Employment law and consumer protection, explained by the attorneys who litigate it. Straight answers on your rights at work and in the marketplace.
Consumer Rights
Allied Interstate, one of the country’s largest debt collection agencies paid $1.75 million for allegedly making repeated phone calls to collect debts from the wrong person or to collect the wrong amount from debtors. According to the FTC, Allied demanded payment from people even after they were told by the consumer they did not owe the debt. Allied reportedly did nothing to […]
Consumer Rights
Cynthia Castillo, 38, was driving her Ford Explorer on Interstate 15 in Riverside County, California when the tread separated on the left rear tire. The rear end of the Explorer fishtailed, causing it to veer right and off the interstate. The Ford then rolled over several times and struck a tree. Castillo sustained serious injuries in the accident […]
Consumer Rights
Target Corporation, as well as a mechanical door manufacturer, have agreed to pay $7 million to an elderly woman injured when an automatic door at the Target store malfunctioned and knocked her down causing a brain injury. According to court documents, as Plaintiff , Claire Putman as was entering the Target store, the door malfunctioned and closed before […]
Employment Law
Outback Steakhouse must pay $65,000 to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on behalf of an employee with who had suffered a traumatic brain injury. Disability discrimination violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, former Outback Steakhouse server, John Woods was fired […]
Employment Law
Ozarks Electric, an electric cooperative, has been ordered to pay $95,000 to a former employee settle a religious discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC’s suit claims that Ozarks Electric denied the employee a requested day off to attend a Jehovah’s Witness convention and then wrongfully terminated her when she chose to attend the convention rather […]
Consumer Rights
Jou Chau a former LaJolla, California Starbucks barista alleged that Starbucks supervisors were illegally forcing baristas to share tips with them since October 2000. In court, California Superior Court Judge Patricia Y. Cowett ruled that Starbucks must provide restitution, with interest, of over $100 million to approximately 100,000 former and current Starbucks baristas who worked in California stores dating back to October 2000. She also granted […]
Employment Law
American Commercial Security Services was ordered to pay 15,000 security guards $90 million in an unpaid overtime class action lawsuit. According to the lawsuit security guards were required to be “on duty” during rest breaks, in direct violation of California Labor Code sec. 226.7 which states the following: (a) No employer shall require any employee to work duringany meal or rest period mandated […]
Employment Law
If you have witnessed illegal or unsafe conduct in your place of employment, but were afraid to report it to the authorities because you were worried you might lose your job, you should know that there are state and federal laws designed to protect you from retaliation by your employer. For example, the federal law known as “Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002” prohibits […]
Employment Law
Openly gay Los Angeles Police Department officers Linda Gotham and Lynn Whitey, who were both assigned to the Van Nuys division of the L.A.P.D. claimed that on several occasions, their supervisor Sergeant Randy Hoffmaster made vulgar sexual comments and propositions. These allegations were followed by a lawsuit and investigation resulting in $1.25 million payout to avoid a trial. In addition, Sergeant Randy […]
Personal Injury
Marina Rivas was struck by an 18,000 pound tractor-trailer truck driven by J.B. Hunt’s truck driver Jeffrey Gaines, as he ran a red light. The collision caused her vehicle to careen off the road and crash into a pole, destroying the driver’s compartment of the car. As a result of the accident, Rivas suffered a […]
Personal Injury
David Wheeler, 47 was riding his bike across San Francisco’s Lower Great Highway when bus driver, Roy Timmons made a left turn without signaling or stopping at the stop sign. Wheeler was struck and thrown off his bicycle, causing him to hit his head on the asphalt where he sustained a traumatic brain injury that left him with the mental […]
Employment Law
Pacific Health Corporation, the parent company of Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center, Tustin Hospital, Newport Specialty Hospital, Bellflower Medical Center and Anaheim General Hospital were fined $7 million following an investigation into allegations that they had failed to pay employee wages and bounced payroll checks. “Employers have an obligation to pay workers the wages they’ve earned,” […]
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