Verde Energy has agreed to pay up to $5 million to resolve claims stating they violated TCPA by placing unsolicited robocalls. The settlement will benefit individuals who received a robocall from Verde Energy which used a pre-recorded or artificial voice between Oct. 16, 2013 and Feb. 14, 2019.
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What is the history of Monte Verde?
Monte Verde is an archaeological site in southern Chile, located near Puerto Montt, Southern Chile, which has been dated to as early as 18,500 cal BP (16,500 BC ). Previously, the widely accepted date for early occupation at Monte Verde was ~14,500 years cal BP. This dating added to the evidence showing...
What is Tecon’s settlement agreement?
Under the settlement agreement, Tecon will pay $1,542 in civil penalties to the United states, and pay $3,783.75 back pay plus $480 interest to the Charging Party.
What is the settlement agreement with Randstad?
Under the settlement agreement, Randstad will pay a civil penalty of $135,000 to the United States, and provide $909 in back pay to the affected worker.
What are the terms of the settlement?
Under the terms of the settlement, Respondents will pay a combined $115,000 in civil penalties to the United States, pay up to $30,000 in back pay to injured parties, train relevant human resources officials on avoiding discrimination in the employment eligibility verification process, and be subject to Division monitoring and reporting.
How much did Verde Energy settle?
Verde Energy ended up entering into a settlement agreement of $7 million to end the litigation brought up against them.
Where is Verde Energy located?
Verde Energy, officially known as Verde Energy USA, Inc., is an electric utility service company based in Norwalk, Connecticut. Founded in 2009, Verde Energy provides services to both residential and commercial clients in select states in the country.
What did Mercado argue about Verde Energy?
Mercado argued that Verde Energy promised its customers who availed of their variable-rate plans that they would be charged for their energy consumptions depending on the changing market conditions.
Does Verde Energy charge a fee?
Allegation (s): Verde Energy offered variable-rate energy plans to their customers , yet they did not charge the appropriate fees depending on the movements in the energy market.
What is the settlement of Verde Energy?
This settlement resolves multiple class actions against Verde Energy USA, Inc., Verde Energy USA Ohio, LLC, Verde Energy USA, Massa chusetts, LLC, and Verde Energy USA New York, LLC. The complaint alleges that the companies’ variable rate plans in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Illinois, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania charged electricity rates that were not priced according to market conditions, as promised.
Does Verde have arbitration clauses?
Not included are those whose only contract with Verde contained either a Governing Law and Arbitration clause or an Agreement for Mandatory Arbitration & Class Action Waiver clause. For more information on where these clauses may be located in your agreement with Verde, see the Frequently Asked Questions on VariableRateEnergySettlement.com. However, if you do not have your agreement and cannot find it, you will NOT automatically be disqualified from the settlement.
What states have Verde electric plans?
If you enrolled in one of Verde’s variable rate electricity plans in connection with property located in New Jersey, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, you may be entitled to payment from a Class Action Settlement.
When is the deadline to exclude yourself from a settlement?
Write to the Settlement Administrator if you do not want to benefit from, or be bound by, the Settlement. The deadline to exclude yourself is December 1, 2021.
What does it mean to be bound by a settlement?
Being “bound by the Settlement” means that you will be precluded from bringing, or participating as a claimant in, a similar lawsuit. Persons who exclude themselves from the Settlement Class will not be bound by the terms of the proposed Settlement for purposes of damages claims and will not be eligible to receive any money from the proposed Settlement, but they will retain the right to sue Defendants for damages, at their own cost.
What happens if the proposed settlement is approved by the Court?
If the proposed Settlement is ultimately approved by the Court, it will provide cash payments to the Settlement Class Members. In return for the relief described below, the Settlement Class Members release their rights to pursue any claims against Verde and related entities concerning or relating to the allegations raised in the Action. The central provisions of the Settlement are as follows:
What happens if you do nothing in a settlement?
If you do nothing, and the Court approves the Settlement, you will be bound by the terms of the Settlement and will be unable to pursue claims against Verde and other related entities concerning or relating to the allegations or claims raised in the Action. As long as you do not request exclusion from the Settlement Class, you may be entitled to the payments described in FAQ 5 if you submit a Valid Claim.
What is release in a settlement?
Unless you exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, approval of this proposed Settlement will result in a release by you of all Claims against Defendants and other related entities and individuals concerning or relating to the allegations or claims raised in the Action.
