Attorneys are investigating claims that Apple’s iPhone 4 suffers from a faulty flex cable that controls the power button on the popular phone rendering unsuitable for its intended use.  There have been wide spread consumer complaints about the power button failure on these phones occurring right after the expiration of the one year warranty period but [...]

Lawyers are investigating violations of California’s Mental Health Parity Act against various insurance companies for denying coverage for autism treatment in children. California’s Mental Health Parity Act which provides the following: • Every health insurance contract that provides hospital, medical, or surgical benefits must also provide coverage for behavioral health treatment (BHT) for pervasive developmental [...]

The investigation focuses on whether Hostess violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, (“WARN”) the WARN Act, with respect to notification of plant closings or mass layoffs to the Company’s employees. Except in certain, limited circumstances, under the WARN Act, employers with 100 or more employees such as Hostess are generally required to provide [...]

The FTC has warned 22 hotel operators that their online reservation sites may violate the law by providing a deceptively low estimate of what consumers can expect to pay for their hotel rooms. The warning letters cited consumer complaints that surfaced at a recent conference the FTC held on “drip pricing,” a pricing technique in [...]

New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman issued subpoenas to nine banks in late August as part of an investigation into alleged manipulation of the London Interbank Offered Rate, or Libor. The subpoenas were sent to Bank of America, Credit Suisse, Societe Generale, Royal Bank of Canada, Rabobank, Norinchukin Bank, Lloyds Banking Group PLC, Bank [...]

New York’s attorney general investigates Pepsi and Monster Beverage  over statements about the ingredients and health value of its products.   The NY AG’s office issued subpoenas to PepsiCo Inc., Monster Beverage Corp. and  Living Essentials LLC, seeking information on the companies’ marketing and advertising practices. The caffeine-heavy, carbonated beverages have become ubiquitous at grocery [...]

Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), it is illegal for companies to contact consumers via automatic dialing systems, artificial or prerecorded voice messages, SMS text messages, and fax machines without their consent. Consumers who successfully pursue lawsuits for violations of the TCPA can be awarded $500 per violation, and as much as $1,500 per [...]

Lawyers are investigating potential class action claims against Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in connection with a scheme to improperly inflate the cost of force-placed hazard insurance. To protect the lenders’ interest in secured property, mortgage loan contracts require the borrower to maintain specified levels of hazard insurance. If the borrower’s coverage lapses, the lender is [...]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration took action against eight California surgical centers and the marketing firm 1-800-GET-THIN LLC, for misleading advertising of the Lap-Band, an FDA-approved device used for weight loss in obese adults. The FDA issued Warning Letters to Bakersfield Surgery Institute Inc.; Beverly Hills Surgery Center; Palmdale Ambulatory Center; Valley Surgical Center; [...]

Ford is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan vehicles equipped with 17 inch steel wheels and built from April 1, 2009, through April 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through November 13, 2010. The wheel studs may fracture, potentially causing a wheel to separate. While driving, multiple stud fractures could [...]