Class Action

IMAX Faces Shareholder Class Action Suit

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 17, 2006 - 1:24pm.

Radnor, Pa. - A shareholder class action lawsuit has been filed in U.S. District Court in New York against large-screen format movie exhibitor IMAX, which includes allegations the company reported revenue from a number of theaters before they opened, to make its finances more attractive to suitors.

Microsoft May Face Class Action Over Alleged Xbox 360 Flaws

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on December 6, 2005 - 8:52am.

Chicago - Microsoft is facing a potential class action lawsuit over alleged flaws in its Xbox 360 video game console, initially filed by an Illinois man who says his device has a design flaw that makes it overheat and freeze up, Reuters reported. A number of similar complaints were lodged on video game enthusiast websites shortly after the console's release on Nov. 22. Chicago resident Robert Byers says in the suit that the power supply and central processing unit of the Xbox 360 can overheat, affecting sensitive chips located nearby. "We have received a few isolated reports of consoles not working as expected," a Microsoft spokeswoman told Reuters, adding that the calls related to a "very, very small fraction" of the total units sold. The company has also commented to Eurogamer.net that, "because Xbox 360 has three powerful processing cores, customers may notice that it runs a bit warmer than other game consoles, but this heat output is well within the acceptable and safe range."

tags: Microsoft | Xbox 360 | Class Action |

Electronic Arts Pays $15.6 Million to Settle Overtime Pay Class Action

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 6, 2005 - 9:44am.

Redwood City, Calif.-- Video game developer and publisher Electronic Arts announced on Thursday that it has paid $15.6 million to settle a class action lawsuit brought by current and former employees, who argued the company did not provide adequate overtime pay. Under the settlement, some 200 EA production workers who were not previously eligible will be reclassified as eligible for overtime pay, but will no longer receive stock options, EA spokeswoman Trudy Miller told the Associated Press. The lawsuit was originally filed in July 2004, following the publication of a widely-publicized online journal deriding the company for its work environment and compensation policies. A separate class action lawsuit, brought by a group of engineers working for Electronic Arts, is still pending.

tags: Electronic Arts | Class Action | Overtime Pay |

Apple Faces Class Action Suits Over iPod Battery Life

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 11, 2004 - 9:24am.

Cupertino, Calif. -- Disgruntled users of the popular iPod digital music player have filed five separate class action lawsuit against their maker, Apple Computer, claiming that the batteries that operate the devices wear out too quickly, Reuters reported. The suits, filed in late December in Santa Clara, San Mateo and San Francisco counties, accuse Apple of false advertising, unfair competition, breach of warranty and fraudulent concealment, among other allegations. Apple, which has been buoyed by strong sales of the iPod in recent quarters, said that it is beginning its own investigation into the claims.

tags: iPod | Apple | Class Action | Battery Life |

THQ Settles With Insurer Over Class Action Coverage; Will Receive $4 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 17, 2003 - 3:59am.

Calabasas Hills, Calif. -- THQ, a developer and publisher of video games for consoles, the PC and wireless devices, announced that it has settled an arbitration dispute with National Union, the company's directors' and officers' insurance carrier. Under the terms, Calabasas Hills, Calif.-based THQ will receive a $4 million payment from National Union, as well as other considerations. The dispute began over the amount of liability coverage due the company, resulting from a class action lawsuit filed against THQ in February 2000. National Union paid out $5 million but had disputed paying the balance of $5 million under THQ's coverage.

tags: THQ | Coverage | Class Action | Insurer |