News from April 2009
Texas Senate passes asbestos causation bill
Robert Duncan (R) AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline)-A bill that critics fear will expose thousands of additional businesses to asbestos lawsuits has passed the Texas Senate.
Texas justices rule against insurance company in injured child case
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline)- An insurance company must pay a claim for a child who was injured by a truck that was fleeing police, the Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday.
Price gouging settlement in Tennessee over Hurricane Ike gas prices‏
Bob Cooper (D) NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - Sixteen companies and individuals who own a total of 27 Tennessee gas stations have agreed to settlements with the state following allegations of price gouging following Hurricane Ike.
Illinois Supreme Court strikes long-time asbestos evidence ruling
Charles Freeman SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - The Illinois Supreme Court has delivered a blow to a long-standing asbestos evidence rule that had been a defendant's bane.
Palin's AG nominee rejected by Republican-led Legislature
Sarah Palin (R) JUNEAU, Alaska (Legal Newsline)-Gov. Sarah Palin's nominee for Alaska attorney general has been rejected by state lawmakers, dealing the Republican a setback as she jockeys for a role in the national party.
Candidate enters field for 2010 W.Va. SC race
Yoder MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - The West Virginia Supreme Court race of 2010 has its first candidate, a circuit judge from the Eastern Panhandle.
Former AG nominates plaintiffs lawyer for federal bench
McConnell PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline) - A member of a major plaintiffs firm has been recommended for a federal judgeship by the former Rhode Island attorney general who hired the firm to sue the paint industry.
AG: United States moving toward embracing socialism
Mark Shurtleff (R) SALT LAKE CITY (Legal Newsline)-The United States government is far what the Founding Fathers had envisioned, said Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff.
Of 900 W.Va. asbestos plaintiffs, two from the state
Daley CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Of all the plaintiffs in 900 asbestos cases filed in Kanawha Circuit Court on a single day by one attorney, only two are West Virginia residents.
Corbett 'not impressed' with major firm's case against Janssen
Corbett HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - Houston-based plaintiffs firm Bailey Perrin Bailey had its chance to impress Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett but could not and never tried again.
McGraw sues debt settlement company
Darrell McGraw (D) CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw is suing a Texas debt settlement company to recover injunctive relief and restitution for consumers who he believes were misguided into paying exorbitant fees for help that never came.
Settlement reached over automatic subscription policies
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Renewing subscriptions and mailing updated copies of publications with bills without consumers' authorization has lead to an agreement between two companies and the state of Florida to stop the practice.
Oregon AG, Oppenheimer in war of press releases
John Kroger (D) SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline)-A war of words -- and press releases -- has erupted between Oregon Attorney General John Kroger and OppenheimerFunds, Inc., which Kroger sued this week.
Consumer fraud costs tax preparation firm $3.5M
Anne Milgram (D) NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) -A tax preparation firm that sold deceptive high-cost refund anticipation loans has been ordered to pay $3.5 million in penalties and refunds.
Brown ups his support for California budget proposition
Jerry Brown (D) OAKLAND, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - California Attorney General Jerry Brown rarely is associated with the word "tepid."
Investment firm wants audit of troubled financial services industry
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - An investment firm that has scrutinized Bank of America's recent actions concerning executive bonuses is asking for an audit to determine if the financial industry has wrongly used taxpayer funding.
Oregon AG's securities lawsuit draws company's ire
John Kroger (D) NEW YORK (Legal Newsline)- OppenheimerFunds Inc., the manager of Oregon's college savings plan, blasted the Oregon attorney general for filing a lawsuit this week against the Wall Street giant, saying he has acted in bad faith.
Mississippi law creates stiffer fines for price gouging‏
Jim Hood (D) JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) – Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has signed legislation backed by the state's attorney general to protect consumers from gasoline price gouging during and following natural disasters.
Olson: More power for state AGs bad for banking industry
Olson WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A former U.S. solicitor general recently wrote that allowing state attorneys general to file lawsuits against national banks could result in "burdensome oversight" over their lending practices.
Former insurance lawyer's legislative appointment sparks debate
Doug Heller SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-The appointment of a former State Farm lawyer to a California legislative panel has drawn criticism from one of the state's leading consumer groups, while one industry leader has urged critics to reserve judgment.