Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP

Amazon has been accused of selling “su***de kits” to vulnerable teens and young adults. The lawsuits accuse Amazon of selling highly concentrated sodium nitrite, an industrial chemical that is lethal to ingest.

The complaints allege Amazon received notifications of children dying after purchasing sodium nitrite but continued to offer it for sale.

The complaints further allege shoppers who typed “sodium nitrite” in the Amazon search bar received “sodium nitrite su***de” as an autocomplete prompt, and Amazon recommended additional products including a book on su***de and medication to assist in keeping sodium nitrite down during a su***de attempt.

Amazon Alleged to Have Sold “Suicide Kits” to Teenagers In New Lawsuits | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP Amazon, the largest online retailer, has been accused in multiple lawsuits of selling "su***de kits" to vulnerable teens and young adults. The lawsuits accuse Amazon of selling and continuing to sell highly concentrated sodium nitrite, an industrial chemical that is lethal to ingest. The complaint a...

California expanded pay-data reporting requirements for large private employers. Reviewing the available 2020 data, Schneider Wallace discovered these pay disparities between men and women at large California employers:

Federal and state prosecutors have announced multiple settlements in 2023 for False Claim Act allegations. We discuss twelve cases including a $2.7 million settlement by AbbVie regarding Humira prescription kickbacks.

AbbVie Agrees to $2.7 Million Settlement for False Claim Act Whistleblower Lawsuit over Humira Prescriptions | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP Pharmaceutical company AbbVie Inc. has agreed to pay $2.7 million to settle a whistleblower False Claims Act lawsuit, which alleged that the company used unlawful kickbacks to encourage medical providers to prescribe its drug Humira. Federal prosecutors have announced multiple settlements in 2023 fo...

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that during fiscal year 2022 they awarded 103 awards a total of $229 million.

Since 2012 the program has awarded $1.3 billion to 328 whistleblowers. The SEC reported the over one billion dollars in awards are a result of $6.3 billion in monetary sanctions.

SEC Whistleblower Office Announces Results for 2022 | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that during fiscal year 2022 they awarded 103 awards a total of $229 million. Since 2012 the program has awarded $1.3 billion to 328 whistleblowers. The SEC reported the over one billion dollars in awards are a result of $6.3 billion in monetary...

On January 5th, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a proposed rule banning non-compete agreements, as well as the settlements it reached with companies for alleged abuse of non-compete agreements.

FTC Announces Actions Against Non-Compete Agreements, Proposes Ban | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP On January 5, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a proposed rule banning non-compete agreements, as well as the settlements it reached with companies for alleged abuse of non-compete agreements. The FTC listed several main goals of their rule proposal, including raising wages for low...

Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP, a national plaintiff side law firm, is pleased to announce the December 2022 promotion of two new additional partners. Matthew S. Weiler and Ori Edelstein join a growing partner tier at the firm.

Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky Announces Two New Partners in December 2022 | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP, a national plaintiff side law firm, is pleased to announce the December 2022 promotion of two new additional partners. Matthew S. Weiler and Ori Edelstein join a growing partner tier at the firm. Previously in March 2022, the firm announced their new Los Angel...

The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) maintains a public database of wage theft claims and judgments. Updates for June 2022:

California Labor Department – Wage Theft Claims and Judgments – June 2022 | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP The California Department of Industrial Relations maintains a database of wage theft claims presented to the office by employees against individuals and corporations. California reported 174 judgments in June 2022, after excluding duplicates. The total value of all judgments was $6,638,263. The Depa...

The United States Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, reported a total of $164.6 million in back wages collected for workers during fiscal year 2021.

The total was from two categories: $138,674,500 collected for unpaid overtime, and $25,932,824 collected for failure to pay minimum wage.

Department of Labor Collects $164,607,324 in Back Wages for Workers in United States During Fiscal Year 2021 | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP The United States Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, reported a total of $164.6 million in back wages collected for workers during fiscal year 2021. The total was from two categories: $138,674,500 collected for unpaid overtime, and $25,932,824 collected for failure to pay minimum wage.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), within the United States Department of Labor, has opened an investigation into Amazon’s safety at their warehouses.

OSHA inspected warehouses for Amazon in Chicago, Orlando, and New York City.

Amazon Warehouses Under Federal Investigation by Department of Labor | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), within the United States Department of Labor, has opened an investigation into Amazon’s safety at their warehouses. OSHA inspected warehouses for Amazon in Chicago, Orlando, and New York City. In a statement given to media, the Department o...

The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) maintains a public database of wage claims presented to the office by employees. When a wage claim is filed, the Labor Commissioner’s Office investigates the claim.

