Uber’s latest hurdle to provide service in Europe, where many cities and countries have banned the ride-sharing service, comes in the form of a criminal investigation by Dutch prosecutors. [More]
INVESTIGATIONS
Dutch Prosecutors Open Criminal Investigation Into Uber Following Violations Of Banned Service
By 4.17.15
Nissan Expands Recall Of Vehicles With Takata Airbags, Includes Some Sentra Models
By 4.17.15
After several months without additional recalls of vehicles with potentially defective Takata-produced airbags, Nissan has opened the gates again, adding some 45,000 sedans to the list of cars equipped with airbags found to spew pieces of shrapnel at passengers and drivers upon deployment. [More]
GAO Report Finds Airplanes With WiFi Connections May Be Vulnerable To Cyber Attacks
By 4.15.15
Just as a report found in early February that the newest models of connected cars aren’t adequately guarded from security and privacy hacks, a new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office found the same issue currently plagues another transportation segment: flying. [More]
NY AG Probing Gap, Target & 11 Other Retailers For Possibly Illegal On-Call Scheduling Practices
By 4.13.15
Over the past several years, companies that employ hourly workers in New York have come under scrutiny for a variety of practices, including not providing reimbursement for uniforms to requiring some work be performed off the clock. Today, the state attorney general’s office began scrutinizing another practice by major retailers: the use of on-call scheduling. [More]
NHTSA Head Considers Reopening Investigation Into Fiery Jeep Crashes Tied To 75 Deaths
By 4.10.15
Following a week in which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closed two investigations without finding a defect or ordering a recall, the agency appears to be poised to reopen a probe into older Jeeps involved in fiery rear-end crashes. [More]
Nine Attorneys General Join “Corinthian 15,” Urge DOE To Provide Student Loan Debt Relief For Wronged Borrowers
By 4.10.15
A group of former and current Corinthian College Inc. students refusing to pay their federal student loans in protest of the government’s support of the crumbling for-profit college chain now have the backing of several top political officeholders afternine attorneys general from across the U.S. sent a letter to the Department of Education asking it to forgive the students’ loan debts. [More]
NHTSA Closes Five-Year Probe Into 1.8M GM Trucks & SUVs With Brake Failure; Doesn’t Order Recall
By 4.9.15
After five years of investigating why brake lines in some 1.8 million older trucks and SUVs have a tendency to fail, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration failed to find a safety defect and plans to close the probe without ordering General Motors to replace the often rusted brake lines. [More]
Following Complaint From Comcast, Ad Board Recommends DirecTV Discontinue Rob Lowe Ads
By 4.7.15
If you’ve been near a TV in the last six months (and don’t fast forward through every commercial break), then you’ve likely seen the quirky DirecTV ads featuring Rob Lowe and a parade of kooky alter-egos. How much longer you’ll see those spots is up for debate after an ad review board, acting on a complaint from Comcast, found many of DirecTV’s claims to be unsubstantiated and recommended the company pull the promotions. [More]
NHTSA Advances Investigation Into Pedal Interference In Nissan Versa & Note, Adds Model Years
By 4.7.15
A years-long investigation into whether or not some 360,000 Nissan Versa and Note vehicles contain a defect that results in delayed brake application and unwanted acceleration gained momentum recently as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s initial evaluation revealed enough issues to upgrade the scope and significance of the probe. [More]
Report: Federal Law Enforcement Poking Around At Herbalife
By 4.6.15
Despite receiving good news from a judge who dismissed a lawsuit against the company recently, it seems Herbalife is still fighting other battles. A new report cites insiders at the company who say federal law enforcement officials have been asking questions at Herbalife, and getting in touch with some members individually. [More]
New York Consumer Agency Opens Investigation Into Four For-Profit Colleges
By 4.3.15
Student dropouts, loans default rates and recruiting tactics have been the cornerstone of many federal and state investigations into for-profit colleges. It appears to be much of the same for four such schools facing probes by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs. [More]
FAA Once Again Fines Southwest Airlines For Maintenance Related Violations
By 4.1.15
For the second time in the last 12 months, Southwest Airlines is facing another fine from the Federal Aviation Administration because of safety issues; this time totaling $328,550. [More]
American Apparel Founder Dov Charney Under Investigation By SEC
By 3.26.15
Any hope founder of American Apparel Dov Charney had of returning to the company may have gone out the window this week, after it was revealed that the Securities and Exchange Commission opened an inquiry into the circumstances leading to his departure. [More]
NHTSA Chief Says Takata More “Forthcoming” With Investigation, Senators Send Letter Urging Cooperation
By 3.13.15
A week after Japanese auto parts maker Takata said it would double its production of replacement airbags and three weeks after U.S. federal regulators began imposing a $14,000 per day fine against the company, the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the company is being more forthcoming with information related to an investigation into millions of defective airbags. [More]
Senators Urge FDA To Investigate Allegations That Purina’s Beneful Dry Kibble Includes Toxins
By 3.12.15
Several weeks after a lawsuit filed in California claimed that thousands of dogs became ill or died after eating Purina’s Beneful kibble, two senators are urging the Food & Drug Administration to open an investigation into the allegations. [More]
NHTSA Adds Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ To Ongoing Door Latch Investigation
By 3.4.15
After receiving notice of additional consumer complaints the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration added thousands of Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles to an ongoing investigation into door latches that may inadvertently open while the car is in motion. [More]
Takata To Double Airbag Replacement Production To 900,000 Kits By September
By 3.3.15
After facing increased scrutiny by federal regulators in recent weeks regarding an investigation into the massive airbag recall and lack of new safety devices, Japanese auto parts maker Takata announced it will double production of replacement airbags in the next six months. [More]
Takata To Be Fined $14K Per Day Until It Cooperates With Airbag Defect Investigation
By 2.20.15
Officials with Japanese auto parts manufacturer Takata Corp. have continuously said they would assist U.S. regulators in their investigation regarding millions of potentially defective airbags that can spew pieces of shrapnel at passengers upon deployment. But the company doesn’t appear to be keeping its word and now faces a $14,000 per day fine until it hands over documents and other data pertinent to the investigation into airbags that have been linked to at least five deaths. [More]
