News from March 2018
Not enough proof that dropped plate at Cheesecake Factory caused woman's eye injuries
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – A woman who claimed a glass shard from a shattered dish injured her eye lost her appeal March 14 in a lawsuit against The Cheesecake Factory.
New Mexico Supreme Court upholds state's Copper Rule after challenge from environmentalists, AG's office
SANTA FE, N.M. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of New Mexico has rejected a challenge to groundwater quality regulations adopted in 2013 known as the Copper Rule.
Federal judge: Cryptocurrencies are commodities subject to regulation
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – A federal judge has ruled that cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are commodities that can be regulated by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Benjamin Moore wants dismissal of class action over Natura paint's Green Promise
TACOMA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) – Benjamin Moore and Co. has filed a motion to dismiss a class action suit that claims the company is falsely advertising its Natura paint as being free of emissions and toxins.
Maker of Himalayan Glow lamps seeks dismissal of class action
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – A New York man suing a manufacturer over allegations of breach of implied warranty, fraud, negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment is fighting a motion to dismiss his case.
Georgia Supreme Court orders retrial in $22 million medical malpractice case
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) – The Georgia Supreme Court on March 5 reversed a decision of the Georgia Court of Appeals and ordered a retrial in a medical malpractice and negligence lawsuit over the death of a patient.
Chevron says climate change lawsuit `not viable' as it participates in judge's science seminar
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - Five of the world’s largest oil and gas producers filed a motion to dismiss a climate change lawsuit against them by the cities of Oakland and San Francisco even as they prepared to deliver an unusual “tutorial” on climate science to the federal judge overseeing the case.
New Jersey attorney general joins amicus briefs in LGBT discrimination federal lawsuits
TRENTON — New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal has joined amicus briefs in two federal lawsuits pertaining to LGBT discrimination, including Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which is currently pending before the U.S Supreme Court.
New York, Colorado lead opposition to legislation restricting oversight of student loan fraud
NEW YORK — New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has joined Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman in leading a group of 30 attorneys generals to oppose legislation aimed at obstructing states from preventing and fighting student loan servicing fraud.
CGL Facility Management reaches $750,000 agreement in Mississippi prison bribery suit
JACKSON — CGL Facility Management, LLC has reached a $750,000 agreement with the state of Mississippi as part of a fourth settlement in a Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) prison bribery scandal lawsuit.
Adobe Carpet Cleaning to pay $1 million, banned from telemarketing for 6 years
PHOENIX — Adobe Carpet Cleaning LLC has agreed to pay $1 million in civil penalties and is banned from marketing calls for six years as part of a recent consent judgment reached with Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich.
California attorney general comments on decision to allow state to intervene in chlorpyrifos case
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced March 6 that he has issued a statement following a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to allow California to intervene in a federal lawsuit involving the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
California joins coalition urging Supreme Court to reject 'physical presence' rule for retailers
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced March 7 that he has joined a bipartisan coalition of 44 attorneys general urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reject its “physical presence” rule, which harms a state’s ability to collect taxes from out-of-state businesses that sell products to consumers in-state.
Life after the Chicago Bears: Ex-players have collected $12.8M in Workers' Comp since 2000
Former Bears running back Matt Forte racked up $43 million in pay before retiring after the 2017-18 season at age 32 because of knee injuries. Now, Forte is trying to get money for those injuries through the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act.
Kona beer class action not proceeding as plaintiffs initially visualized
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Late last year, a California court, after dismissing some claims, allowed class action plaintiff Theodore Broomfield to move forward with an amended complaint regarding a line of beer and alleged false advertising.
Bass Pro Outdoor World alleged to have failed to stock sufficient quantities of rod/reel combo during sale
KANSAS CITY (Legal Newsline) – Two consumers allege one of the nation's largest retailers of fishing products failed to stock its stores with adequate quantities of a rod and reel combo on sale during an event.
Venmo user alleges functions of app were falsely advertised
SACRAMENTO (Legal Newsline) – A Los Angeles County man alleges he felt "ripped off and cheated" for using a mobile digital wallet app that was different than what a company represented.
Asbestos report shows St. Clair County taking spot on list of 'top 10' jurisdictions; 96 percent are lung cancer cases
While the number of new asbestos cases in hotspot jurisdictions across the country is declining overall - and in all types of diseases - the docket in St. Clair County is surging almost exclusively with lung cancer cases.
BP, Shell, Sunoco OK $196.5 settlements for New jersey groundwater contamination
TRENTON, N.J. — Three major petroleum companies, Sunoco, Inc., BP, and Shell Oil Company, have reached $196.5 million in settlements with New Jersey for alleged damage to the state's environment and natural resources.
Massachusetts attorney general considers legal action to fight offshore drilling plans
BOSTON — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is opposing the Trump administration's and the Department of Interior's proposal of offshore oil and gas drilling along the coast of the state and is threatening legal actions in an effort to fight the proposed drilling.