#1 California Plant Nursery Pays $2.5 million in back wagesLos Angeles, CA - Altman Specialty Plants LLC has agreed to pay its workers $2.5 million in back wages and about $1 million in civil money penalties after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation determined that the largest horticultural grower in the U.S coerced workers to quit so it could dodge the H-2A temporary agricultural program’s wage and hour requirements.
#2 Wrongful Death Hair Relaxer Lawsuit and Carcinogenic Synthetic Hair BraidsSanta Clara, CA – A hair relaxer lawsuit filed in late February alleges hair products caused the wrongful death of a Mississippi woman. And a new study indicates that many cancer-causing chemicals are found in all synthetic hair braiding products. The FDA still hasn’t banned carcinogenic chemicals in these hair products. It’s not when anymore but will the U.S. ever get dangerous chemicals out of hair products—before they harm more women?
#3 Can California Job Applicants Sue Potential Employers for AI-Driven Employment Bias?San Francisco, CA - On February 6, in the Northern District of California, Derek Mobley argued that he was the victim of illegal employment discrimination at the (virtual) hands of an AI-driven process used to screen job applications. Mobley v. Workday, Inc. specifically cites federal employment discrimination law, including Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). Many of the same situations are also covered by the provisions of the California labor code.
#4 Supreme Court Denies Paraplegic Veteran Medical Malpractice ClaimSanta Clara, CA - Injured veterans and advocates are fighting medical malpractice claims denied by the Defense Health Agency because they sustained injuries while on active duty, even though active duty also includes their time in hospital. They are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to end the 70-year-old 'unhinged and incoherent' Feres doctrine which blocks military members from bringing claims against the federal government. But on February 24, 2025 the Supreme Court issued a new blow to active duty service members hoping to seek justice following cases of alleged medical malpractice caused by military doctors, nurses and other healthcare practitioners.
#5 GigSmart to Settle Unpaid Wages Lawsuit for $703,000San Francisco, CA - GigSmart, Inc., a temporary staffing agency, has agreed to settle an unpaid wages lawsuit brought on behalf of gig workers who were paid as independent contractors, rather than employees. The agreement stipulates that GigSmart will pay the workers a total of $703,000 in restitution plus $100,000 in civil penalties. In accordance with the California Labor Code, the agency must prospectively furnish similarly misclassified workers with the full spectrum of employee benefits and rights, such as overtime, sick leave, and workers' compensation.
#6 Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers: A Staple in The North Carolina Legal Community for 40 yearsGoldsboro, NC - For four decades, Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers has protected the rights of personal injury victims across North Carolina. From their office in Goldsboro and an extended presence in Raleigh, they provide strong legal representation for those harmed by negligence. As North Carolina personal injury lawyers, they stand up to insurance companies and corporations to ensure their clients receive the compensation they deserve.
#7 Veteran’s Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Denied, Absurd Feres DoctrineSanta Clara, CA - Maryland Air National Guard Veteran Ryan Carter and his wife filed a lawsuit against the federal government alleging veteran’s medical malpractice—Carter was left permanently paralyzed after a botched “routine” surgery at a military medical center in 2018. Due to the controversial and outdated Feres Doctrine his claim was denied, despite his veteran medical malpractice lawsuit listing 22 specific claims of failures, from anesthesia to aftercare.
#8 Nova Southeastern University to Settle ERISA Lawsuit for $1.5 MillionFort Lauderdale, FL - On October 9, Nova Southeastern University agreed to settle a long-running lawsuit in which participants in the Nova University Defined Contribution Plan claimed that the school had mismanaged their retirement savings by paying excessive recordkeeping fees and retaining underperforming investment funds. The plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary approval was unopposed.
#9 More Depo-Provera Brain Tumor LawsuitsSanta Clara, CA - Thanks to numerous studies, increased awareness of the link between Depo-Provera and brain tumor risk has triggered a wave of lawsuits nationwide against Pfizer. As of early February, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated over 70 Depo-Provera meningioma lawsuits claiming that Pfizer failed to warn patients and doctors about the risk of brain tumors associated with the birth control shot. The panel assigned the MDL to the Northern District of Florida under Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
#10 Plaintiffs Seeking $22 Million in Home Warranty Insurance LawsuitSan Diego, CA - The thrust and intent behind home warranty insurance is to protect the parties involved from defects in workmanship and materials. New construction is usually accompanied by coverage warranting against defects from initial occupation until an agreed period of termination, at which time many homeowners will seek out home warranty companies vending extended warranty coverage, should hidden defects come to the fore later in a structure’s initial life cycle.