When is the final approval hearing for the Illinois settlement?
The Court has scheduled a Final Approval Hearing for December 17, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom 2325 at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse, 219 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604. This hearing may be continued or rescheduled by the Court without further notice. At this hearing, the Court will consider whether the Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate and will consider Class Counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees and expenses. The Court also will consider objections. The Court may decide these issues at the Final Approval Hearing or take them under consideration. We do not know how long these decisions will take.
When can you be excluded from the settlement?
You will be excluded from the Settlement only if your request is delivered on or before December 1, 2021, and includes the required information. Settlement Class Members who fail to submit a valid and timely request for exclusion on or before the date specified, shall be bound by all terms of the proposed Settlement and any related Final Order and Judgment, regardless of whether they have requested exclusion from the proposed Settlement. In determining whether you want to exclude yourself from the Settlement, you are advised to consult your own personal attorney, as there may be issues particular to your circumstances that require consideration.
When do you have to file a claim for settlement class?
To receive a cash payment, Settlement Class Members must complete, sign, and submit a Claim Form ON OR BEFORE March 31, 2022. The Claim Form may be filed online or by U.S. mail. Please review the claim form for more information.
Where is Monte Verde located?
open-air. Monte Verde is an archaeological site in southern Chile, located near Puerto Montt, Southern Chile, which has been dated to as early as 18,500 cal BP (16,500 BC ). Previously, the widely accepted date for early occupation at Monte Verde was ~14,500 years cal BP. This dating added to the evidence showing that the human settlement ...
What is Monte Verde evidence?
The Monte Verde findings were initially dismissed by most of the scientific community, but the evidence then became more accepted in archaeological circles. Paleoecological evidence of the coastal landscape's ability to sustain human life further supports a " coastal migration " model.
How old is Monte Verde?
A group of 12 respected archaeologists revisited the site in 1997 and concluded that Monte Verde was an inhabited site and predated the Clovis culture. One of Dillehay's colleagues, Dr. Mario Pino, claimed a lower layer of the site is 33,200 years old, based on the discovery of burned wood several hundred feet to the south of Monte Verde. Radiocarbon dating established the wood as 33,000 years old. Dillehay was cautious of this earlier date, and as of 2007 it has not been verified nor accepted by the scientific community.
What is the only archaeological site in Southern Chile comparable in age to Monte Verde?
The only other archaeological site in Southern Chile comparable in age to Monte Verde is Pilauco Bajo, dated to 12,500–11,000 years before present. Researchers postulated that the two sites were complementary – Monte Verde would be a habitation site, and Pilauco Bajo would be a hunting and scavenging site.
What are the remains of Monte Verde?
The images Tom Dillehay was showing of the well-preserved remains at Monte Verde—wooden artifacts and house planks, fruits, berries, seeds, leaves, and stems, as well as marine algae, crayfish, chunks of animal hide, and what appeared to be several human coprolites found in three small pits—were unlike anything most of us, who long ago had learned to be used to stone tools and grateful for occasional bits of bone, had ever seen.
When did Dillehay give a presentation on Monte Verde?
Awareness about Monte Verde among the international archaeology community was greatly increased in 1989 when Dillehay delivered a presentation on Monte Verde at a conference on settlement of the Americas at the University of Maine. Archaeologist David J. Meltzer notes on that presentation:
What are the non-local items found at Monte Verde?
The presence of non-local items at Monte Verde, such as plants, beach-rolled pebbles, quartz, and tar, indicates possible trade networks and other sites of human habitation of similar age.
What is the settlement agreement with National Systems America?
On January 14, 2021, the Division signed a settlement agreement with National Systems America, LP (NSA) to resolve claims based on its independent investigation into whether the company engaged in discrimination based on citizenship status in the hiring and employment eligibility verification processes in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324b (a) (1) (B) and (a) (6). The company recruits employees using a foreign company as its agent, and directly hires them to perform IT work for NSA clients. IER’s investigation concluded that the company (1) engaged in a pattern or practice of recruiting and hiring only U.S. citizens or U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents for certain positions without legal justification, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324b (a) (1) (B); and (2) on numerous occasions, requested copies of Permanent Resident Cards to confirm the citizenship status and work authorization of candidates who identified themselves as lawful permanent residents during the applicant screening process, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324b (a) (6). Under the settlement agreement, the company will pay a civil penalty of $34,200 to the United States and train its employees on the requirements of the INA’s anti-discrimination provision, and be subject to departmental reporting requirements.
