News from January 2018
Consumer claims Fitness International misleads customers into signing yearlong memberships
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A Florida woman alleges she was misled into purchasing a yearlong gym membership.
Academy of Allergy & Asthma in Primary Care alleges insurers conspired to fix prices
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) – A nonprofit organization consisting of more than 250 member physicians and a company engaged in allergy testing allege that health insurers are conspiring against them.
California attorney seeks declaratory judgment regarding arbitration agreement in discrimination suit
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – A female attorney and nonequity shareholder in a law firm is seeking declaratory judgment regarding her discrimination suit.
Attorney: California's PAGA rulings on standing causing 'uncertainty' for businesses
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – California's Private Attorneys General Act is continuing to cause headaches for businesses as judges in the state attempt to handle lawsuits brought under it.
Fla. judge recommends dismissing much of suit against Tinder, says app never promised to stay free forever
MIAMI (Legal Newsline) – A Florida federal judge has recommended that certain counts of a class action lawsuit against Tinder over allegations of misleading business practices be dismissed.
Businessman sues Fla. House of Representatives to block subpoena over Visit Florida investigation
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) – Businessman Pat Roberts has sued the Florida House of Representatives and House Speaker Richard Corcoran after being served with a subpoena for documents that he says are not relevant to the investigation for which he is the subject.
FTC adjusts maximum civil penalty amounts for violations of 16 legal provisions
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Jan. 23 that it has adjusted the maximum civil penalty dollar amounts for violations of 16 provisions of law the agency enforces.
Pennsylvania alleges funeral home director defrauded elderly citizens who prepaid for own funerals
UNIONTOWN, Pa. (Legal Newsline) — Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Jan. 22 that his office is suing a funeral home director in Fayette County for allegations of stealing $284,393 from senior citizen clients who had pre-paid for their own funerals.
State AGs speak up in Janus case to preserve collection of union fees from non-union workers
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Several friend-of-the-court briefs have now been filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in the lawsuit brought by Mark Janus, an Illinois state government employee who feels union dues should not be taken from his paycheck since he is not a member of a union.
New York head shop must pay $10,000 to resolve alleged illegal drug sales
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Jan. 18 that Kenneth Wayne Hamm must pay $10,000 in penalties and turn over revenue gained from allegedly illegal drug sales.
New York attorney general secures largest penalty for violations of Bottle Bill
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Jan. 19 that North Bergen Beverage of New Jersey will pay $550,000 for allegations of violating New York’s Returnable Container Act, otherwise known as the Bottle Bill.
Phoney Lawsuits: Navient's RICO case against TCPA law firm to continue
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Legal Newsline) – Navient Solutions has successfully fended off a motion to dismiss its racketeering lawsuit against Krohn & Moss and others in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia’s Alexandria Division.
STAR exemption adviser must pay $1.562 million to consumers in fraud case
MINEOLA, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Jan. 22 that STAR Exemption Advisor, YCA Corp. and its business owner Arie Gal have been ordered by a court to deliver full restitution to consumers allegedly victimized by excessive fees.
California joins U.S. Supreme Court case supporting public employee fees in collective bargaining
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced Jan. 19 that he has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in a U.S. Supreme Court case about public employees paying fees for representation during collective bargaining.
Montana applauds Supreme Court decision to allow continuation of WOTUS rule challenges
HELENA, Mont. (Legal Newsline) — Montana Attorney General Tim Fox announced Jan. 22 that he applauds the U.S. Supreme Court decision to allow current legal challenges against the Obama administration’s Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule to continue.
Delaware targets opioid manufacturers, distributors, retailers for roles in epidemic
DOVER, Del. (Legal Newsline) — Delaware Attorney General Matt Denn announced Jan. 19 that his office is suing national opioid manufacturers, distributors and retailers.
Consumers claim Gateway Energy Services Corp. rates are not competitive
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – Two New Jersey consumers have filed a class-action lawsuit against an energy supplier over allegations that its rates do not reflect changes in the energy market and they are paying more for electricity.
New Jersey company claims Zillow made agreements with brokers to conceal Zestimates
CAMDEN, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – A New Jersey limited liability company alleges Zillow conspires with certain real-estate brokers to conceal property estimates.
Universal Protection Services reaches $90,000 settlement for alleged religious discrimination
SAN DIEGO — Universal Protection Services LP, a private security services company, has reached a $90,000 settlement for a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) lawsuit alleging religious discrimination over the firing of a Muslim security guard.
Volvo Group North America settles federal disability discrimination suit
BALTIMORE — Volvo Group North America will pay $70,000 to settle a federal disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for the car dealer's refusal to hire a recovering drug addict who was in a medically supervised treatment program.