Cases & Investigations

After years of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) being lobbied by Big Tobacco and slow-walking Congress’ directive to regulate menthol cigarettes, we initiated a lawsuit against the FDA. And in April 2022 we won a powerful victory that is resulting in the ban on menthol cigarettes, a measure hailed as the government’s most meaningful action in more than a decade of tobacco control efforts.

New York City municipal retirees have relied on the promise that they would receive a robust Medicare Supplemental health insurance plan in their retirement. When NYC reneged on that promise, an ad hoc group of retired police officers, fire fighters, and teachers hired us to fight City Hall. We did; and won six court victories that have already saved retirees some $1.8 billion.

Pollock Cohen, as lead counsel, represented the whistleblower in a qui tam lawsuit brought under the False Claims Act.  It was just one of a handful of qui tam cases where the government chose to intervene, and it resulted in a multi-million dollar settlement.

Pollock Cohen and Walden Macht have filed a class action on behalf of more than 1 million patients against Carelon Behavioral Health for publishing an inaccurate directory of doctors.

Nassau University Medical Center has filed Notices of Claims alleging that New York State shortchanged Nassau University Medical Center of more than $1 billion.

Pollock Cohen and Walden Macht have filed a class action on behalf of thousands of patients against Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of New York alleging fraud by publishing inaccurate directories of doctors. We are also investigating other health insurers.

Pollock Cohen has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of actors whose voices were cloned and then sold by Lovo.

We have filed a class action against KingsGroup and FunPlus on behalf of customers who made in-game purchases in the “Guns of Glory” mobile game.

We have filed a class action on behalf of civil immigrant detainees who were forced to work without compensation at the McHenry County detention center in Woodstock, Illinois.

We have filed a class action against Warner Bros. on behalf of customers who made in-game purchases in the mobile application “Game of Thrones: Conquest" (GOTC).

A class action lawsuit against Amazon was filed in a federal court in Washington alleging the company’s automated collection of customers’ biometric data at Amazon Go stores violated New York law and people’s right of privacy.

Has Citi Field collected your biometric data which can include body measurements, eye color, face shape, gait, and other individual characteristics. Cutting-edge computer vision technology allows companies and venues, like Citi Field, to collect biometric data from security camera footage.

Counsel Max Rodriguez at Pollock Cohen, along with Upper Seven Law, a nonprofit law firm based in Helena, Montana, represent Nina Jankowicz in a defamation lawsuit in Delaware against Fox News Network, LLC and Fox Corporation.

We have filed a class action against KingsGroup and FunPlus on behalf of customers who made in-game purchases in the “King of Avalon” mobile game.

If you have visited Madison Square Garden or Radio City in NYC, facial recognition technology may have been unlawfully used. New York City law requires commercial establishments to notify consumers when such biometric information is being collected, and furthermore prohibits the sale, trade, or exchange of such information for profit.

In December 2022, on behalf of 183,000 senior citizens and disabled first-responders, we have filed a class action against New York City and EmblemHealth GHI for illegally charging policyholders co-pays.

Pollock Cohen is representing Clifford Weiner in a qui tam lawsuit against Siemens Inc. and Siemens Electrical LLC in which they prevailed in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, winning the first ever appellate case addressing a unique False Claims Act issue.

We co-counsel with Susman Godfrey in class action lawsuits against Pornhub and Reddit. If you were the victim of someone uploading sexual videos of you, contact us. We may be able to represent you.

A class action lawsuit against Starbucks was filed in a federal court in New York alleging the company’s automated collection of customers’ biometric data at Starbucks-Amazon Go stores violated New York law and people’s right of privacy.

We have filed a class action against KingsGroup and FunPlus on behalf of customers who made in-game purchases in the “State of Survival” mobile game.

If you’re an Apple iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer user who clicked a “do not share my information” button, we want to hear from you. There is an ongoing federal lawsuit alleging that Apple is ignoring users’ preferences, and still sharing private data.

We are actively seeking whistleblowers familiar with the online poker and gaming industry who can shed light on financial violations, including money laundering, by sites allowing access to platforms outside of the U.S.

If you registered your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry and are still getting calls from telemarketers, you may be entitled to compensation.

We are investigating retailers that purport to put their products on sale, even though the price of the product never actually goes up to a higher price. If you have purchased a product from one of these retailers on sale, or believe you have purchased a sale item that never sells at full price, please fill out the form below.

Did AARP UnitedHealth erroneously categorize your electro-cardio grams and other heart tests as radiological tests — and thus demand a higher co-pay? 

Have you lost a loved one to fentanyl? We are investigating the direct purchase of fentanyl and fentanyl-laced products from China.

Pollock Cohen LLP is investigating reports that these apps have been used to transfer money out of victims’ accounts after a phone is stolen. We are taking a close look at the failure of these money transfer applications to prevent such theft.

