News in Brief July 11 – Uber, Monster and More

Uber Customers Must Arbitrate Over Airport Fee Issue

A class action lawsuit claiming that Uber charges extra for trips to the airport has been dismissed. The judge found that Uber’s terms of service includes an arbitration clause, which says that riders’ disputes must be handled through arbitration – rather than a class action lawsuit. This case was filed in Massachusetts.

NHTSA Investigating 400,000+ Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Over Brake Issues

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration has announced that it will be investigating reported brake issues in approximately 430,000 Harley-Davidson motorcycles made between 2008 and 2011. It has been alleged that the bikes’ brakes can fail without warning, putting riders at risk for injury. The NHTSA commented that the issue may stem from riders’ failure to change the brake fluid, but decided to open the investigation nonetheless.

Monster False Advertising Case Resurrected

The Ninth Circuit has decided to revive certain claims made in a proposed class action that alleged Monster misled consumers into believing its caffeinated beverages were safe for consumption. The court disagreed with a previous ruling that found that all the consumers’ claims about the beverages’ labeling were preempted by federal law.

Pawn Shop Workers Get Class Certification in Overtime Case

Pawnshop workers at Gem Financial Services, Inc. moved one step closer toward resolution last week when a judge granted conditional certification in their case. The workers claim that they weren’t paid properly when working more than 40 hours per week and are seeking back wages for their unpaid hours.