Case Filings Alert™ reports on new cases filed in courts around the country, alerting you to significant new cases at the beginning of the litigation process, long before the case is settled or a decision handed down. For each case reported on, the full complaint and docket information are included, so you will be able to follow the case as it works its way through the litigation process and obtain documents filed in the case.
Case Filings Alert covers a wide range of civil litigation subjects including: antitrust/unfair trade, constitution, consumer fraud, cybersecurity, data privacy, environment, intellectual property, labor & employment, personal injury/product liability, securities, among others.
Editor: Robert S. Want (rwant@CaseFilingsAlert.com). Copyright © 2025 WANT Publishing Co. Other services include NationsCourts.com (comprehensive guide to the nation’s federal, state, and county courts), MDLCases.com (introduction to multidistrict litigation, and listing of pending MDL cases), and LegalEditor.com (editing, writing and proofreading services).
February 24, 2025 – Product Liability
Estée Lauder, Teva Sued by New York Town Over ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Municipal Water
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Estée Lauder Cos., and others have been sued by the Village of Nyack, N.Y., alleging that defendants’ manufacturing facilities have contaminated the municipality’s water source with “forever chemicals,” also known as PFAS.
In its lawsuit, Nyack seeks to recover the cost of a water treatment system to remove PFAS from the Hackensack River and its tributaries. The suit, which was filed in federal court in White Plains, N.Y., claims that the defendants used PFAS in manufacturing products like wet wipes, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. These chemicals, the complaint says, do not degrade in the environment and are linked to health risks such as liver damage, immune system effects, and certain cancers.
Nyack is seeking compensation for costs related to investigating, monitoring, and removing PFAS from its water supply. The village argues that the defendants, which also include Professional Disposables Inc., Safety-Kleen Systems, and General Bearing Corporation, should bear the financial burden as they are the responsible parties. The suit also seeks a declaratory judgment holding the companies liable for future damages, along with punitive damages for what it describes as “outrageous conscious disregard” for public health.
February 21, 2025 – Securities
Investor Lawsuit Alleges ICON Misled Shareholders on Financial Health
A proposed class action has been filed against ICON PLC and two top executives, alleging that the clinical research organization misled investors about the financial impact of reduced spending by major pharmaceutical clients.
ICON executives made false and misleading statements regarding the company’s financial performance and growth prospects between July 2023 and October 2024, according to the complaint filed in Central Islip, N.Y.
The lawsuit contends that while ICON assured investors of “healthy demand” and a “constructive” business environment, the company was experiencing “a material loss of business” due to cost-cutting measures by major clients, including Pfizer. The suit further alleges that ICON failed to disclose that many of its clients had canceled contracts, delayed clinical trials, or reduced outsourcing.
February 20, 2025 – Cybersecurity
Trump Admin Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged ‘Massive Data Breach’
A lawsuit filed by a private nonprofit accuses the Trump administration and several government agencies of enabling the “largest and most consequential data breach in U.S. history,” exposing the personal information of millions of Americans.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center alleges in its suit that the Department of the Treasury and the Office of Personnel Management failed to safeguard sensitive data, allowing unauthorized access by the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
According to the complaint filed in federal court in Alexandria, Va., DOGE operatives —many linked to billionaire Elon Musk — gained unprecedented access to federal systems, including payroll and tax records, by exploiting a Trump administration executive order. This access, the complaint asserts, has resulted in the disclosure of personal data such as Social Security numbers and employment histories. “DOGE personnel took control of computer systems, locking career civil servants out,” the suit states.
February 19, 2025 – Intellectual Property
Notorious BIG Estate Files Suit Over Canvas Prints Inspired by ‘King of New York’ Photo
Photographer Barron Claiborne and the company that controls Biggie Smalls’ (a/k/a The Notorious B.I.G) intellectual property rights filed a lawsuit in Chicago federal court over what plaintiffs say is the improper use of the legendary hip-hop artist’s image.
In their suit, plaintiffs oppose the marketing of canvas prints featuring Smalls’ image as portrayed in Claiborne’s 1997 “King of New York” photo. The photo, according to the complaint, has been deemed the “Mona Lisa” of hip-hop; it depicts Smalls wearing a plastic crown set in front of a deep red background. Claiborne took the photo, the complaint says, just three days before Smalls was killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. It has since become a defining portrait of the artist, the complaint asserts.
“Defendants used [Notorious B.I.G.’s] persona, name, image, and likeness, as well as several trademarks relating to him, and Mr. Claiborne’s King of New York series of photographs for many years, across numerous items and in multiple ways, without authorization,” plaintiffs claim.
Feb 18, 2025 – Constitution
ACLU Sues Over Firing of Arkansas Library Director
The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit on behalf of former Saline County (Ark.) library director Patty Hector, alleging she was wrongfully terminated in retaliation for her opposition to book censorship.
According to the complaint, Hector, a longtime librarian, was dismissed after publicly opposing efforts to restrict access to certain books, particularly those featuring LGBTQ and racial themes. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Little Rock, Ark., claims that her firing violated her First Amendment rights.
The complaint states that the controversy began in early 2023 when local groups pushed for the removal or relocation of books they deemed inappropriate for children. Hector defended the library’s policies and the right to unrestricted access, telling local media, “We buy books for everyone in this community. And every child should be heard, and seen, and supported.” The ACLU is seeking a court declaration that her firing was unlawful. Hector, the complaint says, has since struggled to find comparable employment, and she is requesting compensation for lost wages and emotional distress.
February 17, 2025 – Product Liability
Tom’s of Maine Kid’s Toothpaste Said to Be Contaminated with Lead, Arsenic
A proposed class action filed in Brooklyn federal court accuses Colgate-Palmolive Co. and its subsidiary, Tom’s of Maine, of misleading consumers by failing to disclose the presence of lead and arsenic in its children’s fluoride-free toothpaste.
The lawsuit claims that defendants’ Tom’s of Maine Kid’s Natural Fluoride-Free Toothpaste Silly Strawberry contains “unsafe levels of lead and arsenic,” which are known neurotoxins. According to the complaint, “there is no safe blood level of lead,” citing risks including cognitive decline, mental illness, and hypertension.
