News from February 2019
OSHA alleges South Florida cafeteria subjected employees to chemical, burn hazards
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A Florida cafeteria is being cited with more than $130,000 in penalties by the federal government for allegedly subjecting its employees to chemical and burn hazards.
Massachusetts attorney general targets human trafficking, wage hour laws
BOSTON — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has filed several bills with the state legislature that address human trafficking, the competitive electric supply market, wage and hour laws, statewide grand juries and protecting bees and other pollinators from insecticides.
New York joins $60 million federal settlement with Walgreens over false Medicaid billing
ALBANY — The state of the New York has joined a $60 million national federal and state civil settlement with Walgreen Co. (Walgreens) that resolves allegations the drug store chain falsely billed Medicaid relating to the company's Prescription Savings Club (PSC) program.
California court reverses motion to quash ruling in wrongful death case over humidifier cleaner
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A California appellate court has directed a lower court to enter a new motion denying a motion to quash service of summons in a wrongful death case over a humidifier cleaner.
Texas SC rules insurance policy covers Anadarko Petroleum's costs of Deepwater Horizon litigation
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) – The Texas Supreme Court has reversed an appellate court's decision in a dispute over insurance coverage related to the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon drilling rig accident.
Court: Salesman was on the job when he was hit while scraping frost off his car
BOISE, Idaho (Legal Newsline) – A salesman injured on his way to work is owed reasonable medical benefits, the Supreme Court of Idaho determined, affirming the ruling from the Industrial Commission on Jan. 29.
Wildgrass Oil and Gas Committee challenges Colorado statute regarding minerals and pooling
DENVER (Legal Newsline) – A committee whose members are mineral owners in a subdivision of Broomfield, Colorado is challenging a state statute regarding pooling and minerals.
Florida man alleges Fitness Time invaded his privacy with marketing texts
MIAMI (Legal Newsline) – A Miami-Dade County, Florida resident alleges a gym operator in the state unlawfully sent him marketing-related text messages.
Libertarian Party of Alabama challenges $34,000 cost for voter registration list
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) – A minor political party in Alabama alleges a state law that provides a voter registration list free of charge to major political parties but not minor ones is discriminatory.
Mindbody stockholder files suit over merger agreement with Vista Equity Partners affiliates
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) – A stockholder in a technology platform for the fitness, body and wellness service industry alleges a statement prepared regarding a merger agreement omits information.
Former Palm Beach social media company accused of selling millions of 'fake followers' OKs settlement
TALLAHASSEE — A social media company formerly based in Palm Beach, Florida, and accused of selling millions of "fake followers" or "bots" to celebrities, professional athletes, comedians and actors across the country, has reached a settlement with the state of Florida.
Giving Children Hope charity allegedly inflated 'gift-in-kind' donations data
SACRAMENTO — A California-based charity that provides international assistance to children has settled allegations by the state of filing false reports that inflated the charity's "Gift-In-Kind" donations in order to mislead the public.
Aetna reaches $935,000 settlement with California over health privacy law violation
SACRAMENTO — Aetna Inc. (Aetna) has reached a $935,000 settlement with the state of California to resolve allegations that the insurance giant revealed the HIV status of nearly 2,000 residents, according to the state's Attorney General's Office.
Multistate coalition files amicus brief to support California counties in action against Chevron
SACRAMENTO — A multistate coalition has filed an amicus brief to support several California counties in their lawsuit against Chevron Corporation, which argues local governments should have the right to hold coal companies accountable for actions that lead to climate change.
L.A. bankruptcy court denies California's request for stay in Verity Health System hospital sale
SACRAMENTO — A Los Angeles bankruptcy court has denied California Attorney General Xavier Becerra's request for a stay in the sale of Verity Health Systems of California's (Verity) St. Louise and O'Connor hospitals in order to ensure the hospitals will honor a previous legal agreement to keep their essential healthcare services operating in certain communities.
19-state coalition urges Department of Education to abandon proposed Title IX changes
SACRAMENTO — A coalition of 19 state attorneys general is urging the federal government to end its proposal to alter Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (Title IX), arguing that the proposed change would harm the law's protection of students from anti-discrimination, sexual harassment and violence.
California, Massachusetts lead coalition urging EPA to issue new 'asbestos reporting rule'
SACRAMENTO — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Massachusetts Attorney Maura Healey are leading a 15-state coalition urging the federal government to issue a new "asbestos reporting rule" that would take away exemptions relating to asbestos in the Chemical Data Reporting Rule.
Texas pathology lab to pay $63.5 million to settle charges of illegal kickbacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Texas pathology lab company has reached a $63.5 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) over alleged illegal kickbacks offered to referring physicians.
Sunoco Pipeline to pay more than $5.4 million over crude oil spills in three states
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sunoco Pipeline LP has agreed to pay more than $5.4 million to settle three lawsuits pertaining to crude oil spills in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma that allege violations of the Clean Water Act as well as state environmental laws.