Case Filings Alert™ reports daily 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. A wide range of topics are covered, including product liability, intellectual property, antitrust, among others. A number of these cases, particularly the product liability litigation, will develop into mass torts as new cases raising similar issues are filed. Mass torts are covered in our report MDLCases.com, which deals with major multidistrict litigation (MDL) cases. Also see our litigation reports: Social Media Addiction, Copyright-Litigation.com, and Litigation Report 2026-27. Editor: Robert S. Want (rwant@LegalEditor.com).
June 15, 2026 – Privacy
Lawsuit Accuses JetBlue of Using Customers’ Personal Data to Raise Air Fares
Plaintiff airline passenger has filed a proposed class action in Brooklyn federal court accusing JetBlue Airways Corp. of secretly harvesting customer data to manipulate ticket prices.
The lawsuit alleges that JetBlue used “tracking technology embedded in website code” to collect sensitive personal and behavioral data without adequate consent, and that this data was then used for “dynamic surveillance pricing” that adjusts fares based on consumer behavior.
According to the complaint, JetBlue shared user data with third parties, including analytics and pricing firms, enabling real-time fare changes tied to browsing activity and other personal indicators. The suit claims that JetBlue’s disclosures failed to inform users that their information could be used “to set pricing dynamically as opposed to set, static pricing.”
June 12, 2026 – Consumer Fraud
Consumer Group Sues Meta for Alleged Failure to Protect Users from Scam Advertisements
The Consumer Federation of America has filed a proposed class action against Meta Platforms Inc., accusing the company of misleading consumers about its detrimental role as “a pillar of the global fraud economy.”
Meta misleads users about the steps it claims to be taking to fight fraud on its platform, according to the complaint filed in Superior Court of the District of Columbia While promising users that it is meaningfully fighting scams and removing scam content from its platform, the complaint says, Meta has in fact adopted policies and practices that it knows allow scam advertisements to proliferate, generating profits off those ads at its users’ expense.
In public statements, Meta claims that it is doing all it can to crack down on fraudulent advertising. But in reality, the complaint says, Meta has knowingly taken steps and adopted policies that allow scam advertising to spread. The federation claims in its suit that, rather than prohibiting advertisers Meta deemed higher risk, it chose to charge them a higher rate, thereby increasing Meta’s profits by allowing them to reach its users.
June 11, 2026 – Product Liability
Bissell Sold ‘Dangerously Defective’ Steam Cleaners, Lawsuit Alleges
A proposed class action filed in Chicago federal court alleges that Bissell Homecare Inc. sold millions of defective handheld steam cleaners that posed burn risks and failed to provide an adequate recall remedy.
Bissell marketed its Steam Shot products as safe household tools, according to the complaint, while concealing a defect that could cause attachments to detach and expel hot water or steam. Defendant’s products were “dangerously defective and posed a significant risk of burn injuries to users,” plaintiff claims.
A 2024 recall affected about 3.2 million units following numerous incidents. Despite this, the lawsuit claims, Bissell continued selling similar models with the same defect until a broader recall was issued in 2026. Plaintiff contends that the recall remedies were inadequate, offering limited compensation or replacement parts that “do not address the underlying design defect.” The suit argues that consumers were left with unsafe products and insufficient relief.
June 10, 2026 – Intellectual Property
Meta Sued for Patent Infringement Over AI Transcription Technology
Datascription LLC has accused Meta Platforms Inc. of infringing a patent covering technology for extracting and analyzing data from audio and video streams.
The complaint, filed in federal court for the Western District of Texas, alleges that Meta’s use of speech-recognition systems, including its Wav2vec algorithm, violates plaintiff’s patent, which relates to “metadata extraction of non-transcribed audio and video streams.”
In its lawsuit, Datascription claims that its patented system converts audio and video into “time-aligned” text and metadata, enabling searchable insights across multimedia content. The company says its technology was designed to address the “industry’s historical inability to analyze video content at the same scale as text.” According to the complaint, Meta deploys similar functionality in its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, where automated captions are generated for live and recorded videos.
June 9, 2026 – Antitrust
Lucky Strike Accused of Building a Bowling Monopoly
A proposed nationwide class action accuses Lucky Strike Entertainment Corp., formerly Bowlero Corp., of unlawfully consolidating the U.S. bowling industry through acquisitions that drove up prices, reduced quality, and harmed consumers.
