Posted inSettlements

Christmas Decision in April

A festive street lamp adorned with a large red bow and green pine garland illuminates a winter scene. Blurred lights and bare tree branches are visible in the background.
Holiday solution

Although the Christmas season ended several months ago, the spirit is still alive in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Towards the middle of this month, news spread of a settlement to a yearlong lawsuit, which involved the dispute over the legal right of a private organization to display a Nativity scene on municipal property. During the December 2018 to January 2019 holiday season, city workers asked that St. Edmond Catholic Church remove the wooden stable with surrounding religious statues. This Nativity scene was positioned near the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand, which serves as a popular area and focal point to the city.

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Posted inSettlements

Tech Trouble Ends in Settlement

Smartphone lying on a wooden table with its screen facing up, displaying various app icons such as Netflix, Instagram, and Gmail. The phone has a black case and is tilted to the right.
Invasion of privacy?

Concerning a prior consumer complaint, which accused Facebook of violating an Illinois privacy law, a settlement has been reached and approved by a judge. According to the lawsuit, without the permission of users, Facebook has used facial-recognition technology to help tag photos on profiles. The lawsuit was initially filed in 2015 in Illinois, where state privacy laws specifically forbid this type of biometric collection and storage of data without the consent of members. Since the lawsuit began, Facebook has altered its technology and has also been ordered by a judge to pay $650 million in compensation.

2 minutes
Posted inLawsuits

New Type of Class Action

Close-up of a white computer keyboard featuring the QWERTY layout. The keys are slightly angled, highlighting the F, G, H, T, and Y keys.
Issues from A to Z

In 2020, after facing allegations that the company was purposefully slowing down iPhones, Apple entered a $113 million settlement with 34 state attorneys general. The tech company denied liability in the case and maintained that the software updates were meant to correct prior issues with older lithium-ion batteries. Since that class action ended, Apple has upgraded to a new class action lawsuit involving its butterfly keyboard. This month, a judge approved the class action status of the lawsuit, recognizing that the issue is similar, if not the same, for most affected customers.

2 minutes
Posted inLawsuits

Speeding Away from Liability

A white sports car drives on a winding road surrounded by grass and hills under a partly cloudy sky. The sun is setting, casting a warm glow on the landscape.
Leaving the scene

Following the shocking death of Nicki Minaj’s father, Robert Maraj, the man allegedly responsible for his demise has been charged and civilly sued for wrongful death. Although the famous singer has reportedly refrained from issuing a public statement in regards to the circumstances of her father’s death, Nicki Minaj’s mother, Carol Maraj, expresses relief in knowing that the man accused of killing her husband has been identified. On February 12 of this year, Robert Maraj was struck by a vehicle while walking in Mineola on Long Island and died in the hospital the following day.

2 minutes
Posted inSettlements

A Settlement is Brewing

A white bowl filled with dark roasted coffee beans is placed on a dark surface. Several coffee beans are scattered around the bowl, adding texture to the scene. The background is softly lit, highlighting the rich color of the beans.
We want the real stuff

For about 62% of the US population, coffee is the desired beverage to kick start the day. Whether you purchase a cup on the way to work or brew your own at home, you are relying on the coffee to get you through the day, or at least until your 3 pm pick-me-up. While some consumers may not notice the origin of their coffee, others are more inclined to purchase grounds or pods that are authentic to certain regions. Kona coffee, for example, is native to Hawaii and is known for its smooth texture and sweet and nutty taste. Or so we thought.

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