legal

Renowned PR specialist Michael Levine named the executive producer for an upcoming documentary scourging online media company, Yelp adds his voice in protest to Yelp’s marketing and advertising tactics. Billion Dollar Bully: New Documentary Exposing YELP The documentary portrays Yelp – founded in 2004 – as a mob-like organization gleefully pushing retailers, restaurants, and other businesses into paying for positive reviews on its site in the guise of advertising guidance. According to ‘Billion Dollar Bully’ – not paying translates to bad reviews for products and services assessed through posts on Yelp. Yelp features over 77 million reviews and is frequented by... Read More >

Today comes the news that the President of the NYPD’s Patrolmen's Benevolent Association (PBA), Pat Lynch sued Shea Communications today, claiming that the New York PR firm stole a union mailing list. New York Public Relations Firm - Shea Communications sued today by the New York Police Department Police Union Shea worked for the “Strengthen the Shield ticket”, a group of candidates who were running for election in recent PBA elections. Lynch won overwhelmingly in a major defeat – and now claims that materials have been used improperly. During the race, the PBA claimed that “Mayor de Blasio is the... Read More >

Hollywood Reporter Feature: “The Mother Of All Lawsuits” Today, superstar Ryan Kavanaugh broke his longtime silence with a feature interview with The Hollywood Reporter – and he blames NY PR Firm Rubenstein Public Relations for some of his problems, including the very-public proclamations of his failures in the media. In the article, Kavanaugh notes “Rubenstein has a very close connection to the New York Post and has basically just been feeding the Post the whole time. Like every negative thing they can.” (Editors Note: Rubenstein represents the NY Post & Murdoch Family.) Billionaire Ryan Kavanaugh founded Relativity Media and has long... Read More >

MITSUBISHI, SQUIRE PATTON BOGGS & SIDLEY AUSTIN ACCUSED OF GROSS MISCONDUCT IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA  Interesting times we live in – Grail Semiconductors, Inc. filed a petition asking the California Superior Court to impose sanctions on Mitsubishi, as well as their attorneys, Squire Patton Boggs and Sidley Austin.  In the petition, filed recently, Grail claims to have discovered there was “serious misconduct during the trial of this case” – a case which has already seen a California jury award $124 million in damages to Grail for breach of the non-disclosure agreement (“NDA”). Mitsubishi USA claimed that Grail “allegedly did... Read More >

Summer always seems to see crisis blooming at PR companies. Leading independently owned Boston-based PR firm Regan Communications sued their IT service provider, Endeavor Services Group for $150,000 in damages according to The Boston Globe. They claim Endeavor hacked their network after being fired by Regan. The court filing alleges George Regan was insulted via emails, and the IT provider also made “..unwanted, inappropriate, and unprofessional overtones” with sexual innuendos to Regan’s female employees. The lawsuit further claims Endeavor retaliated by deleting “….the company’s active user directory, along with “hundreds of thousands of files relating to client work.” When that... Read More >

A recent lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of those who purchased shares of MDC Partners, Inc. This news comes amidst an investigation by the SEC into MDC Partners PR. As we covered recently, the situation at MDC hasn't been too stable. There are a number of PR firms – including Allison & Partners, Sloane & Company, HL Group & Kwittken owned by MDC – and we at Everything PR News want to see if these PR firms may also start suing the parent company. A number of... Read More >

MDC PARTNERS SCANDAL: NADAL OUT, NEW CONTROVERSY SURROUNDS MDC DIRECTOR IRWIN SIMON OF HAIN CELESTIAL On Monday evening, after market closing it was announced that Miles Nadal has stepped down his CEO and board position at MDC Partners as Everything PR reported earlier today.  There is an ongoing SEC investigation, Nadal is repaying MDC $8.6 million, and will also “repay $10.58 million in retention amounts received between 2012 and 2015, and he is not eligible for any compensation payments or severance”, according to The Wall Street Journal. Time will tell whether Nadal and any other executives are indicted or further action is... Read More >

Rehabilitation Support Services is a not for profit company that builds housing complexes, generally for the elderly, homeless, or disabled (physically or mentally) in the State of New York. They have built over 100 complexes in the last twenty or more years in the New York area. Colonie, New York is a suburb north of Albany and has about 80,000 residents. Until after WWII, it was mainly a series of connected farms. By 1980, the area had gone through extensive suburban development and laid claim to several large highways going through or near Colonie. Rehabilitation Support Services and Colonie are the... Read More >

- Conspiring With United Legware, Puma Acted Wrongfully – Parigi is one of America’s leading licensees in the childrens business. This lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court - Southern District of New York alleges that Puma: • Systematically misappropriated Parigi's trade secret and proprietary business information to further their own nefarious agenda of secretely forming a secret joint venture • Puma obtained through improper and duplicitous means confidential trade secrets Puma wrongfully obtained Parigi's confidential trade secret and proprietary business information, including its internal financials, and undertook a carefully planned campaign by which they contacted Parigi's key customers... Read More >

There are times to draw lines in the sand, and there are times to lay down your arms and choose not to fight that battle. It’s a lesson all people learn sooner or later. And, unfortunately, some have to learn it the hard way. The world of public relations is no exception to that rule. In fact, it’s a prime example of it. Yet some companies never seem to grasp the truth that is right in front of them. United Airlines may be in line for such a lesson. Recently, the Washington Times reported that United Airlines has joined Orbitz... Read More >