News from October 2018
Washington Supreme Court rules employer's payment plan is not a piecework plan under state code in Xerox case
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of the state of Washington has responded no to a question posed by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in a case over employee pay.
N.H. Supreme Court upholds trial court decision in case of 13-year-old stepped on by horse
CONCORD, N.H. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of New Hampshire affirmed a trial court decision that granted immunity from liability to the defendant in a case where a minor was seriously injured in a horseback riding incident.
Lawsuit against taxi company over drunk man's death fails; Driver looked for man after he ran off at stop light
LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) – The Michigan Court of Appeals has upheld a summary disposition decision in the case of a taxi passenger who died of hypothermia after voluntarily leaving the taxi.
D.C. suspends lawyer Steven Donziger after fraud ruling in multibillion-dollar fight against Chevron
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – On Sept. 14, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals suspended attorney Steven R. Donziger from practicing law in Washington, D.C., effective immediately.
New Jersey chiropractic office alleged to have submitted fraudulent charges to GEICO
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – An insurance company is seeking more than $900,000 in reimbursement from a New Jersey chiropractic professional corporation over allegations it submitted fraudulent insurance charges.
Cocrystal Pharma securities owner alleges he was damaged when share prices fell
NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – A clinical stage biotechnology company headquartered in Georgia is alleged to have deceived the investing public and engaged in a scheme to inflate the prices of securities.
New York reaches settlement with online directory to reform attorney rating system
NEW YORK — New York state Attorney General Barbara Underwood has reached an agreement with an online legal directory to reform its attorney rating system and improve its disclosures to consumers.
New York state alleges basketball recruiting business mislead customers
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The state of New York has filed a lawsuit against a high school and post-graduate basketball recruiting business and its principals, alleging they mislead customers with false claims regarding their program and services.
Coalition opposes U.S. government's efforts to limit state's role in oversight of student loan abuse
NEW YORK — A coalition of 16 attorneys general has filed an amicus brief relating to Student Loan Servicing Alliance v. Stephen C. Taylor, et al., in which the attorneys general oppose the federal government's efforts to govern abuses by student loan servicers and limit states' roles in protecting students who are victims of servicer misconduct.
New York investment manager reaches $30 million settlement for tax evasion allegations
NEW YORK - New York-based investment manager Harbinger Capital Partners Offshore Manager LCC (Offshore Manager) has reached a $30 million settlement with the state of New York to resolve allegations the corporation avoided state and New York City taxes.
Missouri attorney general fights to keep duck boat suit from dismissal, transfer to federal court
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley is arguing through court filings that a lawsuit pertaining to a July duck boat accident that killed 17 people, should not be dismissed and should remain in the state's Taney County Circuit Court.
Alternate juror joining in on deliberations is 'harmless' in personal injury case, Colorado Supreme Court rules
DENVER (Legal Newsline) – On Sept.17, the Colorado Supreme Court reversed an appeals court ruling that a trial court erred when it permitted an alternate juror to take part in jury deliberations despite objections.
Florida Supreme Court says appeals court erred when it reversed $4.5 million award over smoking-related death
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of Florida rejected the state's 4th District Court of Appeal’s decision to reverse a multimillion-dollar award for a woman whose mother died of lung cancer.
Illinois Supreme Court says law firm can't collect fees in My Pillow case for work it did itself
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of Illinois has declined a law firm’s request to collect legal fees for work it did itself.
A&T alleged to have called Atlanta woman more than 100 times to collect alleged debt
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) – An Atlanta resident alleges a debt collector harassed her with dozens of calls.
U.S. alleges nationwide shoe retailer subjected former assistant manager to racial discrimination
COLUMBUS — A federal agency alleges nationwide shoe retailer DSW Shoe Warehouse Inc. subjected a former assistant manger to unfair disciplinary action and termination due to race.
EEOC: North Carolina company made improper medical inquiry about employee's disability information
GREENSBORO, N.C. — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is taking legal action against North Carolina-based Loflin Fabrication LLC., for allegedly making an improper medical inquiry and then terminating a employee in violation of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
EEOC alleges Pennsylvania country club fired groundskeeper because of his age
PHILADELPHIA — A Havertown, Pennsylvania, country club faces a lawsuit by the federal government, alleging a longtime groundskeeper was fired because of his age.
EEOC: North Carolina real estate software provider fired employee for receiving opioid treatment
RALEIGH - The federal government is suing a North Carolina real estate closing and title insurance software provider, alleging it fired an employee because he was receiving opioid addiction treatment.
EEOC alleges McDonald's manager touched female employees, showed pornographic images
DALLAS — Female employees at a McDonald's franchise in Muleshoe, Texas, are alleging two male employees physically and verbally harassed them during their employment, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).