Category: Other

One of multiple lawsuits filed against Hill Pet Nutrition alleges that the company dragged its feet in recalling its canned dog food with potentially toxic levels of vitamin D, leading to the deaths and illnesses of numerous dogs. According to a CBS news report, Hill manufactured and sold the Specialty Dog Food products to tens of thousands of consumers. The lawsuit filed in New York cited the companies recall of 13.5 million cans of dog food in presenting its case as a class action, filed on behalf of a group of affected pet owners. …Read the rest »

As we set our clocks an hour ahead, many of us will likely deal with fatigue and sleepiness this week. As we spring forward into Daylight Saving Time, we’ll also find that it is still dark during the early morning hours when most of us Southern Californians hit the road to get to work. Reduced visibility in addition to the hour of sleep lost due to the time change can cause people to feel drowsier than usual. Sleep experts say it is helpful going to bed early about 15 minutes each night leading up to the change in clocks. This will give your body a chance to get use to the change quicker. …Read the rest »

Fully driverless cars will soon be a reality on California’s roadways after the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles has eliminated the requirement for autonomous vehicles to have a person in the driver’s seat. According to a report on Curbed San Francisco, this new rule will go into effect on April 2. California has given 50 companies a license to test self-driving vehicles in the state. The new rules also require companies to be able to operate the vehicle remotely. It’s very similar to flying a military drone. Companies should also be able to communicate with law enforcement and other drivers when something goes wrong. …Read the rest »

A Los Angeles couple that was banned from Disneyland’s pricey and private Club 33 has filed a lawsuit against the park saying they faced retaliation for criticizing sexual harassment and other issues that occurred as a result of new management. According to a report in The Orange County Register, Scott and Diana Anderson say that they were forced out so the exclusive club could bring in more new members and charge them more with fewer benefits. But Disneyland issued a statement saying the couple’s membership was terminated because of multiple rule violations. …Read the rest »

A tequila company ripped off the distinctive skull-shaped bottle of comedy legend Dan Ackroyd’s Crystal Head Vodka, a California federal jury found this week. According to a report on Law 360, jurors handed Crystal Head and Dan Ackroyd a win in its trade dress infringement lawsuit. The eight-person Los Angeles jury deliberated for about four hours before delivering a unanimous verdict in favor of Crystal Head maker Globefill, Inc.

They found that Elements Spirits Inc. and its founder Kim Brandi had deliberately infringed Globefill’s trade dress by making and selling KAH-brand tequila. They also found …Read the rest »

If you live in Southern California, you’d probably find it’s easier to buy fruit-flavored e-cigarettes than an apple or an orange. This is according to data released by “Healthy Stores for a Healthy Community Campaign,” which looked at advertising and merchandise from more than 7,100 stores across California. The Orange County Register reports that the survey included supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies and smoke shops.

Compared to 2013, the number of stores in Los Angeles County that sold e-cigarettes rose by 34 percent. That number was 21 percent for Orange County, 15 percent for San Bernardino County and 9 percent for Riverside County. A number of these stores were located close to schools. Also, in LA County, 36 percent of stores sold fresh produce while 78 percent sold e-cigarettes in fruit flavors such as grape, cherry and strawberry. In Orange County, only 57.5 percent of stores sold fresh fruits and vegetables. But 85 percent stocked flavored e-cigarettes. …Read the rest »

A truly interesting article in Lawyers and Settlements talks about the very first talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuit case that paved the way for others today. It was the case filed by Diane Berg back in 2009. Johnson & Johnson at the time offered her a settlement, but she refused and wound up with nothing. Berg had developed ovarian cancer when was 49. She had used the company’s talcum powder products for most of her life. …Read the rest »

The president of Hawthorne-based SpaceX has been ordered by a judge to give a deposition in a whistleblower lawsuit filed by a former employee who was fired after reporting managers for allegedly pressuring technicians to ignore risks of explosions and approve tests for rocket parts. According to a news report in The Daily Breeze, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William Fahey Gwynne Shotwell must attend the deposition by the end of March and that she may be questions for up to three hours by plaintiffs’ lawyers.

…Read the rest »

It has indeed been a very big year for the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) in terms of statehouse victories, but more importantly, a huge victory for California consumers.  CAOC successfully sent eight priority bills to Gov. Jerry Brown and he signed six. It is important to note that no other single group can claim such an impact or record.

Let’s take a look at the six areas in which new laws are going to make a tremendous impact thanks to CAOC’s advocacy: …Read the rest »

Yahoo announced on Thursday that hackers stole the account information of at least 500 million users two years ago. According to a report in The New York Times, this is the largest known intrusion of one company’s computer network. The user information stolen by hackers includes names, email addresses, telephone numbers, birth dates, encrypted passwords and in some cases, even security questions. The information was compromised back in 2014 by what the company believed was a “state-sponsored actor.” The company did not say which country was involved. …Read the rest »