What is the settlement agreement with Adaequare?
(Adaequare) to resolve an independent investigation into whether the company engaged in citizenship or immigration status discrimination in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324b (a) (1) (B). IER’s investigation concluded that the company, which recruits workers for other entities, engaged in discrimination in the hiring or recruitment/referral for a fee processes by considering only applicants who were U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents when filling a job for a client. Under the settlement agreement, the company will pay a civil penalty to the United States, train its employees on anti-discrimination obligations, and be subject to departmental reporting requirements.
What is the settlement agreement with Chancery Staffing?
On February 18, 2020, the Division signed a settlement agreement with Chancery Staffing Solutions LLC, aka TransPerfect Staffing Solutions , a legal staffing company headquartered in New York, NY. The Division had previously filed a lawsuit in May 2019 alleging that from at least April 4, 2017 to at least July 7, 2017, the company (while operating as TransPerfect Staffing), had implemented a client directive restricting its recruitment and hiring of attorneys for a document review project to U.S. citizens only, and later, to U.S. citizens without dual citizenship. Under the settlement agreement, Chancery Staffing will pay a civil penalty of $27,000, provide back pay to victims identified during the term of the settlement agreement, and participate in Division-provided training on the anti-discrimination provision contained in 8 U.S.C. § 1324b. Chancery Staffing will also obtain supporting documentation from clients that request a citizenship status restriction when staffing a project to help ensure that any such restriction is lawful.
What was the settlement agreement with Tuscany Hotel and Casino?
On October 10, 2012, the Department of Justice issued a press release announcing a settlement agreement with Tuscany Hotel and Casino resolving a lawsuit alleging the company discriminated against certain non-U.S. citizen s during the employment eligibility verification and reverification processes by requesting those individuals to provide more or different documents or information than required under Form I-9 rules based on their citizenship status. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Tuscany agreed to pay a civil penalty of $49,000 to the government and full back pay to an economic victim. Tuscany will also receive OSC-sponsored training regarding the anti-discrimination provision of the INA, be subject to reporting and monitoring requirements, and will revise its employment eligibility verification procedures.
When did ChemArt settle?
ChemArt (Unfair Documentary Practices and Retaliation) June 2020. On June 3, 2020, IER signed a settlement agreement with ChemArt, a Rhode Island manufacturing company, resolving claims that the company discriminated against a worker during the employment eligibility verification process and then retaliated against her.
What is the Ikon settlement agreement?
On December 8, 2020, the Division signed a settlement agreement with Ikon Systems , LLC , resolving claims that Ikon routinely discriminated against U.S. workers (U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, recent lawful permanent residents , asylees, and refugees) by posting job advertisements specifying a preference for applicants with temporary work visas, and that Ikon failed to consider at least one U.S. citizen applicant who applied to a discriminatory advertisement. Specifically, IER’s investigation found that from at least May 8, 2019, to September 21, 2019, Ikon posted at least eight job advertisements for information technology (“IT”) positions that solicited applications from non-U.S. citizens with immigration statuses associated with certain employment-based visas and, in so doing, harmed U.S. workers by unlawfully deterring or failing to fairly consider them for hire, including the Charging Party. Under the agreement, Ikon will pay a civil penalty of $27,000 to the United States, revise its policies and procedures, train relevant employees and agents on the requirements of the INA’s anti-discrimination provision, and be subject to departmental reporting requirements during the agreement’s two-year term. Separately, Ikon will pay the $15,000 to the Charging Party.
What was the Whiz lawsuit?
On May 30, 2012, the Department of Justice settled a lawsuit against Whiz International LLC (Whiz), an information technology staffing company, resolving allegations that the company discriminated against one of its employees when it terminated her in retaliation for expressing opposition to its alleged preference for foreign nationals with temporary work visas. Under the terms of the settlement, Whiz agreed to pay $21,870 in back pay/front pay to the terminated worker, $1,000 in civil penalties to the United States Treasury, and three years of monitoring and reporting requirements. Whiz will also undergo training by the Department of Justice and has agreed not to discriminate against any employee on the basis of national origin or citizenship status.