Case Filings Alert™

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).

May 19, 2025 – Constitution
DOJ Sues New York Over Climate Law Targeting Fossil Fuel Industry
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against New York State over its new Climate Change Superfund Act, calling it an unconstitutional overreach that interferes with federal authority and imposes retroactive penalties on the fossil fuel industry.

In its suit filed in Manhattan federal court, DOJ argues that the state’s new law “usurps the power of the federal government by regulating national and global emissions of greenhouse gases” and seeks to extract $75 billion from fossil fuel companies based on their global emissions from 2000 to 2024. The act “is a transparent monetary-extraction scheme,” DOJ asserts.

According to the complaint, the act imposes strict liability on fossil fuel businesses for their historical emissions and funnels the revenue into infrastructure projects within New York. The DOJ contends that the law infringes on federal foreign policy, disrupts national energy markets, and violates the U.S. Constitution’s Commerce Clause, which grants Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states. “No single State can enact policies for the entire Nation,” the complaint says, warning that other states may follow suit, creating a “chaotic patchwork” of regulation.

May 16, 2025 – Product Liability
Huffy Sued Over Alleged Fire Hazard in Tonka Toy Ride-On Trucks
Two consumers have filed a proposed class action against Huffy Corporation, alleging that its popular Tonka Ride-On Dump Trucks for children pose serious fire and burn hazards.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Cincinnati, Ohio, claims Huffy’s trucks are defective because their controllers can overheat during use, creating a burn risk. “The Products are not fit for their intended use by humans as they expose consumers to a fire hazard,” the suit says, adding that plaintiffs are entitled to damages for the injury sustained in being exposed to such danger.

Approximately 23,600 trucks sold nationwide between June 2023 and March 2025 are affected, according to the complaint. The Consumer Product Safety Commission, the complaint says, issued a recall in April 2025, after receiving reports of smoking and overheating issues. Plaintiffs argue that Huffy misrepresented the safety of its product and failed to warn consumers about its dangers.

May 15, 2025 – False Claims Act
U.S. Accuses Health Insurance Companies and Brokers of Illegal Kickbacks
The U.S. Justice Department has filed a complaint against three of the nation’s largest health insurance companies — Aetna Inc., Elevance Health Inc., (formerly known as Anthem), and Humana Inc. — alleging that the insurers paid hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks to three national brokers, also named as defendants, in exchange for enrollments into the insurers’ Medicare Advantage plans.

Under the Medicare Advantage Program, according to the complaint, Medicare beneficiaries may choose to enroll in health care plans offered by private insurance companies, and many Medicare beneficiaries rely on insurance brokers to help them choose a plan that best meets their individual needs. Rather than acting as unbiased stewards, the complaint says, the defendant brokers directed Medicare beneficiaries to the plans offered by insurers that paid brokers the most in kickbacks, regardless of the suitability of the plans for the beneficiaries.

In its lawsuit filed in Boston federal court, the Justice Department alleges that the broker organizations incentivized their employees and agents to sell plans based on the insurers’ kickbacks, set up teams of insurance agents who could sell only those plans, and at times refused to sell advantage plans of insurers who did not pay sufficient kickbacks. The department further claims that defendants Aetna and Humana each conspired with the broker defendants to discriminate against Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities whom they perceived to be less profitable.

May 13, 2025 – Insurance
Plaintiff Challenges Health Plan’s Denial of Wilderness Therapy Coverage
A mother has sued Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island and her mortgage lender employer in federal court in the District of Utah, alleging wrongful denial of nearly $50,000 in mental health treatment for her child under the company’s health plan.

In her lawsuit, plaintiff alleges that Blue Cross & Blue Shield improperly denied coverage for treatment at Aspiro Adventure Therapy, the insurer claiming the program was excluded as a “wilderness program.” The suit argues that Aspiro provided medically necessary intermediate behavioral health care and was not recreational therapy, as excluded by the plan.

Plaintiff contends that the insurer failed to identify any specific plan language justifying the denial and later retroactively cited a general exclusion. “It has been determined that Wilderness Programs are excluded from coverage,” the insurer’s denial letter stated, according to the complaint, which noted that Aspiro was licensed and accredited, and did not employ recreational therapists.

May 12, 2025 – Intellectual Property
Omron Sued for Patent Infringement Over Air Filter Technology
Clean Alert Innovations has filed an infringement lawsuit against Japanese electronics giant Omron Corporation, alleging unauthorized use of plaintiff’s patented air filter clog detection technology.

The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, accuses Omron of infringing a U.S. patent titled “Clogging detector for air filter.” Clean Alert claims Omron has sold products that utilize the technology claimed by plaintiff’s patent, both in the U.S. and abroad.

Clean Alert says in its suit that the technology was developed by Dr. Jacob Fraden, a prolific inventor with over 60 patents. According to the complaint, Omron has been made aware of the alleged infringement, yet “continues to make, use, test, sell, offer for sale, market, and/or import” the infringing products. Plaintiff seeks damages, attorneys’ fees, and a jury trial.

May 9, 2025 – Securities
Elanco Animal Health Sued Over Alleged Concealment of Canine Drug Risks
A shareholder has filed a stockholder lawsuit against Elanco Animal Health Incorporated, alleging the company’s executives concealed serious safety issues with its new canine allergy drug, Zenrelia, resulting in significant financial losses.

Elanco Animal Health is an American pharmaceutical company that produces medicines and vaccinations for pets and livestock, according to the complaint filed in Baltimore federal court. In his suit, plaintiff accuses Elanco’s executives and directors of “breaches of their fiduciary duties,” “gross mismanagement,” and violations of federal securities laws during the period from May 9, 2023, to June 26, 2024.

The suit claims that Elanco concealed from investors that a vaccine response study of Zenrelia found “critical health problems” and two euthanized dogs, undermining claims that the drug was safe and on track for FDA approval. Thus, the suit argues, Elanco’s leadership “materially overstated the financial prospects” of Zenrelia and in doing so acted unlawfully under securities law.

May 8, 2025 – ERISA
UnitedHealth Accused of Misusing 401(k) Plan Assets to Reduce Its Own Costs
A group of former and current employees has filed a proposed class action accusing UnitedHealth Group and its 401(k) Plan Committee of violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) by diverting forfeited employee retirement funds to lower the company’s own contribution obligations.

Plaintiffs allege in their lawsuit that UnitedHealth “utilized the Plan’s forfeitures … to benefit themselves by reducing their future employer contributions to the Plan,” a move plaintiffs claim violates ERISA’s duties of loyalty and prudence. Forfeitures are unvested funds left behind when employees leave the company before fully vesting, and plaintiffs argue that these should have been used to reduce participant expenses.

From 2019 through 2023, UnitedHealth allegedly redirected over $19 million in forfeitures to offset its own matching contributions instead of covering administrative costs that would otherwise come out of employee accounts, according to the complaint filed in federal court in the District of Minnesota. The suit claims that these actions represent not only breaches of fiduciary duty but also prohibited self-dealing transactions under ERISA.

