Author Archives: Kati Latina

Phoning in a Settlement

‘Cell’-ing data

Although appeals or legal proceedings may interrupt the official approval of the settlement, T-Mobile customers may anticipate a December 2022 end date of a lawsuit involving their personal information. In August 2021, the discovery of an online sale of T-Mobile customer information led to an investigation of a company data breach that impacted more than 76 million individuals. T-Mobile maintained transparency regarding the breach and is now agreeing to settle the subsequent legal action for $350 million. This compensation will go directly to customers and aid in paying the cost of legal and administrative fees. Continue reading →

Pickup a Dismissal

Trucking along

A federal judge has recently dismissed a class action lawsuit that exposed the existence of emissions defeat devices in Ford Super Duty pickup trucks. Originally filed in 2018, the “cheat” devices, which were apparently embedded in the engine control module software of 2011–2017 F-250 and F-350 pickups with the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8, have allowed the trucks to pass emissions tests. About 500,000 trucks were impacted and the original lawsuit sought $4.2 billion. Since 2018, over 25 claimants have dropped claims, which likely contributed to the judge’s decision. Continue reading →

Fake Twitter Purchase

Staying connected

A publicly traded company since 2013, Twitter’s existence depends on its owners and its users. As one of its largest shareholders, Elon Musk proposed an acquisition of the company earlier this year. After the company failed to disclose the precise percentage of its fake user accounts, referred to as bot accounts, Musk rescinded his $44 billion offer. The company has now responded with legal action and challenges Musk’s reasoning for not going through with the deal. Twitter accuses Musk, who operates as the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, of changing his mind due to a shift in his financial motivations. Continue reading →

Serving Justice at Military Base

Contaminated water

First discovered in the early 1980’s, significant levels of cleaning solvents were detected in the well water located at Camp Lejeune. Hundreds of thousands of Marines and their family members were exposed to contaminated water, which has been recognized as the leading cause for illnesses and deaths. A portion of a Jacksonville City cemetery is reserved for the babies that have passed away due to the contamination. The dates of determined exposure range from the 1950’s through the 1980’s. Now, due to the passing of recent legislation, veterans are legally allowed to sue for relief. Continue reading →

An Inconvenient Ruling

Franchise folly

Although it is based in Texas, 7-Eleven is a household name in several countries. The multinational company offers considerations for franchise opportunities, but also maintains the right to end the contract if certain standards or guidelines are not upheld. A 7-Eleven store owner located in Osaka, Japan, for example, is now ordered to pay $845,000 in damages to the company for failing to remain open 24 hours a day. Starting in 2019, a franchisee, Mitoshi Matsumoto, who opened the store in 2012, decided to close down operation for a few hours every night. The decision to close for five hours each night resulted in a loss of business and an infraction against company policy. Continue reading →