Posted inSettlements

Explosive Settlement for Merrimack Valley, MA

Residents left to pick up the pieces

At the end of July 2019, a $143 million settlement was announced, connected to a September 2018 Massachusetts natural gas explosion that left one resident dead and 25 other residents injured.  Other individuals were also affected, as 100 buildings and homes in Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover were damaged.  Due to the shared misfortune following the explosion, a class action lawsuit was filed against Columbia Gas of Massachusetts and NiSource Inc.  A judge is now left to evaluate the terms of the settlement for approval.  In the opinion of some, $143 million is only a small price to pay for the inconvenience and suffering of those who were forced to live without services of natural gas and must also rebuild their lives and homes.

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Posted inLawsuits

Lawsuit Fumbles in Federal Court

Push for a penalty

As we rapidly approach football season, excited fans are preparing for their fantasy drafts.  In the midst of their discussions about previous player injuries, training camp, predictions for the season, and whatever else football fans talk about, they can add a recently dismissed lawsuit to their rapport.  A US District Court judge in New Orleans dismissed one of three federal lawsuits involving a disputed call in the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams NFC title game this past January.  In the game, NFL officials failed to acknowledge a pass interference in the form of a helmet-to-helmet hit, exchanged between Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman and Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis.  If the rules of NFL football were strictly adhered to, the Rams player should have been flagged for a penalty at this point in the game. 

2 minutes
Posted inSettlements

Aged to Perfection, But You Still Can’t Get a Job

Discrimination debacle

Despite the adage that we get better with age, corporate America appears to uphold a different philosophy.  Several companies, including Goldman Sachs, IBM, Verizon Communications, and Google have become the topics of scrutiny concerning their employee demographics.  According to observations, these companies harbor a tendency to hire younger workers and push out the older generation.  In particular, Google played the defendant role in a recent class-action lawsuit that has now settled.  According to claims, Google denied employment to well-qualified applicants who were not fresh out of college, over the age of 40.

2 minutes
Posted inSettlements

Big Breach Leads to Bigger Compensation

What is your identity worth?

Following extensive state and federal investigations, a settlement was reached this month regarding the notorious Equifax breach.  To compensate for the millions of individuals affected by the 2017 data break, the credit reporting agency has agreed to provide $300 million worth of monitoring services to affected consumers and $175 million to settle legal disputes with 48 states.  If it is determined, however, that the $300 million amount for services is not enough, then there is a stipulation stating the amount will increase another $125 million.  Equifax must also pay a $100 million fine to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  In addition, the company must update and enhance their data security, to avoid any future computer-oriented crimes from taking place.    

2 minutes
Posted inLawsuits

National Park Causes National Turmoil

The weight of a name

Located in California’s breathtaking Sierra Nevada mountains, Yosemite National Park is home to gigantic sequoia trees, granite cliffs, and impeccable landscapes.  In addition to these attractive tourist spots, the iconic national park has also been the subject of legal trouble since 2015.  Delaware North Companies Inc had maintained park property operations since 1993 until it was outbid by Aramark.  As part of the concessionaire’s transition into their new role, Aramark changed the names of several attractions and hotels.  In the lawsuit, Delaware North claims that Aramark should have had to uphold terms that were required when Delaware North began operations in 1993, which was to purchase the previous facilities operator’s intellectual property rights of the names.  As compensation for this intellectual property dispute, Delaware North was looking to collect $50,000 million.

2 minutes