Has a business in New York City collected your biometric data? Biometric data can include your body measurements, your eye color, your face shape, your gait, and other individual characteristics. Cutting-edge computer vision technology allows companies to collect biometric data from security camera footage.

While many asynchronous telemedicine companies provide a convenient service, bad actors are taking advantage of the lack of knowledge regarding these new practices by putting profits first—taking advantage of patients, health care systems, and government services in the process. Pollock Cohen is actively involved in dozens of investigations and civil prosecutions, including pursuing health care scammers.

Prior authorization—also known as utilization review—is a serious problem. Health insurance companies are getting between doctors and their patients.

Pollock Cohen LLP is investigating greenwashing claims, and potential legal actions on behalf of consumers who have purchased misleadingly marketed dog or pet waste bags.

We successfully represented a 92-year-old man against Newsmax, which charged him more than $5,000 for magazine and newsletter subscriptions and automobile warranties. We are now investigating a class action for similar practices.

Pollock Cohen LLP and Kohn Swift & Graf, P.C. are investigating “greenwashing” claims, and potential legal actions on behalf of consumers who have purchased products misleadingly marketed as environmentally friendly.

We are investigating Medicare and Medicaid fraud being perpetrated by medical providers and drug companies.

We are looking into the difficulties users faced in trying to cancel their subscriptions to Ubisoft+. If you were trying to cancel your subscription but simply could not find a way to do so, please share your experience with us. We might be able to help.

We are investigating health insurance companies that have failed to comply with federal law requiring coverage for birth control or misrepresented their compliance.

We are investigating a potential class-action lawsuit against Daily Harvest on behalf of individuals who purchased Daily Harvest’s French Lentil + Leek Crumbles.

If you used use a decongestant for a cold or flu, the F.D.A. announced that many over-the-counter medications are ineffective.

Have you received braces that were never ordered and not needed?

We are investigating Enterprise’s policy of charging renters a “convenience fee” for payment of tolls on bridges, tunnels, toll-roads, and express lanes. Under Enterprise’s TollPass Service, renters typically receive a separate charge ranging from $3.95 to $4.95 per usage day.

Have you spotted cars with covered or obscured license plates dodging tolls?  Are you frustrated by scammers who cover their license plates while you pay your fair share? Are you enjoying the decrease in traffic thanks to congestion pricing, but concerned by the thieves who are covering their license plates and failing to contribute to the common good?   If so, snap some photos and contact Pollock Cohen LLP.  New York’s False Claims Act allows whistleblowers like you to take action against toll evaders. You could earn a substantial share of the state’s recovery while helping to hold fraudsters accountable.

We are investigating Hertz’s policy of charging renters a “convenience fee” for payment of tolls on bridges, tunnels, toll-roads, and express lanes.

We are investigating the fraudulent practices in Medicare – whether by an insurance company, a medical provider, hospital, pharmacy or drug company. If you know anything about them, we want to hear from you.

Pollock Cohen LLP is investigating reports that PayPal is tracking your online shopping and we are looking into this apparent invasion of your privacy.  

We are investigating potential class action lawsuits on behalf of purchasers and owners of swimming pool filters made by several different manufacturers, including Jandy, Hayward, Raypak, Pentair, and Sta-Rite.

We are talking with whistleblowers who are fed up with the scammers who took advantage of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and enriched themselves—at the expense of the very workers the Program was created to help.

We are investigating a potential legal action on behalf of students living with disabilities who have been affected by school bus delays and no-shows in New York State.

Pollock Cohen LLP is investigating reports of an issue affecting investors with Vanguard brokerage accounts.

We have filed a class action against ClassPass Inc. on behalf of businesses alleging that the health, spa, and fitness “aggregator” improperly used business’ identities for its own use.

Prior authorization—when you need your insurer’s permission to get medical care—is a major part of health insurers’ scheme to rake in profits by denying and delaying patients’ care. And it is believed to be the reason Kathleen Valentini lost her leg, and ultimately, her life.

We have filed a class action against NordicTrack and iFIT on behalf of customers who purchased a NordicTrack exercise bike or treadmill and used live iFIT classes.

Along with Mobilization for Justice (MFJ) and Peter Romer-Friedman Law PLLC, we represent the four plaintiffs that were targeted by undercover TLC officers who aggressively solicited rides from them for money by appearing to be desperate travelers in need of rides from the airport.

We are investigating a potential class action against Postmates, UberEats, DoorDash, and GrubHub on behalf of businesses who are unknowingly listed on their delivery apps and websites.

We have filed a class action lawsuit in federal court on behalf of parents who purchased organic baby foods that were secretly tainted with dangerous levels of heavy metals.

We are investigating cases on behalf of children who have developed NEC as a result of their baby formula.