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Marlene Pinnock, who was repeatedly punched in the face and head by a police officer at the side of the road, will receive $1.5 million in compensation.
Footage posted on YouTube in July 2014 shows a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer straddling the woman and hitting her many times.
The settlement agreed on September 24 came after nine hours of talks between lawyers in Los Angeles.
A CHP statement said the officer, on leave since the incident, has resigned.
“When this incident occurred, I promised that I would look into it and vowed a swift resolution,” said the statement by CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow.
“Today, we have worked constructively to reach a settlement agreement that is satisfactory to all parties involved.”
The bulk of the money will go into a special needs trust for 51-year-old Marlene Pinnock, the CHP said.
Marlene Pinnock’s lawyer Caree Harper said the settlement secured the two things she wanted.
In July 2014, Marlene Pinnock was repeatedly punched in the face and head by a CHP officer at the side of the road
“One of the things we wanted to make sure of was that she was provided for in a manner that accommodated her unique situation in life, and that the officer was not going to be an officer anymore.”
Police had said the woman was endangering herself and motorists walking on the shoulder of a busy highway in the west of Los Angeles.
The incident was captured by passing motorist David Diaz, who said the officer arrived as the woman was walking off the highway, but he “agitated the situation”.
The officer is seen forcing her to the ground, briefly struggling with her before repeatedly punching her.
A few moments later, a plainclothes officer enters the picture and helps his colleague put the woman in handcuffs.
According to court documents, Marlene Pinnock suffered no signs of physical injury and refused medical treatment. She was placed under psychiatric supervision for two weeks.
“He grabbed me, he threw me down, he started beating me,” Marlene Pinnock told Associated Press news agency last month.
“I felt like he was trying to kill me, beat me to death.”
The officer could still face criminal charges.
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German bank BayernLB has rejected a 25 million euros settlement from Bernie Ecclestone.
BayernLB claims he collected commissions, and undervalued its stake in the global motor racing business, which it sold in 2005.
This week a German court halted a bribery trial against Bernie Ecclestone, relating to the sale of Formula 1 rights, in exchange for a payment of $95 million.
BayernLB has rejected a 25 million euros settlement from Bernie Ecclestone (photo Getty Images)
The 83-year-old Formula 1 boss had been accused of funneling some $42 miliom to jailed BayernLB banker Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure that a company he favored could buy a stake in F1.
Bernie Ecclestone had denied wrongdoing, and his payment was accepted by the district court in Munich.
He walked free and continues running the sport. It also meant Bernie Ecclestone was found neither guilty nor innocent.
Gerhard Gribkowsky was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison in 2012 for accepting bribes.
Bernie Ecclestone’s lawyers last week had offered to pay public-sector bank BayernLB 25 million euros, but also said that damage to the company was not evident.
The offer expired on Friday with the bank rejecting it, without giving reasons.
It has not said what its next move would be – it could either negotiate another sum or could launch civil proceedings against him.
In 2005 BayernLB sold its stake in Formula 1 to the private equity firm CVC, making it the largest stakeholder in the business.
Johns Hopkins Hospital has agreed to pay $190 million after some 8,000 women joined a legal case claiming a gynecologist had secretly recorded them.
Dr. Nikita Levy, who killed himself last year, reportedly used cameras in pens and key fobs to tape patients.
Lawyer Jonathan Schochor said all of the women had been “brutalized” and described it as a “betrayal”.
Dr. Nikita Levy reportedly used cameras in pens and key fobs to tape patients
The settlement is believed to be the largest of its kind in US history.
The hospital said in a statement that one individual “does not define Johns Hopkins”.
“It is our hope that this settlement, and findings by law enforcement that images were not shared, helps those affected achieve a measure of closure,” the statement said.
Nikita Levy’s misconduct was first brought to light by a colleague, who saw a pen camera around his neck.
Authorities later discovered more than 1,200 images and videos clips of patients on hard drives in Nikita Levy’s home.
The women also alleged that Nikita Levy ordered an “excessive number” of invasive exams and engaged in inappropriate physical contact.
An investigation later determined Dr. Nikita Levy participated in the misconduct on his own and did not record underage patients.
Nikita Levy was fired by the hospital on February 8, 2013, after the allegations came to light and was found dead 10 days later.
Citigroup has agreed to pay $7 billion to US authorities to settle an investigation into risky sub-prime mortgages.
Citigroup will pay $4 billion to the Department of Justice and $2.5 billion for “consumer relief”.
Consumer relief includes investment in affordable homes and mortgage relief.
Following the decision, the bank reported a stronger than predicted quarterly profit, and saw its share price rise by 3.62% to $48.70.
Second-quarter earnings fell by 96% to $181 million, but that was after a $3.8 billion charge related to the settlement.
Citigroup has agreed to pay $7 billion to US authorities to settle an investigation into risky sub-prime mortgages
The settlement stems from the sale of securities made up of sub-prime mortgages, which were at the centre of the 2008 financial crisis.
Citigroup is the second major bank to pay a settlement since President Barack Obama launched an investigation into housing loans.
JPMorgan Chase paid $13 billion last year to settle government investigations.
The Citigroup fines are said to have surprised stock analysts and people inside the bank, who had hoped to settle for less.
According to the US Attorney General Eric Holder, “under the terms of this settlement, the bank has admitted to its misdeeds in great detail”.
Eric Holder said the settlement “does not absolve Citigroup or its employees from facing any possible criminal charges in the future”.
Citigroup’s chief executive, Michael L. Corbat, said that the decision was the right one for shareholders.
“We believe that this settlement is in the best interests of our shareholders, and allows us to move forward and to focus on the future, not the past,” he said.
Investors welcomed the decision, as Citigroup’s share price rose in New York trading.
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BNP Paribas has agreed to a record $9 billion settlement with US prosecutors over allegations of sanctions violations.
As part of the deal, France’s largest bank will plead guilty to two criminal charges of breaking US sanctions against trade with Sudan, Iran and Cuba.
The bank will also be prevented from clearing certain transactions in US dollars for one year from the start of 2015.
The settlement is the largest for such a case in US history.
“Between 2004 and 2012, BNP engaged in a complex and pervasive scheme to illegally move billions through the US financial system,” said US Attorney General Eric Holder in a press conference.
In doing so, BNP Paribas “deliberately and repeatedly violated longstanding US sanctions”, he said.
Eric Holder added that he hoped the settlement would serve as a warning to other companies that did business with the US that “illegal conduct will simply not be tolerated”.
BNP Paribas has agreed to a record $9 billion settlement with US prosecutors over allegations of sanctions violations (photo Euronews)
As part of its agreement with US authorities, BNP agreed to fire and not re-hire 13 individuals who were associated with the sanctions violations.
BNP said as a result of the fine it would take an “exceptional charge” of 5.8 billion euros ($7.8 billion) in the second quarter of this year.
It said this was on top of the $1.1 billion it had already set aside to cover the cost of the US penalties.
However it said it expected “no impact on its operational or business capabilities”, and said it would post “solid results” for the second quarter.
BNP chief executive Jean-Laurent Bonnafe said resolving the issue was “an important step forward” for the bank.
“We deeply regret the past misconduct that led to this settlement,” he added.
In a conference call on Tuesday morning, Jean-Laurent Bonnafe explained that during the year in which the bank was banned from dollar clearing – converting payments from foreign currencies into US dollars – it would engage a third party to carry out the transactions.
Jean-Laurent Bonnafe added that as part of the settlement BNP Paribas would be able to keep its license to operate in the US.
The Swiss financial regulator, FINMA, also announced that it had closed its investigation into BNP Paribas operations in the country, following the US authorities’ decision.
FINMA said in a statement that BNP Paribas had “persistently and seriously violated its duty to identify, limit and monitor the inherent risks” relating to foreign transactions.
Shares in BNP Paribas rose more than 3% in morning trading, following assurances that the bank could weather the $9 billion fine.
France has been pressing the US over the size of the fine, which almost equals BNP’s entire 2013 pre-tax income of about 8.2 billion euros ($11.2 billion).
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French cosmetics company L’Oreal has agreed to settle a case with US Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection over charges of deceptive advertising.
A campaign for L’Oreal’s Genifique products claimed its products would lead to “visibly younger skin in just seven days” by targeting the users’ genes.
The US consumer regulator said that the adverts were “false and unsubstantiated”.
L’Oreal’s Genifique campaign claimed its products would lead to visibly younger skin in just seven days by targeting the users’ genes (photo Lancome)
L’Oreal said the claims in question had not been used “for some time now”.
“It would be nice if cosmetics could alter our genes and turn back time,” said Jessica Rich, director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
“But L’Oreal couldn’t support these claims.”
As part of the settlement, L’Oreal USA is barred from making any anti-aging claims unless it has “competent and reliable scientific evidence substantiating such claims”, the FTC said.
The advertising campaigns ran across TV, radio and online and claimed that the Genifique product was “clinically proven” to “boost genes” activity and stimulate the production of youth proteins which would lead to “visibly younger skin in just seven days”.
“The safety, quality and effectiveness of the company’s products were never in question,” said L’Oreal USA spokeswoman Kristina Schake in a statement.
“Going forward, L’Oreal USA will continue to serve its customers through industry-leading research, scientific innovation and responsible advertising,” Kristina Schake added.
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Toyota has reached a $1.2 billion settlement with US regulators after a four-year inquiry into its reporting of safety issues.
The criminal investigation came after the Japanese carmaker recalled more than 10 million vehicles over issues with brakes, accelerator pedals and floor mats.
Attorney General Eric Holder said Toyota had “intentionally concealed information” about the problems.
It is the largest criminal penalty yet imposed on a carmaker in the US.
Eric Holder told a news conference in Washington: “Rather than promptly disclosing and correcting safety issues about which they were aware, Toyota made misleading public statements to consumers and gave inaccurate facts to members of Congress.
“And they concealed from federal regulators the extent of problems that some consumers encountered with sticking gas pedals and unsecured or incompatible floor mats that could cause these unintended acceleration episodes.”
Toyota has reached a $1.2 billion settlement with US regulators after a four-year inquiry into its reporting of safety issues
Toyota issued a series of recalls in 2009 and 2010 affecting various models including the Camry, one of its best selling cars.
The problems dented Toyota’s reputation for reliability and hurt its sales in the US, one of its biggest markets.
The carmaker was also criticized for its handling of the issue, with allegations that it did not respond quickly and tried to protect its brand image.
Toyota has already paid millions of dollars in fines over delays in its reporting and handling of the safety problems.
On Wednesday, Eric Holder said that Toyota would “fully admit” wrongdoing and described the company’s behavior as “shameful”.
“It showed a blatant disregard for systems and laws designed to look after the safety of consumers,” he said.
“By the company’s own admission, it protected its brand ahead of its own customers. This constitutes a clear and reprehensible abuse of the public trust.”
Toyota said it had changed the way it handled such issues and had been working towards rebuilding its relationship with customers.
“At the time of these recalls, we took full responsibility for any concerns our actions may have caused customers and we rededicated ourselves to earning their trust,” said Christopher Reynolds, chief legal officer Toyota Motor North America, in a statement.
“We have made fundamental changes across our global operations to become a more responsive company – listening better to our customers’ needs and proactively taking action to serve them.”
The deal was announced by Eric Holder, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara.
Eric Holder said Toyota settlement should also serve as warning to other companies on how to handle such issues.
“Other car companies should not repeat Toyota’s mistake: a recall may damage a company’s reputation, but deceiving your customers makes that damage far more lasting.”
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