It's a New Year - But Companies Are Up To Their Old Tricks

Well, 2015 is here, and after all the holiday celebrations, it's time to get back to work. There's a lot going on at the moment - and you can always stay up-to-date by following us on Facebook or Twitter. In this week's newsletter, we're talking about mislabeled or defective products (MonaVie and Essure, below), as well as companies that may be failing to properly pay their workers (Qdoba and Huddle House). As always, we also have the latest settlements you may be able to take part in. Read on - and happy new year!

- Simon Clark, ClassAction.org Writer

Huddle House and Qdoba Mexican Grill Could Face Lawsuits for Unpaid Wages

Everyone deserves to be paid for the work they do - and that includes being paid for overtime. Assistant managers at Qdoba and servers at Huddle House, however, may have been working without proper compensation.

Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are currently investigating whether tipped employees at Huddle House locations in Tennessee, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and other states are working for less than the federal minimum wage. It has been alleged that the company is not making up the difference when employees' tips and hourly wages do not meet the federal standards. Huddle House workers may have also had their pay illegally deducted for breaks, even though they were still working.

Qdoba, meanwhile, may be failing to properly pay assistant managers for overtime work by claiming that managers don't qualify for overtime. It's an argument that's been used by multiple other companies before, many of whom have faced lawsuits and had to change their policies. If you work as an assistant manager at Qdoba, you may been tricked out of overtime pay - and a lawsuit could be filed on your behalf. If you work at Qdoba or Huddle House, we'd like to hear from you.

The Case Against Essure

Thousands of women harmed by Essure, an allegedly defective birth control device manufactured by Bayer, have found themselves unable to sue the company thanks to a loophole in the law. Federal preemption is a legal doctrine that governs cases where federal law supersedes state laws – and a 1976 law passed by Congress means that certain medical devices may be covered by the rule. Now, though, women are taking action, and a lawsuit has been filed alleging that federal preemption should not apply to Essure. Read More

MonaVie Drinks: Super Juices or Super Dangerous?

MonaVie sells several types of "super juices" designed to lower cholesterol and help with multiple medical problems. The catch? These claims, according to reports, have no scientific backing - and the drinks may be putting consumers at risk. A lawsuit has already been filed against MonaVie alleging that the company is misleading consumers and that the drinks are dangerous. Harmful levels of lead and arsenic were apparently found in those who drank the juices. If you bought MonaVie Active, Essential, Kosher, (M)mun, Mx or Pulse, you may be able to take part in a lawsuit to seek compensation. Get in touch today.

Class Action Settlements:
Can You File a Claim?

Our settlements page is always being updated. Have you checked to see if you're covered by any open settlements? You can also check out the latest settlements as they happen by following us on Twitter.

To view a complete list of settlements and to find out how you can file a claim, click here.