News in Brief October 18 – Comcast, Hyland's, Melitta and More
Last Updated on June 26, 2017
Class Action Accuses Comcast of Charging “Bogus” Fees
A putative class action against Comcast alleges the cable company is charging customers “bogus” fees. The 79-page complaint outlines consumers’ claims that, contrary to its promise of charging customers a fixed monthly price, Comcast actually charges a much higher rate for cable services as a result of concealed and deceptive “Broadcast TV” and “Regional Sports” fees. Filed by customers who reportedly opted out of arbitration deals with the company, the lawsuit also claims Comcast raised the hidden fees multiple times, including for customers who have contractually locked-in rates. “Rather than implementing a top-line price increase for its advertised television service or bundled plans,” the suit says, “Comcast instead kept the advertised price the same and hid the price increase in a new invented and inadequately disclosed ‘Broadcast TV Fee.’”
Homeopathic Med Co. Hyland’s Quells False Advertising Suit
A 2012 false advertising class action will be put to rest after Hyland’s agreed to refund customers who purchased certain children’s medicines alleged to be ineffective at treating cold and flu symptoms. According to reports, full refunds will be doled out to class members who bought one or more of 11 products allegedly falsely marketed by the homeopathic medicine maker as “safe and effective” and “fast acting.” Refunds will be capped at two products absent proof of purchase, and three products for customers who have their receipts.
Melitta Beats False Labeling Class Action on Technicality
Coffee company Melitta USA has beaten a class action lawsuit accusing it of illegally mislabeling its coffee as naturally flavored because the plaintiff in the suit failed to include a picture of the label in question in her complaint. The New Jersey judge overseeing the suit ruled that the plaintiff appeared to be trying to “skirt around the pleading requirements” under state consumer protection laws by failing to include even one clear image of the allegedly deceptive label. The plaintiff’s suit claimed that consumers were roped into paying premium prices for naturally flavored coffee products that actually contained artificially made flavoring. Of the pictures the plaintiff did include in her complaint, the judge said they were “of such poor quality that they do not reveal the precise representations made on the front of the products.”
$950k McDonald’s Credit Check Settlement to be Approved
A $950,000 settlement will end a lawsuit filed in California claiming a McDonald’s operator violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by conducting background checks on thousands of job hopefuls without making certain mandatory disclosures. Proposed by the named plaintiffs, the deal covers more than 2,500 job applicants who applied to nearly 20 of the defendants McDonald’s franchises. In addition to alleging that background checks were conducted on unaware job applicants, one of the plaintiffs claimed he was hired and then fired after his background check mistakenly showed that he was convicted of a robbery.
Video Game Addiction Lawsuits
If your child suffers from video game addiction — including Fortnite addiction or Roblox addiction — you may be able to take legal action. Gamers 18 to 22 may also qualify.
Learn more:Video Game Addiction Lawsuit
Depo-Provera Lawsuits
Anyone who received Depo-Provera or Depo-Provera SubQ injections and has been diagnosed with meningioma, a type of brain tumor, may be able to take legal action.
Read more: Depo-Provera Lawsuit
How Do I Join a Class Action Lawsuit?
Did you know there's usually nothing you need to do to join, sign up for, or add your name to new class action lawsuits when they're initially filed?
Read more here: How Do I Join a Class Action Lawsuit?
Stay Current
Sign Up For
Our Newsletter
New cases and investigations, settlement deadlines, and news straight to your inbox.
Before commenting, please review our comment policy.