Posted inLawsuits

Consumers at a Loss for Words

Natural hair beware

As hair style trends shift every couple of years, we find ourselves replacing our hair care products with ones that are tailored toward the new norm.  Founded in 1994, DevaCurl is one such brand that is appealing to the relatively new craze of sporting natural, semi-untouched hair.  In the early- to mid-2000s, almost every middle school girl straightened their natural wave or locks to a pin-straight point. As was the style of the day.  Now consumers are flocking to the retail store shelves to buy DevaCurl, the company that produces a formula to volumize and accentuate curly textures.  While the promise of the product was widely accepted by consumers, the alleged result of its consistent use is alarming.

2 minutes
Posted inSettlements

Motel 10 Million

Privacy scandal

According to court documents, for over two and a half years, Motel 6 employees provided guest information to Immigration and Customers Enforcement agents.  With the information provided, officers screened anyone listed with a Hispanic-sounding last name.  Some of the identifiers obtained include license plate numbers, full names, birthdays, and room numbers.  While some individuals were simply “looked into,” others were detained or arrested. These guest lists were willingly handed over without warrants or subpoenas.  As a result, the civil rights activist group Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed a class action lawsuit in January 2018.

2 minutes
Posted inSettlements

Streaming a Settlement

Students hear good news

The National Association of the Deaf did not remain silent when online video lectures posted for programs through Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology did not include captions or subtitles.  Those who are hard of hearing were not capable of learning from online educational material.  Given the public forum of the posted videos, the subject was considered a federal issue. While the videos were open to any individuals who had access to the internet, not everyone was able to learn from the resources provided.  The 2015 lawsuit has finally seen resolution.

2 minutes
Posted inLawsuits

Patients May be Pumped for a Lawsuit

Insulin issue

Individuals with Type 1 diabetes, beware.  A recall was just announced by the Food and Drug Administration concerning the Medtronic MiniMed 600 series insulin pumps.  Owners of this type of pump are at risk of receiving either more or less than the required insulin dosage.  The reason? The pumps are being used with missing or broken retainer rings, which are necessary units that lock the cartridges into place in the reservoir compartment.  If not locked into place, an incorrect level of insulin will be delivered.  Type 1 diabetes patients rely on their insulin pumps to survive.  If the pumps are not of sound construction, their lives may be in danger.      

2 minutes
Posted inLawsuits

Drawing Their Line in the Sand

Beach front battle

The beach is one of the earth’s most mesmerizing and extraordinary gifts.  While some beaches are privately owned and shielded from public use, others require a fee to enjoy or are just free to access.  For those who own beach or lakefront properties, watching locals or tourists flooding your view of the lake or ocean is imaginably undesirable.  On the other hand, locals and tourists want to gain entry to some of the best coastal fishing, surfing, or sunbathing spots.  These two points of view is what fueled a 2018 lawsuit and eventual decision by the Indiana Supreme Court, granting public entry to Lake Michigan’s shoreline.          

2 minutes