News from May 2018
EPA settles with 2 plastic manufacturers after alleged violation of Clean Water Act
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced May 16 that Modern Concepts Inc. and Double R. Trading Inc., two plastic manufacturers in Southern California, will pay a total of $35,000 for allegations of violating the Clean Water Act.
California attorney general opposes Texas' efforts to repeal Affordable Care Act
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced May 16 that he joined a coalition of 16 attorneys general to intervene in a lawsuit brought forth against the United States by Texas over the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Arizona secures $340,000 from HVAC company for allegedly illegally calling 25,000 consumers
PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) — Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich recently announced that Desert Valley Aire Inc. will pay $340,000 for allegations of consistently calling consumers registered on the “Do Not Call” list.
California urges appeals court to reconsider decision to strike down fiduciary rule
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced May 17 that he has joined the attorneys general of New York and Oregon in urging the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider its decision to deny the states’ motion to intervene in a case regarding Obama-era regulations for financial advisers.
Nevada targets Purdue Pharma for alleged role in opioid epidemic
CARSON CITY, Nev. (Legal Newsline) — Nevada Attorney General Adam Paul Laxalt announced May 15 that his office filed a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma LP – a pharmaceutical company – and its affiliates for allegations of deceptive marketing and contributing to the opioid epidemic.
Marketers of 'insect repellent' candles, perfume sprays settle deception allegations
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced May 3 that Mikey & Momo Inc. and its principals, Michael Fensterstock and Melissa Matarese Fensterstock, will settle allegations of using deceptive advertising to sell purportedly mosquito-repelling perfume sprays and scented candles.
FTC, FDA warn 13 e-cigarettes companies about packaging that resembles kid-friendly items
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced May 1 that, in conjunction with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it has issued a warning letter to 13 companies in the e-cigarette business.
FTC settlers with timeshare sales scammers for $3.4 million
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced May 4 that the operators of Pro Timeshare Resales LLC will surrender $3.4 million worth of assets and be permanently banned from timeshare resale services and telemarketing after a settlement.
FTC settles with mobile phone manufacturer after consumer data privacy concerns
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced April 30 that BLU Products Inc., a mobile phone manufacturer, and co-owner and President Samuel Ohev-Zion, will settle allegations the company allowed a third-party service provider in China to collect detailed personal information about consumers.
FTC: Sound amplifier marketer settles deceptive marketing allegations
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced May 2 that a group of entities based in Florida and their owner will settle allegations of deceptive marketing for their MSA 30X sound amplifier product.
EEOC accuses airport services company of pregnancy discrimination
DETROIT (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit March 27 against Simplicity Ground Services PC, a Detroit company that provides airline-ramp and cargo-handling products and services, for alleged pregnancy discrimination.
With bipartisan support, asbestos transparency bill passes in North Carolina
RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) – North Carolina appears to be the next state to pass legislation targeting asbestos attorneys who attempt to game the compensation system by telling conflicting stories about their clients’ exposures.
Soozie's Doozies cookie company creator alleges she was fraudulently induced into agreement
ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) – An Arkansas woman alleges two Missouri residents fraudulently induced her into executing a purchase agreement regarding her cookie business.
Nonprofits allege contaminated groundwater is entering New Hampshire river from landfill
CONCORD, N.H. (Legal Newsline) – Two nonprofit corporations allege that a landfill in New Hampshire is discharging pollutants into a river.
Financial services companies sue Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over payday loan rule
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) – Two financial service companies are suing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and its acting director over allegations the agency is "virtually eliminating" payday loans.
Former University of Southern California student files suit over gynecologist's allegedly inappropriate contact
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A California woman alleges a gynecologist at a university's student health center had inappropriate physical contact with female patients.
MarkWest to pay $610,000 for alleged Clean Air Act violations
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced April 24 that MarkWest Liberty Midstream Resources LLC and Ohio Gathering Company LLC (MarkWest) will pay $610,000 and perform three supplemental environmental projects (SEPs) after allegations of violating the Clean Air Act and the Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act.
Arkansas Teacher Retirement System alleges Prothena stock was artificially inflated
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) – A retirement system established for the education community in Arkansas alleges it was damaged when stock prices for a biotechnology company fell in April.
Even after eight years, criticisms of American Law Institute's insurance project remain
WASHINGTON – Not everyone is as excited as those who drafted new guidance for judges about its passage.
Op-Ed: Attorneys general as political ambulance chasers: America’s energy policy should be decided by legislation, not litigation
Attorneys general have become ideological ambulance chasers, racing to court to file politically motivated lawsuits seeking to mandate policies too extreme and unpopular to win the support of Congress, state legislatures, or the public.