News in Brief June 29 - Pepsi, IKEA and More

Whirlpool, Consumers Settle Lawsuit Over “Energy Star” Refrigerators

A judge has granted preliminary approval to a settlement between Whirlpool and nearly 5,000 California residents. The settlement will put an end to a lawsuit that alleged two Kitchen-Aid models bore the “Energy Star” label when they shouldn’t have. It is expected that each class member will receive a 10% rebate or $55 cash per refrigerator.

Judge Approves Settlement in Pepsi Carcinogen Case

A judge has granted preliminary approval in a California lawsuit that alleged Pepsi failed to warn customers that its regular, diet and Pepsi One soft drinks contained high levels of a potential carcinogen known as 4-Methylimidazole (4-Mel). As part of the settlement, Pepsi must make sure that the companies that supply the caramel coloring for its drinks do not allow the chemical to exceed 100 parts per billion. They must also test the drinks for excessive levels of 4-Mel before putting them on the market.

Ikea Recalls Nearly 30M Dressers Over Safety Risk

Ikea has announced that it’s recalling nearly 30 million dressers and chests after six children reportedly died after getting trapped underneath the furniture. It is believed that the chests and dressers are at risking for tipping over if they are not properly anchored to the wall, resulting in an “entrapment hazard that can result in death or injuries to children.” The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Communication has all the info you need here.

DraftKings, Consumers Settle Unsolicited Text Lawsuit

DraftKings has reached a settlement with a group of consumers who say they were sent unwanted promotional texts from the fantasy sports site. The two sides, however, told the court that they need extra time to finalize the paperwork for the settlement. The plaintiff claimed he received an unsolicited text from a number purporting to be another player, but that when he tried to call the number, he got an automated message from DraftKings instead.

ADT, Comcast Workers Score Win

It’s a good day for both ADT and Comcast workers. On Monday, a judge in California granted final approval to a nearly $3 million settlement to two groups of ADT sales workers who said they weren’t reimbursed for work-related expenses or given accurate paystubs. Class members are expected to receive between $1500 and $4000. Over in Illinois, a judge approved a $450,000 settlement between Comcast Corp. and a group of technicians who said they weren’t paid proper overtime wages.

Drone Won’t Come Home, Suit Says

A drone manufacturer has been hit with a lawsuit in California alleging that the company’s Phantom 3 drone didn’t “come home” as promised. According to the suit, DJI Technology Inc. advertised that the drone’s autopilot feature ensures that the device will always return to a preset location set. The plaintiff, however, claims otherwise. He says that his drone went “out of control” and never came back – and now, he’s asking for his money back.