Updates

August 23, 2012 In Updates

Fort Valley State University Reinstates Women’s Volleyball Team to Avoid Title IX Suit

Fort Valley State University has agreed to reinstate its women’s volleyball team to avoid a threatened sex discrimination lawsuit by Public Justice. The lawsuit would have charged FVSU with violating Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination by educational institutions that receive federal…

August 23, 2012 In Updates

Developments in Environmental Enforcement Project & Iqbal Project

In Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. FirstEnergy, Public Justice’s EEP teamed up with the Environmental Integrity Project to pressure FirstEnergy, the owner of Little Blue Run coal ash impoundment (the nation’s largest), to agree to shut down Little Blue Run by 2016, and, in the meantime,…

August 23, 2012 In Updates

New Mexico Supreme Court Rules Payday Lenders Cannot Force Consumer into Arbitration with Substitute Arbitrator

The New Mexico Supreme Court on Thursday rejected an attempt by two Internet payday lenders to force a consumer to take her claims against the lenders before an arbitrator rather than a court of law. The full opinion is available here: http://www.publicjustice.net/sites/default/files/downloads/FeltsvCLKOpinion_23Aug2012.pdf Public Justice represented…

May 1, 2012 In Updates

Egregious Medical Neglect Leads to Another Detainee’s Death; Public Justice Joins Lawsuit Battling ‘Unconscionable System

Public Justice’s reputation for championing immigrant detainees’ rights has brought another in search of justice to Public Justice’s doorstep—the sister of a detainee who died in custody because officials did not respond to her critical medical condition until it was too late. In February, Public Justice…

May 1, 2012 In Updates

Third Circuit Rules that American Express May Not Escape Liability for Cheating Consumers by Banning Class Actions

In a triumph for consumers in New Jersey and across the country, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on February 24, held that held that the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) does not preempt—or wipe away—state laws that protect consumers from abusive contract…

May 1, 2012 In Updates

U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Federal Preemption Claims in Prescription Drug Labeling, ‘Light’ Cigarette Fraud Cases

The U.S. Supreme Court recently issued two resoundingly pro-consumer decisions rejecting federal preemption of state-law claims involving injured consumers. In a March 4 ruling, the Court held 6-to-3 that federal law does not preempt lawsuits against prescription drug manufacturers for failing to warn of their drug’s…

May 1, 2012 In Updates

Alaska Supreme Court Adopts ‘Bright-Line Rule’ that Spares Workers Substantial Arbitration Costs in Employment Actions

n a victory for workers who seek to vindicate their rights under the Alaska Wage and Hour Act (AWHA), the Alaska Supreme Court held on April 3 that employers may not require their employees to arbitrate their wage and hour claims unless the employer is…

May 1, 2012 In Updates

New Mexico Supreme Court Blasts World Finance’s Arbitration Scheme; Unanimous Decision Favors Borrowers and Consumers Who Were Targeted by One-Sided Clause

When Laura Cordova of Las Vegas, New Mexico got sick and fell behind on her short-term loan payments, she explained her situation to the lender, World Finance. Apparently, the company didn’t believe her because, for weeks, agents for World Finance called Ms. Cordova on her…

May 1, 2012 In Updates

Mountaintop Removal Mine Blocked in Virginia

Less than a week after Public Justice filed a complaint in federal court and threatened to seek a temporary restraining order, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers suspended its permit that would have allowed A&G Coal Corporation to begin filling nearly three miles of streams…

May 1, 2012 In Updates

Federal Court Rules Nationwide Lawsuit against Cingular/AT&T for Overcharges, Poor Cell Phone Service May Proceed

A class action lawsuit charging that millions of cell phone users were misled and overcharged when Cingular merged with AT&T Wireless in 2004 may go forward, a federal court ruled on May 26. In a victory for consumers nationwide, the U.S. District Court for the District…