Tuesday, January 13, 2009Last Update: 11:39:57 PM

     Canada's Minister of Fisheries and Oceans refuses to protect the Nooksack Dace, a stream-dwelling minnow that lives in only four streams in British Columbia's Fraser Valley, environmentalists claim in Vancouver, B.C., Federal Court.
     
     New York State and Steuben County claim in Buffalo Federal Court that these defendants dumped hazardous waste at a landfill in Lindley: Ingersoll-Rand Co., Corning, Kraft Foods Global, New York State Electric & Gas Corp., and The United States of America.
     
     New York State and Yates County claim in Buffalo Federal Court that these defendants dumped hazardous waste at a landfill in Torrey: Seneca Foods Corp., Coach & Equipment Manufacturing Corp., Ferro Corp., La-Z-Boy, New York State Electric and Gas Corp., The Salvation Army, Robert F. Andersen, John A. Banach Sr., Norma E. Banach dba Elm Street Barber Shop, Beaumont & Stork, The Elliott Agency, James D. Stork, Ellen M. Stork, Steven D. Stork, Susan B. Stork, Celanire Corp. dba Morgan Marine and Land And Sea Properties, City Hill Construction, Collins Paving & Construction, Patrick J. D'Abbracci dba Hill Top Inn, Eastview Veterinary Clinic, Herbert T. Fitch II dba Fitch Auto Supply, June Hall, Deborah Hepker, Larry Hall dba Tear's Meat Market, Henderson's Drug Store, John J. Holly, Karla M. Holly dba Holly's Red Rooster, Ira Wyman Inc., J.J. McGovern Wallpaper and Paint, John A. Banach Jr., Sandra Banach, J&L Seneca Farms, Johnson Smith Florist, K&L Cleaners, Knapp & Schlappi Lumber Co., Terry Knapton dba K&K Contractors, and Floyd D. Lane.

     EquiTrust Life Insurance targets the elderly with a deceptive fee and generous commissions and bonuses to its salesmen that eliminate the supposed benefits of its indexed annuities, a class action claims in Tucson Federal Court.

     A woman claims that after Whole Foods Market Group finally fired her boss, after a long campaign of sexual harassment, the boss's girlfriend came to the store and threw a glass bottle at her head, making a wound that required four staples to close, in Manhattan Federal Court.
     
     A Racetrac Petroleum supervisor sexually harassed an employee by, among other things, sending her an email photo of his penis, she claims in Dallas County Court.
     
     Class-action complaints alleging Labor Code violations have been filed against these defendants: Petsmart, and Security Industry Specialists, in Los Angeles Superior Court; USA Jet Airlines and Active Aero Group, for a mass layoff, in Detroit Federal Court; Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co., and Spring Scaffolding, in Brooklyn Federal Court; College Works Painting, in Orange County Court, Calif.; R&S Commercial Services, in Fort Worth Federal Court; and Magic Marcite, in Orlando Federal Court.

     Hollyrod Entertainment - formed by NFL quarterback Rodney Peete and his wife, Holly, to support research on Parkinson's disease - claims Vona Dona Entertainment owes it $37,500 on a licensing fee for a 2008 Super Bowl fund raiser, in Los Angeles Superior Court.

     DNT claims Sprint Nextel, Verizon, T-Mobile, Alltel, U.S. Cellular and Cricket Communications violate patent on its automated dialing technology in cell phones, in Richmond, Va., Federal Court.
     
     Quantum Loyalty Systems claims TPG Rewards' "Movie Cash" product violates its patent, in Delaware Federal Court.
     
     Airwair International claims Back Beat's "Sugar" brand shoes violate the trade dress of Airwair's Doc Marten shoes, in San Francisco Federal Court.
     
     Charles D. Powell claims Cabela's violates patent on his "waterfowl luring system," in Knoxville Federal Court.

      Valero Energy contaminated property by releasing slurry oil from its Paulsboro, N.J. refinery on Oct. 30, 2008, a class action claims in Camden Federal Court.

     First Commonwealth Bank fka National Bank of the Commonwealth promised customers 8% annual returns on Individual Retirement Accounts, but failed to deliver, a class action claims in Allegheny County Court, Pittsburgh.
     
     Quixtar, Amway and Alticor sell deceptive gift cards with expiration dates, a class action claims in Los Angeles Superior Court.
     
     Dannon Co. makes unsubstantiated claims about the health benefits of its Active yogurt, a class action claims in Little Rock Federal Court.

     A 4-year-old child strangled on defective window blinds and cords made by Arts Amantis and Arabel, his parents claim in Miami-Dade County Court.
     
     The International House of Pancakes assured a customer his meal would not contain milk, but it did and he died from an allergic reaction, his estate claims in Miami-Dade County Court.

     The USA claims Gary, Indiana discriminated against white people by offering EMT jobs to black people who scored lower than white applicants, in Hammond Federal Court.

     Fast Frank Inc. and others took more than $25,000 in a Ponzi scheme, according to a complaint against these defendants in Oakland County Court, Pontiac, Mich.: Frank Bluestein, Ramona Bluestein, Fast Frank Inc. aka FF Inc., RFB Investments, and The Maximum Financial Group.

     Beck Properties built 64 substandard homes in Stockton and Manteca, the homebuyers claim in San Joaquin County Court.
     
     DRH Cambridge Homes and DH Horton made promises they didn't deliver for houses in the Liberty Grove subdivision in Plainfield, Ill., buyers of 23 homes claim in Will County Court.

     Rodgers & McDonald Publishers claims the Baker Newspaper Group owes it $227,500 for printing Baker's monthly mags, Beverly Hills 213 and Newport Beach 714, in Los Angeles Superior Court. It also sued Baker directors Leland Pound and Seth Baker.

     BNC Mortgage LLC filed for bankruptcy in Manhattan, listing more than $157 billion in debts. It is or was Lehman Bros.' subprime mortgage lending division.
     
     Tarragon Corp. and a slew of affiliates filed for bankruptcy in Newark, listing more than $500 million in debts.
     
     First Americans Insurance Service filed for bankruptcy in Lincoln, Neb., listing more than $100 million in debts.
     
     Shane Co. aka Western Stone & Metal aka Midwestern Stone & Metal filed for bankruptcy in Denver, listing more than $100 million in debts.