A U.S. District Court judge in Miami dismissed a request by a group of banks to throw out a lawsuit that accuses the banks of manipulating overdraft fees and charging excessive penalties when customers overdraft on their debit cards. Judge James Lawrence King said in his decision that that lawsuit has merit because it challenges the practice of �??manipulating the overdraft fees�?�in order to maximize a benefit to [the banks] and a great detriment to [the customers].�?� The lawsuit contends that the banks tweaked the overdraft charges so that a large purchase would be processed first, and each of any subsequent smaller charges would be hit with the fee, even if the large purchase was bought last. Attorneys for the plaintiffs said they are seeking class-action statues for the lawsuit.

A Massachusetts woman has joined a group of others across the country in a lawsuit against Utah biotech company Myriad Genetics, claiming the company’s patent on the test for genetic mutations that can cause cancer is unconstitutional. Lisbeth Ceriani was diagnosed with breast cancer and wanted to be tested for a type of gene mutation that can lead to ovarian cancer, but cannot afford it because Myriad Genetics charges so much. The lawsuit claims that the patent impedes research and womens’ access to their own genetic information through testing. The lawsuit also argues that the patents prevent cheaper and more readily available test from being developed.

Dannon agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit earlier this week brought by consumers over claims that Dannon falsely advertised the health benefits of its yogurt. The $45 million settlement will be available to consumers as rebate checks up to $100. As part of the settlement, Dannon agreed to remove the words “clinically” and “scientifically proven” from labels and advertisements of Activia yogurt.

Class-action status has been granted to a lawsuit against Ford Motor Co. after they canceled a work shift they had previously agreed to add at one of their assembly plants in Canada. According to the lawsuit, many of the plaintiffs had quit other jobs after reaching an agreement with Ford to work the new shift, but were then left out in the cold when the shift was canceled just a few days before its scheduled start date. The attorney for the plaintiffs said the class-action status �??will enhance access to justice for all affected individuals and will allow claims to be determined in an efficient and economic manner.�?�

A class action lawsuit was filed last week on behalf of Georgia residents who believe they were being charged improper overdraft fees by Fifth Third Bank even though they had proper funds in their accounts. The lawsuit demands the bank pay back hundreds of millions of dollars in fees it charged to customers and claims the bank illegally manipulates debit transaction postings to cause overdraft fees. The lawsuit also claims that the bank does not allow customers to opt out of overdraft protection as is suggested by federal regulators

Biotechnology company Sequenom announced a $14 million settlement last week with a group of shareholders that filed a class-action lawsuit against the company in April after their stock plummeted 80 percent. The company had announced that data and results from trials and tests of their product SEQureDX, a prenatal test for Down syndrome that eliminates the risks of amniocentesis, had been improperly handled, prompting the price drop and lawsuit.

Employees of Arrow Trucking filed a class-action lawsuit Monday against the company in response to the sudden company shutdown without notice. According to the lawsuit, the company violated the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act by not giving their employees 60 days notice of their perilous financial state. The lawsuit also accuses Arrow Trucking of bouncing paychecks and failing to reimburse out-of-pocket expenses.

A class-action lawsuit has been filed against an Ohio daycare by parents of children who were allegedly given the supplement Melatonin to make them sleep during the day. The lawsuit accuses the daycare and the church that owns it of negligence, battery and negligent supervision. The lawsuit claims that parents of many of the children �spent large sums of money for doctors and hospitals due to the medication.� The lawsuit seeks at least $25,000 in damages.

A class-action lawsuit was filed against G.E. Healthcare Tuesday in Huntsville, Ala., on behalf of 16 people who allegedly received high doses of radiation from the company�s CT perfusion scanners. According to the lawsuit, G. E. Healthcare �carelessly researched the design and failed to adequately test its products, and that the scanners lacked safety features to warn of overdoses.� The suit is seeking a minimum of $5 million to cover future healthcare costs and payments.

An attorney has filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of Indianapolis-area traffic court defendants who claim they received excessive punishments for seeking their day in court. According to the lawsuit, Marion County Traffic Court Judge William Young fined some defendants an additional $500 for challenging traffic or parking tickets before the court. The practice has a chilling effect on justice and is unconstitutional, the lawsuit states.