“Defendants specifically list the ingredients of the Product on the labeling; however, Defendants fail to disclose that the Product contains, or is at the risk of containing, lead and arsenic,” the complaint asserts, adding that children are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of lead and arsenic exposure. The suit argues that consumers reasonably expect oral care products to be free from harmful contaminants, particularly those marketed to children.
February 14, 2025 – Antitrust
Branch Metrics Sues Google for Alleged Attempt to Stifle Rival’s Search Feature
Branch Metrics, a mobile software company, is suing Google for allegedly monopolizing the Android app and search markets by blocking Branch’s Discovery Search deep-linking feature.
Google intentionally targeted Branch as a rival and foreclosed the Discovery Search feature from “gaining distribution on past, present, and future Android mobile devices,” according to the complaint filed in federal court in Marshall, Texas. Mobile deep linking, the complaint says, is a method of directing users to a specific location within a mobile app using a URL, and is designed to help users find and access content across mobile apps.
Branch claims in its suit that Google took aggressive steps to prevent the tool’s adoption, pressuring partners like Samsung and AT&T to abandon their support for Branch’s technology. Internal documents from the Department of Justice’s case against Google reportedly confirm these exclusionary tactics, the complaint adds.
February 13, 2025 – Breach of Contract
FTD Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged ‘Junk Fee Pricing Practices’
A proposed class action has been filed against Florists’ Transworld Delivery (FTD), accusing the floral delivery company of using deceptive “drip pricing” tactics that mislead consumers with artificially low prices before adding a mandatory $19.99 “Surprise Fee” at checkout.
Filed in Chicago federal court, the lawsuit alleges that FTD systematically deceives customers by advertising low-base prices for floral arrangements while concealing the required fee until the final stage of the checkout process. The suit argues that this practice violates federal and state consumer protection laws.
The complaint asserts that FTD’s pricing strategy exploits consumer psychology by encouraging customers to invest significant time in the checkout process before revealing the additional charge. Plaintiff says in his suit that this bait-and-switch tactic manipulates shoppers into completing their purchases rather than starting over with another retailer. The case, the complaint notes, highlights growing regulatory scrutiny over hidden “junk fees,” which have been criticized by the Federal Trade Commission and targeted in recent consumer protection legislation, including California’s new law banning drip pricing.
February 12, 2025 – Privacy
Amazon Accused of Secretly Tracking Consumers’ Location Data
Amazon faces a proposed class action alleging that it secretly collects and sells users’ sensitive location data without their consent.
Amazon obtained “backdoor access” to consumers’ cellphones by providing tens of thousands of app developers with code known as Amazon Ads SDK to be embedded in their apps, according to the complaint filed in San Francisco federal court.
This access, the complaint alleges, enables Amazon to collect an enormous amount of timestamped geolocation data about where consumers live, work, shop, and visit, revealing sensitive information such as religious affiliations, sexual orientation, and health concerns. “Amazon has effectively fingerprinted consumers and has correlated a vast amount of personal information about them entirely without consumers’ knowledge and consent,” plaintiff argues in his lawsuit.
February 11, 2025 – Environment
Igloo Cooler Faces Challenge Over Biodegradable Claims
A proposed class action filed in Brooklyn federal court alleges that Igloo Products Corp. has falsely advertised that certain cooler products are biodegradable and entirely composed of recycled materials.
Igloo says that its ReCool 16-quart cooler is “Biodegradable” and “Made From Biodegradable Materials,” according to the complaint. This claim, the complaint argues, leads consumers to believe the product will fully break down within a reasonable time after typical disposal. But in fact, the complaint adds, the Igloo ReCool cooler is usually thrown in the trash and taken to landfills where environmental conditions prevent significant biodegradation.
“Buried trash in landfills is typically deprived of oxygen, moisture, and beneficial microbes, and is more likely to be ‘mummified’ than decomposed within a meaningful timeframe,” plaintiff claims in his suit, calling Igloo’s biodegradable representations “false and misleading.”
February 10, 2025 – Labor & Employment
Gov’t Worker Unions Sue Over Executive Order Rescinding Employment Protections
Two major federal employee unions have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging an executive order that they say unlawfully strips civil servants of key job protections.
The American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees filed the complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The unions argue in their suit that President Donald Trump’s “Schedule F Order” reclassifies thousands of career federal employees and removes safeguards that protect them from politically motivated firings.
According to the complaint, the order “seeks to put politics over professionalism” by eliminating civil service protections for policy-influencing positions. The unions assert that the action violates federal law, including the Administrative Procedure Act, by bypassing the required notice-and-comment rulemaking process. “Our nation’s career civil servants are the backbone of our federal government,” the complaint states, adding that the executive order “directly nullifies” existing regulations that safeguard federal employees from undue political influence.
February 7, 2025 – Constitution
Lawsuit Challenges Trump Executive Order Banning Transgender Troops
A group of transgender military service members has sued President Trump, challenging his executive order banning transgender people from the armed forces.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., alleges that the order Trump signed on Jan. 27 violates the Constitution’s equal protection guarantees by discriminating based on sex and transgender status “without lawful justification.” The ban, the suit says, erases protections granted to transgender troops by earlier administrations that determined they could serve effectively and without undermining military readiness.
Plaintiffs in their suit argue that the ban “was issued without any study of the effectiveness of transgender service members during the past four years or of any problems that may have arisen from their service, without any assessment of whether their service entailed greater costs, or without any assessment of whether any legitimate governmental concerns could be addressed by means other than a categorical ban.”
February 6, 2025 – ERISA
AT&T Faces Suit Over Alleged Mismanagement of 401(k) Plan Funds
A proposed class-action filed in Los Angeles federal court accuses AT&T Services Inc. of misusing forfeited assets from its employees’ 401(k) retirement plan, in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
In his lawsuit, plaintiff, representing a class of AT&T employees and beneficiaries, claims that the company used forfeited assets from the AT&T Retirement Savings Plan to offset its employer contribution obligations, rather than for participants’ benefit. This, plaintiff argues, violates the company’s fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA.
