News in Brief May 23 – Avis, Samsung and More

Avis Budget Accused of Race Discrimination

Avis Budget Car Rental has been hit with a class action claiming that it discriminated against African-American employees at Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport in Mississippi. The lawsuit was brought by Whitney Richardson, an employee at the company’s airport location. She claims that Avis Budget denied career advancements and imposed unfair disciplinary measures on her and other African-American employees – simply because of their race. Richardson, who filed the case on behalf of herself and other employees in the same situation, is seeking $5 million in punitive damages, plus other costs.

GM Offers Reimbursement for False Fuel Economy Numbers

General Motors has announced that it will be offering extended warranties or prepaid debit cards to those who bought certain vehicles because of overstated fuel economy numbers. The affected vehicles include the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia. GM estimates that close to 135,000 customers will be able to make claims to its reimbursement program.

Samsung Faces Lawsuit Over Defective Washing Machines

Samsung has been hit with a proposed class action claiming that it manufactured and sold defective washing machines. According to the complaint, the vibration caused by regular use can cause the drain pump assembly’s motor housing to fracture and separate from its mounting base. The suit also claims that Samsung knew about the defect and decided to sell the products anyway – without making replacement parts available for customers to purchase.