May 7, 2025 – Product Liability
Online Platforms Roblox and Discord Accused of Enabling Child Sexual Exploitation
A Florida minor has filed a lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court alleging that online gaming platforms Roblox and Discord facilitated her sexual exploitation by a predator, accusing the companies of prioritizing profits over child safety.

Roblox and Discord knowingly created unsafe environments that allowed predators to groom children and “coerce [them] into sending sexually explicit images or meeting in person,” according to the complaint. The plaintiff, now barely an adult, says she was exploited through both platforms as a minor.

The suit accuses Roblox of “design[ing], build[ing], and maintain[ing] a toxic environment” rife with simulated sexual content, digital “condo games,” and in-game currency that predators exploit to manipulate children. Similarly, the complaint says, Discord “provides a hunting ground for child-sex predators” and enables abuse by allowing unfiltered voice, video, and text communication. Plaintiff asserts that both companies “lure parents into believing their apps are appropriate places for children to play,” while failing to implement meaningful safety protocols.

May 6, 2025 – Securities
Nike Hit With Lawsuit Over Alleged NFT “Rug Pull”
Nike is facing a proposed class action accusing it of promoting unregistered securities in the form of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and then abruptly shutting down its crypto subsidiary, devastating investors.

In a complaint filed in Brooklyn federal court, plaintiff alleges that Nike used its brand “to hype, promote, and prop up” the unregistered securities that Nike unit RTFKT (pronounced “artifact”) sold. The complaint claims that Nike-themed NFTs were marketed with the promise of rewards and physical products, driving up their value, before Nike abruptly announced RTFKT’s closure in December 2024, causing prices to plunge.

The lawsuit describes Nike’s actions as a “rug pull,” a term for when promoters abandon a crypto project after raising significant funds. “Plaintiff and others would never have purchased the Nike NFTs at the prices they did, or at all,” had they known about the risks, the suit states. Plaintiff argues that the Nike NFTs met the legal definition of securities and should have been registered with the SEC.

May 5, 2025 – Constitution
Musk’s X Sues to Block Minnesota ‘Deepfake’ Law
Elon Musk’s social media platform X has sued Minnesota over a state law that bans people from using AI-generated “deepfakes” to influence an election, which the company argues violates protections of free speech.

The law replaces social media platforms’ judgment about the content with the judgment of the state and threatens criminal liability if the platforms get it wrong, according to the complaint filed in Minnesota federal court. “This system,” X says, “will inevitably result in the censorship of wide swaths of valuable political speech and commentary. 

In its lawsuit, X asks the court to declare the law in violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, Minnesota’s constitution, and that it was impermissibly vague. X further seeks to have the court find that the law is precluded by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a federal act that protects social media companies from being held liable for content posted by users.

May 2, 2025 – Consumer Fraud
FTC Accuses Uber of Deceptive Billing and Cancellation Practices
The Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit against Uber Technologies Inc., alleging the personal transport company charged consumers for its Uber One subscription service without their consent, failed to deliver promised savings, and made it difficult for users to cancel the service despite its “cancel anytime” promises.

In its complaint filed in San Francisco federal court, the FTC alleges that Uber enrolled users in its $9.99-per-month Uber One membership and charged them without “express informed consent.” And when “signing up” for Uber One, customers are wrongly promised savings of $25 a month. Even if that were true, the complaint argues, Uber does not account for the cost of the subscription when calculating those savings.

Further, the FTC says that after sign-up, Uber charges consumers before their billing date. For example, some consumers who signed up for a free trial say they were automatically charged for the service before the free trial ended, even though Uber promises customers the ability to cancel at no charge during the trial period. And when customers try to cancel, the agency claims, Uber makes it extremely difficult, forcing users to navigate as many as 23 screens and take as many as 32 actions to cancel.

May 1, 2025 – Intellectual Property
Ziff Davis Sues OpenAI Over Alleged AI Misuse of Copyrighted Content
Digital media giant Ziff Davis has filed a lawsuit against artificial intelligence company OpenAI, accusing it of copyright infringement and other intellectual property violations tied to the use of plaintiff’s published content.

Ziff Davis, which owns publications like PCMag, Mashable, IGN, and Everyday Health, alleges that OpenAI “intentionally and relentlessly” copied millions of its articles without permission to train and operate its AI models. The complaint, filed in Delaware federal court, claims that OpenAI “reproduced, distributed, displayed, performed, and made available” Ziff Davis content in both verbatim and derivative forms.

The suit also asserts that OpenAI violated the Digital Millennium Copyright Act by removing copyright management information and bypassing anti-scraping directives like robots.txt. Ziff Davis contends that OpenAI’s scraping of its content even escalated after the media company explicitly demanded it stop. The suit follows other recent legal challenges from publishers and authors accusing AI firms of misappropriating their content.

April 30, 2025 – Cybersecurity
Sam’s Club Faces Lawsuit Over Data Breach Exposing Customer and Employee Information
A former employee of Walmart subsidiary Sam’s Club has filed a proposed class action accusing the retailer and its software vendor, Cleo Communications, of failing to protect personal information stolen in a 2024 ransomware attack.

Sam’s Club and Cleo Communications “intentionally, willfully, recklessly, or negligently” failed to safeguard sensitive data, plaintiff alleges in her complaint filed in federal court in Rockford, Ill. The information accessed in the breach, plaintiff says, includes names, Social Security numbers, driver’s license data, medical records, and other private identifiers.

Hackers exploited a vulnerability in Cleo’s software and posted Sam’s Club on their dark web leak site in March 2025, according to the complaint. The breach occurred between October and December 2024, the complaint says, and affected customers and employees whose data was maintained by the defendants. “The Private Information compromised in the Data Breach was exfiltrated by cybercriminals and remains in the hands of those cybercriminals who target Private Information for its value to identity thieves,” the suit states.

April 29, 2025 – Constitution
California Sues Trump Over Sweeping Tariff Orders, Citing Abuse of Emergency Powers
California has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump, challenging his sweeping 2025 tariff regime as unconstitutional and beyond the powers granted by law.

The suit filed in San Francisco federal court seeks to block a series of tariffs imposed by President Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which the state argues does not authorize the president to levy taxes on imports. “IEEPA provides no such clear congressional authorization for President Trump’s tariffs,” the complaint asserts.

The tariffs, according to the complaint, include a 10% universal tariff on all imports, punitive tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese goods, and additional levies on Canada and Mexico — California’s top three trading partners. In its suit, California contends that the tariffs infringe on congressional authority, citing the Constitution’s grant of taxing power to Congress and accusing Trump of “rule by fiat.” The complaint seeks to void the executive orders and block enforcement by federal agencies, saying that the tariffs violate both statutory limits under IEEPA and the constitutional separation of powers doctrine.

April 28, 2025 – Consumer Fraud
Toxic Chemicals Found in Certain ‘Natural’ Chobani Yogurts, Lawsuit Alleges
A proposed class action claims that toxic chemicals were found in Chobani nonfat plain Greek yogurt and Chobani whole milk plain Greek yogurt.

The lawsuit filed in San Diego federal court asserts that Chobani has misled consumers by advertising that the yogurts contain “only natural ingredients” when, in reality, testing by an independent research organization has detected the presence of man-made plastic chemicals in the products.

According to the complaint, the test results showed that the Chobani yogurts contained four types of phthalates, a class of chemicals used in plastics to make them more flexible and durable. The complaint says that phthalates are endocrine disruptors —meaning they interfere with the body’s hormones. Phthalates are also associated with cancer, respiratory problems, neurological effects, and other adverse health issues, the complaint says, noting that the phthalates detected in the Chobani yogurt likely originated from the products’ plastic containers and leached into the yogurt over time.

April 25, 2025 – Product Liability
DeWalt Portable Heaters Said to Overheat, Catch Fire
Enerco Group Inc., manufacturer of DeWalt portable cordless heaters, faces a proposed class action alleging that the heaters can overheat and catch fire, posing a fire and burn hazard.

According to the complaint filed in Cleveland federal court, plaintiff purchased one of the 70,000 BTU outdoor portable cordless forced-air propane heaters sold exclusively at Lowe’s between May 2024 and January 2025. The heater’s design and instructions can lead to improper fan startup, the complaint states, causing it to overheat and catch fire. “Plaintiff intended to purchase a Product that would be safe for normal use, but instead was sold a dangerous fire hazard that eventually overheated,” the lawsuit says.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of the product on April 3, 2025, after receiving multiple reports of thermal incidents, the complaint says. Plaintiff argues in his suit that Enerco had access to safer alternatives and failed to warn consumers despite knowing of the defect. “The Products are adulterated, defective, worthless, and unfit for human use due to the risk of catching fire,” plaintiff contends.

April 24, 2025 – Civil Rights
Administration Sues Maine Over Participation of Transgender Athletes in Girls’ Sports
The Trump administration has sued the state of Maine for not complying with the administration’s executive order that banned transgender athletes in girls and women’s sports, alleging that the state’s action violates federal law that bars discrimination in education based on sex.

In its lawsuit, the government claims that Maine, in allowing transgender girls to participate on girls’ teams, is violating Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. “The undeniable physiological differences between males and females provide boys with inherent advantages in strength, speed, and physicality that pre-determine the outcome of athletic contests,” according to the government’s complaint filed in federal court in Maine.

“This discrimination is not only unfair,” the complaint states, “but also demeaning, signaling to girls that their opportunities and achievements are secondary to accommodating others,” Further, the government argues, “It erodes the integrity of girls’ sports, diminishes their competitive experience and undermines the very purpose of Title IX: to provide equal access to educational benefits, including athletics.”

April 23, 2025 – Antitrust
Sandoz Sues Amgen for Allegedly Blocking Competition for Arthritis Drug Enbre
Generic drugmaker Sandoz has filed an antitrust lawsuit against biotech company Amgen, accusing it of unlawfully extending its monopoly over the arthritis drug Enbrel by blocking lower-cost biosimilar alternatives.

Amgen “unlawfully purchased patent rights from a would-be competitor” and used them “to further entrench and extend its monopoly power, according to the suit filed in federal court in Norfolk, Va. Amgen’s conduct, Sandoz claims, prevented its FDA-approved biosimilar drug, Erelzi, from entering the U.S. market.

The complaint states that Amgen has reaped more than $86 billion in cumulative worldwide Enbrel sales, including $3.288 billion in 2024 alone. Meanwhile, the complaint says, Sandoz has lost over $1 billion in potential Erelzi sales and continues to lose millions monthly due to Amgen’s conduct. Sandoz calls on the court to end Amgen’s “unchecked monopoly power” and allow biosimilar competition to benefit patients and reduce drug prices.

April 22, 2025 – Environment
Alaska Tribes Sue to Block Gold Mining Project in ‘Pristine’ Estuary
Three Alaska Native tribes have sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, alleging the agency illegally approved a gold mining project that threatens critical ecological and cultural resources in the Bonanza Channel estuary.

Plaintiffs — the Village of Solomon, Native Village of Council, and King Island Native Community — filed suit in federal court in Anchorage to halt a massive suction dredge mining operation that would discharge 4.5 million cubic yards of fill into 160 acres over five years, posing “a significant threat to the cultural practices and subsistence resources upon which the tribes and their members and citizens rely,” according to the complaint. The lawsuit claims that the Corps violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, resulting in a permit being issued without fully evaluating the project’s impacts.

The planned operation, the tribes say in their suit, would be Alaska’s first suction dredge mine — a mining technique used to extract materials from the bottom of bodies of water— in an estuary or lagoon system. Tribal leaders note that the Bonanza Channel is a biologically rich area essential to salmon, migratory birds, and traditional subsistence harvesting. “The project threatens these uses and resources,” the complaint states, and would irreparably harm tribal interests protected under federal law.

April 21, 2025 – Disabilities Act
Tennessee Lawyers Accused of Filing Thousands of Fake ADA Complaints
Four Oregon business owners allege that two Tennessee law firms orchestrated a scheme to file thousands of fraudulent demand letters and lawsuits against small businesses across 15 states with phony claims brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The Oregon businesses claim in their racketeering lawsuit filed in federal court in Portland, Ore., that the lawyers worked together to hire disabled people to “unwittingly serve as fraudulent ‘testers’ of local businesses for ADA compliance purposes.” In doing so, plaintiffs say, the disabled people were paid $200 for every business they visited, though they weren’t required to test or inspect the premises.

The businesses say, according to the complaint, that the lawyers told the allegedly fake testers to merely visit a specific property, purchase an item, and upload the receipt into the lawyers’ database. The testers were further told that “there is no need for you to inspect anything, because that has already been done.” The complaint argues that these actions constitute a violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

April 18, 2025 – Privacy
Parents Challenge Google Over Alleged Data Harvesting from Schoolchildren
Google secretly collects and monetizes personal data from millions of K-12 students across the United States without proper consent from parents, alleges a proposed class action filed in San Francisco federal court.

According to the complaint, Google has built “a multitrillion-dollar empire by monetizing vast troves of personal information,” including data collected from children using products like Chromebooks and Google Workspace for Education. Plaintiffs — parents from Maryland, Oregon, and California — claim in their lawsuit that this data collection happens without the informed, voluntary parental consent required by law and in violation of children’s privacy rights.

Plaintiffs argue that Google’s K-12 products are “designed and optimized to generate and collect student data,” including detailed profiles built from students’ internet activity, communications, location, and even keystrokes. “Google surreptitiously surveils students and continually extracts their personal information,” the complaint states, accusing the company of deploying invasive tracking technologies like browser fingerprinting.

April 17, 2025 – Intellectual Property
Coach Sues Quince for Allegedly Copying ‘Iconic’ Handbag Designs
Luxury fashion house Coach has filed a lawsuit against direct-to-consumer brand Quince, accusing it of infringing on the trade dress design of two of Coach’s most recognizable handbags.