The complaint cites multiple alleged ERISA violations, including the misuse of plan assets for corporate benefit, failure to monitor fiduciaries, and engaging in prohibited transactions. “Defendants have wrongfully and consistently used forfeited nonvested plan assets for their own benefit,” the complaint says, adding that the misconduct led to reduced plan assets and increased administrative expenses borne by employees.
February 5, 2025 – Securities
Pharmaceutical Co. Said to Mislead Investors Over Cancer Treatment
ESSA Pharma Inc. and its top executives have been hit with a proposed class action alleging they deceived shareholders about the prospects of its prostate cancer treatments.
Defendants “provided a narrative of ongoing success” of ESSA’s cancer treatment study while failing to disclose the true efficacy of the treatment, according to the complaint filed in federal court in Green Bay, Wisc.
In his lawsuit, plaintiff, who seeks to represent a class of investors that acquired ESSA stock between Dec. 12, 2023, and Oct. 31, 2024, alleges that defendants made “materially false and misleading statements” regarding the efficacy of their cancer treatment during clinical trials. The drug offered “no clear efficacy benefit” over standard treatments despite public assurances to the contrary, plaintiff contends.
February 4, 2025 – Product Liability
Apple Watch Bands Contain Excessive PFAS, Lawsuit Alleges
Apple Inc. misleads buyers into thinking their smartwatches can improve their health while, in fact, using watch bands that contain excessive PFAS (“forever chemicals”) are known to harm human health, according to a proposed class action filed in San Francisco federal court.
Plaintiffs claim in their lawsuit that Apple “takes advantage of consumers’ need for safe smartwatch bands,” including the Sport Band and Nike Sport Band, by making buyers think the watches are safe to wear every day and are environmentally sustainable. Instead, plaintiffs allege, these products contain high levels of PFAS, which are linked to serious health issues such as cancer and hormonal disruptions.
Scientific studies cited in the complaint reveal that PFAS absorption is heightened through the skin, especially when wearing products during exercise or prolonged use. Alternatives like silicone-based materials, the studies say, are reportedly available and do not contain such toxic substances.
February 3, 2025 – Consumer Fraud
Lawsuit Claims Welch’s Fruit ‘n Yogurt Snacks Mislead Consumers
A proposed class action filed in Chicago federal court alleges that PIM Brands Inc. misleads consumers by marketing its Welch’s Fruit ‘n Yogurt Snacks as containing real yogurt when they do not.
In their suit, plaintiffs claim that the product’s packaging falsely suggests it is coated in yogurt. Instead, plaintiffs argue, the coating is an “ultra-processed candy-like” mixture that lacks the nutritional benefits of real yogurt.
The complaint asserts that the product’s label, which states that fruit is “surrounded by creamy yogurt,” is deceptive because the so-called yogurt coating does not meet the federal definition of yogurt. “None of the components … contain or are derived from ‘yogurt’ either as yogurt is defined in the federal regulations or as consumers commonly understand the term,” the complaint states.
January 31, 2025 – Labor & Employment
EEOC Sues GM and UAW Over Alleged Age Discrimination
The U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against General Motors and the United Auto Workers Union, alleging defendants violated federal law when they negotiated a collective bargaining agreement that limited short-term disability payments to older workers who receive Social Security retirement benefits.
The agreement between defendants provides that GM will pay weekly benefits to employees who miss work due to sickness or injury. But GM paid less to employees who were entitled, by their age, to full retirement benefits through the Social Security program, leaving workers aged 66 and older with fewer benefits than younger coworkers, according to the suit filed in federal court in New Albany, Ind.
Such conduct, the EEOC alleges, violates the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, which prohibits employers from discriminating against individuals aged 40 and older in compensation and privileges of employment, including employee benefits, because of their age. “GM and UAW penalize older workers whose age and work history allow them to collect Social Security retirement insurance,” the EEOC argues. “All workers should be entitled to the same benefits under a collective bargaining agreement, regardless of age.”
January 30, 2025 – Antitrust
FTC Accuses John Deere of Unlawful Equipment Repair Practices
Farm equipment manufacturer John Deere & Co. faces an antitrust lawsuit filed by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over the company’s equipment repair practices.
The FTC, joined by the states of Illinois and Minnesota, accuses John Deere of using a proprietary software tool to bar consumers’ ability to independently repair its products. This forces the company’s customers to rely on its own network of authorized repair providers, the FTC says, arguing that this requirement violates federal anti-monopoly law.
“Deere’s increasingly sophisticated agricultural equipment requires a software tool to diagnose and repair problems that relate to electronic functions, and only Deere has the information and knowledge to create this essential tool,” the FTC asserts in its complaint. “By making this tool available only to Deere dealers,” the agency says, “Deere forces farmers to turn to Deere dealers for critical repairs rather than complete the repairs themselves or choose an independent repair provider that may be cheaper, closer, faster or more trusted.”
January 29, 2025 – Banking
Credit Union’s Lax Policies Facilitate Check Fraud, Lawsuit Claims
The Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) faces a proposed class action alleging that lax policies with respect to the creation of business accounts have allowed criminals to perpetrate check fraud through the financial institution.
The NFCU has shown an “intentional disregard” for compliance with “Know Your Customer” requirements and other federal regulations established to prevent money laundering and financial crime, according to the complaint filed in federal court in Austin, Texas. Plaintiff in the suit is Buckholts State Bank, which alleges it became a victim of NFCU’s insufficient “Know Your Customer” procedures after a customer’s check was stolen in the mail and used by fraudsters to open a business account at the credit union.
Buckholts State Bank claims in its suit that an NFCU business account can be opened online using a member’s personal credentials; there is no requirement that a customer hold an NFCU account for a certain period before opening a business account. Thanks to defendant’s lax policies, the bank asserts, fraudsters are able to open fake business accounts with NFCU within hours after committing business identity theft, and they can begin to deposit and withdraw from fraudulent checks soon after.