Filed in federal court in Seattle, the lawsuit claims that the company carried out a “multi-year anticompetitive scheme to consolidate bowling centers in communities throughout the United States” and used its growing dominance to increase profits at the expense of bowlers. The suit alleges that customers faced “higher prices, reduced quality, and the veritable destruction of the decades-old pastime of bowling in America.”
Plaintiffs, a group of bowlers from states including Washington, California, New York, and Virginia, contend that the company acquired hundreds of bowling centers and later imposed steep price increases, dynamic pricing systems, higher food-and-beverage costs, and rising league fees. The suit further asserts that the company allowed lane conditions and maintenance to deteriorate while converting some locations into nightclub-style venues with loud music.
June 8, 2026 – Environment
Advocacy Group Sues EPA Over Failure to Regulate Asbestos
A public health advocacy group has filed suit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, alleging that the agency failed to meet a legal deadline to address the dangers of legacy asbestos.
In its lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) claims that EPA violated a “non-discretionary statutory duty” by not proposing a required risk management rule after determining that legacy asbestos poses serious health risks.
The complaint states that asbestos-containing materials remain widespread in older buildings, exposing workers and the public during renovation and demolition. Asbestos-related diseases cause “nearly 40,000 deaths in the United States annually,” with heightened risks for firefighters, construction workers, and others, according to the complaint. ADAO argues in its suit that the agency’s inaction continues to expose the public to harm and seeks a court order requiring EPA to act by a set deadline.
June 5, 2026 – Constitution
President’s Latest Anti-DEI Order Violates First Amendment, Lawsuit Claims
President Donald Trump’s executive order directing agencies to cancel federal contracts and subcontracts with businesses that engage in “racially discriminatory” diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities violates the First Amendment, alleges a lawsuit filed in federal court in the District of Maryland.
The March 26 executive order, the suit argues, intimidates and chills free speech and association rights of federal contractors and subcontractors who could lose federal business opportunities and face civil and criminal prosecution for failing to comply with the administration’s demands to end lawful DEI efforts. The litigation — brought by a group representing university professors, contractors, and subcontractors — seeks an injunction prohibiting the president and federal agencies from implementing the executive order.
The order, according to the complaint, requires federal contractors to include a number of specific clauses, such as renouncing DEI, providing the government with access to company records to demonstrate compliance, and reporting subcontractors that appear to be in violation. Failure to comply with these mandates, the complaint says, may result in contract termination or suspension, and could render businesses ineligible for future government opportunities.
June 4, 2026 – Intellectual Property
Journalists Sue Google for Allegedly Using Their Voices in AI Training
A group of prominent Illinois journalists, podcasters, and audiobook narrators has sued Google in federal court in Chicago, alleging that the company unlawfully used plaintiffs’ recorded voices to train commercial artificial intelligence products without their consent.
The complaint claims that Google extracted “voiceprints” from “hundreds of thousands of hours of human speech” that it used to develop products including Gemini Live, NotebookLM Audio Overviews, YouTube auto-dubbing, and Google Cloud Text-to-Speech. Plaintiffs include veteran broadcaster Carol Marin, Pulitzer Prize-winning podcaster Yohance Lacour, and audiobook narrators Lindsey Dorcus and Victoria Nassif.
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs’ recordings were used without “notice, informed written consent, [or] a written release” in violation of Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act. The complaint describes a voiceprint as “a digital fingerprint of the human voice” that cannot be changed. “Google knew how to obtain consent,” the complaint states. “It chose to obtain consent for some voices and not others.” The suit further contends that Google’s AI voice tools now compete directly with the same journalists and narrators whose voices allegedly helped train the systems.
June 3, 2026 – ERISA
Apple Faces Lawsuit Over Health Plan Penalty for Tobacco-Using Employees
An Apple employee has filed a proposed class action alleging that the company imposed unlawful tobacco surcharges in its health plan, violating federal benefits law by failing to offer compliant alternatives and to provide adequate notice.
The complaint, filed in federal court in the Northern District of California, claims that Apple charged workers a monthly “tobacco surcharge” without meeting requirements under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act regarding wellness programs. The lawsuit contends that such programs are allowed if they provide a “reasonable alternative standard” and ensure all participants can obtain the “full reward.”