Updates for May 2022.

California Labor Department – Wage Theft Claims and Judgments – May 2022 | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) maintains a public database of wage theft claims presented to the office by employees against individuals and corporations. When a wage claim is filed, the Labor Commissioner’s Office investigates the claim, and publicly posts information abo...

The Mississippi Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, signed by Governor Tate Reeves on April 20, 2022, went into effect on July 1st, 2022.

The law, which repeats the standards of the federal Equal Pay Act, forbids employers from paying lower wages to one s*x compared to wages earned by another s*x.

50 States of Equal Pay – Mississippi Equal Pay Act Took Effect July 1st, 2022 | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP The Mississippi Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, signed by Governor Tate Reeves on April 20, 2022, went into effect on July 1st, 2022. The law, which repeats the standards of the federal Equal Pay Act, forbids employers from paying lower wages to one gender compared to wages earned by another gender. M...

The California Department of Industrial Relations maintains a public database of wage theft claims presented to the office. When a wage claim is filed, the Labor Commissioner’s Office investigates the claim and publicly posts information about the claim.

The Labor Commissioner’s Office also lists all labor judgments for wage theft, misclassification, and other labor issues.

Here are updates for April 2022, data from a search of the government labor databases on June 14, 2022.

California Labor Department – Wage Theft Claims and Judgments – April 2022 | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) maintains a public database of wage theft claims presented to the office by employees against individuals and corporations. When a wage claim is filed, the Labor Commissioner’s Office investigates the claim, and publicly posts information abo...

Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP and Roche Freedman LLP filed a class action lawsuit for violations of federal securities laws against Solana Labs, Inc., the Solana Foundation, Anatoly Yakovenko, Multicoin Capital Management LLC, Kyle Samani, and FalconX LLC.

Schneider Wallace Files Class Action Against Solana Labs, for Violations of Federal Securities Laws Schneider Wallace Files Class Action Against Solana Labs, for Violations of Federal Securities LawsOn July 1, 2022, Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky (“SWCK”) and Roche Freedman LLP (“RF”) filed a class action lawsuit for violations of federal securities laws against Solana Labs, Inc., the ...

The California Department of Industrial Relations maintains a database of wage theft claims and judgments.

Updates for March 2022:

California Labor Department – Wage Theft Claims and Judgments – March 2022 | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP The California Department of Industrial Relations maintains a database of wage theft claims presented to the office by employees against individuals and corporations. When a wage claim is filed, the Labor Commissioner’s Office investigates the claim, and publicly posts information about the name o...

Washington joins California as the second state to make non-disparagement and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in employer settlements and contracts unenforceable, for harassment and discrimination.

Washington Passes “Silenced No More Act” Eliminating Non-Disclosure Agreements | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP Governor Inslee signed The Silenced No More Act (Bill 1795). Washington state now joins California as the second state to make non-disparagement and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in employer settlements and contracts unenforceable, for harassment and discrimination.

The Department of Labor took the position truck drivers who are scheduled for more than eight hours in a sleeper berth deserve to be paid for time above eight hours.

Department of Labor Backs Truckers in Sleeper Berth Wage Dispute | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP The DOL took the position truck drivers who are scheduled for more than eight hours in a sleeper berth deserve to be paid for all time above eight hours. The case in question involved truck drivers with a scheduled 10 hour sleep break in each 24 hour day.

The Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act prohibits the enforcement of arbitration clauses for cases alleging s*xual assault or alleging s*xual harassment.

Congress Passes and President Signs the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021 | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP

The United States Department of Labor announced a federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia entered a judgment of $7.2 million in back wages and liquidated damages on behalf of 1,105 employees of a staffing agency.

$7.2 Million in Back Wages and Damages for 1,100 Nurses in Virginia | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP The United States Department of Labor announced a federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia entered a judgment of $7.2 million in back wages and liquidated damages on behalf of 1,105 employees of a staffing agency. The Department of Labor alleges that the medical staffing agency intentionall...

The Eastern and Southern Districts of New York charge multiple cryptocurrency coin founders with securities fraud, money laundering.

The Eastern and Southern Districts of New York Charge Multiple Cryptocurrency Coin Founders with Securities Fraud, Money Laundering | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP On March 8th, 2022 the Southern District of New York announced charges of securities fraud and wire fraud against the founder of Ormeus Coin. The charges allege the coin was falsely presented to investors as backed by a $250 million cryptocurrency mining operation with $5 million in monthly revenue,...

