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Posts with tag lawsuit

Avon Sued Over Injuries from Stretch Mark Cream

Posted Jun 30th 2009 at 1:30PM by Marissa Gold

Filed under: Beauty Tips

Only purchase products from company-verified distributors. Photo: Getty Images

As reported by the Daily News, Avon is being sued by Milka Betances, a 30-year-old Bronx resident who claims she was burned and scarred by Avon's Anew Clinical Professional Stretch Mark Smoother.

The product, which contains Butea, a plant extract to lighten stretch marks, as well as ingredients to boost elastin and collagen, won the prestigious Cosmetic Executive Women's Insider Choice Award and has numerous positive reviews on various websites.

However, Betances claimed she was burned by the cream, which she purchased from an Avon dealer on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx.

Could this have been a case of diversion?

Companies like L'Oreal have recently spoken out against products being distributed by unlicensed people or companies. Buying products from anywhere other than company-authorized retailers puts the consumer at risk of buying an outdated, unauthentic, or tainted product.

No word yet as to whether the seller was identified and whether or not she was in fact a verified Avon rep. To avoid any risk, anyone purchasing Avon products should only do so through the representatives listed on Avon.com.

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Tags: anew-clinical-professional-stretch-mark-smoother, avon, diversion, lawsuit, loreal, milka-betances

Heidi Klum Isn't Cheap, and Neither Is Her Perfume

Posted Jun 26th 2009 at 7:00PM by Kristen Seymour

Filed under: Fragrance

heidi klum

Don't mess with Heidi. Photo: Getty Images

Heidi Klum put a lot into her fragrances -- she told the Daily Star, "My perfumes carry my name to show I am fully behind them. I created them from A to Z. The scents carry my handwriting."

So, it's no wonder she didn't take kindly to a German-based internet vendor selling those scents at a serious discount on eBay.

AHN reports that she's suing the vendor for £100,000 in compensation, claiming the it is cheapening her brand. The vendor, predictably, is fighting the allegations and is expected to appear in court on July 14.

Continue reading Heidi Klum Isn't Cheap, and Neither Is Her Perfume


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Tags: brand, ebay, fragrance, heidi-klum, Heidi-Klum-Perfume, internet-vendor, lawsuit, name, perfume

Purse Too Heavy? Get the Lead Out

Posted Jun 25th 2009 at 5:00PM by Kristen Seymour

Filed under: Style in the News

Is possible lead in purses the breaking point for retailers? Photo: Getty Images


We've worried about lead in toys, and of course, in paint, but now according to the Center for Environmental Health in Oakland, Calif, we have to beware of lead in our purses, too.

SFGate reports that the group filed suit yesterday (June 24) against 16 retailers (including popular retail chains including Target, H&M, Forever 21, and Kohl's).

At least 26 brands are accused of manufacturing products (mostly made of vinyl or faux leather) that contain a level of lead high enough to pose a health risk when touched or handled. Lead poses a particularly dangerous for pregnant women and young children.

Continue reading Purse Too Heavy? Get the Lead Out


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Tags: center-for-environmental-health-in-oakland, handbags, hazardous, health-risk, lawsuit, lead, lead-in-purses, pregnant-women, purse, retailers

L'Oreal Found Guilty of Racial Discrimination

Posted Jun 25th 2009 at 12:18PM by Marissa Gold

Filed under: Style in the News

L'Oréal: A dominant drugstore presence. Photo: Fabrice Coffrini, AFP/Getty Images

As reported by the UK Times Online, L'Oréal has been found guilty of racial discrimination by France's highest court, La Cour de Cassation. Some specific claims against the cosmetic giant:

  • Recruiting "BBR" staff (bleu, blanc, rouge--the colors of the French flag), a known term for those with purely French heritage
  • Faxing a memo that all Garnier hostesses should be 18-22, wear size 38-42, and be "BBR"
  • Candidates for employment at the L'Oréal agency were said to be 38.7% minorities, but only 4.65% of those hired represented minority backgrounds.
  • Employees said they were told to favor a white staff

Though company reps claimed that the requests were meant to source applicants who could speak French fluently and represent the brand eloquently, the court found that L'Oréal's racial favoritism was in violation of employment laws.

The company met its first sign of trouble last summer when it was accused of lightening Beyoncé's skin in ads she appeared in for various L'Oréal products.

What do you think about the case? Leave a comment below.

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Tags: beyonce, beyonce knowles, BeyonceKnowles, fructis, garnier, guilty, lawsuit, loreal, racial discrimination, RacialDiscrimination

Disabled Abercrombie & Fitch Employee Sues for Discrimination

Posted Jun 25th 2009 at 11:36AM by Maureen Dempsey

Filed under: Style in the News

Where are all the beautiful people? Must be in the back room. Photo: Getty Images

A former London Abercrombie & Fitch salesperson is suing her one-time employee for discrimination, reports The Guardian.

Riam Dean, who has a prosthetic left arm, explained to a judge that once hired in London's flagship A&F location, she was told she did not pass the "look policy" and supervisors "hid" her in the storeroom.

