Posted inSettlements

City to Paws Influence

A black and white cat with green eyes rests its front paws on a wooden ledge, with a calm expression. The background is a solid green.
Cat code

Lawsuits against pets may not only produce an interesting storyline in local news, but may also result in a high payday for the owner. A recent issue, concerning a house cat roaming freely in a Washington neighborhood, has reached national headlines. Miska, owned by Anna Danieli, has been the subject of a three-year legal battle. Due to allegations that Miska provoked other pets in the neighborhood and trespassed on surrounding properties, Danieli has been required to pay fines in excess of $30,000. The toxicity of the situation escalated to the point of animal control temporarily throwing the cat in feline jail.

2 minutes
Posted inSettlements

Moving Toward an Agreement

Aerial view of a suburban neighborhood in autumn. Rows of houses with dark roofs are surrounded by trees with vibrant fall foliage in shades of red, orange, and yellow. The sun is setting in the cloudy sky.
Neighborhood disputes

New England is home to the country’s most beautiful residential properties, as well as the frivolous lawsuits that stem from neighbor disputes. Some of the more common quarrels shared across America’s neighborhoods involve fence or property lines, noisy pets, mischievous children, and parking or easement rights. While one Massachusetts family’s grievance is ending, a New Hampshire woman’s court battle with her neighbor is in the beginning stages. The common thread between the two issues is the prolonged attempt to resolve the disputes on their own, prior to filing claims in court.

2 minutes
Posted inSettlements

In the Market to Settle

Aerial view of a green combine harvester cutting through a field of wheat. The machine is creating trails of dust as it moves, highlighting the golden-brown crop harvest.
Risky business

As customers peruse the endless gift options available on Amazon for the upcoming Holiday season, they may come across items that should not be purchased by the average shopper. For example, industrial-grade pesticides have remained the topic of a dispute with Amazon and the Attorney General’s Office in Washington State. According to a lawsuit filed in 2018, Amazon granted thousands of transactions of agricultural and industrial-use pesticides to customers, without presenting a clear representation that the pesticides should not be used for average home garden use. In fact, these higher-grade pesticides differed considerably from widely available products that might be found at Home Depot or Lowe’s.

2 minutes
Posted inSettlements

Lawsuit May Keep on Trucking

Close-up of a car engine's internal components, showcasing metallic gears, a chain, and cylinder heads. The intricate machinery is partially out of focus, highlighting the complex engineering involved.
Engine defects

According to a recent judicial decision, a class action lawsuit against General Motors may continue in court. Various customers allege that their 2011 Chevy Silverado pickup trucks consume excessive oil, which contributes to subsequent mechanical or electrical issues. Despite a motion filed on behalf of the automotive company, a judge did not agree with GM’s argument that the customer engine complaints were rejected under a manufacturing defect warranty. Rather than admitting that customers were experiencing complications from a defect or faulty component, the company attributed the issues to the 5.3L Vortec V8 engine’s design.

2 minutes
Posted inSettlements

Bedrock Burden Ends

A vibrant village scene with houses featuring colorful roofs in red, yellow, green, and blue. A small stone building with a red roof is in the foreground, and a tranquil stream runs alongside. Misty green mountains rise in the background.
Colorful house crisis

In a town 25 miles south of San Francisco, CA, a home sits as a page out of history. The Hillsborough homeowner, Florence Fang, has settled a lawsuit that was initiated in 2019. Following the issuance of three “stop-work” orders, the town of Hillsborough filed a claim against Fang, alleging that she needed work permits to continue the construction of various Flintstones memorabilia and statues on her property. In response to the lawsuit, Fang filed a counterclaim that accused the town of engaging in discriminatory demands and practices. Although both parties reach a friendly and agreeable resolution in April 2021, a gag order prevented the release of the information pertaining to the case details.

2 minutes