News from June 2018
As Facebook faces class action, likelihood of other platform companies being sued increases
SACRAMENTO (Legal Newsline) - As Facebook faces a deeply damaging class action suit over its admitted sale of data to third parties, the potential that other social media and tech companies will be hauled before the courts is increasing in likelihood.
L’Oréal alleged to sell defective liquid cosmetic containers
WHITE PLAINS, NY (Legal Newsline) – A beauty products company is alleged to package liquid cosmetics in defective bottles that cannot pump out all the product.
Halo Top Creamery alleged to underfill its pints of ice cream
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) – Two California consumers allege a pint of Halo Top ice cream is not a full pin
Alaska joins 13 other states to defend EPA decision
ANCHORAGE — Alaska, along with 13 other states, has partnered to defend the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recent decision for no additional bonding requirements for hazardous gas release under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).
W. Virginia company ordered to pay $817,902 for alleged FLSA violation
WHEELING. W. Va. — The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia has ordered a Bridgeport company and its owner to pay $817,902 in back wages and damages stemming from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD).
Nationwide Health Advisors alleged to have failed to honor do-not-call request
BROOKLYN, NY (Legal Newsline) – Two New York consumers allege a health insurance plan broker continued to call her for marketing purposes after she asked it to stop.
'Operation Main Street' proves successful in Florida
TALLAHASSEE — An operation aimed at stopping scams which target small businesses led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and other state and federal agencies has resulted in 24 actions.
Consumers claim Tommy Hilfiger outlet store prices are misleading
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) – Two California residents allege that Tommy Hilfiger outlet stores' comparative pricing is false and misleading.
King County Superior Court consent decree orders Phillips to pay $7 million
OLYMPIA — A consent decree recently filed in King County Superior Court requires Philips electronics company to pay $7 million as part of a price fixing lawsuit filed by Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson against Philips and other cathode ray tubes (CRTs) manufacturers which affected millions of Washingtonians.
Illinois, Iowa attorneys general encourage FCC to fight Tribune, Sinclair merger
CHICAGO — Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in an effort to stop the proposed merger of the Tribune Media Company and Sinclair Broadcasting Group Inc., which she alleges will limit consumer choice and diversity.
Customer alleges Immaculate Baking Co. uses deceptive packaging for cake mix
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A California man alleges a brand of cake mix is packaged in a box with more than 50 percent nonfunctional slack-fill.
False advertising claims filed against Lazarus Pharmaceuticals, Cameron Pharmaceuticals over drug
GREENVILLE, S.C. (Legal Newsline) – Two pharmaceutical companies are alleged to have falsely advertised a generic version of a drug used to treat irritable bowel syndr
Massachusetts storm sewer system alleged to not have permit
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) – A nonprofit environmental advocacy organization alleges a storm sewer system in Massachusetts is discharging storm water without authorization.
DiscoverOrg alleges Netsmartz misappropriated trade secrets
TACOMA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) – An information profiling company alleges a New York company used improper means to access its database.
Consumer alleges Comcast opened Xfinity Mobile accounts without authorization
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – An Illinois internet subscriber alleges a global telecommunications conglomerate unlawfully opened mobile accounts for cable and internet customers without their knowledge or consent, subjecting them to fraud.
Customer alleges Petco Animal Supplies Store failed to respond to Shine the Light Law request
LOS ANGELES – A Whittier, California man and customer of a pet supplies store alleges the store failed to respond to his request for information.
Insurers to feel brunt of New Jersey asbestos ruling, while Delaware hits employers on same day
A decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court forces Honeywell’s insurers to pay for thousands of asbestos claims even though the company, through its Bendix unit, continued to make asbestos-containing brake products for more than a decade after it could no longer obtain insurance coverage for such products.
Massachusetts public housing owner liable for fall under Torts Claim Act, high court rules
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) – The Massachusetts Supreme Court affirmed a Superior Court ruling that the managers of a public housing apartment building cannot claim to be pubic employers to sidestep claims under the Torts Claim Act.
Employer can't be ordered to pay for medical marijuana, Maine SC rules; Dissent says workers could be pushed to opioids
The Maine Supreme Court has issued a ruling that a company cannot be required to pay for an injured employee's medical marijuana. The dissenting justices argued that this decision ignores what’s best for the injured worker.
Font in arbitration agreement good enough, despite not being in bold, Colo. SC rules
DENVER (Legal Newsline) – In a June 11 opinion, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that arbitration agreements under the Health Care Availability Act can still be enforced even if they do not strictly follow the statute requirements for the language.