Dean states she was originally told she could wear a cardigan to cover the area where the prosthetic attached to her natural arm, but was later told "she could not work on the sales floor unless she took off the cardigan, as she was breaking the company's 'look policy.'" The 20-year-old law student then worked in the back room.

Continue reading Disabled Abercrombie & Fitch Employee Sues for Discrimination


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Tags: abercrombie, disability, disabled, discrimination, fitch, lawsuit, riam-dean

Katy Perry vs. Katie Perry? One Confusing Lawsuit!

Posted Jun 17th 2009 at 10:20AM by Maureen Dempsey

Filed under: Style in the News

katy perry lawsuit

Katy Perry, making sure she's the only game in town. Photo: Getty Images

Musician Katy Perry isn't singing a very sweet tune these days. In fact, she's told Australian fashion designer Katie Perry to cease and desist using her same name (different spelling) to promote her loungewear, reports MTV.

According to the article, Katie Perry has been designing and selling clothing under her name for the past two years, and after opening a storefront, filed paperwork to trademark her name for the store and her line.

But surprise! Shortly after filing, she received a request to stop using her own name -- the name she was given at birth -- from an Australian law firm representing singer Katy Perry. If Katie doesn't back down, a lawsuit will follow, and a judge will decide which Perry prevails.

This potential trademark lawsuit might rival the one that stylist Rachel Zoe threatened Christopher Suave with earlier this year...

Continue reading Katy Perry vs. Katie Perry? One Confusing Lawsuit!


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Tags: australia, cease-and-desist, clothing-designer, fashion-designer, katie-Perry, katy-Perry, lawsuit, loungewear, Rachel-Zoe, singer

Diane von Furstenberg Settles Out of Court

Posted Jun 12th 2009 at 11:25AM by Kristen Seymour

Filed under: Style in the News

Diane von Furstenberg at her Spring '09 runway show. Photo: Getty Images

Designer Diane von Furstenberg is not only the head of Diane von Furstenberg Studio LP -- she's also president of the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) and a vocal supporter of the proposed federal Design Piracy Prohibition Act. So, it was a serious shocker when the designer herself was accused of copying a design.

And now, there's another surprising twist -- WWD reports that DVF has settled the case out of court!

Jennifer Halchuk and Richard Lyle of Mercy of Canada accused the designer of copying a floral print jacket of theirs for her Spring 2009 collection. In addition to offering a public apology, von Furstenberg will pay an undisclosed sum of money and stop using the design. Mercy never actually filed a lawsuit.

Continue reading Diane von Furstenberg Settles Out of Court


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Tags: CFDA, copying, diane-von-furstenberg, dvf, lawsuit, mercy-of-canada

American Apparel Settles Woody Allen Lawsuit

Posted May 18th 2009 at 4:36PM by Josh Loposer

Filed under: Style in the News

Photos courtesy of Getty Images

The slug-fest between American Apparel and Woody Allen is over, as reported by The New York Times. After months of threats and name-calling, the legendary director agreed this morning, before the trial was to begin, to settle the $10 million lawsuit for a cool $5 million, sparing the controversial clothing company from what was sure to be a nasty, not to mention costly, court battle with the aging film icon.

Ironically, it wasn't one of American Apparel's racy ad campaigns that got them into trouble this time. The battle began last year when the company used an unauthorized image of Woody Allen dressed as a Hasidic Jew from his 1977 film "Annie Hall" on billboards. Next to "Rabbi Allen's" image appeared the words "the holy rebbe" written in Yiddish.

American Apparel picked the wrong celebrity to mess with. According to the lawsuit, Woody "does not endorse commercial products or services in the United States." Someone at the clothing company or its ad agency should probably have checked on that before running the campaign. Nevertheless, founder Dov Charney posted a statement on the company blog defending the use of the image as a matter of free speech.

Continue reading American Apparel Settles Woody Allen Lawsuit


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Tags: American Apparel, AmericanApparel, Annie Hall, AnnieHall, Dov Chareny, DovChareny, first amendment, FirstAmendment, free speech, FreeSpeech, lawsuit, Los Angeles, LosAngeles, New York, NewYork, Woody Allen, WoodyAllen

Forever 21 Compares Designer Clothes to Apple Cobbler

Posted May 14th 2009 at 12:30PM by Kristen Seymour

Filed under: Style in the News

Photo: Forever 21

Forever 21 is currently embroiled in a trial with Trovata, who is claiming that the fast-fashion retailer purposely copied its designs -- particularly noteworthy because, although the retailer has been sued 50 or more times for copyright infringement by notable designers such as Diane von Furstenberg and Gwen Stefani, they've always settled out of court. This is the first time Forever 21 has actually been taken to trial.

They're making it interesting, though -- lawyers on both sides are coming up with some pretty clever ways of describing fashion to the jury.