Apple’s plan instead “impose[s] a discriminatory tobacco surcharge without making available, or notifying participants of, a reasonable alternative standard,” depriving employees of benefits, according to the complaint. Plaintiff claims that workers who completed cessation requirements were often denied retroactive reimbursement and received only prospective relief, resulting in unequal benefits. The suit further asserts that Apple failed to include required disclosures in plan materials, leaving participants unaware of how to avoid or recover the surcharge.
June 2, 2026 – Product Liability
Campbell’s Sued Over ‘Microwavable’ Soup Products Allegedly Releasing Microplastics
A proposed class action filed in San Francisco federal court accuses The Campbell’s Co. of misleading consumers by labeling certain soup products as “microwavable” despite alleged health risks tied to their packaging.
The complaint alleges that the products’ polypropylene lids and containers release “harmful microplastics” directly into the soup when microwaved, contradicting the company’s safety claims. Plaintiffs contend reasonable consumers interpret “microwavable” to mean safe for heating, not a source of contamination.
Citing scientific studies, the lawsuit asserts that microwave heating can release “millions” of plastic particles within minutes, with levels increasing sharply even during short heating periods. The suit further says that microplastics have been linked to potential health effects including digestive, immune, and neurological harm.
June 1, 2026 – Securities
Solenis Hit With ERISA Lawsuit Over 401(k) Investment Choices
A former employee has filed a proposed class action accusing chemical manufacturer Solenis LLC and plan fiduciaries of breaching their duties under federal benefits law by retaining underperforming retirement investments, allegedly costing workers millions.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court for the District of Delaware, argues that Solenis violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by failing to act “prudently and for the exclusive benefit of participants.” Plaintiff claims that fiduciaries kept the American Century One Choice target-date fund series despite “glaringly underperforming under all investment metrics.”
The company’s 401(k) plan held between $237 million and $632 million in assets and covered more than 4,000 participants, according to the complaint. At times, the complaint says, the disputed funds comprised 41% to 47% of plan assets, making their performance critical to retirement outcomes. The suit contends that the funds lagged competitors across key measures, including returns and risk-adjusted performance, underperforming peers in “94% of reviewed time periods” based on three- and five-year metrics prior to 2020.
May 29, 2026 – Antitrust
Google Sued by Rival App Store Aptoide Over Alleged Monopoly
Aptoide, which describes itself as the largest independent Android app store, has filed a lawsuit accusing Google of unlawfully maintaining monopolies over Android app distribution and in-app billing, suppressing competition and inflating costs for developers and users.
The complaint, filed in federal court in the Northern District of California, alleges that Google controls the “gateway” to the mobile app economy, determining “which apps succeed or fail” through its dominance of the Google Play Store. Google holds over 90% of the Android app distribution market, Aptoide claims, adding that this position is reinforced by contractual restrictions and technical barriers that limit rival app stores.
In its suit, Aptoide points to prior litigation, including Epic v. Google, in which courts have found that Google engaged in anticompetitive conduct to maintain its monopoly power. The current suit alleges that Google used agreements with device manufacturers and developers to ensure preferential placement of its Play Store and to block competing platforms from gaining traction. The complaint also targets Google’s in-app billing system, claiming that the company required developers to use its proprietary payment service as a condition of access to the Play Store. This policy, Aptoide argues, allowed Google to impose “supracompetitive prices” insulated from competition.
May 28, 2026 – Product Liability
Defective Sutures Lawsuit Alleges Unapproved Device Caused Facial Infections
Four women have filed a lawsuit in Dallas federal court alleging that a cosmetic medical device marketed without proper clearance caused severe, antibiotic-resistant facial infections and permanent scarring.
The Miracu PDO Mono Thread, according to the complaint, was “not cleared by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for the cosmetic facial procedures for which it was marketed,” yet was widely promoted and used in aesthetic treatments. The plaintiffs underwent thread placement procedures at a Dallas medspa in April 2024 and later developed Mycobacterium abscessus infections, resulting in lasting facial disfigurement, the complaint says.
