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Small companies may face greater scrutiny when buying D&O coverage under JOBS Act: Report

Published May 29, 2012 CST

Small companies utilizing provisions of the recently passed JOBS Act may face greater scrutiny when purchasing directors and officers liability insurance, according to a new report from Marsh Inc., an unit of New York-based Marsh & McLennan Cos.

OFF BEAT: Million Miler flier says he was stripped of privileges by United Airlines

Published May 29, 2012 CST

A well-traveled Chicago man alleges that United Airlines Inc. “stripped away” his exclusive benefits under its Million Miler frequent flier program after it was modified in a merger with Continental Airlines.

South Shore Hospital to pay $750,000 in data breach settlement

Published May 29, 2012 CST

WEYMOUTH, Mass.—A June 2010 data breach will cost Weymouth, Mass.-based South Shore Hospital $750,000 in fines and remediation costs, according to a civil settlement with the state Attorney General's Office announced last week.

Defense of Marriage Act struck down by U.S. appeals court

Published May 31, 2012 CST

BOSTON—The controversial federal law that effectively denies married same-sex couples the same federal benefits afforded to heterosexual couples violates constitutional guarantee of equal protection, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday.

Most med mal claims lead to litigation, but few trials

Published May 27, 2012 CST

Most medical malpractice claims lead to litigation, but most cases are dismissed and more than three-quarters of the relatively few suits that do result in a trial verdict are resolved in the physician's favor, researchers say.

Rep. Frank offers bill to bar insurance on clawbacks

Published May 30, 2012 CST

WASHINGTON (Reuters)—Executives at financial firms would no longer be able to buy insurance to protect themselves against compensation clawbacks or civil penalties, under legislation introduced by U.S. Representative Barney Frank.

Whistle-blower Woodford wins Olympus settlement

Published May 29, 2012 CST

LONDON (Reuters)—Michael Woodford, ousted as head of Japanese camera-to-endoscope maker Olympus after blowing the whistle on one of Japan's biggest corporate frauds, on Tuesday won a likely multimillion dollar settlement of his claim for unfair dismissal.

Top insurer pulls cover for exports to Greece

Published May 30, 2012 CST

FRANKFURT/LONDON (Reuters)—The world's biggest trade credit insurer, Euler Hermes, has stopped covering exporters shipping to Greece because of the mounting risk of them not getting paid in the event the debt-laden nation is forced out of the euro.

EEOC wins summary judgment in retaliation case against BASF unit

Published May 31, 2012 CST

URBANA, Ill.—A federal judge has ruled that a BASF Corp. unit unlawfully retaliated against an employee for refusing to waive his rights to file a discrimination charge, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said.

EEOC settles age discrimination case with Arizona school district

Published May 27, 2012 CST

PHOENIX—An Arizona school district that was charged by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission with having age discriminatory retirement plans has agreed to a $148,092 settlement.

OFF BEAT: Nudist colony deliveries too up close and personal for letter carriers

Published May 15, 2012 CST

Two letter carriers have filed a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission contending that having to deliver mail to a nudist colony creates a hostile work environment.

Abacus Federal Savings Bank indicted for mortgage fraud

Published May 31, 2012 CST

NEW YORK (Reuters)—Abacus Federal Savings Bank, which caters to Chinese immigrants in New York and other communities, has been charged with selling hundreds of millions of dollars worth of fraudulent mortgages to Fannie Mae.

Occidental must defend environmental lawsuit in U.S.

Published May 31, 2012 CST

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters)—A U.S. appeals court denied Occidental Petroleum Corp.'s request to revisit a prior ruling that an environmental lawsuit against the company must be litigated in the United States.

NLRB reports on overbroad, unlawful social media policies

Published June 01, 2012 CST

The National Labor Relations Board has issued another report on social media policies in which it cites six cases where it contends employers' policies and rules were overbroad and unlawful.

New York City Transit Authority settles religious headwear dispute with DOJ

Published May 31, 2012 CST

NEW YORK—The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a $184,500 settlement with the New York City Transit Authority over charges it engaged in religious discrimination with respect to workers' headwear.

Most medical malpractice claims litigated, but few go to trial: Study

Published May 24, 2012 CST

Most medical malpractice claims lead to litigation, but a majority of these are dismissed, and more than three-quarters of the relatively few against specialists that lead to a trial verdict are resolved in the physician's favor, says a new study.

United Airlines pilots file race descrimination suit

Published May 30, 2012 CST

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters)—Two dozen black pilots alleged in a lawsuit on Tuesday that United Continental Holdings Inc., the parent of United Airlines, passed them over for management promotions because of race.

Wells Fargo spending $432M to end lending suit

Published May 30, 2012 CST

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Reuters)—Wells Fargo & Co. has promised $432.5 million in lending and other payments to end a lawsuit accusing the bank of discriminatory lending practices in Memphis, Tenn.

OFF BEAT: Jilted wife sues Nieman Marcus over guilt-gift refunds

Published June 01, 2012 CST

Beware of husbands bearing overly lavish gifts.

EEOC, Arizona school district settle discriminatory retirement plan charges

Published May 25, 2012 CST

PHOENIX—An Arizona school district that was charged by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission with having age discriminatory retirement plans has agreed to a $148,092 settlement.

Ecuador plaintiffs file lawsuit in Canada against Chevron

Published May 31, 2012 CST

ONTARIO (Reuters)—Ecuadorean plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in Canada as a first move outside their country to try and enforce an $18 billion court judgment against oil company Chevron Corp. for polluting the Amazon, their lawyers said on Wednesday.

DOJ sues staffing agency for violating Immigration and Nationality Act

Published May 24, 2012 CST

JERSEY CITY, N.J.—The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against a staffing agency, charging it with firing a worker for objecting to the firm's preference for hiring foreign nationals with temporary work visas to American citizens.

French court backs Google in TV piracy case

Published May 29, 2012 CST

PARIS (Reuters)—A French court ruled that Google is not responsible for filtering content on YouTube, dealing a blow to French broadcaster TF1 which sought damages for copyrighted sports and movies which ended up on the video-sharing website.

Connecticut governor signs new medical marijuana bill into law

Published June 01, 2012 CST

HARTFORD, Conn.—Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed new medical marijuana legislation into law Friday that expands its previously permitted use.

California construction firm agrees to fine, cleanup of damaged wetlands

Published June 01, 2012 CST

SAN FRANCISCO—A California construction company has agreed to a civil penalty of $170,000 for illegally dumping fill material into wetlands.