Filed in San Francisco federal court, the suit claims that Quince’s handbags “bear marks identical, substantially indistinguishable, or confusingly similar” to Coach’s protected Rogue and Soho Flap bag designs. Coach, owned by Tapestry Inc., claims in its suit that the imitations were made “to exploit Coach’s goodwill and the reputation” of its high-end products.

Coach identifies the allegedly infringing items as Quince’s “Italian Leather Medium Convertible Satchel” and “Italian Leather Buckle Detail Shoulder Bag.” Coach asserts that these designs replicate distinctive, non-functional elements of the Rogue and Soho lines — details like specific stitching patterns, strap designs, and buckles — without authorization or license.

April 16, 2025 – Product Liability
Lawsuit Alleges Kia Sorento Front Passenger Seat Defects Caused Severe Injury
Plaintiff claims she was paralyzed when the front passenger seat where she was riding in her 2022 Kia Sorento vehicle suddenly collapsed after being rear-ended by a pickup truck.

The impact allegedly caused the front passenger seat to collapse, leaving plaintiff permanently paralyzed, according to the lawsuit filed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. When the truck struck the vehicle, the complaint says, the front passenger seat where plaintiff was riding failed to maintain its structural integrity and collapsed.

Plaintiff claims in her suit that the seat collapsed due to design defects. An ordinary driver or passenger, plaintiff argues, would have no way of knowing about the defect, which she attributes to the manufacturer’s inadequate testing and inspection. As a result of the seat collapsing, plaintiff suffered a number of serious injuries, including spinal cord fractures, which led to paraplegia and complete paralysis from the chest down, the suit contends.

April 15, 2025 – Consumer Fraud
Baltimore Accuses DraftKings, FanDuel of ‘Exploiting’ Gambling Addicts
The City of Baltimore has filed a lawsuit against DraftKings and FanDuel, accusing the two dominant sports betting platforms of violating consumer protection laws by deliberately targeting vulnerable users, including those with gambling disorders.

The companies “cheat, hook, and then ultimately exploit” users through deceptive promotions and data-driven targeting strategies, the city claims in its suit filed in Baltimore City Circuit Court. The platforms “use inducements and the design of their product to hook” users on gambling and “relentlessly ping their users to bet and bet often,” resulting in compulsive gambling behaviors, according to the complaint.

The complaint highlights marketing tactics such as $150 in “bonus bets” for new users, which must be used quickly and in increments — practices Baltimore says “create disordered gamblers and then exploit them.” The platforms also track hundreds of behavioral traits to pinpoint users most susceptible to gambling addiction, leveraging algorithms and personalized notifications to maximize profits, the city asserts.

April 14, 2025 – Administrative Procedure Act
States Challenge HHS $11 Billion Cut in Public Health Funds
The Administration’s plan to rescind about $11 billion in federal money previously allocated to the states for mental health and addiction services is unlawful, 23 states and the District of Columbia allege in a lawsuit filed in federal court in the District of Rhode Island.

In their suit, plaintiffs claim that the cuts the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services announced on March 24 with no advance warning will have devastating consequences for communities throughout the country. The sole basis provided for the withdrawal, according to the complaint, was that the government initially appropriated the money through Covid-19-related laws.

But the funding terminations exceed the agency’s statutory and regulatory authority, the complaint asserts, and are unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act. The ending of the pandemic isn’t a lawful “for cause” basis to end the grants, the states contend. They say money can’t be made up using state-only resources, arguing that key public health programs nationwide will have to be dissolved if the funding isn’t restored.

April 11, 2025 – Labor & Employment
State Court Judges Sue New York Alleging Age Discrimination
Two New York judges are suing the state for discrimination, accusing it of forcing them to retire at age 70 before the end of their respective elected terms.

In their lawsuit filed in New York state court, the judges say the 2024 Equal Rights Amendment to the state constitution, which added age as a protected class, protects them from being targeted due to their age. Judges Arthur B. Williams and Richard M. Healy argue that their mandatory retirements — despite being elected to serve beyond age 70 — constitute illegal age discrimination. Williams, 69, faces retirement in 2026 despite a term running through 2032; Healy, 70, will be forced to retire in December 2025, a year before his term ends.

The judges point to the state’s Equal Rights Amendment, passed by 62.47% of voters in November 2024 and effective January 1, 2025, which adds “age” to the list of protected classes under the New York Constitution. “No person shall … be subjected to any discrimination in their civil rights … because of … age,” the amendment states.

April 10, 2025 – Environment
Fish & Wildlife Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Inaction on Salamander Species
The Center for Biological Diversity has brought an action against the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, alleging failure to meet Endangered Species Act (ESA) deadlines for two imperiled California salamanders.

Filed in federal court in the District of Columbia, the lawsuit accuses the agency of violating the ESA by missing deadlines to finalize protections for the Kern Canyon slender salamander and the relictual slender salamander. “The agency’s failure to meet the deadline delays crucial, lifesaving protections for the salamanders, increasing their risk of extinction,” the suit states.

According to the complaint, Fish & Wildlife proposed in 2022 to list the Kern Canyon slender salamander as threatened and the relictual slender salamander as endangered, citing threats from grazing, fire, recreation, and climate change. The proposal included designating over 4,700 acres of critical habitat for the two species. But the final rules, required by law within one year, remain unpublished, the complaint says, adding that the delay is especially harmful because both salamanders have small, isolated populations and face severe habitat degradation.

April 9, 2025 – Intellectual Property
Lady Gaga Accused in $100 Million ‘Mayhem’ Trademark Dispute
Pop icon Lady Gaga is facing a $100 million lawsuit from surf and lifestyle brand Lost International LLC, which claims she infringed on its trademarked “Mayhem” brand through her recent album, tour, and merchandise.

Lost International, a California-based surfwear company established in 1985, alleges in its lawsuit that Lady Gaga’s use of the word “Mayhem” for her March 2025 album, tour, and related merchandise constitutes “blatant disregard” for plaintiff’s trademark rights. According to the complaint filed in federal court in Santa Ana, Calif, plaintiff has been using the “Mayhem” mark since 1988, and the design is tied to the company’s co-founder who is known by that nickname.

The suit claims that Lady Gaga’s merchandise features a design “nearly identical” to Lost’s stylized “Mayhem” logo and that her actions “mislead the public into concluding that her goods originate with or are authorized by Lost.” Defendant’s use is intentional, designed to “implant a false understanding among consumers” and to trade on Lost’s established goodwill, plaintiff asserts.

April 8, 2025 – Immigration
International Student Sues DHS Over Allegedly Unlawful Visa Termination
A California college student has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, alleging that U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) unlawfully terminated their visa status, jeopardizing their ability to study in the country.

The student, identified only as Student Doe #1, is one of many international students whose SEVIS records — the federal system tracking F-1 visa holders — were abruptly revoked in early April. In its termination decision, ICE cited failure to maintain status and foreign policy grounds, despite the student being “in full compliance with the terms of their F-1 status” and having no disqualifying criminal history, according to the complaint filed in federal court in Riverside, Calif.

