Back in 2015, we shared the news that people who had recently purchased cans of Starkist tuna could file claims in a class action lawsuit against the company that alleged the company deliberately under-filled tuna cans. Those consumers still don’t have their payments, which were to be either checks or vouchers for free tuna. [More]
lawsuits
Jury Awards Burglary Victim $1.3M After Insurance Company Rejects $134K Water Damage Claim
By 4.3.17
It’s upsetting enough to have strangers break into your house and steal a bunch of your stuff, but one California homeowner also had to deal with more than a hundred thousand dollars’ worth of water damage caused when burglars filled up the bathtub and left the tap on. But when his insurance company wouldn’t fork over the cash to cover the damages, he took his claim to court. [More]
States Sue Trump Administration For Delaying Energy Efficiency Standards On Multiple Products
By 4.3.17 — Updated: 5.9.17
Since January, the Trump administration has twice delayed new energy efficiency standards for ceiling fans, and has not published the finalized efficiency standards for a number of other products like air compressors, backup power supplies, and portable air conditioners. Now, two separate lawsuits are asking a court to intervene and put an end to these delays. [More]
Wells Fargo Still Has A Lot Of Fake Account Fiasco Investigations To Deal With
By 3.31.17
Wells Fargo may believe that its recently announced $110 million settlement will put an end to the many federal lawsuits over the bank’s fake account fiasco, but that may be wishful thinking. In fact, the financial institution is still party to nearly a dozen investigations and lawsuits. [More]
Prepare For Deluge Of Fax Spam On Machines You Haven’t Used Since 2004
By 3.31.17
In 2005, just about the time many of us were finally giving up on fax machines, the ever-hip Congress passed the Junk Fax Prevention Act, severely restricting the use of fax machines for advertising purposes. However, a federal appeals court ruled today — when there are college students who don’t even know what a fax is — that the FCC overstepped its authority in writing the actual regulations tied to this law. [More]
Dunkin’ Donuts Franchises Settle Lawsuits Over Butter Substitute
By 3.31.17 — Updated: 4.5.17
When you ask for a buttered bagel, what do you mean? Do you want a spread made from the milk of cows, or would you be fine with any spreadable facsimile thereof? A man who wanted the former sued Dunkin’ Donuts last year after getting a bagel that was slathered in butter substitute, and will now receive a settlement in the case. [More]
After 8 Years And $7.5 Million In Sanctions, Judge Throws Out Lawsuit Over Delta, AirTran Checked Bag Fees
By 3.31.17
Nearly a decade has passed since travelers sued Delta Air Lines and AirTran, alleging that the carriers colluded in creating their fees for checked bags. In that time, the AirTran has vanished and Delta had to pay millions of dollars in sanctions for being a stubborn defendant. Now, less than a year after the court finally granted class-action status in the case, it has been dismissed. [More]
Supreme Court: State’s Restriction On Credit Card Surcharges Is A Free Speech Regulation
By 3.29.17
The U.S. Supreme Court has determined that a New York state law barring merchants from adding credit card surcharges is indeed a state regulation on businesses’ free expression. However, whether that law goes so far as to violate the First Amendment is a matter still to be decided. [More]
Man Says Leaking Waffle House Grease Is Damaging His Actual House
By 3.29.17
While living next door to a breakfast restaurant might sound like a dream come true to some, the neighbor of a Waffle House in Alabama says it was more of a nightmare, claiming grease and sewage from the business has leaked onto his property and damaged his home. [More]
Wells Fargo Says It Will Pay $110 Million To Settle Fake Account Fiasco Class Action
By 3.29.17 — Updated: 3.31.17
Wells Fargo is currently facing — and trying to get out of — a dozen class action lawsuits involving a fake account fiasco that saw bank employees opening millions of bogus, unauthorized accounts in customers’ names. Now Wells says it has agreed to settle the oldest of those disputes, and that the settlement could close the books on the other complaints. [More]
Class Action Over The Meaning Of ‘Sale’ Means Harbor Freight Customers Get Refunds
By 3.24.17 — Updated: 5.9.17
Have you shopped at any of discount tool chain Harbor Freight’s 750 U.S. stores recently? A recent class action settlement over the chain’s understanding of how a “sale” works means that customers can get refunds that range from 10% to 30% of whatever they spent at the store, or a $10 gift card. [More]
Supreme Court’s Ruling In Cheerleader Uniform Case Could Lead To Higher Prices For Clothing, Furniture
By 3.22.17
This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in a case that involves cheerleader uniforms, but which some critics believe could eventually result in higher prices for everything from clothing to furniture to housewares. [More]
Judge Says Google Must Do More To Disclose That It Intercepts, Scans Emails From Non-Gmail Users
By 3.21.17
Google recently tried to settle a class-action lawsuit with non-Gmail users who sued because their emails to Gmail users were being intercepted and scanned for the purposes of providing targeted advertising to the recipient. However, that settlement has been rejected by the judge in the case, who says it doesn’t go far enough in requiring proper disclosures from Google about this invasive practice. [More]
Florida’s Definition Of Skim Milk As “Imitation Milk Product” Ruled Unconstitutional
By 3.20.17
The long-running legal battle over Florida’s definition of “skim milk” may have finally come to an end today, with a federal appeals court ruling that it’s unconstitutional for the state to require that unfortified skim milk be labeled “imitation milk product.” [More]
Costco, Titleist Go To War Over Golf Balls
By 3.20.17
It’s no secret that golfers like Costco’s new, relatively affordable golf balls, but the folks at Titleist — whose balls sell for several times what Costco charges — have informally accused the warehouse retailer of both patent infringement and false advertising. [More]
State Says “Drinkable Sunscreen” Is “Flat-Out Dangerous”
By 3.17.17 — Updated: 5.10.17
Instead of slathering yourself with messy sunscreen, wouldn’t it be a lot easier if you could just drink a magic potion that would protect you from harmful UV rays? One product says it can do just that, but the state of Iowa alleges that such claims are not only unproven, but dangerous. [More]
Former Audible Customer Proposes Class Action For “Misleading” Expiring Credits
By 3.14.17
Amazon’s audiobook store/subscription service hybrid, Audible, charges its members a monthly fee, in return for which they get monthly credits. However, customers have learned that while they get to keep their purchased books after canceling a membership, they do not get to keep unused credits. One of them has filed a class action against Amazon over this structure, claiming that the credits are like gift cards. [More]
NYC Suing Verizon For Failing To Make FiOS Available To All Residents
By 3.13.17 — Updated: 5.10.17
The more choices a consumers has, the better. That’s why New York City has been pushing Verizon to finally make good on its promise to offer FiOS to all residents. Months after NYC warned Verizon it was in default of an agreement to do just that, the city is now following through on its threat to sue Verizon for breaking its promise. [More]
