Author Archives: Kati Latina

Lawsuit Fails to Pacify Consumers

Frightening food options

Following complaints of toxic metals in baby food, the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy issued a request for manufacturer testing data, which indicated levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. Although the report was requested in November 2019, one of the manufacturers, Beech-Nut, just recently issued a recall on June 9, 2021. Due to the discovery of high levels of naturally occurring inorganic arsenic, Beech-Nut is permanently discontinuing its infant rice cereal. As the FDA does not restrict the levels of heavy metals in baby food, this recall was voluntary. Consumers, however, are not satisfied with the recall and have filed lawsuits, claiming the heavy metals in baby food lead to issues in infant brain development. Continue reading →

Housing Hostility

Discrimination dispute

A Boca Raton, FL community of 700 affluent homes is the location of one of the more recent legal disputes involving alleged discrimination. One of the residents, who identifies as Christian, claims that she has been the subject of religious discrimination within a community that is primarily Jewish. Known as Seven Bridges, the homes are maintained by an HOA. Those living there may enjoy access to tennis courts, a pool, and a clubhouse. The Christian resident, whom is the plaintiff in the case, said she was denied access to these amenities for 330 days following a spat with one of her Jewish neighbors. The plaintiff was also subjected to a $5,000 fine for her part in the dispute. For what she identifies as a hostile housing environment, the plaintiff filed a lawsuit against the HOA for neglecting to resolve the matter. Continue reading →

Shoot for Damages

Basketball case dismissed

Some athletic organizations would do almost anything to recruit the best talent available. Similarly, the parents of these young athletes would give up or accept almost anything to see their children play on some of the most recognized teams in the country. It is not often, however, to see a large corporation solicit the help of alleged business conmen to garner top talent for teams that the company sponsors through fraud, bribery, and racketeering. Due to the potential harm caused to the future of his career, one basketball player filed a lawsuit against the shoe and sportswear company, Adidas, in 2018, for its part in the college athlete racketeering scheme. Continue reading →

Keep Up With this Lawsuit

Labor scandal

Although their long-running television show is currently airing its final season, the Kardashians have managed to remain in the spotlight. In particular, Kim Kardashian, who is studying to become a lawyer, is the center of a labor law lawsuit. Seven members of her former staff have filed ten counts against her, including claims that Kim withheld taxes from their paychecks but then neglected to report the withholdings to the IRS. Additional accusations include Kim’s failure to issue consistent paychecks, pay their entire paychecks, including overtime pay, and allow them to use their required meal breaks. The employees were also allegedly denied access to a platform to record their hours worked and did not receive payments for employment expenses. Continue reading →

Amazon is the Prime Option

Antitrust arguments

To receive fast, convenient access to countless products and digital streaming, consumers may consider Amazon as the prime option. The benefits offered by Amazon extend beyond the consumer-driven perks, and also include opportunities for retailers and suppliers to sell their products on the platform. Despite these incentives, the DC Attorney General has recently filed a lawsuit against the e-commerce company, citing antitrust claims. According to the filing, Amazon has developed into a monopoly that manipulates pricing options for consumers. The company has achieved this position by entering contractual agreements with its third-party sellers. Specifically, the contracts dictate that in order to participate on the platform, the sellers are forbidden from offering lower prices or improved purchase terms on any other websites, including their own personal sites. Continue reading →