip-and-falls during storms
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) – The Delaware Supreme Court affirmed a Superior Court decision on Jan. 8 that a gas station owned by Speedway LLC is not liable for a customer’s injuries that he sustained falling on ice while getting gas on its premises during an ice storm.
Sued by those it sued, Rent-a-Center wants class action sent to arbitration
ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) – Rent-A-Center is asking a federal judge to send a class action lawsuit against it to arbitration.
With EEOC's support, pro se litigant's discrimination case against Sysco gets a second look
ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) – An appeals court has instructed a federal court to reconsider the case of a former worker at Sysco who filed a federal lawsuit over allegations of racial discrimination failure to promote, and a hostile environment who initially lost her case because she failed to file her charge of discrimination within 180 days of the alleged discrimination happening.