Consumer Law

Collecting customer ZIP codes violates state privacy law, Massachusetts high court rules

Massachusetts’ top court has ruled that consumers whose ZIP codes are retained by retailers in the state can sue for a violation of state privacy law. The decision issued Monday by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court paves the way for a would-be class action against Michaels Stores, the Patriot Ledger…

Mar 13, 2013 11:15 AM CDT

Judge lifts gag order regulating lawyer’s Facebook posts

After civil rights groups went to bat on his behalf, a Michigan lawyer is once again free to use his Facebook page to post about class action litigation over chicken described as halal that was served at a local fast-food restaurant outlet. Dearborn attorney Majed Moughni, who was not directly…

Mar 12, 2013 8:37 PM CDT

250 lawyers and staffers told to clear desks and go home, as regulators ‘intervene’ at law firm

Some 250 lawyers and staff were told to clear their desks Monday and go home as regulators “intervened” in the operation of a British law firm. The Solicitors Regulation Authority said it acted at Blakemores Solicitors, which has offices in Birmingham and Leamington, to protect the interests of the firm’s…

Mar 12, 2013 4:46 PM CDT

Judge nixes NYC ban on big, sugary drink sales, calling it ‘arbitrary and capricious’

A state-court judge has struck down a New York City program that was to go into effect on Tuesday and would have banned some Big Apple businesses, including restaurants and theaters, from selling sugary drinks like soda pop in supersize containers. In a blow to the administration of Mayor Michael…

Mar 11, 2013 7:53 PM CDT

Maker of Budweiser takes out ads defending its beer from lawsuit claims

The maker of Budweiser is fighting lawsuit claims with full-page ads published in 10 newspapers on Sunday. Suits filed in seven states by California lawyer Josh Boxer claim 10 Anheuser-Busch alcoholic beverages are watered down, reducing the alcohol content below the amount stated on the label. The ads picture a…

Mar 4, 2013 12:31 PM CST

Student debtor who lost fair debt case loses again in Supreme Court

Corrected: A collection agency that wins dismissal of a federal fair debt collection case can collect costs without a showing of bad faith or harassment by the plaintiff, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in a 7-2 decision. The decision is a loss for student debtor Olivea Marx, who had…

Feb 26, 2013 5:46 PM CST

Cruise ship fires occur with ‘alarming frequency,’ maritime lawyer says

The fire that left Carnival cruise ship passengers without air conditioning and flushable toilets isn’t as unusual as some cruise lines would have you believe, according to a maritime lawyer who has sued cruise lines. Writing for CNN Opinion, lawyer James Walker says more than 10 cruise ship fires have…

Feb 15, 2013 11:30 AM CST

Russia to ban US pork, beef over growth drug residues

Russia has issued a ban of U.S. pork and beef imports starting this month over concerns about the use of a controversial drug that boosts growth and leanness in livestock. However, U.S. officials have suggested that the ban is politically motivated as the announcement came hours after the U.S. Senate’s…

Feb 13, 2013 10:46 PM CST

Lawyer ordered to delete Facebook posts involving McDonald’s settlement

Updated: A Michigan judge has ordered a lawyer to take down Facebook posts concerning a settlement by McDonald’s concerning its halal food offerings. The order also required Dearborn attorney Majed Moughni to post a copy of the actual settlement in a class action against McDonald’s and provide the court with…

Feb 13, 2013 4:23 PM CST

‘Million Miler’ lawsuit against airline is allowed to proceed

A lawsuit claiming United Continental Holdings breached a contract with high-mileage frequent flier customers has gotten the green light. U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber of Chicago ruled last week that United customer George Lagen could pursue his case over reduced benefits for customers with “Million Miler” status, Reuters reports. Lagen’s…

Feb 5, 2013 5:40 PM CST

‘Persistently unclear’ Skype privacy rules need clarification, Web user groups tell Microsoft

In an open letter to Microsoft and Skype leaders that went up on the Internet on Thursday, advocacy groups call for increased disclosure about the security features and privacy rules that apply to Skype. The letter says the popular phone service, which allows very low-cost international calls and video-conferencing to…

Jan 25, 2013 5:15 PM CST

Subway agrees size does matter, says ‘footlong’ sandwiches should be 12 inches

After Internet complaints and at least two lawsuits contending that its “footlong” sandwiches don’t measure up to their billing, Subway issued a statement Thursday saying that the company will work harder to ensure that all of the chain’s 1-foot products are actually 12 inches long. While declining to comment specifically…

Jan 24, 2013 8:38 PM CST

Attention Instagrammers: Some restaurants ban diners from taking photos of their food

For those who document their daily lives on the Internet, food is no exception. But a proliferation of flash photos and distracting picture-takers (some even stand on their chairs to get a good angle on a dish) has prompted some high-end restaurants to adopt a no-photo rule. Others, trying to…

Jan 24, 2013 6:00 PM CST

NAACP sides with soft-drink industry in challenge to NY ban on large sugary sodas

Does New York’s ban on the sale of large sugary soft drinks harm minorities? The answer is yes, according to an amicus brief by the New York chapter of the NAACP. The brief argues that the planned ban would hurt minority-owned small businesses and reduce “freedom of choice in low-income…

Jan 24, 2013 3:38 PM CST

Subway suit says ‘footlong’ sandwiches don’t measure up

A viral Facebook post that purportedly shows a Subway “footlong” sandwich doesn’t measure up to its 12-inch billing has created new problems for the national chain. Two men in New Jersey have filed suit over the issue, seeking damages and a change in practices in the Tuesday filing. And the…

Jan 23, 2013 7:35 PM CST