New York Labor Law Section 196-d states that all private employees receive the full amount of any gratuity, tip, or charge purported to be a tip.

Embassy Suites and Hilton Franchise Holding to Face New York Class over Unpaid Gratuity | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP The judge noted that the employers failed to include information required by New York Wage Theft Prevention Laws: “The statements failed to provide the employer's phone number… did not even identify the name of the employer… simply provided 'Embassy Suites' as the employer's name without namin...

The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York released a statement that two founders of BitMEX would plead guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and failing to maintain anti-money laundering programs at their BitMEX cryptocurrency exchange.

The founders have agreed to pay a $10 million fine.

Cryptocurrency Exchange Founders to Pay $10 Million Fine, Plead Guilty to Crimes | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York released a statement that two founders of BitMEX would plead guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and failing to maintain anti-money laundering programs at their BitMEX cryptocurrency exchange. The founders agreed to pay a $1...

The DOJ and state Attorneys General have become more active in investigating and enforcing action against companies who illegally agree to not poach employees from each other.

When competitors in a market seek to collude, whether on prices paid by customers or prices they pay for labor, both federal and state antitrust laws can be violated.

Federal Judge Allows Criminal Charges For No-Poach Wage Fixing | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP The DOJ and state Attorneys General have become more active in investigating and enforcing action against companies who illegally agree to not poach employees from each other. When competitors in a market seek to collude, whether on prices paid by customers or prices they pay for labor, both federal...

Schneider Wallace is representing two occupational and physical therapists in their potential class action for allegations of unpaid forced overtime.

Schneider Wallace Represents Therapists in Potential Class Action for Unpaid Overtime | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP Schneider Wallace is representing two occupational and physical therapists in their potential class action against Cantex Continuing Care Network, for allegations of unpaid forced overtime. Cantex Continuing Care is headquartered in Texas with skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation, home health,...

Over 1,200 nurses represented by Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky requested a federal judge grant class certification to their allegations of unpaid wages.

The nurses claim automatic deductions for breaks occurred even as they worked through meals and breaks.

NY Nurses Request Class Certification For Unpaid Work During Breaks | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP Over 1,200 nurses represented by Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky requested a federal judge grant class certification to their allegations of unpaid wages at Arnot Health New York hospitals. The nurses claim automatic deductions for breaks occurred even as they worked through meals and breaks.

Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky continues to grow and has recently promoted four lawyers to partnership. These new partners are: Amy Eskin, Ryan Hicks, David Leimbach, and Nathan Piller.

This group of outstanding attorneys have made significant contributions to the success of Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky and to the success of the firm’s clients.

Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP, a national plaintiff side law firm, is pleased to announce the March 14, 2022 opening of its new office in Los Angeles, California.

The firm’s new office – its second in California and fifth nationwide – will focus on complex litigation involving employment, consumer protection, and antitrust matters.

Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky Opens Los Angeles Office, Adds Four Partners | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP, a national plaintiff side law firm, is pleased to announce the March 14, 2022 opening of its new office in Los Angeles, California. The firm’s new office – its second in California and fifth nationwide – will focus on complex litigation involving employm...

BlockFi agrees to $100 million settlement with SEC and 32 states for unregistered crypto loans.

BlockFi Agrees to $100 Million Settlement with SEC and 32 States for Unregistered Crypto Loans | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP On February 14th, 2022, the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) revealed BlockFi had agreed to a $100 million settlement for failing to register their crypto lending products and for violations of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Securities Act of 1933.

11,000%.

That's how much the price of Daraprim increased between 2010 ($6.75) and 2015 ($750.00).

Martin Shkreli now faces a lifetime ban from the pharma industry, and Shkreli and Vyera Pharmaceutical must pay $64.6 million for their pricing scheme.

Martin Shkreli Banned From Pharmaceutical Industry, Ordered to Pay $64.6 Million Over Daraprim | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP On January 14, 2022, United States District Court Judge Denise Cote ordered Martin Shkreli to pay a total of $64.6 million to seven states defrauded by Shkreli’s pharmaceutical company, Vyera, through its illegal pricing scheme for the drug Daraprim. These states include New York, California, Ohio...

A federal judge at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California temporarily blocked implementation of California’s Assembly Bill 824, which imposes restrictions on “pay for delay” settlements in pharmaceutical litigation.

Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks California Pay-to-Delay Law A.B.824 | Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP On December 9, 2021 Judge Troy L. Nunley of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California temporarily blocked implementation of California’s California Assembly Bill 824, legislation that imposes restrictions on “pay for delay” settlements in pharmaceutical litigation, includi...