Continue reading Forever 21 Compares Designer Clothes to Apple Cobbler


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Tags: forever 21, Forever21, lawsuit, trial, trovata

Louis Vuitton and Danity Kane Settle Lawsuit

Posted Mar 9th 2009 at 3:30PM by Boydie Beener

Filed under: Style in the News



More tragic news for pop group Danity Kane. Not only did the once studious ex-member Aubrey O'Day (remember when she almost chose college over the group in the first season of "Making the Band?"), turn into a drugged out nightmare of a publicity whore; the group has now had to settle a lawsuit with luxury brand Louis Vuitton. Bummer.

Continue reading Louis Vuitton and Danity Kane Settle Lawsuit


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Tags: aubrey oday, bad boy, break up, danity kane, expire-images:2010-3-8, lawsuit, louis vuitton, lyrics, mp3, p diddy, playboy, show stopper, ShowStopper

Is the Ecko Rhino an Endangered Species?

Posted Feb 20th 2009 at 9:00AM by Josh Loposer

Filed under: Style in the News

Mark Ecko in a gray suit and red tieIs the Ecko label set to become yet another victim of the recession? Speculation about the future of Ecko Enterprises started flying this week as the news came out that Ecko is walking away from its lease on Times Square, originally intended to be the brand's flagship store. The space has been leased up by Ecko since August 2004, when the plans were announced for a spectacular three level, 30,390 square-foot, clothing emporium and live music venue.

Continue reading Is the Ecko Rhino an Endangered Species?


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Tags: landlord, lawsuit, lease, litigation, Marc Ecko, Marc Ecko Enterprises, MarcEcko, MarcEckoEnterprises, New 42nd Street, New42ndStreet, Times Square, TimesSquare, TPG Planning and Design, TpgPlanningAndDesign, urban fashions, UrbanFashions, warehouse

Another day, another lawsuit against Victoria's Secret

Posted Nov 11th 2008 at 2:30PM by Kyle Hepp

Filed under: Swimwear and Lingerie

Victoria's Secret push up braVictoria's Secret has gone and done it again. Their lingerie is so dangerous it should come with a warning label! First a woman was attacked by her thong. Now this time the women's underwear company is being sued because their bras made a woman sick.

Continue reading Another day, another lawsuit against Victoria's Secret


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Tags: bra, dangerous, lawsuit, rash, underwear, victorias secret, VictoriasSecret

Naked Cowboy vs. Blue M&M

Posted Jun 24th 2008 at 4:29PM by Josh Loposer

Filed under: Celebrities with Style


Trademark lawsuits are usually as boring an emotionless as the corporate legal teams that file them, but when the case involves Time Square's Naked Cowboy, things can get a little more colorful. The Naked Cowboy, who's real name is Robert Burck, got the go-ahead from a federal judge yesterday to sue M&M for stealing his unique sense of style. In specific, the blue M&M infringed on the Robert's rights when he appeared on video billboards in Times Square wielding a six string and wearing nothing but boots, briefs, and a cowboy hat.

Apparently, the judge said that they Burck's trademark rights weren't violated -- which is a bummer -- but that he could go ahead seeking $4 million in damages from M&M Mars for leading people to believe that he endorsed the product. After the ruling, Burch told The Post that it "Sounds like I've got $4 million coming my way." That's a pretty good payday for a guy who strums a guitar on the side of the road -- clothed or naked.

[via Gawker]

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Tags: lawsuit, Mars Candy, MarsCandy, MM, Naked Cowboy, NakedCowboy, Robert Burck, RobertBurck, The Post, ThePost, trademark

Victoria's Secret fights to own "sexy"

Posted May 27th 2008 at 4:34PM by Josh Loposer

Filed under: Style in the News, Hair Care


Victoria's Secret and their lawsuits are starting to make us want to vomit. Their latest adventure in trademark law centers around the right to use the word "sexy." Wasn't it just a couple of months ago that VS decided that it was getting too sexy? Well, you can forget about that now. Looks like VS is totally annoyed that someone already thought to call their haircare products "sexy."

Apparently, a company called Sexy Hair Concepts LLC likes to use the "Sexy Hair" to describe it's shampoo, and they've been doing it a lot longer. Last year, a court ruled that VS's "So Sexy" haircare line couldn't be trademarked (because trademarking the word 'sexy' is retarded) -- so they couldn't force Sexy Hair Concepts to change its name. But, since VS's marketing department has run out of adjectives, they're going to try to go to court and sue Sexy Hair out of their name. Ridiculous. This is about as dumb as a lawsuit over the color pink.

[via Gawker]

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Tags: BigSexyHair, lawsuit, sexy, Sexy Hair Concepts, SexyHairConcepts, So Sexy, SoSexy, suing, trademark infringement, TrademarkInfringement, Victorias Secret, VictoriasSecret

Uma Thurman and Lancome sue each other

Posted May 14th 2008 at 12:49PM by Tiffany Neal

Filed under: Style in the News


Just when she got rid of a crazed stalker, Uma Thurman once again finds herself back in court.

The actress sued cosmetic giant Lancôme on Friday for $15 million dollars for continuing to use her image in advertising on Canadian billboards and Asian websites even though her contract had expired. Apparently, her contract expired in 2004.

But wait! There's more.

Continue reading Uma Thurman and Lancome sue each other


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Tags: lancome, lawsuit, uma therman, UmaTherman

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