The defendants — including the manufacturer, distributors, and a group purchasing organization — are accused of marketing and selling the product for cosmetic use despite lacking FDA clearance for that purpose. Even later clearance, plaintiffs claim, “expressly states that the product “is not intended for lifting and supporting tissues.”
May 27, 2026 – Labor & Employment
Former Federal Agency Member Challenges Removal, Alleges Racial Bias
A former National Transportation Safety Board member has filed a petition in federal court in the District of Columbia, alleging that he was unlawfully removed from office and replaced without cause.
Plaintiff Alvin Brown, who was unanimously confirmed by the Senate in 2024 to a term expiring in 2026, claims in his petition that he “was never lawfully removed” and remains the rightful holder of his seat. Brown argues that defendant John DeLeeuw, confirmed in March 2026, is unlawfully “usurp[ing]” the position.
According to the petition, Brown was dismissed in May 2025 through a brief email stating his position was “terminated effective immediately,” without any stated reason. Federal law permits removal of NTSB members only for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance,” none of which were alleged. Brown further contends that the removal violated his constitutional rights, asserting it was racially motivated. The petition notes that he was the only Black member of the board and was treated differently from similarly situated white colleagues, indicating a broader “pattern” of disproportionate removals of Black federal officials.
May 26, 2026 – Constitution
Louisiana Sues Federal Election Agency Over ‘Proof of Citizenship’ Rules
The state of Louisiana has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a U.S. election agency’s refusal to allow the state to require additional citizenship-related information on federal voter registration forms.
The complaint, filed in federal court in the Western District of Louisiana, alleges that the U.S. Election Assistance Commission unlawfully blocked Louisiana from implementing a state law requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration. In its lawsuit, state officials argue that the agency’s decision was “arbitrary and capricious” and infringes on Louisiana’s constitutional authority to set voter qualifications.
Louisiana says that it sought to modify state-specific instructions on the federal voter registration form to collect information such as immigration identifiers or, alternatively, place of birth and other details. This data, the state contends, would allow election officials to verify eligibility more effectively while minimizing burdens on applicants. The suit cites evidence that over 400 non-citizens were previously identified on Louisiana’s voter rolls.
May 25, 2026 – Intellectual Property
Publishers Sue Meta for Copyright Infringement Over AI Training
Major publishers and authors have filed a proposed class action in Manhattan federal court against Meta Platforms Inc. and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, accusing defendants of widespread copyright infringement in building its Llama artificial intelligence system.
The complaint alleges that Meta “illegally torrented [downloaded] millions of copyrighted books and journal articles” and copied them repeatedly to train its generative AI models, calling defendants’ conduct “one of the most massive infringements of copyrighted materials in history.” Plaintiffs include Elsevier, Cengage, Hachette, Macmillan, McGraw-Hill, and author Scott Turow.
Meta sourced training data from pirate sites and unauthorized web scrapes, then reproduced the works “many times over” in developing its AI chatbot Llama, according to the complaint. The lawsuit further claims that Meta removed copyright management information to conceal the materials’ origins and facilitate unauthorized use. Plaintiffs contend that the AI system now generates outputs that compete with original works, including “verbatim and near-verbatim copies” and derivative content mimicking authors’ styles. This conduct, plaintiffs argue, undermines licensing markets and deprives creators of compensation.
May 22, 2026 – Product Liability
Samsung Phone Battery Lawsuit Alleges ‘Thermal Runaway’ Caused Severe Burns
Samsung Electronics Inc. faces a lawsuit alleging that its smartphone’s lithium-ion battery malfunctioned due to a dangerous defect, causing plaintiff severe burn injuries.
Lithium-ion batteries are commonly used in smartphones and other portable electronics due to their high energy density and rechargeability, according to the complaint filed in federal court for the Middle District of Florida. However, the complaint claims, when defective or damaged, these batteries can experience “thermal runaway,” a chain reaction that causes rapid overheating, fire, or explosion, often without warning.
Plaintiff contends that she suffered a severe burn injury when her Samsung smartphone experienced a battery failure, resulting in the thermal runaway event. The incident, the suit says, caused the device to overheat rapidly, leading to a significant burn to plaintiff’s abdomen that required medical treatment. Plaintiff asserts that she was using the phone in a normal manner at the time of the incident, with no warning that it posed a risk of overheating or combustion.
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