News from June 2019
Seneca Nation of Indians fights arbitration ruling over New York gaming revenue
BUFFALO, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – The Seneca Nation of Indians is seeking to vacate a final arbitration award issued in April that ordered it to continue making payments to New York per a revenue-sharing agreement.
Government seeks penalties from Genesis Petroleum, others over alleged violation of gas storage tank regulation
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – The owners and/or operators of underground storage tanks for gasoline are alleged to have failed to comply with federal regulation.
Facebook sued by companies that say it favors larger advertisers
BENTON, Ark. (Legal Newsline) – Three Arkansas businesses allege that Facebook favors large marketers over smaller ones when it comes to advertising.
Is Congress' rush to regulate PFAS part of 'hysteria' fed by plaintiffs lawyers?
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – They have a catchy, sinister-sounding nickname and have caught the attention of lawyers and politicians. But what these “forever chemicals” don’t have is a known toxicity level.
At opioid trial, Johnson & Johnson moves to strike Oklahoma witness as 'de facto member of State's legal team'
NORMAN, Okla. (Legal Newsline) - Johnson & Johnson has asked the judge overseeing the first in an expected wave of trials against the opioid industry to strike the testimony of Dr. Andrew Kolodny, a psychiatrist who plays a central role in the State of Oklahoma’s case by linking narcotics marketing to opioid addiction and overdose deaths.
J&J's lawyers note opioids researcher being paid hundreds of thousands for testimony in Oklahoma trial
NORMAN, Okla. (Legal Newsline) – Attorneys defending Johnson & Johnson on Monday fended off accusations their client caused an addiction crisis and shifted attention onto Purdue Pharma, while also noting a plaintiffs expert is being paid upward of $500,000 for his testimony.
Oklahoma's governor is worried AG Hunter won't turn $85M opioid settlement over to treasury
NORMAN, Okla. (Legal Newsline) – Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and two high-ranking lawmakers fear that funds from a recent opioid settlement won't head their way and are asking to intervene, claiming Attorney General Mike Hunter's recent $85 million agreement with Teva Pharmaceutical might violate a new state law.
New England Fat Loss 2 alleged to have sent unwanted telemarketing texts
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) – Two individuals are suing a weight loss company over allegations it sent them unlawful telemarketing text messages.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR: U.s. Department of Labor Awards $2,234,122 to 24 States for Fidelity Bonding Demonstration Grants
U.S. Department of Labor announced the award of $2,234,122 for Fidelity Bonding Demonstration Grants. These grants will enable states to expand their use of fidelity bonds to help persons with criminal records with employment opportunities.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION: Alaska Gold Mine to Pay $690,000 to Settle EEOC Sex Discrimination and Retaliation Lawsuit
Alaska-based Northern Star (Pogo) LLC, formerly known as Sumitomo Metal Mining Pogo, LLC, will pay $690,000 and make substantial changes to settle a sex discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced.
Honolulu and D.C. could soon join global warming-litigation craze
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Government officials in two more areas are believed to be considering suing fossil fuel companies in a bid to force them to pay towards the cost of mitigating the effects of climate change - even though the two biggest rulings in this litigation have been in favor of Big Oil.
Baltimore's lawsuit against fossil fuel companies over climate change remanded to Maryland state court
BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) – Fossil fuel companies can be sued in state court in Maryland after a federal court remanded a case filed by the city of Baltimore over climate change.
Witness list offers a preview of arguments to come in Oklahoma's big opioid trial
NORMAN, Okla. (Legal Newsline) – Not all named witnesses will be called to testify in the two-month-long trial that is beginning its fourth week in Cleveland County Court - a trial that pits the State of Oklahoma against Johnson & Johnson over the abatement of what Oklahoma calls a man-made opioid crisis - but 10 of the more than 160 listed overlap the sides.
Class action lawsuit alleges Citgo's 303 tractor hydraulic fluid exposed equipment to risk of damage
DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) – An Iowa man alleges a brand of tractor hydraulic fluid is misleadingly labeled and has the potential to damage equipment.
Lawsuit says Fisher-Price's Rock 'N Play Sleeper isn't safe
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – Fisher-Price is facing a potential class action lawsuit over its Rock 'N Play Sleeper baby products over allegations they present a risk to babies.
Yankee Candle alleged to have sold consumers' personal information without permission
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) – A Virginia woman alleges she has been subjected to unwanted junk mail and calls as a result of a Massachusetts candle company's decision to sell her personal information.
Investors allege they lost millions after Pennsylvania law firm recommended they invest in Ponzi scheme
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) – A Pennsylvania law firm and one of its partners are alleged to have convinced several Tennessee investors to invest in a Ponzi scheme.
BRADLEY ARANT BOULT CUMMINGS: Bradley Attorney Christine Spinella Davis Elected American Bar Foundation Fellow
Bradley is pleased to announce that Christine Spinella Davis, an attorney in the firm’s Washington office, has been elected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (ABF).
Facebook accused of censoring post about medical marijuana event
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – Facebook is alleged to have censored a post advertising an online summit about medical marijuana and the cannabis industry.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR: U.s. Department of Labor Recovers $81,129 in Back Wages and Damages After Investigation Finds Wage Violations at Alabama Gulf Coast Restaurant
After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Bahama Bob's Beachside Café Inc. – a full-service restaurant based in Orange Beach, Alabama – has paid $81,129 in back wages and liquidated damages to 28 employees for violating overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).