January 28, 2025 – Securities
SEC Sues Elon Musk, Alleging He Misled Investors in Twitter Purchase
The U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission has filed a civil action against Elon Musk,
alleging Mr. Musk committed securities fraud in 2022 by failing to disclose he had amassed an active stake in Twitter, a secrecy that allowed him to buy shares from Twitter investors at “artificially low prices.”
Musk, who is also CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, purchased Twitter for $44 billion in late 2022 and changed the name to X the following year, according to the complaint filed in federal court in the District of Columbia. Prior to the acquisition, the complaint says, he’d built up a position in the company of greater than 5%, which under securities law required disclosing his ownership position to the public.
Because Musk failed to timely disclose his ownership position during the period when it exceeded 5%, the SEC asserts, he was able to purchase shares in the company from the unsuspecting public at artificially low prices. In total, the SEC claims, Musk underpaid Twitter investors by more than $150 million for his purchases of Twitter common stock, with investors selling their stock during this period at artificially low prices.
January 27, 2025 – Constitution
Uber Challenges Legality of Colorado Law Mandating Pay Disclosure for Drivers
Uber Technologies has filed a lawsuit claiming that a new Colorado “transparency” law requiring transportation service companies to disclose certain information to drivers at the end of a trip violates its free speech rights under the U.S. Constitution.
In its lawsuit filed in Denver federal court, Uber alleges that the Colorado law imposes “unprecedented and unconstitutional” requirements compelling specific disclosures and prohibiting certain communications on its platform. Uber argues that the law mandates it to convey the state’s message in ways that contradict the company’s own expressive choices, including font size, timing, and screen design.
The law requires Uber to display earnings information prominently and disclose tax deductions based on federal mileage rates. Uber asserts that these requirements risk misleading drivers and riders while disrupting app functionality. “The State’s mandated disclosures,” the company says, “distort earnings figures and mislead consumers.” Uber also warns of a chilling effect on tipping, as the disclosures delay and complicate the post-trip user experience.
January 24, 2025 – Consumer Fraud
Best Buy Accused of Deceptive Pricing of TVs, Major Appliances
A proposed class action filed in San Francisco federal court accuses Best Buy of deceiving customers into thinking they’re getting a better deal on TVs and major appliances than they actually are.
The company has engaged in a “massive and consistently false discount advertising scheme” at its retail locations and on BestBuy.com, according to the complaint. Since at least February 2023, the complaint says, Best Buy has advertised certain products — including TVs, refrigerators, ranges, microwaves, wall ovens, cooktops, and washers and dryers — at discounts from higher, “regular” prices at which they were never or rarely actually sold.
Plaintiffs allege in their suit that consumers, when presented with “discounts,” are substantially more likely to make the purchase. Further, plaintiffs claim, Best Buy deceptively promotes “limited-time” offers that it knows will be extended or never end, creating a false sense of urgency for customers that pushes them to buy its products.
January 23, 2025 – Labor & Employment
Staffing Firm Sues Rivals for Classifying Workers as Independent Contractors
A hospitality staffing firm has filed a lawsuit accusing several competitors of misclassifying their workers as independent contractors, who are cheaper than employees, thus allowing rivals to gain a competitive advantage.
The Party Staff Inc., one of California’s largest staffing firms, claims in its suit filed in San Francisco Superior Court that app-based “gig” services, including defendants Qwick, Instawork, Tend, and Nowsta, can offer lower prices because they do not have to pay the minimum wage, overtime, and payroll taxes or maintain workers’ compensation insurance. And, plaintiff adds, major food service firms Aramark and Guckenheimer Enterprises, who are also defendants in the suit, profit from the staffing firms’ practices by contracting with them to provide workers for catered events.
“Plaintiff, which has complied with the law by classifying its workers as employees, has had its business significantly undercut by Defendants’ actions and has lost numerous clients as a result, significantly impacting its revenue,” the plaintiff argues.
January 22, 2025 – Voting Rights
Justice Dep’t Claims City’s ‘At-Large’ Election System Discriminates Against Hispanic Voters
The U.S. Justice Department has filed a civil action seeking to have the court declare that Pennsylvania city Hazleton’s method of electing council members citywide instead of by districts has illegally diluted the political power of the city’s growing Hispanic population.
The Justice Department, in its lawsuit filed in federal court in Scranton, Pa., alleges that the “at-large” system “results in Hispanic citizens not having an equal opportunity to participate in the political process and to elect candidates of their choice,” a violation of the federal Voting Rights Act. Hispanic voting-age citizens make up more than 40% of the city’s electorate but routinely lose city council elections.
The complaint argues that changing the method of election can create opportunities for Hispanic voters to elect candidates of their choice to the Hazleton City Council. For example, the complaint says, by electing council members from single-member districts, Hispanic voters would have an opportunity to elect at least two members of the five-member city council. The suit seeks a federal court order implementing a new method of council elections.
January 21, 2025 – Consumer Fraud
P&G Faces Suit Alleging It Deceptively Marketed Sleep Products as ‘Natural’
The Procter & Gamble Co. has been hit with a proposed class action filed in San Diego federal court, accusing the company of falsely advertising its “PURE Zzzs” melatonin products as helping consumers “fall asleep naturally” when in fact the products contain synthetic ingredients.
The complaint states that P&G’s advertising misleads reasonable consumers who rely on the “natural” representations when purchasing the sleep aids. The synthetic ingredients, the complaint argues, cannot “naturally” help someone sleep. Plaintiff in her lawsuit highlights consumer reliance on the term “natural,” saying that the synthetic production of melatonin contradicts the product’s core marketing message.
Plaintiff says she would not have bought the items had she known they contained artificial ingredients. She seeks to halt what she describes as P&G’s deceptive “greenwashing” practices, calling for corrective advertising to prevent consumers from being misled about the nature of the products.
January 20, 2025 – Securities
BioAge Said to Mislead Investors on Weight Loss Trial Before IPO
Biopharmaceutical company BioAge Labs Inc. and its executives have been accused of misleading investors ahead of its 2024 initial public offering (IPO) about an experimental clinical weight-loss drug trial that was ended by liver damage concerns, sending the stock down 77%.
