Blog
California Appellate Court Rules in Favor of Los Angeles Resident
August 11, 2016
A California appellate court ruled that Los Angeles cannot outsource its initial review of traffic violations to a private contractor, LA Weekly reports. “Drivers across California should demand that their elected officials follow the law and end their illegal parking contracts with for-profit companies,” Caleb Marker, attorney at Zimmerman Reed, said. The court also remarked that Xerox, the for-profit company that Los Angeles outsourced the plaintiff’s ticket to, profited off of each ticket paid and was also incentivized to conduct administrative hearings. The court ordered that Xerox no longer have power to conduct any further reviews.
Categorised in: Consumer Protection
Lawyers Ask to Centralize Abilify Gambling Lawsuits
June 27, 2016
Law360 reports that dozens of federal court lawsuits alleging that Bristol-Myers Squibb didn’t provide adequate warning to American users about the risk of compulsive gambling associated with the top-selling prescription antipsychotic drug Abilify. Attorneys have asked the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to consolidate the cases in Florida.
Categorised in: Drug & Device
David Cialkowski Moderates Discussion on Law Firm Data Security at Annual Federal Practice Seminar
June 21, 2016
Zimmerman Reed partner, David Cialkowski, was the moderator of, “Law Firm Data Security-Fulfilling Your Ethical Duties to Keep You and Your Clients’ Data Safe from Attack,” at the 42nd Annual Federal Bar Practice Seminar. The panel included lawyers, data protection and cyber security specialists who talked about rising threats to law firms from attackers. The panel also reviewed how breaches occur and preventative measures that can help protect client data and maintain ethical responsibilities.
Categorised in: Attorneys, Firm News
FDA Warns of Uncontrollable Urges with Use of Antipsychotic Drug
May 3, 2016
The FDA issued a warning to the public of adverse side effects with use of Abilify–such as compulsive gambling, binge eating, shopping, and overactive sexual desires. Abilify is prescribed to patients with mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression, Tourette’s disorder, and irritability associated with autistic disorder. The FDA cautions that these compulsive disorders can affect anyone who is taking the medicine and patients should consult their physician before quitting Abilify if uncontrollable urges develop.
Categorised in: Drug & Device
Retired NHL Players Accuse League of “Mischaracterized” Doctor’s Tests
April 20, 2016
Ex-NHL players allege that the League was putting Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in a bad light, as reported by Law360. CTE is a neuro-degenerative condition due to concussive blows to the brain and can only be diagnosed by a medical examiner via autopsy. The NHL argued that the medical examiner should disclose his evaluation of the players. The players allege that the NHL is seeking to “get a leg up on expert discovery…in hopes of gaining whatever advantage might come from premature expert discovery.” Changes in personality, sleeplessness, severe depression, headaches, and loss of memory are all signs pointing to CTE. The former NHL players are represented by attorneys at Zimmerman Reed.
Categorised in: Sports Law
MN Timberwolves Under Fire for Paperless Ticket Sales
March 7, 2016
Law360 reports that two MN Timberwolves season ticket holders are bringing a class action alleging that the NBA team’s new paperless ticketing sets a floor market price which makes it nearly impossible to sell their tickets. They allege that the NBA team introduced the new platform, Flash Seats, months into the 2015-16 season, forcing fans who would like to resell their tickets to do so at mandatory minimums—which has been a difficult feat due to the Timberwolves’ bleak standing. The fans, who are represented by Zimmerman Reed, claim that the Timberwolves abandoned a 25-year system for one that has not seen any positive output for consumers. “Defendant sets the mandatory minimum prices for resale of Timberwolves tickets very high – usually 75 percent or more of the tickets’ face value – despite the fact the market dictates that tickets to see a team having the Timberwolves’ record should be priced much lower,” the fans allege. “The inability to sell tickets at prices dictated by the fair market renders them worth far less than what plaintiffs and the class paid for them.” Additionally, Flash Seats only provides fans rights to a digital seat, which one can only redeem in person. This mechanism makes it difficult for fans to sell their tickets.
Categorised in: Class Action, Consumer Protection
Minnesota Dept. of Commerce Escheats Unclaimed Properties
January 28, 2016
Allegations have come forward regarding the Minnesota Department of Commerce seizing dormant accounts with large sums of money and making it harder for the rightful owners to claim it back—as reported by MinnPost. The unclaimed property program was initially put in place in 1969 to protect inactive financial accounts and properties from financial institutions. State legislature used to require that individuals receive a written notice when their property was seized and could be recorded by local newspapers, but this requisite was overturned in 2005. In 2006, the state had $318 million from unclaimed accounts and the number has spiked in recent years. As of December 2015, the State of Minnesota has racked up $711.5 million (and keeps rising). This money now sits in the state’s general fund for unlimited use. Zimmerman Reed attorneys are working with a class to retrieve and return the money to their rightful owners.
Categorised in: Consumer Protection
Hart Robinovitch Named Lead Counsel in Pacquiao MDL
December 14, 2015
Law 360 reports that a California federal judge appointed Zimmerman Reed partner, Hart Robinovitch, as interim lead counsel in pay-per-view subscribers’ multidistrict litigation claiming promoters lied about boxer Manny Pacquiao’s shoulder injury before his “Fight of the Century” in May with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Categorised in: Attorneys, Pacquiao MDL
Regions Morgan Keegan Agrees to Pay Investors $125 Million
January 23, 2015
Reuters reports that Regions Financial Corp has agreed to $125 million of settlements to resolve lawsuits accusing it of mismanaging three Morgan Keegan bond mutual funds that collapsed in 2007 after investing heavily in subprime mortgages and other risky debt.
Categorised in: Investor Protection, Morgan Keegan