News from February 2019
Papa John's has a policy of paying less than minimum wage, drivers say in lawsuit
PADUCAH, Ky. (Legal Newsline) – Three former delivery drivers for a pizza chain filed a putative class action earlier this month claiming they were so poorly paid for using their vehicles for deliveries that they ended up making less than minimum wage.
Honda takes on Mass. city in court over seizure of its alleged property
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Supreme Court's recent unanimous ruling limiting civil asset forfeiture may have bearing on a finance company's similar civil rights lawsuit filed earlier this month against the city of Revere, Massachusetts.
Egyptian food retailer alleges Greater Omaha Packing shipped contaminated beef
OMAHA, Neb. (Legal Newsline) – An Egyptian food retailer is suing a Nebraska-based meat packing company over an alleged email security breach and allegations that it shipped contaminated beef.
Trial lawyers are paying millions to a handful of experts necessary to push their talc cases
A small group of highly paid experts, one of whom recently testified his firm has made $30 million offering mostly pro-plaintiff testimony, are the key ingredient for more than 10,000 lawsuits claiming talcum powder is laced with deadly asbestos, forming the tip of an inverted pyramid upon which the rest of the cases depend.
Global consultant firm reaches $15 million settlement over allegedly insufficient bankruptcy disclosures
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Global consultant firm McKinsey & Company Inc. has reached a $15 million settlement with the federal government to resolve allegations claims of insufficient bankruptcy case disclosures, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
Texas asks U.S. district court to dismiss federal lawsuit challenging Electoral College
AUSTIN — The Texas attorney general is asking the U.S. district court in San Antonio to dismiss a federal lawsuit that is challenging the Electoral College System and the state's "winner-take all" practice for awarding electors.
DoorDash failed to pay all tips to Dashers, class action states
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) – Two DoorDash drivers have filed a class action suit over allegations the on-demand food delivery service did not pay them 100 percent of tips as advertised.
Broker offering high interest credit to veterans settles consumer board charges for $1
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A broker of pension assignments who allegedly violated the Consumer Financial Protection Act by offering high-interest credit to veterans, has settled with the federal government for $1, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Primo Hoagies franchise owner to pay more than $20,000 in back wages for FLSA violations
PHILADELPHIA — A Pennsylvania Primo Hoagies franchise owner has agreed to settle charges by the U.S. Department of Labor that it incorrectly classified some of its employees to avoid paying overtime as well as violating other Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulations.
Florida debt buyer accused of scamming students agrees to forgive debt
BOSTON — A Florida debt buyer that purchased student loans from an online study guide and education provider has agreed to forgive the debt as part of a settlement with the state of Massachusetts that resolves allegations the education provider offered ineffective and expensive study materials to students.
21-state coalition asks consumer board to abandon recent rule changes for regulatory, licensing
ALBANY — A 21-state coalition of attorneys general is asking the federal government to abandon recent proposals that the coalition argues would give financial services companies immunity from certain regulatory and licensing requirements.
U.S. alleges Florida mail order diabetic testing supply company submitted false Medicare claims
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The federal government has joined a lawsuit against a Florida mail order diabetic testing supply company accused of submitting false claims to Medicare and paying kickbacks to Medicare beneficiaries.
6 legal marketing trends for 2019
These marketing trends cover six big trends for legal marketing in 2019 that should be part of your lead generation tactics for your law firm.
Staffing agencies accused of subjecting Latino workers to racial slurs settles with EEOC
BIRMINGHAM — Four related staffing agencies have settled allegations by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that they discriminated against Latino workers who were recruited to work in an Alabama poultry processing plant.
Jacksonville to pay $4.9 million for alleged discriminatory fire department union practices
JACKSONVILLE — The city of Jacksonville will pay $4.9 million as part of a settlement against the Jacksonville Association of Fire Fighters, Local 122, IAFF, alleging it practiced a promotion process that was discriminatory against African-Americans.
Orlando restaurant settles allegations of subjecting bartender to sexual harassment
MIAMI — An Orlando restaurant has reached a settlement with the federal government to resolve allegations of subjecting a bartender to sexual harassment and then firing her due to her complaints about the harassment.
Talc defendant had hoped to challenge jurisdictional rules in Pennsylvania, but just went bankrupt
PITTSBURGH – The outcome of an appeal questioning Pennsylvania's jurisdictional rules is uncertain, as lawsuits alleging talcum powder causes cancer face question marks after one of the main defendants, Imerys Talc America, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week.
The Capri Sun drink pouch is the subject of a new lawsuit
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – The maker of Capri Sun drinks has filed a suit against a Pennsylvania company over allegations it continued to use a trademark-protected drink pouch after an agreement expired.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR: U.S. department of labor investigation results in federal court ordering owner of maryland hotels to pay $163,590 in back wages and liquidated damages to 34 current and former employees
After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland has entered a consent judgment ordering hotel owner and manager Akhilbhai Patel to pay $78,575 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 34 current and former employees at two Edgewood, Maryland locations.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR: U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Hawaii Trucking Company Paying $59,888 to 12 Employees for Wage Violations
After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Edwin De Luz Trucking & Gravel LLC – a trucking company based in Waimea, Hawaii – has paid $59,888 in back wages and liquidated damages to 12 employees for violating overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).