BioAge’s September IPO registration statement had projected an air of safety regarding the phase 2 trial, including that it expected “topline results in the third quarter of 2025″ and was entering a collaboration with a reputable pharmaceutical company, Eli Lilly, according to the complaint filed in San Francisco federal court.
BioAge’s IPO filings, the complaint asserts, portrayed the drug as promising, citing its potential to “recapitulate the metabolic benefits of exercise.” Investors were assured of collaboration with Lilly’s clinical experts and anticipated “topline results in 2025,” with no mention of possible adverse effects observed in preclinical studies or prior trials. Following the trial’s discontinuation, the complaint says, BioAge’s stock price plummeted from $20.09 to $4.65 per share, leaving investors with significant losses.
January 17, 2025 – Intellectual Property
Woods-McIlroy Golf League Sues to Establish Right to Use ‘LA Golf Club’
A professional virtual golf league created by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy has sued a golf equipment company on the eve of the league’s launch to secure rights to use “LA Golf Club” as a team name.
Plaintiff TGL Golf Holdings accuses equipment company LA Golf Partners (LAGP) of failing to properly object to plaintiff’s trademark registrations but claiming infringement just four days before the league’s launch and eight months after its last communication, according to the complaint filed in federal court in Wilmington, Del.
In its lawsuit, TGL contends that its use of trademarks such as “Los Angeles Golf Club” does not infringe on LAGP’s rights, as the abbreviation “LA” is geographically descriptive and widely associated with Los Angeles, citing other sports teams using similar nomenclature. The new league, the complaint says, features six teams from major cities, combining PGA Tour talent with advanced technology in a virtual golf format.
January 16, 2025 – Cybersecurity
H&R Block Faces Lawsuit Over Data Breach Impacting Thousands
Tax-preparation service H&R Block Inc. negligently failed to protect the personal information of more than 23,000 people that was exposed in a data breach that lasted nearly three months, alleges a proposed class action filed in federal court in Kansas City, Mo.
Plaintiff claims in his lawsuit that H&R Block breached its duties under federal and state law in failing to implement reasonable and adequate data-security measures and provide timely notice of the breach. The breach, which occurred between May and August 2024, allowed cybercriminals to access unencrypted data, including Social Security numbers and financial records, putting thousands at risk of identity theft, plaintiff claims.
The stolen data, according to the complaint, has already appeared on the dark web, where victims face increased risks of identity theft and fraud, with potential misuse ranging from fraudulent loans to unauthorized tax filings. Plaintiff seeks damages for invasion of privacy, time spent mitigating risks, and diminished value of personal information.
January 15, 2025 – Housing
Consumer Bureau Accuses Vanderbilt Mortgage of Predatory Lending Practices
The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has filed a lawsuit against Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance Inc., alleging the company made irresponsible loans to vulnerable borrowers, in violation of federal law.
In its suit filed in federal court in the Eastern District of Tennessee, the CFPB alleges that Vanderbilt, a mortgage finance firm specializing in manufactured-home financing, failed to determine whether borrowers could reasonably repay their loans. “Vanderbilt saddled borrowers in the greatest need with mortgages that they couldn’t reasonably afford to repay,” the complaint states. Vanderbilt is owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate.
According to the CFBP, Vanderbilt’s underwriting process relied on unrealistic expense estimates and disregarded borrowers’ existing financial difficulties. These practices, the suit says, led to widespread delinquencies and home repossessions, with borrowers subjected to late fees, penalties, and, in some cases, bankruptcy due to the loans’ unaffordability. The agency seeks restitution for affected consumers and the prevention of future violations of the Truth in Lending Act and the Consumer Financial Protection Act.
January 14, 2025 – Product Liability
Power Tool Manufacturer Faces Lawsuit Over Allegedly Fire-Prone Batteries
A Chinese power tool manufacturer that does business in the U.S. and Canada has been hit with a proposed class action in Chicago federal court, claiming that its “SKIL PWRCore” 40-volt lithium-ion batteries are a fire hazard.
Plaintiff says in his lawsuit that he intended to purchase a product that would be safe for normal use, “but instead was sold a dangerous fire hazard that eventually overheated and melted.” Defendant in the suit is Chevron North America, which imports from China a number of electric construction and landscaping tools, as well as lithium-ion batteries through associated brands like EGO, SKIL, FLEX, DEVON, and X-TRON.
The complaint notes the recall of Chervon’s 40-volt lithium batteries for SKIL brand lawnmowers and other outdoor tools issued Dec.19 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The suit seeks damages for defective design, failure to warn, and breach of warranty, among other claims. It further alleges that Chervon failed to adopt alternative designs that could have mitigated the hazard.
January 13, 2025 – Consumer Fraud
Lawsuit Alleges False Advertising of Similac and PediaSure Infant Formulas
Abbott Laboratories, manufacturer of Similac and PediaSure nutritional formulas, faces a proposed class action from parents alleging that the company’s “toddler milk” products, marketed as essential for children over one year old, are nutritionally unnecessary and exploit parental concerns about child development.
The products at issue are Similac “Go & Grow” and PediaSure “Grow & Gain,” which are both marketed toward toddlers 12 months or older, according to the complaint filed in San Francisco federal court. While the U.S. Food & Drug Administration has established nutritional and labeling standards for infant formula, the complaint says, these regulations apply only to products intended for children under 12 months of age.
In their lawsuit, plaintiffs argue that this gap in regulation results in children over one year old consuming products of questionable nutritional value, as Abbott adds sugar and other unhealthy ingredients to its toddler milk products. Plaintiffs accuse Abbott of taking advantage of parents’ desire to provide healthy food options for their children but, as a result, pulling them away from breast milk and other options scientifically proven to be nutritional.
January 10, 2025 – Environment
Maryland Files Lawsuit Against W.L. Gore Over “Forever Chemicals” Pollution
Maryland has filed a lawsuit against W.L. Gore & Associates, accusing the company of contaminating state resources with “forever chemicals” (PFAS) used in the production of raincoats and other outdoor gear.
