Legal Filings

Public Health Advocacy Institute Files Class Action Against DraftKings in Massachusetts

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                   December 8, 2023 Boston –                                                                  Contact Mark Gottlieb – 617-373-8487 (mark@phai.org) Today, the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) and its Center for Public Health Litigation filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of Massachusetts citizens who opened DraftKings Sportsbook accounts in response to a $1,000 bonus sign-up promotion […]

Public Health Advocacy Institute Files Class Action Against DraftKings in Massachusetts Read More »

New Lawsuit Alleges Coca-Cola, American Beverage Association Deceiving Public About Soda-Related Health Problems

Despite the scientifically established link between consuming sugar drinks and obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, the Coca-Cola Company and its trade association, the American Beverage Association, deceive consumers by denying and obscuring soda’s link to those diseases, according to a lawsuit filed today. Bringing the action filed today in the Superior Court of

New Lawsuit Alleges Coca-Cola, American Beverage Association Deceiving Public About Soda-Related Health Problems Read More »

PHAI Joins Center for Science in the Public Interest in Filing Lawsuit Against Coca-Cola for Deceptive Marketing

BOSTON – Two non-profits that use litigation as a public health strategy have joined forces in a lawsuit accusing the Coca-Cola Company (“Coke”) along with the American Beverage Association (“ABA”) of misleading the public about the science that links heart disease, obesity, and diabetes to consumption of sugary beverages. For years, the Public Health Advocacy

PHAI Joins Center for Science in the Public Interest in Filing Lawsuit Against Coca-Cola for Deceptive Marketing Read More »

PHAI’s Daynard Discusses Tony Gwynn Lawsuit on ESPN and in the New York Times

On May 23, 2016, the widow and children of baseball great Tony Gwynn filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Altria Group alleging that the manufacturers of Skoal smokeless tobacco’s negligence, fraud, defective design, and failure-to-warn caused the death of the Hall of Famer in 2014. Richard Daynard, PHAI’s president and University Distinguished Professor of Law at

PHAI’s Daynard Discusses Tony Gwynn Lawsuit on ESPN and in the New York Times Read More »

PHAI Submits Comments on Proposed Fantasy Sports Regulations in MA

Massachusetts attorney general, Maura Healey, has proposed regulations to protect consumers from deceptive practices of daily fantasy sports operators in Massachusetts.  These include provisions to prevent youth access, limit monthly betting, and prevent professional players from using special tools to dramatically improve their chances of winning. The Public Health Advocacy Institute previously argued to Ms.

PHAI Submits Comments on Proposed Fantasy Sports Regulations in MA Read More »

PHAI Urges HUD to Expand Proposed Smoke-free Public Housing Rule to All HUD-Funded Housing

The Public Health Advocacy Institute submitted comments to a proposed rule by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) to make its public housing smoke-free. The proposed rule would affect 1.1 million households, but leave 3.4 million other HUD-funded households unprotected.  These include the agency’s tenant-based and project-based rental assistance. PHAI argues that

PHAI Urges HUD to Expand Proposed Smoke-free Public Housing Rule to All HUD-Funded Housing Read More »

After Settlement, PHAI Continues Commitment to Ending Youth Access to MA Lottery Ticket Vending Machines

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:  Mark Gottlieb at (617) 373-2206 -Boston As part of its mission to end youth access to lottery ticket vending machines in Massachusetts, the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) announced today that it has settled a lawsuit with Star Markets. In March, PHAI, a non-profit organization based at Northeastern University, brought suit

After Settlement, PHAI Continues Commitment to Ending Youth Access to MA Lottery Ticket Vending Machines Read More »

Top Boston Firms Join Forces with Public Health Advocacy Institute

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:  Mark Gottlieb or Andrew Rainer  617-373-2026 In March, the non-profit Public Health Advocacy Institute (“PHAI”) announced that it had formed a center to bring important public health litigation, and had hired a former Assistant Attorney General to oversee this litigation in the Massachusetts courts.  Today, PHAI, which is based at Northeastern

Top Boston Firms Join Forces with Public Health Advocacy Institute Read More »

Stop & Shop Responds to PHAI’s Demands to Prevent Sales of Scratch Tickets to Kids

In 2014 and 2015, the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) conducted testing to determine whether kids could purchase lottery tickets from the vending machines located in a number of area supermarkets.  At markets in Cambridge, Somerville, and Arlington, Massachusetts, a teenage tester was easily able to purchase lottery tickets in every attempt. Massachusetts law expressly

Stop & Shop Responds to PHAI’s Demands to Prevent Sales of Scratch Tickets to Kids Read More »

PHAI Submits Comments on Proposed Mass AG Regulations for E-Cigarettes

On April 23, 2015,  the  Public Health Advocacy Institute submitted the following written comments concerning proposed regulations for electronic cigarettes issued by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey: April 23, 2015 Amber Villa, Assistant Attorney General Consumer Protection Division Office of the Attorney General One Ashburton Place Boston, MA 02108 Re: Massachusetts Attorney General Proposed Regulations of

PHAI Submits Comments on Proposed Mass AG Regulations for E-Cigarettes Read More »