#1 ACLU Lawsuit: Incarcerated People Work for Aramark Without PayAlameda County, CA - The California Supreme Court has ruled in the lawsuit Ruelas v. County of Alameda that the state’s minimum wage law does not apply to people working for private companies while they are held in pretrial detention in California’s jails. The California labor lawsuit was filed by the ACLU on behalf of people incarcerated at the Santa Rita Jail who worked without pay for “private company” Aramark, a $16 billion for-profit corporation that provides food in jails and prisons, and more.
#2 Surgeons Warned to Stop Using Synovo Total Hip ImplantsSilver Spring, MD - On January 3, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an updated advisory to medical professionals warning them not to purchase or implant, and to remove from their inventory all Synovo Total Hip Systems because the devices have been substantially modified since their initial 1991 approval. The gathering storm of Synovo hip failure lawsuits is only a part of the larger picture of hip implant litigation that now also involves devices manufactured by Exactech, Smith & Nephew, Stryker, and Zimmer.
#3 Seroquel Side Effects for the ElderlyPearblossom, CA - Seroquel is a neuroleptic indicated for the treatment of bipolar disorder—and like most drugs carries a host of Seroquel side effects, including diabetes, tardive dyskinesia and even birth defects. However, there is a little-known use for Seroquel off-label that concerned the daughter of one Alzheimer's patient for whom she was caring.
#4 Philips Settles Respirator Case for $1.1 BillionSanta Clara, CA - Philips Respironics has agreed to settle over 700 lawsuits for $1.1 billion. Since the massive 2021 recall of its faulty breathing machines and ventilators that released toxic and carcinogenic fumes into customers’ mouths, throats and lungs, more than 50,000 people have been involved in the litigation.
#5 Aftermath of a Horrific Amusement Park AccidentLouisville, KY - It is not only a parent's worst nightmare but anyone's worst nightmare??"in this case an Amusement Park Accident at a popular theme park that resulted in a 13-year-old girl having both of her feet severed above the ankle. Kaitlyn Lasitter survived, and doctors were able to re-attach her right foot. But they could not save her left, and Kaitlyn now walks with a prosthesis.
#6 Equinox $36 million settlement for California Wage and Hour LawsuitsAlameda, CA - Equinox has agreed to pay $36 million to resolve two California labor lawsuits alleging the fitness company required more than 15,000 employees to perform pre-shift work without pay and to skip meal breaks. The settlement, which resolves California state and federal actions, covers those who worked for Equinox in California between April 3, 2015, and Dec. 31, 2022.
#7 Glass House Slapped with California Labor LawsuitLos Angeles, CA - Glass House Brands Inc. was slapped with a proposed class action lawsuit last month, alleging California labor law violations. A former worker accuses the major California marijuana producer of engaging in a systematic pattern of wage violations, including unpaid overtime and unrealistic workloads.
#9 Hewlett Packard Settles Gender Discrimination Wage ComplaintSan Diego, CA - On October 26, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced that Hewlett Packard Inc. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (collectively “HP”) have agreed to pay $1,450,000 to resolve systemic pay discrimination allegations involving 391 female employees. The affected employees worked at several locations including San Diego. Like federal law, the California Labor Code prohibits gender discrimination in wage rates for substantially similar work.
#10 Wife Is Out, Husband Still behind Bars in $3 Million Securities Fraud SchemeTiburon, CA - A husband-and-wife team implicated in a $3 million Ponzi scheme have seen their case move forward with a plea deal on the part of Gina McGee. The latter pled guilty to securities fraud charges in a plea bargain that allows her to be released from prison. Her husband, meanwhile, remains behind bars in lieu of bail set at $5 million.