“This policy appears to be designed to coerce students, including Plaintiff, into abandoning their studies and ‘self-deporting,’” the complaint alleges, adding that SEVIS terminations are disproportionately affecting African, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and Asian students. The suit argues that ICE has no legal authority to terminate student status solely based on visa revocation, which governs entry but not continued presence.

April 7, 2025 – Constitution
Executive Order Dismantling Education Dep’t Said to Violate Constitution
President Donald Trump’s executive order dismantling the Department of Education violates the Constitution, allege advocacy groups in lawsuit filed in Boston federal court.

“Because the Department of Education was created by Congress — and mandated by Congress to operate various programs for the benefit of America’s students, parents, and schools — it cannot be eliminated by the president or the secretary of education,” according to the complaint. 

Since only Congress can consent to shuttering the department, the complaint argues, Trump overstepped his constitutional authority and violated the Administrative Procedure Act by trying to dismantle it. Plaintiffs include the American Federation of Teachers and the American Association of University Professors. Plaintiffs further claim that dismantling the department would cause “enormous harm” for educators and students of all ages. 

April 4, 2025 – Consumer Fraud
Ticketmaster, Live Nation Accused of Hidden Online Ticket Fees
A proposed class action alleges that Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster illegally conceal the full price of tickets until online checkout.

According to the complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court, LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.com lure consumers with low initial ticket prices only to demand “exorbitant” fees during the final stage of the purchasing process, resulting in significantly higher ticket prices than anticipated. “In other words, only after a consumer has invested time choosing an event, selected their specific tickets, made the decision to purchase those tickets based on the low advertised price, and clicked through a multi-page purchase process,” do defendants reveal the hefty mandatory fees that will be added to the total ticket prices,” plaintiffs allege in their lawsuit.

The complaint claims that Live Nation and Ticketmaster— which face a recent suit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice over the companies’ alleged monopoly power across the live entertainment ticketing industry— have unfairly collected such hidden fees on as many as one billion tickets.

April 3, 2025 – Privacy
Trinity Broadcasting Faces Lawsuit Over Facebook Data-Sharing
A proposed class action accuses Christian TV channel Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN+) of unlawfully sharing subscribers’ viewing data with Meta Platforms Inc., in violation of the federal Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA).

Plaintiffs allege in their lawsuit that TBN+ disclosed personally identifiable information to Meta whenever users watched videos on its streaming site, TBNplus.com. This information, plaintiffs say, included “Facebook IDs, names, email addresses, and URLs that contain the titles of the videos watched,” transmitted through Meta’s Pixel and Conversions API technologies.

According to the complaint filed in federal court in Santa Ana, Calif., these data transmissions allowed Meta to identify the audiovisual materials TBN+ subscribers request, thereby enabling detailed advertising profiling. This sharing occurred without users’ informed consent, plaintiffs contend, violating VPPA protections designed to prevent the disclosure of consumer viewing habits.

April 2, 2025 – Labor & Employment
BlackRock Ex-Employee Sues Over Monitoring of Brokerage Accounts
A proposed class action filed in Manhattan federal court alleges that Investment-management company BlackRock Inc. illegally monitored the financial accounts of former employees after they had left the company.

In his lawsuit, plaintiff claims that BlackRock monitored his personal stock-trading accounts for more than a year after the company laid him off, in violation of state and federal privacy laws and in breach of the company’s personal trading policy.

Blackrock also monitored the accounts of plaintiff’s wife and his minor daughter after his separation from the company, according to the complaint, which says that more than 40 former employees’ accounts were improperly surveilled. Plaintiff seeks damages including financial harm, emotional distress, and aggravated health conditions, claiming BlackRock’s actions were deliberate and in bad faith.

April 1, 2025 – Antitrust
Tennis Players Group Accuses ‘Cartel’ Tours of Antitrust Violations
The Professional Tennis Players Association, whose members include Novak Djokovic, has filed a proposed class action against the ATP (men’s) Tour, the WTA (women’s) Tour, and the International Tennis Federation (organizer of Grand Slams), alleging widespread antitrust violations that restrict players’ earnings and career opportunities.

Filed in Manhattan federal court, the lawsuit claims that defendants operate as a “cartel” that “fixes player earnings, imposes restrictive contracts, and enforces arbitrary disciplinary actions” to maintain control over professional tennis. “Players are forced to endure grueling schedules, capped earnings, and limited control over their careers and brands,” the complaint states.

Plaintiffs argue in their suit that the governing bodies manipulate ranking points, impose non-compete agreements, and prevent players from independently negotiating sponsorships. The suit also highlights “aggressive and invasive” disciplinary actions, including frequent drug tests and phone searches, which players say are used to maintain control over them. The players seek financial damages and structural changes in professional tennis governance to create a more competitive and equitable operation.

March 31, 2025 – Constitution
Air Force Sergeants Sue Over Transgender Military Ban
Two transgender Air Force sergeants have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s ban on transgender military service, arguing it violates their constitutional rights.

Plaintiffs, both decorated service members, allege in their suit that the January 2025 executive order banning transgender individuals from serving in the military forces them to choose between their gender identity (male) and their careers. “It is not possible for either Plaintiff to serve as a woman because each one has medically transitioned to be and live as a man,” the complaint states.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, names Secretary of Defense Peter B. Hegseth, the Department of Defense, and the Air Force among the defendants. The plaintiffs claim the policy violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fifth Amendment, as it singles out transgender service members for “unequal, harmful, and demeaning treatment.”

March 28, 2025 – Product Liability
Amazon Sues Consumer Product Safety Comm’n Over Recall Order
Amazon.com Inc. has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), alleging the agency overstepped its authority by ordering the company to conduct a recall of hazardous third-party products sold through its platform.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Greenbelt, Md., challenges the CPSC’s assertion that Amazon qualifies as a “distributor” under the Consumer Product Safety Act. Amazon argues that it merely provides “logistics services” for independent sellers and does not take ownership of their products. “The Commission overstepped those statutory limits by ordering Amazon to conduct a wide-ranging recall of products that were manufactured, owned, and sold by third parties,” Amazon argues in its suit.

According to the complaint, Amazon had already taken voluntary action in response to CPSC concerns about certain hair dryers, carbon monoxide detectors, and children’s sleepwear sold by third-party sellers. The company claims it blocked sales, destroyed remaining inventory, notified all purchasers, and issued full refunds — measures it says met the agency’s standard for a “100% effective” recall. Despite these actions, the complaint adds, the CPSC is pursuing legal action to compel Amazon to conduct a broader recall on agency terms.

March 27, 2025 – ERISA
Ochsner Clinic Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged 401(k) Mismanagement
Ochsner Clinic Foundation, a prominent Louisiana-based healthcare system, mismanages its 401(k) plan by using money forfeited by departing workers for its own benefit, alleges a proposed class action filed in New Orleans federal court.

In their lawsuit, plaintiffs claim that Ochsner and its Retirement Benefits Committee improperly used forfeited funds from the Ochsner Clinic Foundation 401(k) Plan to offset the company’s own contribution obligations rather than in the best interests of plan participants. This practice, plaintiffs argue, violates the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), which mandates that fiduciaries act “solely in the interest of participants” and with the “care, skill, prudence, and diligence” required by law.

Ochsner diverted millions of dollars in forfeited plan assets over multiple years to reduce its own contribution costs while failing to use those funds to cover administrative expenses or redistribute them to employees’ accounts, according to the complaint. “Instead of loyally and prudently acting in the best interest of Plan participants,” the complaint says, “Defendants chose to use Plan assets almost exclusively to benefit Ochsner.”

March 26, 2025 – Consumer Fraud
Lawsuit Alleges False Advertising re Rachael Ray Pet Food
A proposed class action alleges that Post Consumer Brands LLC falsely advertises its Rachael Ray Nutrish pet food as free of artificial preservatives, despite containing citric acid.

In his lawsuit filed in Los Angeles federal court, plaintiff claims that the company misled consumers by labeling its products as “natural” and “preservative-free” while including citric acid, which acts as an artificial preservative.

Plaintiff argues that consumers were deceived into paying a premium for pet food under the impression that it was free from artificial ingredients. In its false advertising, plaintiff contends, Post Consumer Brands gained an unfair competitive advantage over other companies that properly disclose preservatives. The case seeks monetary compensation for consumers who purchased the products, along with an injunction requiring the company to change its labeling and advertising practices.

March 25, 2025 – Product Liability
Girl Scout Cookies Contain Heavy Metals, Pesticides, Lawsuit Claims
The Girl Scouts face a proposed class action filed in Brooklyn federal court claiming the presence of “heavy metals” and pesticides in its popular Thin Mints and other cookies.

The lawsuit cited a December 2024 study commissioned by GMO Science and Moms Across America that tested samples of 25 cookies from three U.S. states. The study, according to the complaint, found that Girl Scout cookies contained at least four of five heavy metals — aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury — that can harm people’s health and the environment, often at levels exceeding regulators’ recommended limits. The study also said all samples contained glyphosate, a pesticide used in some weed killers.

Plaintiff in her suit says she bought numerous Girl Scout products believing they were “quality and safe cookies.” She said she would not have bought the cookies or would have paid substantially less had Girl Scouts disclosed the presence of dangerous toxins. “While the entire sales practice system for Girl Scout Cookies is built on a foundation of ethics and teaching young girls sustainable business practices, defendants failed to uphold this standard themselves,” the complaint says.

March 24, 2025 – Immigration
Washington State Sues County for Assisting Federal Immigration Agents
The state of Washington has sued one of its counties, accusing the local sheriff’s office of violating a state law that limits local law enforcement’s role in federal immigration enforcement. 

In 2019, Washington legislators passed the Keep Washington Working Act, according to the state’s lawsuit filed in Spokane County Superior Court. The law, the complaint says, establishes that it is not up to local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration law and restricts the extent to which state, county, and local police can assist federal immigration officers.

Washington says in its suit that Adams County has been unlawfully holding people in custody based on their immigration status and transferred those people to federal immigration agents to be questioned since 2022. The county’s economy, the suit says, is dominated by agriculture, and those operations rely on the labor of non-citizens. Sheriff’s deputies have also illegally shared with state officials the names and personal information, including fingerprints and home addresses, of hundreds of residents, the state asserts.

March 21, 2025 – Securities
SEC Charges Former Biopharmaceutical VP with Insider Trading
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a civil complaint in San Diego federal court against George Demos, a former VP at Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc., for insider trading in advance of Acadia’s March 2021 announcement of negative news from the FDA regarding Acadia’s supplemental new drug application seeking approval of its Parkinson’s disease psychosis drug.

Demos, former vice president of drug safety at Acadia, sold off more than 60,000 of his nearly 65,000 total option shares one day before the FDA-related announcement and a 45% stock drop, the SEC claims in its lawsuit.

The SEC, saying Demos avoided losses of about $1.3 million, charges defendant with insider trading in violation of the Securities Exchange Act. Without denying the SEC’s allegations, Demos has consented to entry of a judgment permanently enjoining him from violating the charged provisions and prohibiting him from serving as an officer or director of a public company for five years. Further, the court will determine whether a civil penalty is appropriate and, if so, the amount of the penalty.

March 20, 2025 – Product Liability
Fort Worth Sues 3M, DuPont, Military Over ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Water
The city of Fort Worth has filed a lawsuit against 3M, DuPont, and other chemical manufacturers, alleging that decades of pollution from toxic “forever chemicals” have contaminated the city’s water supply.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Fort Worth (Texas), accuses 3M and other companies of knowingly manufacturing and distributing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — known as “forever chemicals” — while failing to warn the public of their dangers. The suit also names the U.S. Department of Defense, Navy, and Air Force, citing their use of PFAS-laden firefighting foam at military sites, including Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth.

“Defendants knew that PFAS and related constituents present unreasonable risks to human health, water quality, and the environment,” the complaint states. Despite this, the chemicals were used and disposed of without proper containment, leading to widespread contamination of drinking water, stormwater systems, and surrounding land, the city alleges.

March 19, 2025 – Cybersecurity
New York Says Allstate Security Lapses Led to Data Breach
New York state has filed a civil action against Allstate Insurance Co., accusing the company’s National General unit of failing to report a data breach that exposed drivers’ license numbers and that lacked reasonable safeguards to protect drivers’ private information.

The lawsuit, filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James in state court in Manhattan, charges that National General’s poor data security led to back-to-back breaches in 2020 and 2021, when hackers targeting its online auto insurance quoting tools accessed license numbers of more than 165,000 New Yorkers and 199,000 people overall.

National General, according to the complaint, did not notify drivers or New York state agencies about the first breach, which occurred between August and November 2020, and needed three months to uncover the much larger second breach in January 2021. These lapses, the complaint says, violated the state’s Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security Act for failing to protect customer information, and also violated state consumer protection laws by misleading customers about the company’s data security practices.

March 18, 2025 – Privacy
Lawsuit Claims Aven Financial Accessed Credit Reports Without Permission
A proposed class action filed in San Diego federal court accuses Aven Financial Inc. of illegally obtaining consumers’ credit reports without authorization.

Plaintiff alleges in her lawsuit that finance company Aven initiated a “hard inquiry” (request from lender to see consumer’s credit report) after the company opened a home equity line of credit in her name without consent. Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), according to the complaint, a consumer’s credit report may only be accessed with his or her written consent, or for certain “permissible purposes,” including in connection with credit transactions involving “the extension of credit to, or review or collection of an account of, the consumer.” At no point, the complaint says, did plaintiff apply for Aven’s home equity-backed credit card or authorize the defendant to access her credit reports.

The complaint states that plaintiff uses the defendant’s mobile app, Aven Advisor: Credit Check App, which offers a weekly Starbucks gift card for users who maintain a credit score above 800. Within minutes after plaintiff attempted to redeem the gift card in February 2025, the complaint says, she received an alert from credit reporting company Experian of a new hard inquiry on her credit report. “[Aven’s] conduct demonstrates an intrusion of highly personal information in violation of the FCRA,” plaintiff argues.

