Category: Issue

  • SEC, DOJ End Hampton Creek Investigations

    The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have reportedly ended their investigations into Hampton Creek’s alleged sales­-inflation buyback operation, in which employees purchased jars of the company’s Just Mayo product then sold the jars back to the company. Bloomberg initially reported that the company had expensed $1.4 million for “Inventory…

  • USDA, FDA Nominations Near Senate Votes

    The Senate Agriculture Committee has approved Sonny Perdue’s nomination to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), with Perdue receiving support from all members of the committee except Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-­N.Y.), along with an abstention from Sonny Perdue’s cousin, David Perdue (R-­Ga.). The full Senate vote has not yet been scheduled. See Politico, March…

  • Shook Attorneys Discuss Legal Challenges of Emerging Technologies

    Emerging technologies are changing the way we live, travel and buy goods and services. While new technology may improve our lives, it also brings new risks. Shook, Hardy & Bacon Partners Cary Silverman and Phil Goldberg, with Of Counsel Jonathan Wilson, have authored a report, Torts of the Future: Addressing the Liability and Regulatory Implications…

  • DOJ Reaches Consent Decree with Valley Milk Over Contaminated Milk Powders

    The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has obtained a consent decree against Valley Milk Products LLC prohibiting the sale of more than four million pounds of milk powder products and preventing the company from manufacturing the products in the future. U.S. v. All 50 pound high heat nonfat dry milk powder (Grade A), No. 16-­0076,…

  • Just Born Faces Second Class Action over Movie Box Candy Slack-­Fill Allegations

    Just Born, Inc. is facing a putative class action alleging its boxes of candy are underfilled by 35 percent. Escobar v. Just Born, Inc., No. 17­-1826 (C.D. Cal., removed to federal court March 17, 2017). The plaintiff allegedly bought a box of the company’s Mike and Ike candy at a movie theater and claims Just…

  • Class Action Plaintiffs Claim Canada Dry Ginger Ale Contains No Ginger

    Three plaintiffs have filed a putative class action against Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., claiming that although the label on the company’s Canada Dry Ginger Ale product says “Made With Real Ginger,” the product contains “no detectable amount of ginger.” Hashemi v. Dr. Pepper Snapple Grp., Inc., No. 17­-2042 (C.D. Cal., filed March 14, 2017).…

  • Subway Announces Intent to Sue Broadcast Network Over Chicken Story

    Subway has issued a notice of action in Canada against the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) following a February broadcast of the network’s “Marketplace” program that claimed DNA testing of the chain’s sandwiches showed its chicken was half processed soy. The sandwich chain is reportedly asking for $210 million in damages for defamation. According to the…

  • Plaintiff Claims Coconut Water Contains No Coconut

    An Oregon plaintiff has filed a putative class action against the makers of Cascade Ice Coconut Water alleging the product contains no coconut. Silva v. Unique Beverage Co., LLC, No. 17­-0391 (D. Or., filed March 9, 2017). The complaint alleges that “[d]espite the large colorful coconuts and the word ‘Coconut’ that defendant puts on the…