Aug 1, 2016

A Startup Is Automating the Lawsuit Strategy Peter Thiel Used to Kill Gawker

Did you look at Peter Thiel’s systematic destruction of Gawker via the American legal system and think “Wow, it’s too difficult to extract money from corporations and people using the courts?” Did you think, “Why don’t I try that?” If you answered yes to either question, there’s a startup you should meet. Legalist is a Silicon Valley startup that was developed in the Y Combinator incubator offering …



TCS Settles Orange County Lawsuit for $26 Mn; Shares Down

India’s largest IT firm Tata Consultancy Services and its US affiliate have paid Orange County, Calfornia, $26 million to settle a lawsuit over what the latter termed as a “failed replacement” to the county’s automated property tax system. “TCS and Orange County have agreed to settle an ongoing dispute regarding the joint development of a Property Tax Management System,” a TCS spokesperson …


Universal Orlando’s Chocolate Emporium Hit With $40M Lawsuit

Universal Orlando’s highly anticipated Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen just hit a major legal snag prior to its grand opening. The Willy Wonka-inspired eatery has been slapped with a hefty $40 million lawsuit. Ohio resident Adam Limle claimed the chocolate factory and restaurant attraction was his original idea and that he had met with Universal …


Tribunal Awards Rusoro More Than $1 Billion in Venezuelan Lawsuit

Canadian gold miner Rusoro Mining Ltd. (TSXV: RML) has been awarded more than $1 billion after a World Bank tribunal said Venezuela unlawfully seized the company’s gold mine, according to news reports and a news release from Rusoro. The company says it was awarded damages of $967.77 million plus interest, taking the total above $1.2 billion. Rusoro says it filed an arbitration request in July …


Judge Approves Remington Rifle Settlement Plan—with a Catch

The federal judge overseeing a proposed class action settlement involving millions of allegedly defective Remington firearms says the parties can go ahead with a revised plan to notify gun owners of their right to get the triggers replaced. But in a unique twist, the judge is delaying final approval of the settlement until he sees how many people file claims. The case involves Remington’s …


VW Facing Uphill Battle Outside the U.S. In Emissions Claims

Governments, investors and car owners around the world are gaining ground in efforts to pressure Volkswagen AGVLKAY -0.82 % for settlements over its emissions-cheating scandal, aiming for terms similar to a $15 billion U.S. agreement. From Australia to South Korea to Ireland, governments and consumers are ratcheting up legal and regulatory demands in part because such moves in the U.S. yielded …


When Banks Play Unfairly, Consumers Want Chance to Be Heard in Court

The vast majority of consumers want to know they can seek their day in court if they get in a beef with a bank. That’s the main takeaway of a report last week from the Pew Charitable Trusts, which examined so-called mandatory arbitration clauses in bank contracts. These are the provisions that say you can’t sue or join a class-action lawsuit, and if you want to settle a dispute, you have to …


Suits Against SunTrust Over 401(k) Plan Now a Class Action

SunTrust Banks’ decision at the onset of the recession to allow its employee retirement plan to continue investing in bank stock as it sustained billions in losses and the housing market collapsed is at the heart of multidistrict litigation that a federal judge has said will now proceed against the banking company as a class action. …


Federal Court Rules Uber’s Driver Pay Settlement Unfair for Drivers • Beacon Transcript

On Thursday, a U.S. District Court in San Francisco rejected a settlement Uber Technologies has reached with thousands of its drivers following a couple of class-action lawsuits as being unfair and unreasonable for drivers. Both sides were ordered to discuss the issue again in private and show up in court Sept. 15. Uber agreed to review its stance, but said that the April …