News from October 2018
Florida joins settlement requiring Aetna to divest individual prescription drug plan business
TALLAHASSEE — The state of Florida has joined four other states and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in a settlement requiring Aetna to divest its individual prescription drug plan business to Florida-based WellCare due to anti-competitive concerns regarding the $69 million Aetna/CVS merger.
Florida alleges designer eyewear sales company violated Deceptive, Unfair Trade Practices Act
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division has filed a lawsuit against an online designer eyewear sales company for allegedly violated the state's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
Arizona alleges dental supply company used deceptive practices to force out competitor
PHOENIX — The state of Arizona has filed a lawsuit against a dental supply company for allegedly participating in an anti-competitive conspiracy designed to force out a new, lower-priced competitor.
Baltimore court celebrates re-entry program's fifth graduating class
Baltimore City District Court recently held a ceremony to honor 40 graduates of its District Court Re-Entry Program (DCREP).
Law firm in controversial $300M settlement reveals referral fees in a third of open cases
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Labaton Sucharow revealed it has agreed to pay referral fees to outside lawyers in almost a third of its open lawsuits, responding to prodding from the judge overseeing the scandal-tinged, $300 million State Street Bank & Trust case.
U.S. reaches $2.2 million settlement with company accused of implying links to USCIS
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Defendants in a complaint filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleging they falsely implied their websites were tied to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have agreed to a $2.2 million settlement.
Washington state accuses Jersey Mike's of 'no-poach' clause in franchise contracts
SEATTLE — Washington state has filed a lawsuit against Jersey Mike's restaurant chain for the company's alleged refusal to remove a "no-poach" clause from its franchise contracts that prohibits employees from moving among restaurants in the same corporate chain.
Washington state civil rights resolution of $525,000 reached in case against agricultural company
SPOKANE — A Washington state agricultural company is to pay $525,000 to resolve sexual harassment allegations by its workers and is one of the largest civil rights resolutions in the state's history, according to the state's Attorney General's Office.
Pennsylvania court grants request for records of nation's largest student loan company
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania's Attorney General Josh Shaprio received a legal victory in his office's lawsuit against the nation's largest student loan company, Navient, as a court granted a request for the company to turn over loan records.
New York state settlement leads to reform of manufactured home park rent-to-own practices
NEW YORK — A New York Attorney General's Office industry-wide investigation into the manufactured home park's rent-to-own practices has led to a settlement and reform including from some of the largest manufactured home park owners in the United States.
Litigation funding not subject to Georgia's interest rate laws, state Supreme Court rules
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) - Funding provided to plaintiffs while their lawsuit is pending is not a loan under Georgia law, the state's Supreme Court ruled Monday, and therefore regulations setting maximum interest rates that can be charged won't apply.
Pennsylvania company settles claims of illegally requesting genetic information
INDIANAPOLIS — A Pennsylvania-based company has reached a settlement with the federal government over charges the company requested genetic information from job applicants and employees at its Indiana facility.
EEOC: Missouri contractor fired employee for complaining about racial slurs
ST. LOUIS — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is alleging a Missouri contractor subjected an employee to racial slurs and then transferring and ultimately firing the worker for complaining about the racial discrimination.
Indal Technologies to pay $3.5 million after allegedly selling defective landing systems to Navy
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Indal Technologies has agreed to pay $3.5 million as part of a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) over allegations of selling defective helicopter landing systems.
U.S. settles charges against Heritage Thermal Services for alleged Clean Air Act violations
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Allegations of Clean Air Act violations by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) against Heritage Thermal Services Inc., have reached a proposed settlement, according to the federal government.
FTC: California stem cell therapy clinic falsely alleged it could cure serious diseases
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A California stem cell therapy clinic, which said it could treat serious diseases without any scientific evidence, has settled charges by the federal government.
Food distribution company will pay $3.6 million to settle sex discrimination allegations
CLEVELAND — Cleveland-based Sherwood Food Distributors LLC has agreed to pay $3.6 million and offer 150 jobs to those involved in a class sex discrimination lawsuit filed by the federal government.
Illinois restaurant settles employee's sexual harassment case
CHICAGO — An Illinois company that owns several Italian restaurants in the Chicagoland area has settled allegations by the federal government that it subjected a female employee to sexual harassment and then fired her for complaining about the harassment and also the alleged racial discrimination she witnessed against her co-workers.
ARMSTRONG TEASDALE, LLP: Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Presents Compass Award to Armstrong Teasdale
Armstrong Teasdale, a law firm with offices across the United States, proudly announces that it has earned a Compass Award from the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD).