Fuel Doctor sued
False advertising
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Calabasas-based Fuel Doctor, which makes a small device it claims can increase vehicle miles per gallon by 25 percent, was sued by a consumer who says it did nothing for her car.
Mlissa Drinville filed her lawsuit Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging false advertising and unfair competition.
She is asking for an injunction to stop the company from claiming the device increases fuel efficiency, along with unspecified damages. She also wants to add other consumers to the suit and make it a class action.
Fuel Doctor makes the FD-47, which plugs into a vehicle's cigarette lighter.
Mark Soffa, president of Fuel Doctor, said the product has gone thorough evaluation by reputable testers worldwide and has been proven effective. He said it works better on cars two years or older.
"We'll be more than happy to take anybody on, we have all our ducks in a row,'' Soffa said.
Soffa disputed findings by Consumer Reports, cited in the lawsuit, that all the FD-47 does is "light up when it's plugged in.''
According to the lawsuit, Drinville bought an FD-47 at Best Buy last year and followed the product's directions by plugging it into her car's cigarette lighter socket. Her car is more than two years old, the complaint states.
"(Drinville) was extremely disappointed and frustrated when she experienced no increase in her vehicle's mileage per gallon,'' the suit states.
Drinville's results contrast with Fuel Doctor's alleged representations that the device increases mileage by up to 25 percent, the suit states.
Fuel Doctor sells the devices for $60, the suit states.
"As a result, defendants have wrongfully taken millions of dollars from California consumers,'' according to the suit.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The girlfriend of the first husband of Jennifer Lopez filed suit against the actress today, alleging she interfered with a motion picture contract.
Telenovela actress/singer Claudia Vazquez of Covina brought the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court. She is currently representing herself and seeking at least $10 million in damages.
Lopez's lawyer, John H. Lavely, did not immediately return a call for comment.
A lawsuit brought by Michael Jackson’s former dermatologist—who alleges a plastic surgeon falsely implied in a media interview that the skin specialist had a hand in the singer’s death—may be settled in mediation, according to attorneys.
Dr. Arnold Klein sued Dr. Stephen Hoefflin in September 2009 in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging slander, trade libel, false light, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress and unfair competition.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—More than 100,000 Anthem Blue Cross customers statewide could end up being part of a class-action lawsuit brought by three individual policyholders and the nonprofit group Consumer Watchdog targeting the insurer’s May 1 increases to annual deductibles and other costs.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—R&B singer-songwriter R. Kelly was sued today by a former manager, who alleges the entertainer owes him more than $1 million commissions for helping him revive his career amid child pornography allegations.
Jeff Kwatinetz, through his company, Prospect Park, filed the case in Los Angeles Superior Court.
He is alleging breach of contract and fraud and also is asking for unspecified punitive damages from Kelly and his business manager, Derrel McDavid.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A Los Angeles police sergeant who claimed he was the victim of retaliation for being gay was awarded $1.16 million by a jury.
A Los Angeles Superior Court jury deliberated for part of Wednesday afternoon and most of Thursday before finding in favor of Sgt. Ronald Crump.
"This was not a case about Ronald Crump being gay, but about the department's retaliation against him,'' attorney Gregory Smith said on behalf of Crump.
