McDonald’s has not opened in Tehran (only weeks after a nuclear deal was reached). Despite the prospect that the deal will ease international sanctions and possibly portend a change in Iranian revolutionary attitudes toward American companies, Mash Donald’s and other knockoffs of American food culture are a home-grown phenomenon. Questions: 1. Do you think that… Read more »
Posts Tagged: litigation
The “Look Policy” & a Class-Action Lawsuit
Abercrombie & Fitch’s “Look Policy” requires workers on the floor to wear “clothes, accessories and footwear that are similar in style and fit to the brand, and that are consistent with the current fashion season and colors” but that aren’t “clearly that of a competitor.” Questions: 1. Economic historian Price V. Fishback wrote that, “The… Read more »
The Reverse – Upside down Prosecution!
Despite the fact that bank officials uncovered a fraud, fired its mastermind, investigated and reported it to regulators, and then provided New York State prosecutors with over 900,000 pages of documents, a tiny Chinatown bank, Abacus Federal Savings Bank, was under put under indictment by a grand jury in New York State Supreme Court and… Read more »
The Question of Undue Hardship
The bankruptcy case of Janet Roth stirred a debate over the rigidity of the “undue hardship” standard in discharging student loans. This year, President Obama instructed several governmental agencies to review, by Oct. 1, whether the treatment of student loans in bankruptcy should be altered. Questions: 1. How did Ms. Roth prepare for her case?… Read more »
Innovation, Price Fixing, or Rotten Apples?
Recently, a federal appeals court upheld a ruling whereby Apple was determined to be the leader of an industrywide conspiracy among book publishers. Their goal was to raise prices of digital books. Questions: 1. When was the original case brought? 2. What were the damaging words in the case and who are these attributed to?… Read more »
So the 20% charge is not a tip?
The restaurant, Per Se, must distribute $500,000 in compensation to current and former employees as ordered by the settlement struck with the New York Attorney General. The Manhattan eatery is notable for its $300-plus prix-fixe menus. Questions: 1. How did the restaurant violate New York labor law and how did they remedy this situation for… Read more »
A Bizarre Story: Watch what you say!
A man having a colonoscopy sued two doctors and their practices for defamation and medical malpractice last week, after he found that his cell phone had recorded a most horrific “trash talking” event during his procedure, as well as evidence of a falsified diagnosis. In the trial, the jury ordered the anesthesiologist and her practice… Read more »
Unlimited Data Slowdown at AT&T
The FCC accused AT&T of improperly slowing down Internet speeds for customers who had signed up for “unlimited” data plans and imposed a $100 million fine on June 17. Questions: 1. How long has this practice been impacting customers? 2. Has the company violated FCC rules for similar issues prior to this current one? 3…. Read more »
Loss-Prevention Profiling at CVS
Four former loss-prevention employees from the CVS chain in New York filed a class-action lawsuit on June 3rd against the drugstore chain, accusing their bosses of ordering them to target black and Hispanic shoppers. According to the detectives, they were fired after complaining about racial discrimination, against both customers and themselves. Questions: 1. Why is… Read more »
Spies Everywhere!
A U.S. District Judge ordered Yahoo Inc to face a nationwide class-action lawsuit and accused the company of illegally intercepting email content sent to Yahoo Mail subscribers from non-Yahoo Mail accounts. Subsequently, Yahoo used the information to boost advertising revenue. Questions: 1. Which subscribers and non-subscribers does this class-action allow to file suit? 2. What… Read more »