THIS WEEK IN THE NEWS
July 14 to July 18, 2014
TOP HEADLINES
Schneiderman Proposes Bill To Blunt Effects Of Hobby Lobby Decision
Joined by State Senate Democratic Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and a broad coalition of pro-choice advocates and legislators, Attorney General Schneiderman announced the Reproductive Rights Disclosure Act, which would help shield New York women from the effect of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby. This proposed legislation would require employers to give 90 days’ notice before changing contraceptive coverage as well as inform prospective employees of the contraceptive care coverage they offer. The Attorney General’s message: “Women should be empowered with information to make their personal healthcare choices.”
Schneiderman Releases Historical Report Showing Rise And Impact Of Data Breaches
Attorney General Schneiderman released a report providing a historical analysis of eight years of security breach data. The report illustrated that there is a growing number, complexity and cost of data breaches impacting New Yorkers. It also revealed that the number of reported data security breaches in New York more than tripled between 2006 and 2013: In 2013, 900 security breaches exposed 7.3 million personal records, costing New Yorkers $1.37 billion. Attorney General Schneiderman’s report also suggests tips that both businesses and consumers can take to protect themselves from data loss, another fact of the Attorney General’s campaign to make New Yorkers smart consumers.
Schneiderman Announces Second Largest Settlement Ever Levied Against A Financial Institution In United States With Citigroup
Attorney General Schneiderman joined members of a state and federal working group to announce that a $7 billion settlement with Citigroup – $182 million will be allocated to New York State. As part of the settlement, Citigroup acknowledged it made serious misrepresentations to the public, including the investing public, arising out of the packaging, marketing, sale and issuance of residential mortgage-backed securities. The settlement was negotiated through the Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities Working Group, a joint state and federal working group formed in 2012 to share resources and continue investigating wrongdoing in the mortgage-backed securities market prior to the financial crisis – for which Attorney General Schneiderman is a co-chair.
Schneiderman Announces Agreement With Apple In E-book Pricing Fixing Case
Attorney General Schneiderman announced a settlement with Apple Inc. after the company allegedly participated in a price-fixing conspiracy in which the prices of E-books were artificially raised for customers in New York and throughout the country. The settlement has the potential to result in payments of $400 million to consumers, resolving claims for consumer damages and civil penalties brought by New York and 32 other states and territories. E-book purchasers nationwide have already received compensation from $166 million in settlement funds paid by the five publishers involved in the conspiracy. This settlement proves that “even the biggest, most powerful companies in the world must play by the same rules as everyone else.”
A.G. Schneiderman & Illinois A.G. Madigan Urge Federal Communications Commission To Strengthen Protections For Net Neutrality
In a letter and comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Attorney General Schneiderman and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan urged the Commission to strengthen rules to safeguard democracy on the Internet and preserve net neutrality. Attorneys General Schneiderman and Madigan argue that the FCC must ensure the continued “dynamism of the Internet” by protecting its low barriers to entry and equal treatment for all content providers. This can be upheld only through the principles of an Open Internet, or net neutrality, which further vigorous competition and innovation on the web.
Schneiderman Praises State Supreme Court’s Decision To Dismiss Challenges To State Review Of Hydrofracking
Attorney General Schneiderman commended New York State Supreme Court Justice Roger McDonough for dismissing two lawsuits that sought to force the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to terminate its ongoing review of the environmental impacts related to high-volume hydrofracking. Attorney General Schneiderman applauded the decision as “an important victory in our effort to ensure all New Yorkers have safe water to drink and a clean, healthy environment.”
Schneiderman Announces Settlement With Casella Waste Systems Inc., Protecting Competition For Waste Hauling Services In Upstate New York
Attorney General Schneiderman announced a settlement with a waste hauling firm Casella Waste Systems to end their practices of unlawfully restraining competition in the North Country and Southern Tier. The Attorney General’s Office found that Casella’s contracts with its customers required that Casella serve as the exclusive provider of all customers’ waste hauling services for as long as five years. Customers faced severe consequences for early cancellation of their contracts, due to provisions requiring that they pay Casella an amount equal to six times their monthly bill upon early termination.
Schneiderman Announces Agreement with National Staffing Company Labor Ready to Protect Workers’ Rights
The Attorney General reached an agreement with Labor Ready, a staffing company that provides temporary staffing services to a wide range of employers across New York and nationwide. The agreement requires Labor Ready to implement a program to educate its job placement employees about laws that require the payment of at least the “prevailing wage,” to ensure that workers are only sent to jobs that will pay a fair wage. In addition, Labor Ready will be required to pay $10,000 in restitution to two workers who were sent to a school construction site on Long Island by the company and were unfairly paid $8 an hour instead of the required prevailing wage rate. Schneiderman’s agreement with Labor Ready furthers his commitment to workers’ rights and guaranteeing fair pay for a full day’s work for all New Yorkers.
Schneiderman Announces Jail Sentence For Fraudulent Western New York Home Contractor
Attorney General Schneiderman secured a jail sentence of 90 days for a fraudulent Western New York home improvement contractor, who has repeatedly taken money from consumers and failed to provide the home improvement services for which he had been paid. The contractor was shown to have violated a 2012 court order – also secured by the Attorney General’s Office – barring the contractor: A recent investigation by the Attorney General showed that the man was again taking money for home improvements without providing the services, in addition to never having posted the bond.
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In Other News…
Attorney General Schneiderman’s Homeowner Protection Program is continuing to assist thousands of New Yorkers facing foreclosure in keeping their homes. So far, HOPP has provided free legal and housing counseling services to more than 28,000 New York families: 10,872 in New York City; 7,056 in Long Island; 1,811 in Buffalo, and 1,348 in Central New York.
Congratulations to all of the students across New York state who received the Attorney General’s CCC Award, which recognizes outstanding courage, character, and commitment of New York’s best and brightest. The Attorney General was proud to meet some award recipients from Dutchess and Ulster County in Poughkeepsie this week.
Attorney General Schneiderman was also in Poughkeepsie to take questions at his office’s Mid-Hudson Valley Community Forum at Marist College. This forum was the office’s 10th and final event in a year-long series. Over that period of time, the Attorney has hosted nearly 3,000 people statewide, and his bureau chiefs have met nearly 500 additional advocates.
Did you purchase an electronic device containing DRAM from 1998 to 2002? If you did, you probably paid too much and should receive a refund, as part of the Attorney General’s $310 million settlement with DRAM manufacturers. Go to www.dramclaims.com to find out how to file a claim.
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