Updates

February 3, 2014 In Updates

Court Says Scammed Customers Cannot Be Forced into Arbitration

By Aidan O’SheaCommunications Specialist In a case regarding a car dealership that misrepresented and marked up a fee in its contracts with customers, the Florida First District Court of Appeal has now written a thorough opinion outlining the reasons why those customers taking part in a class…

January 27, 2014 In Updates

U.S. Sees Sufficient Evidence in Pine Bush Anti-Semitic Bullying Case

By Catherine Behan, Public Justice The United States filed a brief in federal court on Friday night saying the evidence in Public Justice’s T.E. v Pine Bush Central School District bullying case “is sufficient for a jury to find that the district failed to respond…

December 19, 2013 In Updates

ERISA benefits plans may shorten limitations period for federal claims, SCOTUS holds

Public Justice argued on behalf of the beneficiary By Sarah Jones ERISA does not prohibit benefits plans from starting the clock running on an employee’s benefits lawsuit before that lawsuit could be filed in court, the U.S. Supreme Court held this week, departing from…

December 12, 2013 In Updates

Debt-relief scammers can’t use arbitration clause to avoid victim’s lawsuit, Ninth Circuit affirms

By Sarah Jones, Public Justice Unscrupulous debt-relief companies that did not actually provide any services to their customers cannot use an arbitration clause to prevent their customers from suing in court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held today, affirming the lower…

October 11, 2013 In Updates

Public Justice to Argue in Supreme Court Against ERISA Statue of Limitations Injustice

Public Justice will argue before the Supreme Court next week on behalf of a disabled former Wal-Mart employee who was denied disability benefits, yet unable to file a lawsuit challenging that denial because of a catch-22 in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)…

July 25, 2013 In Updates

Champion of Justice & TLOY Award Winners Honored in San Francisco

At the Public Justice Foundation’s 31st Annual Gala & Awards Dinner in San Francisco, Alan R. Brayton won the Champion of Justice Award, and Matthew Coyte and Jack Jacks were awarded the 2013 Trial Lawyers of the Year Award. As Executive Director Arthur Bryant said…

June 27, 2013 In Updates

Supreme Court Grants Big Pharma Co. Immunity for Defectively Designed Drug

Today, ruling 5 to 4, the U.S. Supreme Court dramatically limited generic drug companies’ liability for manufacturing defectively designed drugs. The case is Mutual Pharmaceutical Co., Inc. v. Bartlett. In Bartlett, Public Justice filed an amici brief with the American Association for Justice. Plaintiff Karen…

June 24, 2013 In Updates

Supreme Court Sides with American Express on Arbitration

“This is a devastating day for justice in America,” said Public Justice Executive Director Arthur Bryant. “The U.S. Supreme Court just issued its decision in American Express Co. v. Italian Colors Restaurant and gave corporations a license to steal.” And in today’s blog post, Senior…

June 24, 2013 In Updates

Brief Argues FINRA Not Preempted, Brokerage Firms Cannot Ban Class Actions

Public Justice has just partnered with the AARP and the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) on a brief challenging Charles Schwab’s position that the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) preempts Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules. In October 2011, Schwab mailed out amendments to its investor…

June 24, 2013 In Updates

Third Circuit Rules Local Toxic Tort Suit Can’t Be Removed to Federal Court Under CAFA

In a published opinion stamped “PRECEDENTIAL,” the Third Circuit has held that, under the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 (CAFA), four hundred residents of the Virgin Islands harmed by toxins from a bauxite refinery site should have their claims heard in state, not federal,…