Advertising Law

Soccer great Pele sues Samsung for $30M, using same attorney as Michael Jordan

Pele has filed a $30 million lawsuit against Samsung, contending that the electronics manufacturer improperly used a lookalike in an ad for a television set last year that ran in the New York Times. Although the name of the Brazilian soccer great isn’t mentioned, a partial face shot of a…

Mar 29, 2016 4:10 PM CDT

Retailer must make website accessible to visually impaired and pay plaintiff legal fees, judge rules

In what a lawyer for the plaintiff is calling a landmark decision, a California judge has ordered a luggage retailer to make its website accessible to those who are visually impaired. Bag’n Baggage must also pay $4,000 plus attorney’s fees for plaintiff Edward Davis, which are expected to top $100,000,…

Mar 25, 2016 4:20 PM CDT

ABA urges California governor to grant ‘executive reprieve’ to convicted murderer

Supporting a clemency petition for a man convicted of murdering a California couple, one of their children and a visiting child in 1983, the president of the American Bar Association is urging the state’s governor to grant an “executive reprieve” until his guilt or innocence can be determined. Although Kevin…

Mar 16, 2016 2:30 PM CDT

Suit alleging fraud by Trump University isn’t time-barred, New York appeals court rules

A lawsuit filed by New York’s attorney general seeking restitution for Trump University students because of the school’s alleged fraudulent practices may proceed as a result of a ruling on Tuesday. New York’s Appellate Division, First Department, ruled that the statute of limitations does not bar the fraud suit by…

Mar 1, 2016 2:38 PM CST

Where’s the cheese? Suit says McDonald’s ‘100% real’ mozzarella sticks contain starch

Already on the defensive about claims on social media that some of its new mozzarella sticks are missing the cheese with which they are supposed to be filled, Mcdonald’s Corp. is now facing another cheese complaint from a different group of disgruntled customers. A California man is seeking at least…

Feb 2, 2016 5:45 AM CST

Florida rules prohibiting uncertified lawyers from advertising as specialists are struck down

A federal district court has ruled that a Florida Bar prohibition against individual lawyers and law firms stating on their websites that they are specialists or experts in a practice field without being certified in that field violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The ruling also applies to…

Feb 1, 2016 2:30 AM CST

George Clooney lookalike in video ad sparks legal battle between coffee competitors

A disclaimer on an Israeli Espresso Club video ad featuring a George Clooney lookalike tells viewers he’s not the famous Hollywood actor. However, Nespresso, which uses the real George Clooney in its own advertising for coffee and related products, has sued over the spoof. A Haaretz story provides links to…

Jan 21, 2016 12:55 PM CST

Monster Beverage Corp. settles copyright cases over Beastie Boys tunes

Monster Beverage Corp. has settled on undisclosed terms two related lawsuits that accused the company of using without permission excerpts from five Beastie Boys songs in a 4-minute video promotion of a Canadian snowboarding event, Reuters reports. The iconic hip-hop group, which does not license its music for advertising and…

Jan 15, 2016 2:55 PM CST

Bankruptcy lawyer suspended for ‘screwing banks’ ads

Updated: An Indiana bankruptcy lawyer has been suspended for 30 days for ads that said he has been “screwing banks since 1992.” The Indiana Supreme Court suspended the lawyer, Brent Welke of Indianapolis, in a Jan. 7 order (PDF) noted by the Legal Profession Blog. Welke agreed to remove the…

Jan 13, 2016 6:15 AM CST

Suit accuses Fitbit of unfair practices for inaccurate pulse trackers, late-revealed lawsuit ban

A would-be class action lawsuit filed on Tuesday claims Fitbit engages in unfair trade practices by selling “wildly inaccurate” pulse trackers and informing consumers of a lawsuit ban after they buy the product. The suit, filed in San Francisco federal court, claims Fitbit’s Charge HR and Surge fitness watches, which…

Jan 8, 2016 5:45 AM CST

Justin Bieber ads spray painted on sidewalks draw ire of city attorney

San Francisco city attorney Dennis Herrera is threatening litigation as a result of ads for pop singer Justin Bieber’s new album Purpose that were spray painted on city sidewalks. Herrera wrote a letter (PDF) on Monday to Bieber’s record label and distribution company that condemns the “graffiti vandalism” and expresses…

Dec 29, 2015 2:06 PM CST

Judge tosses consumer suit claiming SeaWorld falsely asserts its whales are well-treated

A federal judge in San Diego has dismissed three combined lawsuits that contended SeaWorld visitors are wrongly lured to the parks as a result of false claims that its orca whales are well-treated. U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo dismissed the suit last week, report the Los Angeles Times, the…

Dec 29, 2015 8:28 AM CST

FDA allows eggless Just Mayo to keep its name as long as labeling changes are made

The Food and Drug Administration is allowing the maker of a sandwich spread to call the product “Just Mayo” even though it doesn’t meet the federal definition for mayonnaise. The FDA gave its approval, but said the maker of Just Mayo, Hampton Creek, must change the product labeling, report the…

Dec 21, 2015 6:50 AM CST

LifeLock agrees to record $100M settlement in FTC order enforcement action

LifeLock has agreed to pay $100 million to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations that the company violated a 2010 court order to secure customers’ information and stop deceptive advertising. The amount is the largest monetary award ever obtained by the FTC in an order enforcement action, according to a press…

Dec 18, 2015 9:58 AM CST

Michael Jordan donates ‘multimillion-dollar’ settlement in advertising case to Chicago charities

After winning a $8.9 million jury verdict earlier this year in a federal lawsuit over unauthorized supermarket advertising, basketball legend Michael Jordan has reached a settlement and donated the proceeds to charity. He settled last month for an undisclosed sum both the suit against Dominick’s and related litigation against Jewel-Osco,…

Dec 16, 2015 1:45 PM CST