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Category Archives: litigation
PG&E and GM to Test EVs as Power Source when Grid Fails
EVs, of course, play a critical role in achieving California’s goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and already provide customers with many benefits. Bidirectional charging capabilities add even further value by improving electric resiliency and reliability. PG&E, of course, is beleaguered by civil and criminal lawsuits for its corporate actions and neglect that, among other things, ignited the deadly 2018 Camp Fire. In 2020, PG&E pled guilty to 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter, the largest homicide ever legally attributed to a United States corporation. Continue reading
EPA, Louisiana Fine Firestone Polymers for Air Pollution
“This settlement requires Firestone to take concrete steps to reduce emissions of air pollutants from its manufacturing facility in Sulfur, Louisiana,” said Larry Starfield, Acting Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This will result in cleaner air for communities in Southwest Louisiana, particularly for communities that have suffered a historically disproportionate burden from pollution.” Continue reading
Posted in environment, litigation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, clean air act, epa, Firestone Polymers, Ken Zino
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Immunomedics CFO Charged with Insider Trading
Herewith the, err, lowlights from the SEC legal action: while serving as CFO of Immunomedics, Usama Malik learned that the FDA had permitted the company to halt a clinical trial for a breast cancer drug because the existing trial data provided compelling evidence that the drug was effective. Malik – who was subject to a trading “black-out” that prohibited him and anyone living in his household from purchasing Immunomedics stock – immediately told Lauren S. Wood, with whom he lived at the time, as well as three family members. Wood and two of the family members then bought Immunomedics stock, as did an account in the name of the third family member’s spouse. Continue reading
Don’t Aim Holiday Laser-Light Displays at the Sky
“If we become aware that your laser-light display affects pilots, we’ll ask you to adjust them or turn them off. If your laser-light display continues to affect pilots, despite our warnings, you could face a civil penalty,” said the FAA. The FAA works with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to pursue civil and criminal penalties against individuals who purposely aim a laser at an aircraft. It can impose civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation. Civil penalties of up to $30,800 have been imposed by the FAA against individuals for multiple laser incidents. Continue reading
Posted in aviation, litigation, safety, transportation
Tagged autoinformed.com, Aviation Laser Strikes, aviation safety, faa, Ken Zino, Laser-Light Displays
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China: Nippon Steel Sues Toyota over Steel Sheet Patent
The conflict arises from Baoshan Iron & Steel, based in Shanghai, China, and a subsidiary of state-owned China Baowu Steel Group. It is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Toyota uses Baoshan steel sheet. It comes at a time when the Biden Administration is wrestling with US trade policy with China. The former administration started a trade war that cost US jobs, damaged the agricultural sector, and was a disaster for the US auto industry in China, the world’s largest vehicle market. It is also involved in a dispute about whether proposed lavish EV buyer tax credits should apply to imported and non-union made electric vehicles. Continue reading
Lyft Starts Driver Legal Defense Fund vs Abortion Vigilantes
In the latest, but by no means the last development supporting democracy in the face of mob rule, Lyft has created a Driver Legal Defense Fund to cover 100% of legal fees for drivers sued under SB8. Continue reading
FAA Data Show Trends in Dangerous Aircraft Laser Strikes
“Pointing a laser at an aircraft can temporarily blind a pilot and not only affects the crew but endangers passengers and the communities they fly over every night,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. Continue reading
Posted in aviation, fools 'n frauds, litigation, safety
Tagged aircraft laser strikes, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, faa, Ken Zino
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SEC Charges Nikola Founder Trevor Milton With Fraud
The SEC’s complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that Milton founded Nikola in 2015 with the primary goal of manufacturing trucks that run on alternative fuels with low or zero emissions, and building an alternative fuel station infrastructure to support those vehicles. Milton allegedly helped Nikola raise more than $1 billion in private offerings and go public through a business combination conducted by a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). Continue reading
Three More Ford Recalls – 885,569 F-Series, Explorers, Aviators
The largest recall and the one with associated injury claims covers 2013-2017 Ford Explorer vehicles that may experience a seized cross-axis ball joint. Ford is issuing this safety recall for approximately 774,696 2013-2017 Ford Explorer vehicles that may experience a seized cross-axis ball joint that may cause a fractured rear suspension toe link. Affected vehicles may experience a clunk noise, unusual handling, or a misaligned rear wheel. Fracture of a rear toe link significantly diminishes steering control, increasing the risk of a crash. Continue reading
Posted in customer satisfaction, litigation, recalls
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, ford recalls, Ken Zino, nhtsa
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The Growing Non-Exclusive Dieselgate Club – Fraud Charges Also in France for Renault on Diesel Emissions Levels
The investigation opened on 12 January 2017 on older generations of diesel vehicles, Renault s.a.s. was placed under examination on 8 June 2021 on the charge of deceit, aka fraud. Investigators accused Renault of “fraudulent strategies” used by top managers for more than 25 years to falsify the emission test results, including its longtime chief Carlos Ghosn. The EU Parliament adopted legislation last November that will allow US-style class action lawsuits against companies accused of wide-scale fraud. Continue reading
Stellantis – Diesel Emissions Probes for Consumer Fraud
The Stellantis Group, which was established in January 2021, also said it will continue its predecessors’ policies and cooperate fully with the justice system in order to resolve this matter expeditiously. It, of course, has no other good options. Stay tuned for the next chapter of Dieselgate, where major automakers used software to cheat on emissions tests. Continue reading
Dutch Court Rules Shell Must Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The ruling sets a significant precedent. It clearly opens the door to climate change litigation against other energy companies, such as Total, BP, Exxon, Mobil, or Chevron, among others. Ultimately, when all the legal maneuvering to escape culpability is over from well-financed Big Oil, fossil fuel suppliers will be forced to increase and/or speed emission reduction plans and their implementation. Continue reading
Posted in environment, litigation, milestones
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, big oil, Deer Park Refinery, IndustriALL, Ken Zino, Pemex, usw
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FAA Cuts Boeing a Deal on More 737 Airworthiness Violations?
Boeing, debatably, profited from such interference when the Trump Administration refused to ground the 737 Max despite growing incidents and fatalities. It’s a reasonable bet that Boeing and Barr wanted to cut ties with Trump after he lost the presidential election last November. Continue reading
CARB Fines Plasti Dip International for Air Quality Violations
Plasti Dip International has been developing and manufacturing specialty coatings and adhesives since 1972. It started with its most popular product, Plasti Dip. The air-dry rubber coating began as a “grip solution” for tool handles and has become a DIY commodity for crafters, handymen and automotive enthusiasts. Continue reading
Posted in environment, litigation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, CARB fines, Ken Zino, Plasti Dip
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EPA Fines Iowa, Missouri Sellers of Auto ‘Defeat Devices’
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said today it will collect civil penalties from two companies that allegedly sold illegal “defeat devices” that are designed to make automobile emission controls inoperative, in violation of the federal Clean Air Act. Baillie Diesel … Continue reading →