News from 2018
Puget Soundkeeper Alliance alleges city's storm sewer system violates Clean Water Act
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) – A nonprofit in Washington that focuses on protecting Puget Sound from pollution alleges that a city's municipal storm sewer system is discharging pollutants into navigable waters.
Consumer files suit over alleged amount of empty space in C4 Pre-Workout powder container
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) – The Texas manufacturer of a sports nutrition supplement product allegedly packages a powder in a container with non-functional slack-fill.
Animal rights group alleges Kansas 'Ag-Gag' law is unconstitutional
KANSAS CITY (Legal Newsline) – A national nonprofit animal protection organization and other nonprofits allege a Kansas law violates their constitutionally protected speech on a matter of "significant public concern."
Cato Corporation reaches $3.5 million settlement with EEOC over discrimination charges
WASHINGTON — North Carolina-based The Cato Corporation has agreed to pay $3.5 million to settle claims by the federal government that the women's fashion retailer failed to grant reasonable accommodations to employees who were pregnant or disabled.
Nebraska ticket seller settles allegations of deceptive sales practices
LINCOLN — A Nebraska ticket reseller accused of deceiving customers with its sales practices has reached a settlement with the state, according to the Nebraska Attorney General's Office.
EmblemHealth settles allegations it unlawfully denied claims for gender reassignment procedures
ALBANY — EmblemHealth has reached a $250,000 settlement with the state of New York over charges the health insurance provider's denial of claims for gender reassignment surgery was unlawful.
3 South Carolina restaurants to pay back wages to settle alleged overtime violation
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina has ordered three South Carolina restaurants to pay 68 employees back wages and damages to settle claims by the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping violations.
Consumer alleges valsartan-containing medications are contaminated, unfit for human consumption
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – A Levittown, New York alleges a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure was contaminated.
AriseBank former executives to pay $2.7 million for alleged cryptocurrency scam
WASHINGTON, D.C. — AriseBank's former CEO and COO will pay a $2.7 million settlement to resolve charges by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of engaging in a initial coin offering (ICO) scam, according to the federal agency.
Nexstar reaches settlement over alleged price-setting interference
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nexstar Media Group Inc., has reached a settlement with the federal government over charges the company illegally exchanged "revenue pacing information" in order to predict competitors' advertising prices that affected competitive price setting, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
U.S. intervenes in whistleblower case alleging false submissions to Medicare Advantage
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The federal government is intervening in a whistleblower lawsuit against Sutter Health LLC and its affiliate Palo Alto Medical Foundation, alleging the health care providers intentionally submitted false patient information to the Medicare Advantage program in order to receive higher payments.
N.Y. Subway franchise owner settles charges of manager offering teenage girls jobs for sex
NEW YORK — The owner/operator of several upstate New York Subway franchises has settled a lawsuit filed by a federal agency alleging one of its former managers texted teenage girls job offers in exchange for sex.
Goodwill Industries settles allegations of altering employee time records to avoid paying overtime
SAVANNAH, Ga. — Georgia-based Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire Inc., will pay more than $100,000 in back wages to settle claims by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that the thrift store chain manipulated employee time records.
Judge approves $250 million State Farm settlement; Says plaintiffs likely would not have prevailed at trial
EAST ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge David Herndon, who designated Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Lloyd Karmeier as a hostile witness for a trial accusing him of corruption, now admits jurors might have trusted him.
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION: Draper Development LLC to Pay $80,000 to Settle EEOC Sexual Harassment Suit
Draper Development LLC, the owner-operator of over a dozen Subway franchises in the Albany and Schenectady area, will pay $80,000 and take other steps to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit.
POLSINELLI PAC: Polsinelli Ranks Among the Top 30 Law Firms Nationwide for Client Service Excellence
Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli announces its position on the 2019 Client Service A-Team Report by BTI Consulting Group.
SCHIFF HARDIN: Schiff Hardin Named to 2019 BTI Client Service A-Team
Schiff Hardin has been recognized in the 2019 BTI Client Service A-Team, a data-driven ranking of law firms named by clients as consistently delivering superior levels of client service.
Opioid plaintiffs: A small percentage of pill shipments were 'suspicious.' Or maybe it's nearly all of them
CLEVELAND (Legal Newsline) - Forced to identify opioid prescriptions they say were “suspicious” and never should have been shipped, Ohio cities and counties came up with a rough estimate. Very rough.
Maryland Judiciary announces website maintenance on December 14
The Maryland Judiciary has announced scheduled website maintenance set to occur on Friday, December 14.
Passenger alleges first Viking River Cruises ship failed to move, second struck bridge
BALTIMORE, Md. (Legal Newsline) – A Maryland man is seeking damages from California cruise line after his ship failed to sail and the replacement ship struck a bridge.