Apple will pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging its Siri assistant illegally recorded and shared users’ private conversations with third parties, such as advertisers. The settlement, covering a class period from September 2014 to December 2024, includes payouts of up to $20 per Siri-enabled device. While Apple denies wrongdoing, the plaintiffs claim unintentional Siri activations led to the unauthorized recording and targeted advertising. A similar lawsuit against Google is currently pending.
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JGA Saddler, an Australian law firm, launched a class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, alleging the company falsely advertised the effectiveness of phenylephrine in products like Codral and Sudafed. The lawsuit centers on the FDA’s declaration that oral phenylephrine is ineffective as a nasal decongestant, contradicting Johnson & Johnson’s marketing claims. This action followed the replacement of pseudoephedrine with phenylephrine after pseudoephedrine sales restrictions, potentially leaving consumers with ineffective congestion relief. Consumers who purchased these products since 2005 may be eligible for compensation if the lawsuit is successful.
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Walt Disney Co. settled a class-action lawsuit for $233 million, resolving claims of wage theft from over 50,000 current and former Disneyland employees. The settlement includes approximately $105 million in back pay owed since 2019, when Anaheim’s minimum wage law took effect, and additional penalties. The lawsuit alleged Disney violated the law by not adjusting wages accordingly, a claim initially dismissed but later overturned. A judge will review the settlement on January 17th, after which affected workers will receive notification of their payout.
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Kraft Heinz will face a nationwide class action lawsuit alleging that its Kraft Mac & Cheese, despite labeling claims of no artificial preservatives, contains synthetic citric acid and sodium phosphates. U.S. District Judge Mary Rowland ruled that the plaintiffs plausibly alleged these ingredients function as preservatives, making the labeling false and supporting their case with academic studies and FDA guidance. While the judge agreed that the plaintiffs lacked standing to demand new labels due to their current awareness, she determined the allegations were sufficient to proceed with the case. The lawsuit seeks damages for fraud, unjust enrichment, and consumer protection law violations, highlighting the ongoing scrutiny of food label accuracy.
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As I sit here and reflect on the absurdity of the situation surrounding the lawyers who voided Elon Musk’s pay as excessive, only to turn around and demand a staggering $6 billion fee, I can’t help but shake my head in disbelief. As a lawyer myself, it’s disheartening to see how the legal profession is portrayed in cases like these.
The idea that lawyers are charging an effective rate of $289,000 per hour is mind-boggling, especially when compared to Musk’s compensation package equivalent of $2,450,000 per hour. It raises questions about the true value of our work and the ethics behind such exorbitant fees.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker