News in Brief July 19 – Volkswagen, Audi, WWE and More

WWE Faces a New Lawsuit Over Brain Injuries

World Wrestling Entertainment and owner/founder Vince McMahon have been hit with another lawsuit claiming they negligently put wrestlers at risk for frequent head injuries. The lawsuit, brought by a group of former wrestlers, says that the wrestlers weren’t told that the moves they were to perform could cause neurological damage – even when performed properly. According to the complaint, WWE and McMahon violated the National Labor Relations Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Volkswagen, Audi Face More Engine Defect Suits

Volkswagen and Audi are far from being in the clear. The number of class actions claiming that they concealed a defect that can lead to engine failure is increasing. The latest group to file suit is made up of 24 unhappy drivers in New Jersey who say the affected vehicles break down sooner than expected, leaving owners paying between $1,200 and $10,000 for repairs.

Gladiator Inc. Sued Over Unpaid Internship Program

Texas-based fitness camp Gladiator Inc. is facing a putative class action that claims it unlawfully required recruits to take part in unpaid internships before they were considered paid employees. The suit says that the internships had the potential trainers working 20 hours per week (for up to two-and-a-half months), doing the same type of work as actual trainers, but without the pay. Lead plaintiff Shannon Schoellhorn is looking to gain compensation for the Fair Labor Standards Act violations she and other interns allegedly suffered.

Snyder’s Hit with Wage and Hour Lawsuit

Snyder’s-Lance Inc. is facing a putative class action brought by a group of delivery drivers in Tennessee. The drivers claim they’ve been misclassified as independent contractors and, in turn, are getting paid less than they should. According to the complaint, Snyder’s violated the Fair Labor Standards Act with a one-sided distribution agreement that muddles how much the drivers should actually be making.