In The Courtroom

California Court Supports Coverage For Autism Therapy

April 25, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

(Reuters) – A California appeals court has ruled that state regulators and health insurers cannot deny coverage for an intensive autism treatment on the grounds...

California Court of Appeals Ends State Regulator’s Discrimination Against Autistic Children

April 24, 2014  ·  Jerry Flanagan

Santa Monica, CA – Parents of autistic children scored a major victory in a California Court of Appeal decision issued late yesterday, which now bars...

Calif. Appeals Court Again Says Plans Must Cover Autism Care

April 23, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

Law360, Los Angeles (April 23, 2014, 9:42 PM ET) — A California appeals court on Wednesday again held that the Department of Managed Health Care...

Consumers Lawsuit Against DIRECTV May Proceed, Court of Appeal Says

April 8, 2014  ·  Pam Pressley

Santa Monica, CA — DIRECTV’s arbitration clause does not bar DIRECTV customers from suing the company for illegal early termination fees, the California Court of...

DirecTV Class Action Waiver Deemed Unenforceable In Calif.

April 8, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Law360, Chicago (April 08, 2014, 3:22 PM ET) -- A California appeals court on Monday refused to send to arbitration a consumer class action accusing DirecTV Inc. of failing to disclose early termination fees, finding that a waiver of class claims in the company’s arbitration agreement with customers was unenforceable under state law.<br /> <br />

DirecTV Class Action Should Be Arbitrated, Panel Hears

March 19, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p><a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/case/fighting-unfair-cancellation-policies-imburgia-and-greiner-v-directv">Click here to read more on this case</a>.</p> <p> </p>

Magistrate Denies Google Motion Blocking Lawyers’ Access To Wi-Spy Data

March 18, 2014  ·  John M. Simpson

SAN FRANCISCO, CA– A federal magistrate has denied a motion from Google in the Wi-Spy class action suit that plaintiffs said wrongfully would have blocked...

Proposed Settlement of the Hyundai/Kia Fuel Economy Class Action Requires Improvements

March 6, 2014  ·  Laura Antonini

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2743" alt="" class="right" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/images_hyundailogo.png" style="width: 211px; height: 142px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="273" height="184" />Attorneys at Consumer Watchdog and a group of law firms representing owners of Hyundai and Kia vehicles whose fuel economy (miles per gallon) was misrepresented by Hyundai and Kia say the terms of a proposed settlement between the vehicle manufacturers and two other plaintiffs’ law firms should be improved, according to a lengthy analysis prepared by the Consumer Watchdog team.</p>

Court of Appeal to Hear DIRECTV’s Attempt to Force Consumers in Cancellation Fee Class Action into Arbitration

March 6, 2014  ·  Laura Antonini

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2747" alt="" class="right" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/images_directvlogo.jpg" style="width: 211px; height: 162px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="386" height="297" />On March 19, 2014, the California Court of Appeal will hold a hearing on DIRECTV’s attempt to force its customers who were wrongly charged early cancellation penalties to bring claims individually before private arbitrators rather than proceed in court as a class action.

Hyundai-Kia Settlement Draws Objections Among Plaintiffs’ Lawyers

February 4, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>38 plaintiffs' firms take issue with $400 million offer over claims</strong><br /> <br /> LOS ANGELES - A proposed $400 million settlement in a class action lawsuit involving allegations that automakers Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America inflated the fuel economy of their vehicles is running into opposition from some plaintiffs' attorneys unhappy with the terms of the offer.<br /> <br />

Judge Orders Temporary Stop To Santa Susana Field Lab Cleanup

December 27, 2013  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>A Sacramento Superior Court judge ruled in favor of environmental groups and imposed a preliminary injunction on the Department of Toxic Substances Control to stop approving building demolitions at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory.<br /> <br /> The ruling, filed Dec. 11, came after four environmental groups filed a joint lawsuit in August against the DTSC and the Department of Public Health.<br /> <br />

Consumer Advocates Will Closely Scrutinize Hyundai/Kia Settlement

December 24, 2013  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

<p><em><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-20490" alt="" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/images_hyundailogo_3.png" style="width: 211px; height: 142px; margin-left: 6px; margin-right: 6px; float: right;" width="273" height="184" />Santa Monica, CA </em>-- Consumer Watchdog will closely scrutinize the formal settlement, filed on December 23, between Hyundai, Kia and two law firms that would resolve dozens of lawsuits brought on behalf of 900,000 consumers whose gas mileage did not meet the miles per gallon advertised by the South Korean car companies, the California-based non-profit organization said today.<br /> <br />