Class Actions of Interest

Discrimination Class Action Filed Against Ogletree Deakins

A class action lawsuit has been filed by a former Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart PC shareholder who alleges that the law firm systematically pays female attorneys less than men. The lawsuit also alleges that the plaintiff was fired, because she urged other women at the firm to complain about pay inequity and harassment. The suit is filed in state court in California. There is currently a federal gender discrimination class action lawsuit pending

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U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Arbitration For Transportation Workers

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that trucking company New Prime Inc. cannot compel arbitration in a class action alleging it failed to pay independent contractor truck-drivers the proper minimum wage. The Supreme Court found that transportation workers engaged in interstate commerce, including those classified as independent contractors, are exempt from the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”).

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Scotts Miracle-Gro Settles Bird Seed with Pesticide Class Action for $85 Million

Consumers and Scotts Miracle-Gro submitted a motion for preliminary approval of a settlement in California federal court arising out of a class action alleging that the lawn company knowingly sold bird food laced with toxic pesticides. The settlement is for up to $85 million, depending on how many class members file claims. The settlement will fully refund money to any class members with valid proof of purchase or retailer records, and up to $100 per

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Syngenta $1.5 Billion Settlement of GMO Corn Class Action Approved

A $1.5 billion settlement between Syngenta and 650,000 corn producers over the agricultural giant’s genetically modified corn seed was approved. The order from U.S. District Judge John W. Lungstrum noted that the case was “hotly contested,” with the merits of the corn producer claims “thoroughly vetted through litigation” in multiple jurisdictions.

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Experian Settles Data Breach Class Action Brought by T-Mobile Users for $22 Million

Lawyers representing T-Mobile users filed a motion asking for preliminary approval of a $22 million class action settlement in California federal court arising out of a data breach by Experian. The settlement will provide credit monitoring and insurance services, and an additional $11.7 million worth of remedial and enhanced security measures that Experian has taken on as a result of the litigation.

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Motel 6 Settles Discrimination Class Action Relating to ICE for $6.6 Million

Last week, motel chain Motel 6 announced it had settled a class action brought on behalf of Latino motel guests who claimed that Motel 6 unlawfully disclosed their personal information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) agents. The suit was originally filed in January 2018, in Arizona federal court, by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund.

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Discrimination Class Action Against Airbnb in Oregon is Allowed to Proceed

Oregon federal district judge Michael Simon denied a motion to dismiss an Oregon class action lawsuit that alleges Airbnb allows discrimination against black users. The lawsuit contends the vacation rental website, which connects homeowners with travelers looking to rent a room, allows the homeowners to discriminate by requiring would-be guests to register with their full name and a photograph. Since the lawsuit was filed, the company changed the policy to only allow homeowners to see

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Yahoo Settles Data Breach Class Action for $50 Million

Yahoo has agreed to pay $50 million to the approximately 200 million customers whose personal information was compromised in what reportedly was the largest data breach in history. The settlement also provides for credit monitoring services for two years for class members.

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Judge Rejects Arbitration Clause In Tribal Payday Loan Class Action

A Washington federal judge has denied a bid by a fintech firm and a tribal corporation through which the firm ran a payday lending business to force into arbitration a suit over exorbitant interest rates, ruling that arbitration clauses in agreements borrowers signed are invalid. The judge said the unclear loan contract language seems to intend that the tribal law of North Dakota’s Turtle Mountain band of Chippewa Indians should apply — to the exclusion

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Tesla Settles with SEC – Other Suits Remain

In September, the SEC alleged that Elon Musk falsely claimed in a series of tweets on August 7, 2018 that he had lined up funding and support to take Tesla private at $420 per share, with backing from Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund. The announcement boosted Tesla’s stock price about 6 percent to close at $379.57 a share that day, although the price has since fallen 28.4 percent, to $271.78, as of Wednesday evening.

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Transamerica Settles Policyholder Class Action for $195 Million

Transamerica Life Insurance Company has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of policyholders across the United States alleging that Transamerica improperly increased the monthly charges that the company withdrew from the accounts of policyholders who own certain “universal life” insurance policies.

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Antitrust Class Actions Regarding Generic Lidoderm Pain Patch Settle for A Combined Amount Over $270 Million

A California federal judge gave final approval to two settlements of class actions alleging that Teikoku, Endo and Actavis violated antitrust laws by stalling the release of a generic form of the Lidoderm pain patch. One class actin was on behalf of direct purchasers and settled for $166 million. The other was on behalf of end payors and settled for $104.75 million.

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Uber Pays $10 Million to Settle Discrimination Class Action

Five hundred class members who are part of a 2017 class-action suit against Uber alleging pay discrimination and harassment against women and people of color have agreed to settle their dispute with Uber for $10 million. Of that larger group, 56 specifically filed claims alleging sexual harassment or a hostile work environment, and will receive part of a separate $1.9 million payout, an average of $34,000 each.

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