Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices in Connecticut
Each state generally has some type of consumer protection or trade protection law that seeks to prohibit and punish unfair conduct and deceptive acts in trade or commerce. Most states, including Connecticut, model their laws after section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. Section 5 of the FTC Act prohibits unfair or deceptive acts and unfair […]
Business Blog Round Up
Here are some quick hits on business blogs: The Wall Street Journal blog reports on two restaurants involved in a lawsuit to determine who is most harmful to your health. Well, sort of. The Heart Attack Grill, an Arizona eatery, filed a federal lawsuit against the owners of Heart Stoppers Sports Grill, a Florida restaurant, accusing […]
Firestorm Over Whether Bysiewicz Legally Qualified To Be Connecticut Attorney General
As many of us know, the Connecticut Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal, is stepping down and running for Chris Dodd’s U.S. Senate seat. Several candidates have stepped forward indicating that they are going to run for Attorney General. The Connecticut Attorney General has a significant impact on businesses in this state. For one thing, the Attorney General often brings lawsuits to protect businesses and consumers […]
Class Action Lawsuit Filed In Connectiut Against AT&T Over Internet Access Tax
On January 11, 2010, a class action lawsuit (download here) was filed against AT&T alleging that it improperly charged sales tax to access the Internet in violation of Connecticut law and the Internet Tax Freedom Act. The case was brought on behalf of David Rock who subscribed with AT&T for a "wireless data plan that […]
Don’t Get Rocked like RockYou – – Protect Your Customers’ Personal Information
A recently filed class action lawsuit (download complaint) against RockYou highlights the very real threats to businesses related to hackers stealing customer data also known as personally identifiable information (PII). According to the complaint filed in federal court in San Francisco, RockYou is a publisher and developer of popular online applications and services for use […]
Business Litigation Roundup
As we head to the new year, here is a round up from some fellow bloggers on contracts, cobra, wage disputes, patents, and oral agreements for limited liability companies. The California Business Lawyer Blog offers a very detailed post about contractual relationships between manufacturers and suppliers. The focus is on well drafted agreements eliminating the […]
Just In Time For Christmas – – Lawsuits, Snowball Fights, and Michael Bolton
Here’s some humor for the holidays: A very funny post from Faces of Lawsuit Abuse.org. It is a 2009 poll of the most ridiculous lawsuits of the year. My vote was for the April winner: "Tourist sues New York club after she slipped while dancing on top of the bar." (story here). The judge carefully examined […]
Health Net’s Data Loss In Connecticut Was Theft
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal issued a scathing press release related to Health Net’s recent data loss and security breach. Blumenthal called Health Net’s story on it "sanitized" and its six month delay in reporting "unconscionable." Blumenthal called for a federal investigation and intensified state efforts because of the sensitive financial and health information at risk […]
Breach of Fiduciary Duty In Connecticut
Here is a quick summary of another of the so called "business torts" in Connecticut known as breach of fiduciary duty. A fiduciary duty can arise in a number of contexts in business including relationships with partners, lawyers, accountants, trustees, investment advisers, brokers and employees. When one party in a relationship is a fiduciary, it […]
Auto Body Association Wins 15 Million Dollar Verdict For Unfair Trade Practices
On November 17, a superior court jury in Stamford returned a 15 million dollar verdict in favor of the Auto Body Association of Connecticut (and three other auto body repair shops) arising out of claims againt the Hartford for unfair trade practices. The case docket goes back to 2003 and was filed based on claims that […]