News from October 2018
California management company settles EEOC charges of denying employee medical leave
SAN DIEGO — A California management services company has settled charges by a federal agency of denying an employee medical leave for a disability and then firing her instead of providing a reasonable accommodation.
EEOC: Pennsylvania wood products supplier made unlawful medical inquires to job applicants
PITTSBURGH — A Pennsylvania wood products supplier faces a lawsuit from the federal government for allegedly making unlawful inquiries regarding disability and medical treatments to job applicants.
FTC reaches $63.5 million settlement with marketers of alleged 'get rich with Amazon' scheme
WASHINGTON, D.C. —The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reached a $63.5 million settlement agreement with marketers accused of running a "get rich with Amazon" scheme that caused consumers to lose money and their ability to sell on amazon.com as well as other problems with Amazon stores.
U.S. settles with company over alleged delayed transfers of customer payments to debt buyers
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has reached a settlement with Bluestem Brands Inc., Bluestem Enterprises Inc., and Bluestem Sales Inc., (the Bluestem companies) to resolve allegations of delaying transfers of customer payments to debt buyers.
District of Columbia accuses 3 personal care aides of $85,000 in illegal Medicaid billing
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Three personal care aides are facing lawsuits by the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia regarding allegations of $85,000 in illegal Medicaid billings.
Virginia True's un-permitted land clearing allegedly caused environmental issues
RICHMOND — Virginia's attorney general and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) are suing Virginia True Corporation, for allegedly clearing un-permitted land and other environmental violations near Fones Cliffs.
Oregon, Tesla Energy reach $13 million settlement over false state tax credits allegations
SALEM, Ore. — The state of Oregon has reached a $13 million settlement with Tesla Energy Solutions (formerly SolarCity) and its accounting firm, resolving allegations of receiving more than $10 million in business tax credits (BETC) by submitting false applications to the state's Department of Energy (ODOE).
N.J. Supreme Court ends more than 500 Accutane cases after Daubert ruling
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – More than 500 product liability cases against New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company Hoffman-La Roche over the prescription acne drug Accutane were ended by a state Supreme Court opinion issued earlier this month.
California appeals court upholds USC student's suspension in cheating case
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A superior court judge's ruling that there wasn't enough evidence for a University of Southern California student to be disciplined for allegedly cheating on an exam has been reversed by a state appeals court.
South Dakota Supreme Court affirms city isn't liable in suit filed by cyclist injured at park
PIERRE, S.D. (Legal Newsline) – The South Dakota Supreme Court affirmed Oct. 3 that the city of Sioux Falls is immune from liability in a lawsuit filed by injured cyclist Robert Fischer.
Miss. SC protects Fresenius from having to give privileged docs to AG Hood
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of Mississippi has overturned a chancery court’s order that required a medical company to show privileged documents.
California court: Plaintiffs' arguments lack merit in wage dispute suit against Certified Tire and Service
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) – The California 4th Appellate District Court of Appeal, Division One affirmed a trial court’s judgment in a certified wage and hour class action suit, concluding that the plaintiffs’ arguments lack merit.
New Jersey court affirms dismissal of sexual harassment suit, citing arbitration agreement
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) – The Superior Court of New Jersey’s Appellate Division dismissed a woman’s sexual harassment claims against a former employer, backing a lower court’s ruling that an arbitration agreement is enforceable on Aug. 23.
Law firm to get bigger slice of $18M wrongful death settlement, thanks to Calif. ruling
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A California appeals court agreed that a trial court abused its discretion when it awarded defendants and appellants Herzog, Yuhas, Erlich & Ardell, APC 10 percent of a more than $18 million wrongful death settlement instead of the 40 percent called for in a contingency fee agreement, or the 31 percent requested by the firm itself.
Labor Department division reaches record $304 million in recovered wages for fiscal year
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has reached a record $304 million in recovered wages for fiscal year 2018 and has set a record for it educational outreach events relating to compliance assistance.
Louisiana temporary staffing company to pay $1.1 million for alleged pay violations
BATON ROUGE — A Louisiana-based temporary staffing company will pay more than $1 million in back wages to resolve charges by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that the company violated federal overtime and minimum wage laws for employees involved in post-Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts.
2 South Carolina Beach Bum stores to pay penalty for alleged overtime violations
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — A South Carolina business will pay $63,568 in back wages and liquidated damages to its employees to resolve charges by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of overtime violations.
Labor Department accuses North Carolina landscaping company of visa program wage violations
CHARLOTTE — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has charged a North Carolina landscaping company with H-2B temporary visa program and wage violations.
Machine operator fired for reporting on the job injuries to receive $100,000
MILWAUKEE — A machine operator employed by Wisconsin-based Dura-Fibre LLC has been awarded $100,000 in back wages by U.S. District Court for the Eastern Division of Wisconsin to resolve charges the company fired the employee for reporting injuries to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
