The big lawsuit filed by City Council members and Occupy Wall Street protesters wasn't the only civil lawsuit filed against the NYPD in federal court today! Another lawsuit, specifically concerning the NYPD's barricading of protesters at a demonstration last November, was filed today, seeking unspecified damages and an injunction stopping the NYPD from engaging in such tactics. more ›

Five middle school and high school students are suing the Police Department over allegations that cops and school safety officers wrongfully arrested them and used excessive force. The plaintiffs in the class-action case — who range in age from 13 to 15 years old — say that "inadequately trained and poorly supervised police personnel engage in aggressive behavior toward students when no criminal activity is taking place and when there is no threat to health and safety," and often "confront and arrest students over minor disciplinary infractions such as talking back, being late for class or having a cell phone in school." more ›

Rick’s Cabaret on 33rd Street is claiming two of its former dancers lack the "moral character" to head a $5 million-plus class-action lawsuit against the nudie bar. More than 200 strippers say that Rick’s short-changed them while they worked there and are demanding it pay up. Now the club is launching its own attack on the two women who represent the pole-dancing army. more ›

As many as 4,500 women who worked as strippers at the Rick's Cabaret on West 33rd Street have been given the green light to proceed with a class-action lawsuit against the club. The lawsuit alleges that Rick's, a publicly traded company comprised of 19 adult nightclubs, paid strippers less than minimum wages for taking off their clothes and even charged them for using the facilities. In a press release titled "XXX-Mas Comes Early for New York Strippers," attorney E. Michelle Drake slammed the club with brio: more ›

Ladies, drag queens, and anyone else who likes to cake on the make-up, it's time to cash in on someone else's settlement. The NY Post is reporting that department stores are handing out big-name brand cosmetics to anyone willing to stand in line, as part of a price-gouging class-action suit that has finally been settled. They suggest hitting up Bergdorf's and Saks for a speedier transaction, though Macy's and Bloomingdale's will also be taking part (Lord & Taylor has already run out of product). The giveaway runs through next Monday, and "customers are only supposed to get one item, but there's an honor system. People have gotten seconds and even thirds." In fact, the Post reporter scored over $300 worth of makeup after visiting five stores. One woman the paper talked to also hit up all the shops, saying she probably spent close to $7,000 on makeup between 1994 and 2003—the years the stores violated antitrust laws by fixing prices. more ›

Earlier this month word came in that a Manhattan judge had ordered Jay-Z's 40/40 club management to turn over records of all employees in the past three years, for a class-action lawsuit filed by a former waitress. The suit claims the workers never received overtime or minimum wage. Now The NY Post reports that the club's general manager, Desiree Gonzalez, has told (ahem, threatened) some employees who might join in the suit. Allegedly she warned that she would "[bleep] up his tax life" to one, and told another she'd "lock him up" if he failed to sign a release from the suit. more ›

Jay-Z's Manhattan nightclub 40/40 is under scrutiny for screwing over the little guy. The NY Post reports that a Manhattan judge has ordered the club's management turn over records of all employees in the past three years, for a class-action lawsuit filed by former waitress Celeste Williams. She claims that workers never received overtime or minimum wage, and now could have hundreds of others joining in on the suit (which already has around 20 bartenders on board). This isn't the first lawsuit against the club. more ›

A class action lawsuit was filed in New York federal court yesterday, alleging that real estate firm "Brown Harris Stevens Brooklyn LLC (BHS) and its senior vice president and two real estate agents discriminate against families with children attempting to rent apartments in Brooklyn." more ›

In what will be the largest class action suit ever brought by New York restaurant employees, employees are suing Starbucks for violating a state law that prohibits management from receiving part of workers’ tips. more ›