According to the complaint filed in federal court in Baltimore, Md., Gore’s operations released PFAS into the environment through multiple pathways. The chemicals, the complaint says, have contaminated soil, groundwater, surface water, and drinking water, threatening public health and natural resources.
The state asserts in its lawsuit that Gore was aware of the dangers of PFAS as early as the 1960s but concealed the risks to protect its corporate image. “Gore knew that PFAS … were persistent and would remain in the environment for hundreds of years, leaving a toxic legacy for generations to come,” the suit contends. “The people of Maryland should not bear the cost of cleaning up pollution caused by corporate negligence.”
January 9, 2025 – College Athletics
Texas Sues NCAA Over Transgender Competition in Women’s Sports
The State of Texas has sued the National Collegiate Athletics Association over its policies allowing some transgender athletes to compete in women’s athletic competitions, accusing the NCAA of false advertising by allowing “biological males” to compete in events labeled as women’s competitions.
In its lawsuit filed in Lubbock County District Court, Texas claims that the NCAA’s policy allowing some transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports violates the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The state seeks a permanent injunction barring the NCAA from allowing transgender women to compete on women’s sports teams at Texas colleges or in women’s sporting events in Texas.
Texas says that allowing male athletes in women’s competitions disadvantages female participants, depriving them of titles, scholarships, and fair competition opportunities. “Men competing in women’s sports,” the state argues, “is inherently unfair and unsafe due to their [males’] physiological advantages.” Alternatively, Texas asks that the court prohibit the NCAA from using the term “women” in relation to teams or competitions in Texas where transgender women are allowed to compete.
January 8, 2025 – Healthcare
Justice Dep’t Accuses CVS of Boosting Profits Through Excessive Opioid Prescriptions
The U.S. Department of Justice has sued CVS, claiming that the pharmaceutical chain “fed dependence and addiction” on opioids when it filled excessive prescriptions and then asked federal health insurance programs to pay for them.
According to the complaint filed in federal court in the District of Rhode Island, CVS “knowingly filled prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose, were not valid, and/or were not issued in the usual course of professional practice.” In its lawsuit, the Justice Department claims that the scheme dates back over a decade, and involves invalid prescriptions for “dangerous and excessive quantities” of opioids and early fills of the drugs.
Many of the illicit prescriptions, the Justice Department says, were done for prescribers whom CVS knew to be engaged in “pill mill practices,” loosely prescribing controlled substance prescriptions without a sufficient purpose. CVS ignored explicit warnings from their own pharmacists who urged the company not to fill any more prescriptions from suspicious prescribers, the department alleges.
January 7, 2025 – Consumer Fraud
Hair Loss Alleged to Be Caused by Mielle Organics
In a proposed class action, plaintiffs claim Mielle Organics Hair Oil does not work as advertised, and ingredients in the product can cause users to lose their hair.
Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Strengthening Hair Oil is marketed as a cosmetic product that is beneficial for hair growth, by strengthening hair strands and nourishing the scalp, according to the complaint filed in Chicago federal court. However, the complaint says the manufacturers knew or should have known about problems with certain ingredients in the product yet failed to adequately disclose the risk.
“No reasonable consumer would have paid any amount for cosmetic Products that contained ingredients causing hair loss and other injuries,” the complaint states, adding that in addition to hair loss, the product can cause blisters and sores on the scalp and is not fit to be sold on the market to unsuspecting consumers. The suit advances claims of fraud, unjust enrichment, and violation of state and federal consumer fraud laws.
January 6, 2025 – Product Liability
Video Games Addiction Lawsuit Says Minors Are Intentionally Targeted
Plaintiff alleges that the popular online video games Roblox and Fortnite are intentionally designed and marketed to minors, with little regard for the potential risks they pose to children’s health, including potential brain damage, cognitive decline, and other adverse effects.
Roblox is an online gaming platform that allows players to explore virtual worlds, create their own games, and interact with others, featuring customizable avatars and in-game purchases, according to the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. Fortnite combines competitive gameplay with creative modes, offering players the ability to purchase character upgrades and exclusive content.
The lawsuit seeks damages from Roblox Corp., Epic Games, and other unnamed defendants, claiming that the games are designed with addictive features and exploitative monetization strategies that target minors, leading to significant physical, mental, and financial harm, including the promotion of excessive in-game purchases.
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DEC 23 – JAN 4, 2025
December 20, 2024 – Antitrust
Justice Department Sues Visa for Allegedly Monopolizing Debit Card Market
The U.S. Justice Department has filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Visa, accusing the company of monopolization and other unlawful conduct in debit network markets in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.
According to the complaint filed in Manhattan federal court, Visa illegally maintains a monopoly over debit network markets by using its dominance to thwart the growth of its existing competitors and to prevent others from developing new and innovative alternatives. More than 60% of debit transactions in the United States run on Visa’s debit network, the complaint says, allowing it to charge over $7 billion in fees each year for processing those transactions.
In its suit, the Justice Department alleges that Visa illegally maintains its monopoly power by insulating itself from competition. For example, the department says, Visa wields its dominance, enormous scale, and centrality to the debit ecosystem to impose a “web of exclusionary agreements on merchants and banks.” These agreements penalize Visa’s customers who route transactions to a different debit network or alternative payment system. In so doing, the complaint contends, Visa “locks up debit volume, insulates itself from competition, and smothers smaller, lower-priced competitors.”
December 19, 2024 – Labor & Employment
Coach Failed to Provide Advance Notice Before Worker Layoffs, Lawsuit Alleges
Proposed class action claims bus company Coach USA failed to give employees at least 60 days’ advance notice prior to a mass layoff in August 2024.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in the District of New Jersey by three plaintiffs who worked as bus drivers for the company, which is owned by defendant Variant Equity Advisors. In their suit, plaintiffs claim that Coach violated the federal Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification (WARN) Act when it terminated them and at least 50 other full-time employees without proper advance notice.
