Category Archives: Settlements

Moving Toward an Agreement

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. Continue reading →

In the Market to Settle

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. Continue reading →

Lawsuit May Keep on Trucking

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. Continue reading →

Bedrock Burden Ends

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. Continue reading →

Resort Slopes to an Agreement

Icy compensation

An upscale Montana ski resort has entered a settlement with several seasonal workers who claimed they were discriminated against and cheated out of their tips and wages. During the winter months between 2017 and 2018, the group of visiting workers from Jamaica maintained positions in the hospitality, food and bar departments as housekeepers, cooks, servers, and bartenders. Despite the promise of potentially receiving between $400 and $600 a night, the workers were not able to collect the full amount of their tips or service charges. The defendants named in the lawsuit, which was filed in 2018, have agreed to pay $1 million in legal fees and compensation to the workers. Continue reading →