March 17, 2025 – Product Liability
Auto Maker Stellantis Faces Suit Over Alleged Jeep Hybrid Battery Defect
A proposed class action has been filed in Detroit federal court against Stellantis North America, claiming that certain Jeep plug-in hybrid vehicles contain a battery defect that increases the risk of fire.

The lawsuit asserts that the high-voltage batteries in 2020-2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe and 2022-2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe models are prone to “separator damage,” which can cause overheating and fire hazards. The defect has prompted two recalls, the complaint notes, which expanded the number of affected vehicles to over 154,000.

Stellantis was aware of the defect, the complaint argues, but failed to properly warn customers. After the recalls, owners were advised by defendant to “park outside and away from structures” and “not to recharge their vehicles” due to the risk of fire, effectively rendering the hybrid function useless. Plaintiffs say in their suit that this defeats the purpose of a plug-in hybrid vehicle and diminishes the vehicle’s value.

March 14, 2025 – Securities
Leadership of US Cellular Owner Sued for Misleading Promotion Claims
Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) officers misled investors about the success of subsidiary US Cellular Corp.’s promotion to combat client attrition, a shareholder alleges in her stockholder derivative lawsuit filed in Chicago federal court.

Plaintiff contends in her suit that company leaders misled investors about the financial impact of a 2022 promotional campaign by its subsidiary US Cellular. The executives provided a “false timeline” on expected benefits and downplayed financial risks, leading to stock price losses, plaintiff asserts.

The suit highlights the company’s $28 million increase in equipment losses and declining net income, which fell to negative $25 million in Q3 2022. “Defendants falsely represented satisfaction with the Promotion,” the complaint states, citing alleged misstatements during earnings calls. Plaintiff further claims that TDS repurchased over 1.5 million shares of stock at artificially inflated prices, costing more than $24 million.

March 13, 2025 – Intellectual Property
Adidas Says Its ‘Iconic’ 3-Stripe Mark Infringed by Nova Fashion
Adidas America Inc. has sued retailer Fashion Nova LLC over its use of plaintiff’s “iconic” three-stripe mark, accusing defendant of breaching a 2022 settlement from a previous trademark suit.

In that settlement, Fashion Nova promised not to sell “anything confusingly similar to the Three-Stripe Mark” after Adidas sued in 2019, according to the complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court. But Fashion Nova is selling products with stripe designs “nearly identical” to those on products it said it would discontinue in the prior settlement agreement, Adidas claims.

The lawsuit says that Fashion Nova’s actions are “irreparably harming Adidas” by misleading consumers and damaging the brand’s reputation. Adidas is seeking a permanent injunction, financial damages, and an order requiring Fashion Nova to cease selling the disputed products. “Fashion Nova’s willful infringement deprives Adidas of control over its brand and quality standards,” Adidas argues in its complaint.

March 12, 2025 – Product Liability
Wrongful Death Lawsuit Links Fatal Endometrial Cancer to Hair Straightener Use
A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in Chicago federal court against major hair product manufacturers, alleging their chemical relaxers caused a woman’s fatal cancer.

The suit claims that prolonged use of hair relaxers manufactured by L’Oréal USA, SoftSheen-Carson, Namaste Laboratories, and others led to decedent’s diagnosis of endometrial cancer. According to the complaint, she used the products from 2001 to 2017 before being diagnosed in 2022.

The companies were negligent, the complaint says, in failing to warn consumers about the risks associated with their products. The current suit is part of a larger multidistrict litigation (MDL #3060) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Plaintiff seeks damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and punitive measures against the manufacturers.

March 11, 2025 – Antitrust
US Hospitals Accused of Fixing Wages of Pharmacy Residents
A proposed class action accuses major U.S. hospital systems and a professional association for pharmacists of conspiring to restrict recruitment, hiring, and compensation for resident pharmacists seeking advanced training.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Greenbelt, Md., by two former resident pharmacists against Johns Hopkins Hospital, New York Presbyterian Hospital, University of Chicago Medical Center, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and several other hospital systems. The suit also named as a defendant the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, which sets the rules for a matching program that connects resident pharmacists to hospitals and other medical providers.

In their suit, plaintiffs allege that defendants are violating antitrust law by using the matching program to keep compensation low and restrict the ability of residents to move from one program to another. Hospitals and pharmacy organizations exchange “competitively sensitive compensation information,” plaintiffs assert, and limit the number of residency positions to ensure a surplus of applicants. The average salary for a pharmacy resident is $50,000 to $60,000 compared to more than $100,000 that a non-resident pharmacist can make, plaintiffs say.

March 10, 2025 – Breach of Contract
GEICO Fails to Honor ‘Accident Forgiveness’ Policy, Lawsuit Claims
Insurance company GEICO has failed to honor its “accident forgiveness” policy, which promises customers that their insurance premiums will not increase as a result of their first at-fault accident, alleges a proposed class action filed in Dallas federal court.

Instead of complying with its policy, according to the complaint, the company unlawfully disguises premium increases for customers with accident forgiveness coverage as “surcharges” or other misleading terms following an insured’s first at-fault accident. GEICO offers accident forgiveness coverage to customers who have been insured by the company for at least five years and have clean driving records, the complaint says.

In his lawsuit, plaintiff says he received a policy renewal letter from GEICO one month after his wife got into a fender bender accident for which she was at fault — the couple’s first at-fault crash. The policy renewal letter, plaintiff says, notified him that his premium had risen from $1,392 to $2,663, an increase of 91.3 percent. After contacting GEICO for an explanation, plaintiff asserts he was told that the company had not increased his premium but had “merely applied a surcharge.”

March 7, 2025 – Labor & Employment
Women’s Trade Group Challenges Admin’s Attempt to End Diversity in Hiring
Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT), a nonprofit advocating for women in skilled trades, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging recent executive orders that eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in government-funded initiatives.

The suit filed in Chicago federal court argues that Executive Orders signed by President Trump in January 2025 “brazenly seek to eliminate any efforts to promote diversity, equity, or inclusion” in hiring practices. CWIT alleges that the orders threaten its federally funded programs that help women enter and remain in skilled trades.

The executive orders, according to the complaint, direct federal agencies to terminate “equity-related” contracts and grants, require contractors to certify they do not operate DEI programs, and encourage the Department of Justice to investigate private organizations promoting DEI. “These executive orders unlawfully trample on CWIT’s free speech and due process rights,” the complaint states, calling the measures “unconstitutional” and an abuse of executive power.

March 6, 2025 – Product Liability
Lawsuit Alleges Ozempic and Trulicity Caused Severe Health Complications
Plaintiff has filed a lawsuit against Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, claiming the diabetes and weight-loss drugs Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Trulicity caused her to develop severe and permanent injuries, including gastroparesis, a condition that paralyzes the stomach.

In her suit filed in Philadelphia federal court, plaintiff claims that her use of these medications, known as GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs, from 2021 to 2023 resulted in debilitating health issues, including severe nausea, vomiting, and the need for emergency medical treatment. The drug manufacturers, plaintiff asserts, failed to warn consumers about the risk of gastroparesis, a condition has no cure.

