Dallas Business Lawyer Blog

Facebook May Face Lawsuit Along With Morgan Stanley For Deception- Dallas, Texas

A writ, filed in a Manhattan court, alleges that Facebook's revised growth figures were not disclosed to all investors.

US financial regulators have already said the Morgan Stanley may have questions to answer over the disclosure of information ahead of Friday's float.

The bank, lead underwriter to Facebook, said it fully complied with the rules.

The lawsuit claims that defendants concealed from investors during the flotation marketing process "a severe and pronounced reduction" in revenue growth forecasts.

Meanwhile, the Reuters and AP news agencies reported that the Senate banking committee may look into the matter, but was still considering its options.

These latest developments continue to cast a cloud over one of the most anticipated stock market listings of recent times.

For more information about business lawsuits, go to www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com or call 214-855-0034 or jonathan@theleblanclawfirm.com

Nutella Settles Case For False Advertising Product As Healthy - Dallas, Texas

Have you bought a jar of Nutella in the past four years? Were you under the impression, as you slathered the creamy hazlenut spread onto your crackers or scooped large spoonfuls of it from the jar directly into your mouth, that you were indulging a health food craving? Well, you could soon find yourself at least $4 wealthier.

Yes, that's right. Ferrero, the company that manufactures the highly addictive yet apparently not terribly healthy spread, has settled a $3 million lawsuit filed in February 2011 by San Diego mom Athena Hohenberg. Hohenberg, it seems, believed that Nutella was a great dietary choice for her four-year-old daughter. She claimed the company's advertising -- particularly giving TV-ad viewers the idea that Nutella was part of a nutritious breakfast -- led to her erroneous perception.

While the total award sum is a not-too-shabby $3 million, $2.5 million of that will be spread out among claimants that could include you.

Along with now being $3 million poorer, Ferrero will have to change its marketing and labeling to clear up any possible misconceptions about the health benefits of its product.

For more information about false advdertising go to www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com or call 214-855-0034 or jonathan@theleblanclawfirm.com

Woman Recovers 10 Million From Harassing Debt Collectors - Dallas, Texas

In a twist of irony, a West Virginia woman is trying to collect money from a collection agency. Diana Mey, of Wheeling, W. Va., won the largest judgment ever against an abusive debt collection company -- more than $10 million.

"I'm a mom, and I'm a housewife, and I'm an accidental activist," Mey said.

From her small-town home base in Wheeling, Mey went after a debt collection empire that hounds people nationwide and won. But she still hasn't received any money.

"I don't know that I'll ever collect a dime, but if I can get their operation shut down, that would make me very happy."

For more information about unfair debt collection in Texas go to www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com or call 214-855-0034 or jonathan@theleblanclawfirm.com

Jury Awards Woman Fired Over Sexual Harassment Complaint - Dallas, Texas

A jury awarded $930,000 to a barn manager at a horse farm who was fired and kicked off the property after complaining of a co-worker who tried to kiss her, she claimed. In 2008, Keri Gall, then 37, worked at The Funny Farm in Hawaii where she lived in a house on the grounds as part of her compensation. The male worker who allegedly tried to kiss her also lived on the property. She complained to her boss, Kimberly Dey, who twice offered her a severance package if she left voluntarily. Gall refused and Dey fired her about six weeks after the incident. Gall and her family were forced to leave the property and their home within hours, she claimed. The defense argued that Dey was a difficult employee. Gall claimed the firing was very traumatic, noting that Dey had been her friend and was a member of her wedding party.

For more information about sexual harassment, go to www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com or call 214-855-0034 or jonathan@theleblanclawfirm.com

 

Lawyer Awarded For Defamation Claim Against Former Employee - Dallas, Texas

A jury awarded $1.25 million to an attorney on his countersuit against a former paralegal who accused him of sexual harassment. Allison Moreno sued Ostly, Murphy & Vu LLP — now known as Murphy, Vu, Thongsamouth, Chatterjee LLP — alleging that attorney Thomas Ostly sexually harassed her and wrongfully terminated her in 2006. She claimed that Ostly made unwanted sexual advances toward her and fired her after she ended their intimate relationship. Ostly contended that they had a consensual relationship and that Moreno voluntarily resigned when it ended. After Moreno filed suit, Ostly cross-complained against her for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage.

