A class action lawsuit has been filed against HR Block claiming they failed to pay their failing seasonal employees in California on a timely manner.  The class administrators website includes the Claim Form, Operative Complaint, the Settlement Agreement and the Notice.  All forms are available in PDF Format.  The lawsuit is entitled Lemus, et al. v. H&R Block Enterprises, LLC and provides a $35 million settlement.  It should be noted that H&R Block denies all wrong doing in the lawsuit but has agreed to settlement terms.  The lawsuit claims H&R Block violated California’s Labor Code and state law. All claim forms must be filed by May 21, 2012 in order to be eligible for a settlement.

www.HRBlockSettlement.Simpluris.com

If you purchased a Blue Sky soda anytime between May 16, 2002 to June 30, 3006 you rights may be affected by the Blue Sky Soda Class Action Lawsuit Settlement.  This lawsuit is entitled Chavez v. Blue Sky Natural Beverage Co., et al., N.D. Cal. 06-cv-06609-JSW and is in the jurisdiction of the United States District Court Northern District of California.  The case revolves around claims that the soda was marketed to make consumers believe it was made in Santa Fe when in all actuality it was made outside of New Mexico.  The plaintiffs claim the defendants violated state and federal law.  They also claim the labeling of the soda was untrue and misleading.

A settlement of $100 per household with Proof of Purchase or $6 per household without Proof of Purchase is available for those who file timely claim forms.  All claim forms MUST be postmarked by June 11, 2012 in order to be eligible for any type of settlement pay out.  The settlement fairness hearing will take place on May 11, 2012 to determine if the settlement is fair and reasonable.  The hearing will be held at 9am PST at 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, California 94102 courtroom D on the 14th floor.  The case has been pending since September 20, 2006 and the defendants deny all wrong doing in the case but have agreed to settle to avoid nay further court cost.   Blue Sky Soda is also known as Monster Beverage.

www.blueskysodaclassaction.com

A class action lawsuit totaling over $538 Million may affect you if your purchased a TV, Monitor, or Notebook Computer that used a TFT-LCD Flat Panel Screen.  This class action lawsuit is in the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of Northern California.  A settlement fairness hearing will be held on 04-13-12 to determine the settlement is just and fair.  If you would like to speak at the hearing you must do so by request.  If you do not make a request you will not be allowed to speak at the hearing.  You must mail your notice of intent to speak along with your name, address, telephone number and your signature to: Clerk’s Office United States District Court for the District of Northern California, 16th Floor , 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102.  The heating will be held at the Northern District of California, Courtroom 10, 19th Floor 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102.   All objections and exclusion are due by April 13, 2012.  The lawsuit revolves around the defendants artificially raising prices in order to profit more from the customer.

The Defendants deny all wrong doing in the lawsuit and/or that indirect purchasers suffered any overcharges.  The court will determine who is right or wrong in this case.  The total amount of the propose settlement is  $538,555,647 and there are 7 different classes.  More class information can be found at the settlement administrators web portal LCDclass.com.  The Chimei Settlement fund will pay $110,273,318, the Chunghwa settlement fund will pay $5,305,105, the Epson fund will pay $2,850,000, the HannStar settlement fund will provide $25,650,000, Hitachi $38,977,224, Samsung $240,000,000 and Sharp will pay $115,500,000 into the Settlement Fund.  At this time it is unknown how much any given class member will receive.  Any monies left over after class members have been paid will go to charity.  The case is entitled In re TFT-LCD (Flat Panel)  Screen Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 1827.  Check back for more updates as the case continues.

www.lcdclass.com

A class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against First Transit, First Student and its subsidiaries of First Group America claiming that they failed to obtain authorization from the potential employee before conducting criminal background checks from drivers and job applicants.  The lawsuit also claims that First Transit denied them jobs without disclosing the results of their background check.  This kind of practice is in violation of the violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act FCR according to the First Transit Class Action Lawsuit class members.

The terms of the settlement include:  Each worker terminated by either company based on an unauthorized criminal background check report could receive $2,000 to $4,000, each worker terminated by either company based on a criminal background check report without first receiving a copy of that report will receive $750, and each worker who was the subject of an unauthorized criminal background report, but who continued to work for either company, likely will receive between $150 and $300.

The settlement terms will depend on the class you fall into.   If you are categorized as part of the Disclosure class group and only half of the “No Authorization Group” members return claim forms, you might receive $150!

www.firsttransitlawsuit.com

A class action lawsuit was filed against Verizon wireless claiming that they charged customers a bill from third-party companies that were not authorized by the customer.  This practice is known as “cramming” within the industry and has gone on for years.  The case is being handled by the law firms of Jacobs Kolton, Chtd., David Schachman & Associates, P.C., Keller Grover LLP and Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP and is seeking a 100% refund for unauthorized third-party charges as part as the settlement.  The settlement also seeks methods to stop this unlawful practice known as “cramming”.

“Unfortunately, cramming is widespread today because people often don’t even realize that they have been billed. Many consumers have been billed for months and even years for these third-party charges without even knowing it. That is why it is so important for customers to get the free billing summaries that this settlement provides so they can check to see if, in fact, they paid third party charges and determine whether they authorized them.” – Jahan C. Sagafi from Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein.

Verizon has denied all wrong doing but has agreed to settle in order to avoid a pricey trial.  Judge Saundra Brown Armstrong from the US District Court will reside over the case.  This is not surprising.  Class members feel like this lawsuit will go a long way in defeating this illegal activity known as cramming. Please check back for more updates on the case.

www.verizonthirdpartybillingsettlement.com