Monthly Archives: May 2020

When There is Smoke…

There is fire

Alleging false advertising, two consumers of Traeger grills are accusing the company of selling wood pellets that are not in accordance with the “All Natural Hardwood” claim on the product label.  Small traces of food-grade soybean oil are added to the pellets to provide enhanced flavor and grease.  The plaintiffs, Michael Yates and Norman Jones, argue that only 1/3 of the wood is comprised as advertised, leading them to pay above market value price for the pellets that are, according to their dispute, not entirely natural. Continue reading →

A Flood of Complaints

Broken dam breaks trust

Homeowners in Midland County, Michigan are standing up to the Great Lake State’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.  Claiming the agency played a negligent part in a massive flood, four homeowners are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, a correction to the problem allegedly caused by the defendant, a ruling that the Department’s act was unconstitutional, and repayment of legal fees.  The Edenville Dam is the structure in question, where on May 20 of this year, the weaknesses in the dam failed to partially prevent a flood from destroying homes and private property. Continue reading →

A Sweet Decision Benefits Farmers

Safe harvest

Due to a lack of standing, a recent sugarcane personal injury lawsuit has been dismissed.  A group of three plaintiffs, consisting of one resident of Clewiston, FL and two residents of Belle Glade, FL, are afforded the opportunity to refile a second amended complaint against the sugarcane farming companies.  The filing must be completed by May 22, and one stipulation from the judge dictates that only three of the original seven accusations may be included in the new complaint. Continue reading →

A Royally Painful Lawsuit

Privacy violation

In an effort to rid her life of the press and paparazzi, Meghan Markle might have to first fully submerge herself into the limelight with this most recent lawsuit filed against Associated Newspapers.  Based on claims of both privacy violation and copyright infringement, Markle is accusing the news publisher of breaking UK data protection laws.  The accusations stem from a letter written by Markle to her father, with whom she remains estranged.  Markle may be forced to testify against her father at some point in the case. Continue reading →

Cyanide Killed the Coyote

Poisoning the environment

Pocatello, Idaho is known for its moderately cold winters, outdoor activities, and metropolitan light life.  The Bannock County seat is also home to Pocatello Supply Depot, a manufacturer of M-44 cyanide devices.  These items are used to kill off predators of livestock, such as coyotes, but have also injured people and pets.  In response to this environmental dilemma, wildlife activist groups have filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management.  The US Department of Justice is handling the case for the defense.  Continue reading →