Legal

Macy's, J.C. Penney Among Retail Companies Teaming Up to Block Organized Crooks
September 25, 2014

They compete tooth and nail to draw customers to their Midtown flagship stores, but Macy's and J.C. Penney are teaming up to block the thievery of organized crooks. The rivals have joined more than 100 companies and the NYPD to form an alliance that will be known as the Metropolitan Organized Retail Crime Alliance. Its objective is to improve retail stores’ security efforts by sharing intelligence on crews of bandits, scams and ripoffs. Target, Home Depot and Rite Aid have also signed up for the crime-busting venture. Computer giant Apple is poised to jump onboard soon, sources said.

Report: Court Overturns $1 Million RadioShack Receipt Settlement
September 23, 2014

A class-action settlement RadioShack reached with consumers that offered them $10 vouchers as compensation for printing their credit and debit card expiration dates on receipts has reportedly been overturned by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. According to Reuters, a panel of three federal judges said the total $1 million settlement is too small considering the amount of legal fees that must be paid. The judges also said that the possibility of RadioShack going bankrupt, which would prevent plaintiffs from collecting anything, may have hastened them into accepting an unfair settlement while the company is open. 

Wal-Mart Fined for Fake ‘Sugar Tax’ on Coca-Cola Sales
September 18, 2014

New York might have failed in its efforts to tax sugary sodas, but that didn't keep retail giant Wal-Mart from trying to tax it anyway. This week, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced that the state reached a settlement with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. over false advertising claims. The settlement followed an investigation into claims that Wal-Mart advertised a sale on Coca-Cola soft drinks but actually charged customers across New York State more than the advertised sale price.

Meijer Fined $2M for Selling Recalled Products
September 18, 2014

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced Wednesday that Meijer, Inc. has agreed to pay a $2 million civil penalty for knowingly selling 12 different recalled products. According to the CPSC, Meijer distributed the products through a system operated with a third-party contractor. The CPSC says that Meijer received information about the recalls, but failed to take action to prevent the distribution of the recalled products. As a result, approximately 1,700 units of the recalled items were resold to consumers between April 2010 and April 2011.

Nike Suspends Contract With Adrian Peterson, Target Pulls Merchandise
September 18, 2014

Nike announced Wednesday that it would be suspending its contract with Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson in light of his recent child abuse charges. "Nike in no way condones child abuse or domestic violence of any kind and has shared our concerns with the NFL," a press representative for the company said. Also, Target confirmed that stores were pulling Peterson merchandise from shelves on Wednesday, as well as on the retailer's website. A spokesperson said the decision was made taking into account the feedback it had been hearing from guests.

Eddie Lampert Giving Sears a $400M Loan
September 16, 2014

Sears Holdings Co. is getting a $400 million secured short-term loan from the hedge fund of its chief executive, Eddie Lampert, with real estate as collateral, the company said Monday in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The loan, half of which was funded Monday and the other half at the end of this month, will come due at the end of this year, though the maturity date can be extended to Feb. 28 as long as there's no event of default. 

Lindsay Lohan Sued by Fashion E-Commerce Startup for Allegedly Stealing Their Idea
September 10, 2014

Lindsay Lohan and her brother, Michael Jr., are being sued by Fima Potik for allegedly stealing the concept for a celebrity-meets-fashion e-commerce site. After getting out of rehab, Lohan and her brother collaborated with Potik on an e-commerce concept that allowed users to shop the "virtual closets" of friends and celebrities, with those involved receiving a cut of the profits. The concept, known as Spotted Friend, was mentioned by Lohan on Twitter in July 2013, and the website at one point stated that it was a "Fima Potik & Lindsay Lohan Production." 

Crate and Barrel Settles Dispute Over Product Labeling
September 10, 2014

The Harris Tweed Authority (HTA) has settled a dispute with Crate and Barrel over its labeling of a design of chairs. Euromarket Designs Inc. offered for sale a Harris Tweed Chair and Harris Herringbone Chair on its Crate and Barrel website. The products however weren't made from Harris Tweed, a fabric hand-woven on the Western Isles and protected by U.K. law. The HTA said it has secured a "monetary settlement" and assurances the items wouldn't be marketed as Harris Tweed.

Home Depot Already Faces Breach Lawsuit
September 8, 2014

Home Depot has been hit with a class-action lawsuit stemming from a suspected data breach at the home improvement retailer. While one legal expert portrays the lawsuit as premature because the investigation is still under way, another says the filing was made because it's highly likely the breach will be confirmed. The lawsuit, filed Sept. 4 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, alleges that the retailer failed to meet its legal obligation to protect customers’ credit card and personal information. It also accuses Home Depot of not notifying its customers about the alleged breach.

eBay Warns Online Sales Tax Bill Could Return in Senate
September 8, 2014

As lawmakers return to Washington for the fall congressional session, eBay is warning that members of the Senate could renew the push to enact legislation authorizing the collection of sales taxes on online purchases. The e-commerce heavyweight, one of the most vocal opponents of the sales tax proposal, is cautioning online sellers that supporters of the Marketplace Fairness Act (MFA) are attempting to roll that bill into another, less controversial measure to extend the ban on taxing internet access. The Senate passed the MFA as a standalone bill last May, but the House hasn't taken up the measure.