In addition, according to the complaint, Coach failed to give employees severance pay equal to one week of wages for each year of their employment, in violation of the WARN Act. Following the layoff, the complaint says, the company also unlawfully neglected to pay workers all compensation due, including their respective wages, salaries, commissions, and bonuses.
December 18, 2024 – Product Liability
Intel Core Processors Alleged to Have ‘Chronic Instability Issues’
A proposed class action has been filed against semiconductor manufacturer Intel, claiming the company has known about defects with its Raptor Lake core processors since at least 2022 but has refused to repair or replace computers damaged by the issue.
Intel Raptor Lake is the codename for the company’s 13th and 14th generation core processors, which were first released on October 20, 2022, according to the complaint filed in federal court in the District of Delaware. The core processors, the complaint says, are a key component of a computer’s central processing unit, which carries out various instructions and performs calculations that allow the system to work.
In their lawsuit, plaintiffs allege that shortly after the Raptor Lake processors were released, problems began to emerge, including reports of elevated voltage in computers when they were idling or in light activity periods, which can cause permanent damage to machines running the processors. Intel knew about the “chronic instability issues” with the chips since at least late 2022, plaintiffs contend, but has refused to address the problems or issue a recall for the processors, as part of an effort to maximize profits at the expense of customers.
December 17, 2024 – Intellectual Property
Google Sued for Trademark Violation Over ‘Gemini’ AI System
Google faces a lawsuit filed in San Francisco federal court over its Gemini artificial intelligence system, the suit filed by an AI company that claims to have trademark rights to the “Gemini” name.
The plaintiff, Gemini Data Co., alleges trademark infringement and unfair competition, and asks the court to bar Google from continued use of the “Gemini” name and to award unspecified monetary damages.
In its suit, plaintiff claims Google “knowingly and willfully” violated Gemini Data’s intellectual property rights by co-opting “Gemini” to brand Google’s AI system. Plaintiff, which makes an AI assistant platform, says Google’s use of the term would confuse consumers. The suit notes that Google was denied a trademark registration for “Gemini” at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office based on likely confusion with Gemini Data’s marks.
December 16, 2024 – Disability Act
FedEx Sidelines or Fires Employees With Disabilities, EEOC Claims
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sued FedEx, accusing the company of placing disabled transport workers on unpaid leave or firing them if they were not “100% healed.”
The lawsuit, filed in Minnesota federal court, accuses FedEx of disability discrimination against a nationwide class of ramp transport drivers who carry cargo between airport ramps and terminals. The EEOC alleges in its suit that since at least 2019, FedEx has had a policy of requiring the drivers to be completely healed before returning to work, rather than granting them accommodations as required by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
The EEOC says its civil action stems from complaints filed with the agency by a Minneapolis-based driver who claims she was fired in 2021 because she has chronic back pain and a Las Vegas-based driver who fractured her vertebrae in a work-related accident and has been on unpaid leave since November 2022. FedEx’s “100% healed policies” cost workers their livelihoods without giving consideration to their specific circumstances, the agency says.
December 13, 2024 – Product Liability
Jeep 2021-2023 Wrangler and Gladiator Vehicles Pose Fire Risk, Lawsuit Alleges
Four Jeep owners have joined in a proposed class action in Detroit federal court, following the launch of a federal investigation that is looking into why certain Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles from recent model years are spontaneously catching fire.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began its investigation into 2021 to 2023 Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator vehicles following a number of reports involving spontaneous engine fires occurring while the vehicles are moving, or when they are parked and turned off, according to the complaint. The ongoing investigation, the complaint says, has found evidence suggesting that the problems may be the result of a defective part in the Jeep vehicles, which appears to be the power steering pump electrical connector.
Plaintiffs in their lawsuit argue that Jeep’s parent company, FCA US, should have known about the fire risk in the Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles, but has failed to issue a recall despite the ongoing NHTSA investigation.
December 12, 2024 – Constitution
Publishing Companies and Authors File Suit Over Florida Book Bans
Some of the nation’s largest publishing companies and bestselling young adult authors have filed a lawsuit challenging as unconstitutional a Florida law regulating books in school libraries.
Plaintiffs — including Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, authors John Green, Jodi Picoult, Laurie Halse Anderson, and others — filed the suit in federal court in Orlando, Fla., against Florida state education officials and Orange County and Volusia County School Boards. In their suit, plaintiffs seek to block state law HB 1069, which gives parents more control over what books are allowed in school libraries.
The law, according to the complaint, bans school books that are considered pornographic or inappropriate and requires schools to catalog their materials, as well as create a process for adults to challenge books they object to. HB 1069 violates the First Amendment rights of publishers and authors by imposing “a regime of strict censorship in school libraries,” the complaint argues, noting that hundreds of books that are not inappropriate are being pulled, including such classics as Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” Leo Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina,” Ernest Hemingway’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” and Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughter-House Five.”
December 11, 2024 – Antitrust
Justice Dep’t Accuses RealPage of Enabling Collusion on Rents
The U.S. Justice Department has filed a civil action against real estate software company RealPage, accusing it of creating an illegal pricing scheme to charge tenants more in rent.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in the Middle District of North Carolina, asserts that RealPage facilitated a price-fixing conspiracy that boosted rents beyond market forces for millions of people. The suit was joined by the states of North Carolina, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington.
RealPage’s software, YieldStar, gathers confidential real estate information, according to the Justice Department’s complaint. Landlords pay to use the software, the complaint says, and then share information about rents and occupancy rates that is otherwise confidential. Based on that data, an algorithm generates suggestions for what landlords should charge renters, and those figures are often higher than they would be in a competitive market, the department alleges.
December 10, 2024 – Cybersecurity
National Public Data Faces Lawsuit Alleging Data Breach Affecting Nearly 3 Billion Personal Records
Background check firm National Public Data has been hit with a proposed class action that claims deficient cybersecurity on its part resulted in a “foreseeable and preventable” data breach in which nearly 3 billion customer records were compromised.
