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Wednesday, October 15 2014 |
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Red Bull energy drink company recently agreed to a settlement in a class action lawsuit accusing the beverage maker of false advertising because its slogan "Red Bull Gives You Wings" is inaccurate.
According to news reports, Red Bull agreed to pay consumers to settle the lawsuit filed in 2013 in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York by Red Bull drinker Benjamin Careathers. In the class-action suit, Careathers alleged the energy drink did not meet the company's claim of boosting performance and reaction speed.
“Such deceptive conduct and practices mean that [Red Bull’s] advertising and marketing is not just ‘puffery,’ but is instead deceptive and fraudulent and is therefore actionable,” the suit says.
If the $13 million settlement is approved at a final hearing next spring, anyone who purchased at least one can of Red Bull between January 1, 2002, and October 3, 2014, will be eligible to receive either $10 cash or $15 worth of Red Bull products; no proof of purchase will be required.
"Red Bull denies any and all wrongdoing or liability and maintains that its marketing and labeling have always been entirely truthful and accurate," legal documents state.
—Source: Huffingtonpost.com |
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Tuesday, October 07 2014 |
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A group of law school graduates are suing a Florida software company claiming they experienced stress and anxiety when the computer program through which they were to submit their bar exams online malfunctioned.
ExamSoft Worldwide Inc. apologized for the snafu and said deadlines in all states had been extended. Nonetheless, five law students who say they experienced stress over whether their exams uploaded say it wasn't fair and that's why they are suing.
“You spend two months preparing for the exam, it’s grueling,” Catherine Booher, one of five students suing the company, told news sources. “You relearn everything you learn in law school.”
The problem even triggered two hashtags on social media: #Barmageddon and #Bargazhi.
It's not clear how many exam-takers were affected by the malfunction. The North Carolina Board of Law Examiners confirmed that everyone who took the July exam in North Carolina successfully uploaded their answers.
“The delay in processing did not relate to, or impact, answer content, and we are therefore very confident in the integrity of your state submissions,” a statement from ExamSoft reads. “To accommodate for the delays, we worked with state jurisdictions to extend your upload deadlines as needed and tried our best to communicate those extensions.”
“I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that they’re not issuing refunds,” Booher said, noting the software cost her $125.
—Source: abcnews.com |
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Tuesday, September 30 2014 |
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An author is seeking $250 million in damages from Disney, claiming the $1 billion box office animated hit film "Frozen" was plagiarized from her book.
In her lawsuit against entertainment giant Disney, author Isabella Tanikumi -- who also goes by L. Amy Gonzalez -- lists 18 "Frozen" elements that are similar to those included in her 2010 autobiography, "Living My Truth," including a story of two sisters, a village, betrayal, open doors/gates, and a "moon setting." In addition to monetary damages, the lawsuit seeks to have Disney "cease and desist from any and all sales, distribution and marketing of 'Frozen' in any media format."
"Ms. Tanikumi is a very private individual and does not wish to be interviewed at this time," Tanikumi's attorney, William T. Anastasio told news sources. "As the case moves through the courts, I am sure more information will become available concerning her claims."
Disney claims the animated blockbuster is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Snow Queen." When asked for comment, a Disney spokeswoman responded, "This is beyond ridiculous, she needs to let it go."
—Source: money.cnn.com |
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Wednesday, September 24 2014 |
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A Manatee County (Florida) mother is criticizing her local school district for shortening recess time for elementary school students.
According to news reports, the mother, who happens to be an estate lawyer, is considering a lawsuit after her third grader came home from school "stressed and upset" because she did not have recess. The mother plans to bring a motion before the school board to restore recess time in all elementary schools.
The school district maintains that all students are getting the required amount of time for physical activity each week, but acknowledges that recess time may have been shortened if the students are getting more physical education time. The mother counters that parents were never told about a plan to reduce recess time.
—Source: The Bradenton Herald (FL) |
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Thursday, September 18 2014 |
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An attorney who works for the IRS' professional conduct office – the watchdog charged with ensuring that all tax professionals "adhere to professional standards and follow the law" – may lose her law license as a result of unethical behavior.
Takisha McGee, a section manager in the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility has been accused of professional misconduct stemming from a personal injury case she worked prior to joining the tax agency. According to news reports, McGee allegedly lied to a court-appointed board and hid money from a settlement that was supposed to go to two medical providers who treated her client.
Ironically, McGee, who may lose her law license over the charge, recently gave a speech to the Florida bar titled, "When your license to practice before the IRS is on the line.”
While records on the recommended disbarment are already public, an IRS spokesman cited privacy rules in saying the agency was unlikely to comment.
McGee called the disbarment recommendation the result of a “one-time mistake,” and noted that her current situation gives her a better understanding of the experiences of professionals facing disbarment or suspension proceedings.
—Source: The Washington Times |
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