For more information about defamation in Texas, go to www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com or call 214-855-0034 or jonathan@theleblanclawfirm.com

Female Employee Recovers For Being Fired Over Sexual Harassment Complaint - Dallas, Texas

A jury awarded $930,000 to a barn manager at a horse farm who was fired and kicked off the property after complaining of a co-worker who tried to kiss her, she claimed. In 2008, Keri Gall, then 37, worked at The Funny Farm in Hawaii where she lived in a house on the grounds as part of her compensation. The male worker who allegedly tried to kiss her also lived on the property. She complained to her boss, Kimberly Dey, who twice offered her a severance package if she left voluntarily. Gall refused and Dey fired her about six weeks after the incident. Gall and her family were forced to leave the property and their home within hours, she claimed. The defense argued that Dey was a difficult employee. Gall claimed the firing was very traumatic, noting that Dey had been her friend and was a member of her wedding party.

For more information about sexual harassment go to www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com or call 214-855-0034 or jonathan@theleblanclawfirm.com

 

Lawyer Awarded On Defamation Claim Against Former Employee - Dallas, Texas

A jury awarded $1.25 million to an attorney on his countersuit against a former paralegal who accused him of sexual harassment. Allison Moreno sued Ostly, Murphy & Vu LLP — now known as Murphy, Vu, Thongsamouth, Chatterjee LLP — alleging that attorney Thomas Ostly sexually harassed her and wrongfully terminated her in 2006. She claimed that Ostly made unwanted sexual advances toward her and fired her after she ended their intimate relationship. Ostly contended that they had a consensual relationship and that Moreno voluntarily resigned when it ended. After Moreno filed suit, Ostly cross-complained against her for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage.

For more information go to www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com or call 214-855-0034.

 

Woman Wins Suit Over Honda Hybrid Civic False Claims About Mileage - Dallas, Texas

The California owner of a Honda Civic Hybrid car has won her unusual small-claims court lawsuit against the auto giant over the vehicle's failure to deliver the promised mileage.

A Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner has awarded Heather Peters $9,867.

Peters opted out of a class-action lawsuit so she could try to claim a higher payment for the failure of her Civic to deliver the 50 miles per gallon (21.26 kilometers per liter) that was promised when she bought it.
Informed of the decision by The Associated Press, Peters exulted, "Wow! Fantastic."

"I am absolutely thrilled. Sometimes big justice comes in small packages," she said. "This is a victory for Honda Civic owners everywhere."

Peters, a former lawyer, hoped to inspire a flood of such lawsuits by the other 200,000 owners of the Hybrid Honda Civic model sold in 2006. She said that if all 200,000 owners of the cars sued and won in small claims cost, it could Honda Motor Co. $2 billion.

For more information go to www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com or call 214-855-0034.

Office Worker Sexually Harassed By Boss Wins At Trial - Dallas, Texas

An office worker who claimed that her boss subjected her to myriad instances of sexual harassment during her five months of employment was awarded $868,000. In 2006, Lynda Beck, then 42, worked for Guardian Leasing Inc. in Houston. Beck claimed that her boss, who was the vice president, made sexually suggestive gestures with his tongue and put his hands on her. The last straw, she said, was when he fell to his knees, rubbed and sniffed her leg, and asked her, “Do you shave it?” She said she told him to “get the hell out” of her office, and she complained to the owner. Beck said she was fired after a one-day investigation. The company claimed she was fired for poor job performance. Of the award, $750,000 was for punitives.

For more information about sexual harassment, go to www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com or call 214-855-0034.

Do You Have A Will Prepared For The State of Texas?

If you reside in the State of Texas and do not have a will, your family may not be protected in the event of your death.  For more information as to why you should have a will go to www.willslawyerdallas.com or call 214-855-0034.