According to the complaint filed in Miami federal court, the cyberattack, which first was detected in December 2023, impacted the personal information of its clients’ customers, compromising individuals’ full names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and other sensitive data. In her lawsuit, plaintiff claims that since the cyberattack, she has been informed by TurboTax and Experian that her private data has been disseminated on the dark web.
Plaintiff contends that Jerico Pictures Inc. — which does business as National Public Data — could have prevented the incident had the company properly secured its computer network against cyberattacks. The company failed to implement data security protocols appropriate to the nature of the confidential information in its care and instead maintained, used, and shared the data in a “reckless manner,” plaintiff argues, noting that victims like her now face an ongoing threat of being targeted for cybercrimes.
December 9, 2024 – Product Liability
3M Faces Lawsuit Over ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Carpets and Rugs
3M Co., along with Corteva Co. and Chemours Inc., has been accused in a proposed class action filed in Minnesota federal court of covering up the health risks of “forever chemicals” used in carpets and rugs nationwide.
The lawsuit seeks to represent a class of everyone in the United States who bought and installed carpets before 2020 in buildings they own. It alleges PFAS — known as “forever chemicals” — made by the defendants, were used in “virtually all” carpets up to that time for stain and water resistance.
In their suit, plaintiffs seek economic damages to remove and replace contaminated carpets, as well as punitive damages, but do not seek personal injury claims. Plaintiffs accuse the companies of violating the Racketeer Influenced & Corrupt Organizations Act, a federal law originally targeting organized crime that also allows civil claims over alleged conspiracies. The suit also includes claims under state consumer protection laws and common law claims of nuisance, failure to warn, and design defect.
December 6, 2024 – Labor & Employment
Justice Department Sues Mississippi State Senate for Race Discrimination
The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the Mississippi State Senate for discriminating against a Black former staff attorney in its Legislative Services Office (LSO).
The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, alleges that the Senate paid her about half the salary of her white colleagues in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII, according to the complaint, prohibits discrimination in compensation and other forms of employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, or religion.
In its complaint, the department claims that the Senate discriminated against the Black attorney by paying her significantly less than every other LSO attorney, all of whom were white. The complaint further charges that she and these other attorneys had substantially the same job responsibilities, and yet she was paid less than these attorneys throughout her eight-year tenure.
December 5, 2024 – Product Liability
Lawsuit Says BMW X1 Suffers from ‘Dangerous’ Rollaway Defect
A proposed class action alleges that 2023-to-present model year BMW X1 vehicles are equipped with powertrains crippled by a potentially deadly “rollaway defect” that can cause the car to roll in a direction opposite of the selected gear or fail to respond to throttle input.
According to the complaint filed in federal court in Charlottesville, Va., the X1 models at issue are equipped with a 2.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine and seven-speed DCT Steptronic transmission that features fully electromechanical gearshift actuation and electrohydraulic dual-clutch engagement. Despite the transmission’s advanced design, the complaint says, it has exhibited several “operational deficiencies,” particularly at low speeds and in transition between drive, neutral, and reverse gears.
In their lawsuit, plaintiffs claim that the alleged BMW rollaway defect is a potentially life-threatening safety issue for which the automaker has refused to initiate a recall or offer replacement powertrains. One of the “primary symptoms” of the rollaway defect, plaintiffs say, is a pronounced delay in acceleration, which can be especially dangerous in situations that call for immediate acceleration, such as merging into traffic or avoiding sudden obstacles.
December 4, 2024 – Consumer Fraud
Walmart Charged More at Checkout Than Advertised on Pricing Stickers, Lawsuit Says
Walmart has charged higher prices for certain merchandise at the register than what is advertised on its product stickers, alleges a proposed class action filed in federal court in the Western District of Arkansas.
In her suit, plaintiff says that on February 1, 2024, she went to a Walmart located in Philadelphia to buy Tyson chicken nuggets and Carter’s baby clothing. When she checked out, plaintiff claims, the company’s point-of-sale system “deceptively” inflated the prices of the items beyond what was indicated on their respective price tags.
Such pricing discrepancy issues have occurred at Walmart stores nationwide, according to the complaint, and have misled customers who rely on its pricing stickers to identify the price of a product, determine whether the item is on sale, and compare prices with competing brands. “The information on rollback stickers, price stickers, and yellow stickers is integral to the plaintiff’s and customers’ decisions, as it induces them to purchase the offered products,” the complaint says.
December 3, 2024 – Constitution
Trans Teens File Challenge to New Hampshire Law Banning Them From Girls’ Sports
The families of two transgender teens in New Hampshire have filed a lawsuit challenging a new state law that bans the teens from playing on girls’ sports teams at their public high schools.
The teens each knew from an early age they were girls and had been accepted as such by parents, peers, teammates and coaches, according to the complaint filed in federal court in Concord, N.H.
The suit says both girls have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, feelings of distress due to a mismatch between their birth sex and their gender identity. And both have been taking puberty-blocking medication to prevent bodily changes such as muscle development, facial hair growth, or a deepening voice that might add to that distress. Plaintiffs contend that the law violates constitutional protections and federal laws because the teens are being denied equal educational opportunities and are being discriminated against because they are transgender.
December 2, 2024 – Privacy
Lawsuit Alleges Formula One Secretly Shared Subscribers’ Personal Data With Facebook
A proposed class action filed in Brooklyn federal court accuses Formula One Digital Media Limited of secretly sharing F1 TV subscribers’ personal data with Facebook and Salesforce without consent.
The lawsuit alleges that the Formula One streaming service has violated federal privacy law by “knowingly using tracking technology” on Formula1.com that discloses users’ video-viewing behavior and personally identifying information to unauthorized third parties. According to the complaint, the tracking tools — which include Facebook’s Meta pixel and Salesforce’s application programming interface — automatically record and transmit subscribers’ activity on the website without their knowledge.
Plaintiff contends in his suit that when a subscriber uses the platform, the tracking codes disclose the title and URL of any video the consumer views. Notably, the plaintiff says, this information is sent to Facebook alongside the user’s Facebook ID, which is a unique identifier that can be used to “quickly and easily” locate an individual’s social media account.
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