San Francisco files Misclassification Lawsuit Against Qwick Hospitality Staffing CompanySan Francisco, CA The City of San Francisco at the end of August filed a lawsuit against Qwick Inc., accusing the hospitality staffing company of misclassifying their workers as independent contractors to deny them guaranteed wages and benefits. Qwick workers are unable to receive overtime, meals and rest breaks, health care or paid leave, and San Francisco city attorney David Chiu says Qwick has an "unfair business advantage" over businesses abiding by the California labor and employment laws.
Experienced Birth Injury Attorneys Discuss Lawsuits and SettlementsLos Angeles, CA The day your child is born should be one of the happiest days of your life. Sadly, medical complications may arise during childbirth that put your baby’s health at risk. When a doctor or a medical professional or medical facility fails to handle the situation properly, your infant may suffer injuries or illnesses resulting in permanent disability. In the worst cases, mishandled childbirth complications may result in death. Experienced birth injury lawyers at Stalwart Law know that experiencing a birth injury is nothing short of devastating, and the last thing on your mind is likely how and where to seek legal help. Even though you are left emotionally distraught and often financially hurt, attorneys Sean O’Neill and Elizabeth “Beth” Teixeira know from years of experience that sooner is better than later to help you obtain financial damages from those responsible for your child’s birth injury.
Hair Relaxer Makers Splitting Hairs in Georgia CourtAtlanta, GA Hair relaxer manufacturers have successfully argued with the Georgia Court of Appeals to take into consideration the state’s 10-year repose statute regarding a hair relaxer lawsuit filed by a Georgia woman last October. But plaintiff Kiara Burrough's attorney point out that the statute doesn’t apply to claims for negligence and failure-to-warn.
Navy Offers Elective Option to Hasten Camp Lejeune SettlementsSanta Clara, CA The Department of the Navy has come up with its “Elective Option”, which it describes as an expedited resolution process. It is an attempt to speed up compensation for more than 1,100 federal lawsuits and 93,000 administrative claims filed by Camp Lejeune veterans and their families. To date, not one Camp Lejeune claim has been resolved and time is running out for veterans injured by contaminated water.
Monsanto RoundUp Lawsuit UpdateSanta Clara, CA The last few months have been busy for Bayer and Monsanto’s legal team and Roundup lawsuits. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to review a $39 million Roundup settlement regarding cancer warnings on Roundup; the latest Roundup cancer trial is underway in Missouri and south of the border; and a U.S. dispute settlement panel challenges Mexico’s plans to ban GMO corn.
New York Pizza Shops Allegedly Pay Less than Minimum WageNew York, NY A former pizzeria employee has filed a proposed class action lawsuit against the owner of two New York pizza shops, alleging he was paid below minimum wage and was not paid overtime. The complaint claims that an “illegal” tip credit was used to justify being paid no more than $10 per hour. The complaint, which was filed late August in New York federal court, alleges both restaurants violated the Fair Labor Standards Act, New York Labor Law and the New York State Wage Theft Prevention Act.
WestRock Disability Discrimination Lawsuit Amounts to $9.5 millionLos Angeles, CA A Los Angeles jury sided with a WestRock employee who claimed he was discriminated against and awarded him $9.5 million in a California labor lawsuit. Lowry McCray accused the cardboard packaging giant of terminating him because he has a mental disability that caused his unfair treatment in the workplace. Further, WestRock refused to investigate the unfair treatment that could have helped McCray.
3M Settles Earplug Lawsuits for $6 BillionSanta Clara, CA 3M announced in August that it reached a $6 billion settlement over defective earplug lawsuits brought by thousands of veterans and military service members who have suffered hearing damage. From 2003 to 2105 the military used the earplugs to protect them from combat noise, including in Afghanistan and Iraq. 3M earplug lawsuits—which grew into the largest mass tort litigation in U.S. history—claim that the chemical giant knew during those years that their earplugs were defective and they hid design flaws, skewed test results and neglected to provide instructions for the proper use of the earplugs.
Apple Settles California Wage & Hour LawsuitSanta Clara, CA Apple Inc. workers who filed a wage-and-hour dispute in a California court have settled for $500,000. An investigation, which began in early 2022, showed that Apple’s overtime pay rate each month did not include the commissions that Solutions Consultants earned that month and Apple did not pay all Solutions Consultants for travel time between required meetings and their worksites.
California Real Estate Agents Entitled to OvertimeSanta Clara, CA A California wage and hour lawsuit filed by a real estate brokerage operator and almost 3,000 agents is close to settlement. The lawsuit, which was filed three years ago, alleges Redfin Corp. misclassified the real estate agents as independent contractors to avoid paying overtime wages, and other California labor law violations.
