News from February 2010
Miss. auditor weighing appeal in attorneys fees case
Pickering JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - Mississippi Auditor Stacey Pickering is determing whether he should appeal a court ruling that will allow a pair of admitted felons to keep the millions of dollars they made representing the State.
Judge OKs Bank of America settlement
Cuomo NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge has approved a $150 million settlement between the Securities and Exchange Commission and Bank of America, resolving allegations the company misled shareholders during its acquisition of Merrill Lynch.
Swanson files six suits
Swanson ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - Six lawsuits against out-of-state debt management companies have been filed by Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson.
Wis. developer settles environmental protection suit
Van Hollen WAUKESHA, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - State claims against a developer over environmental protection laws violations at a Waukesha County development have been settled, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has announced.
Col. AG files lawsuit against credit repair company
Suthers DENVER (Legal Newsline) - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers has filed a lawsuit against a Denver-based credit repair company.
Cuomo reaches pair of settlements
Cuomo NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has announced nearly $2.5 million in payments to the state and refunds for consumers resulting from two settlements.
Obama to propose limiting health insurance rate hikes
Barack Obama (D) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-U.S. President Barack Obama today will propose giving federal authorities the power to limit insurance company rate hikes.
Republicans line up for open Texas Supreme Court seat
Harriet O'Neill (R) AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline)-Six Republicans are running for an open seat on the Texas Supreme Court, including four state appeals court judges, a district court trial judge and a former state legislator.
Plan would reduce Calif. judgment interest rates
Mimi Walters (R) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-A California state senator is calling for the elimination of judicial rules that essentially penalize defendants for appealing civil judgments.
National conservative leaders rally behind Eastman
John Eastman (R) LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline)-Jack Pitney, a leading authority on California politics, had it right last month when he foretold that Republican state attorney general hopeful John Eastman's candidacy would attract support from leaders of the nation's conservative movement.
Tobacco companies seek Supreme Court review of racketeering verdict
U.S. Supreme Court building WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-Three major tobacco companies are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a racketeering verdict against cigarette makers over the marketing of so-called light cigarettes.
Illinois AG reports spike in mortgage-related complaints
Lisa Madigan (D) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline)-Complaints about mortgage-related issues topped the Illinois attorney general's list of consumer grievances last year.
Calif. AG hopeful touts private rights of action
Ted Lieu (D) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-Amid dwindling state resources, it will largely be up to California's trial lawyers to enforce consumer protection laws, a leading state lawmaker and candidate for attorney general said.
O'Connor seeks to be Ohio's first female chief justice
Maureen O'Connor (R) COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline)-Ohio Justice Maureen O'Connor, a Republican, is running to become Ohio's first female chief justice.
Arizona AG race turns heated fast
Felecia Rotellini (D) PHOENIX, Ariz. (Legal Newsline)-Republican Tom Horne's entry into the Arizona attorney general race was greeted Friday by a stinging rebuke from one of his Democratic rivals.
Zoeller calls for special master in carp case
Greg Zoeller (R-Ind.) INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline)-Joining the multistate legal fight over closing Chicago-area shipping locks, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller on Friday filed an amicus brief in the case, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to appoint a special master to oversee the case.
Business court plan moves ahead in W.Va.
Thompson CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - The West Virginia House Judiciary Committee has advanced plans to create business courts in the state.
Retrial beneficial for plaintiff in 'Judicial Hellhole'
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - A New Jersey jury has awarded a man who claims to have lost his large colon because of an acne medication $25 million, 11 months after an appellate court struck down a $2.6 million award in his favor.
SEC says Cuomo's got it wrong
Cuomo NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - The federal Securities and Exchange Commission disagrees with one of the claims made by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo in his lawsuit against Bank of America.
Illinois appeals court blocks grave moves
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline)-An Illinois appeals court has blocked the city of Chicago from relocating graves in a historic cemetery in order to make room for a runway at the city's O'Hare International Airport.