Toyota suits expand in Missouri, Kansas 
Two car owners in Missouri and three in Kansas have filed class action lawsuits against Toyota, calling on the company to provide them with replacement vehicles until their own cars are repaired or replaced.
Disputed arbitration contract heading back to circuit court
Continuing to work for a company does not, by itself, prove that an employee has agreed to be bound by an agreement to arbitrate employment disputes, a state appellate court said.
Class action suit resolved over unwanted calls
A $750,000 class-action settlement of a lawsuit over unwanted phone calls has won final approval in St. Louis Circuit Court.
The lawsuit filed in 2005 against 1-800-GOT-JUNK? and its St. Louis franchise Junk Doctors claimed the companies violated the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act by making unsolicited pre-recorded advertising calls.
The companies haul away old stuff from [...]
Alltel settles
Another wireless carrier has settled with dozens of Missouri municipalities over unpaid business taxes.
Alltel Communications, which is now owned by Verizon Wireless, agreed to pay $2.7 million in back taxes to 69 municipalities. St. Louis County Circuit Judge Bernhardt Drumm signed the settlement agreement March 11.
The carrier also consented to pay $510,565 in plaintiff attorneys’ [...]
Propane tank class action gets judge’s nod
A federal judge has preliminarily approved an $8 million settlement against a company accused of putting too little propane in its containers.
The settlement in the multidistrict litigation would end 15 of the 18 cases filed against AmeriGas Propane. However, some plaintiffs are refusing to participate in the settlement. The settlement also doesn’t affect a related [...]
Corporate: Close Corporation - Dissolution - Shareholder Oppression
Waters v. G&B Feeds, Inc. (MLW No. 60335/Case No. SD29745 - 18 pages) (Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, Barney, J.)
Where a trial court found that a corporate officer disregarded plaintiff’s interests as a shareholder by operating the business and making decisions without seeking her assent, borrowing money and refinancing debt without her input or [...]
Contracts: Breach Of Contract - Negligence - Plumbing Work
DeLong Plumbing Two, Inc. v. 3050 N. Kenwood LLC (MLW No. 60334/Case No. SD29589 - 9 pages) (Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, Burrell, J.)
Where a plumbing company sued a property owner for breach of contract after the owner failed to pay for work and the owner brought a counterclaim for negligence, substantial evidence supported [...]
Insurance: Property Insurance - Indemnification - Business Expenses
George’s Inc. v. Allianz Global Risk US Insurance Co. (MLW No. 60310/Case No. 09-2220/09-2248 - 8 pages) (U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit, Wollman, J.)
Where a poultry processing company sought coverage under its property insurance and business interruption policy after an ice storm cut off electrical service resulting in the deaths of chickens, the policy [...]
Insurance: Medicare Supplement Policy - Rescission - Mistake
HealthEast Bethesda Hospital v. United Commercial Travelers of America (MLW No. 60308/Case No. 08-3665 - 6 pages) (U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit, Benton, J.)
Where an insurer agreed in a settlement with a hospital to pay the medical bills of its insured but then rescinded the policy based on a finding of a misrepresentation of [...]
Case alleging fraud over decorating NY apartment to be tried here
A Missouri man furnishing a New York City apartment with the help of an interior design firm based in Florida can sue the designer in Missouri courts.