The complaint argues that Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly aggressively marketed their GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs while failing to disclose serious risks. Though the companies acknowledged common gastrointestinal side effects, the complaint says, defendants omitted warnings about the potential for severe and long-term complications. The complaint notes that the case is part of broader litigation that has been consolidated for pretrial proceedings (Multidistrict Litigation #3094).

March 5, 2025 – Privacy
Bloomingdales.com Unlawfully Shares Data With TikTok, Lawsuit Claims
Bloomingdales.com LLC used online surveillance technology from TikTok Inc. to collect the sensitive information of website visitors without their consent in violation of the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), alleges a proposed class action filed in Los Angeles federal court.

According to the complaint, Bloomingdale’s installed a TikTok-supplied surveillance pixel on the Bloomingdale website. The surveillance pixel, the complaint says, is a snippet of code that operates as a “trap-and-trace device” that collects the dialing, routing, addressing, and signaling information generated by users and transmits this information to TikTok.

The CIPA, the complaint says, imposes civil liability for the installation of trap-and-trace software without consent or a court order. Plaintiff claims in her lawsuit that Bloomingdale’s website deployed TikTok’s tracking pixel, which collects users’ device and browser information, geographic location, and browsing activities upon visiting the site. The software operates, plaintiff says, “before users have a chance to accept cookies or otherwise grant consent” and sends this data to TikTok, including personal identifiers like names and phone numbers.

March 4, 2025 – Environment
Farmers and Advocacy Groups Sue Agriculture Dep’t Over Climate Data Purge
Three environmental organizations are suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), alleging the agency unlawfully removed climate-related data and resources from its websites, harming farmers, researchers, and the public.

Plaintiffs, including the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Environmental Working Group, filed the lawsuit in Manhattan federal court, claiming that the USDA’s actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Plaintiffs assert that USDA’s actions were “arbitrary, capricious, and not in accordance with law” under the APA and failed to provide adequate notice as required by the PRA.

Without access to the removed webpages, technical service providers are unable to connect participating farmers with resources explaining how to fund, implement, and measure climate-smart practices,” the complaint states, also noting the broader impact on researchers and advocates who rely on USDA data to study climate change and advocate for sustainable agriculture and forest conservation.

March 3, 2025 – Constitution
AP Sues White House Over ‘Gulf of America’ Press Access Ban
The Associated Press has filed a lawsuit against the White House, alleging violations of the First and Fifth Amendments after AP reporters were barred from press pool events for refusing to use the term “Gulf of America” in place of “Gulf of Mexico.”

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, claims that the White House acted in retaliation after the AP declined to adopt the government’s preferred terminology following President Trump’s January 2025 executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico. According to the complaint, the AP maintained its practice of using the Gulf of Mexico, citing its commitment to “ensure that place names and geography are easily recognizable to all audiences.”

The AP asserts in its suit that the ban violates both the First Amendment’s protection against government interference with free speech and the Fifth Amendment’s due process clause. The organization seeks an immediate end to the ban, restoration of its press access, and a declaration that the White House’s actions were unconstitutional.

February 28, 2025 – Intellectual Property         
Netflix Accused by Pepperdine of Trademark Infringement Over Comedy Series
Pepperdine University has sued Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery in Los Angeles federal court, claiming their new comedy series, Running Point, about a Los Angeles pro basketball team called the Waves, violates the school’s trademarks.

In its lawsuit, Pepperdine alleges that the logo and blue-and-orange branding used for the show’s Waves are “strikingly similar” to the Pepperdine Waves, which has played NCAA basketball in the Los Angeles area for over 85 years. Pepperdine further notes that the school and show’s mascot both wear the number 37, that number representing 1937, the year the university was founded.

The suit asserts that Pepperdine, as a Christian university, would be “irreparably harmed” by being associated with the show, whose trailer includes cursing and references to sex, alcohol, and illegal drug use. “Pepperdine does not want any affiliation or association with the ‘Waves’ featured in Running Point,” the complaint says, arguing that the similarities have already caused confusion among viewers.

February 27, 2025 – Consumer Fraud
Pheromone Perfume Makers Sued for ‘Scientifically False’ Advertising
A California woman has filed a proposed class action against the makers of Pure Instinct pheromone perfumes, alleging that defendants’ claims of attracting others through pheromones are scientifically false and misleading.

Plaintiff contends in her lawsuit that defendants misrepresented their products, which are marketed as containing “human-compatible pheromones” that can influence and attract others. According to the complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court, “humans do not emit and cannot detect pheromones, since humans lack a functioning vomeronasal organ,” rendering the products ineffective.

Scientific studies cited in the suit indicate that the vomeronasal organ in humans is nonfunctional and cannot detect pheromones. The complaint references research showing that androstadienone and copulin — chemicals marketed as pheromones —have “no significant effect” on human attraction. It also points to FDA regulations that classify products claiming to enhance sexual desire as unapproved aphrodisiacs.

February 26, 2025 – Antitrust
Uber Sues DoorDash, Alleging Anticompetitive Practices in Food Delivery
Uber Technologies Inc. has filed a lawsuit against DoorDash Inc. in San Francisco Superior Court, accusing its rival of using coercive tactics to suppress competition in the food delivery market.

Uber claims in its suit that DoorDash, which dominates food delivery through its app, has been forcing restaurants into exclusive contracts for deliveries via its “Drive On-Demand” service. According to the complaint, DoorDash threatens “multimillion-dollar penalties” or demotion from search results on its app if restaurants partner with Uber Direct, Uber’s competing delivery service.

The complaint details multiple instances where major restaurant brands abandoned or canceled agreements with Uber due to DoorDash’s pressure. One restaurant group allegedly ended a successful Uber Direct partnership after DoorDash threatened to remove it from the DoorDash platform. Uber states that these tactics have caused it “millions of dollars in lost revenue” and damaged competition in the market.

February 25, 2025 – Breach of Contract
Zillow Accused of Charging Realtors Even After Listings Removed
A New York real estate group has filed a proposed class action against real estate website Zillow, alleging the company charged fees for property listings that were later removed from public view while continuing to collect payments.

Filed in Seattle federal court, the lawsuit claims that Zillow’s subsidiary StreetEasy “charged a daily fee in exchange for posting real estate listings” but later “masked or otherwise removed [them] from public view while continuing to charge the daily fee.” Plaintiffs argue in their suit that this practice led to financial losses and seek damages.

Zillow, which owns StreetEasy, Trulia, and other real estate platforms, allowed multiple agents to list the same property while only displaying the most recent listing, according to the complaint. Prior listings were hidden, the complaint says, but Zillow still charged agents $7 per day for each listing. “Zillow unjustly enriched itself by collecting daily fee payments on property listings it failed to display,” plaintiffs contend.

February 24, 2025 – Product Liability 
Estée Lauder, Teva Sued by New York Town Over ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Municipal Water
Estée Lauder Cos., Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., 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 easily 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 assume 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.

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