News from November 2013
Study: Federal district court vacancies surging
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) -- While most of the spotlight has been on federal appeals court vacancies, beset by filibusters and the GOP's obstruction, an updated analysis shows that trial courts are facing similar challenges.
Leahy: Senate GOP's 'escalating obstruction' hurting the American people
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- The chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee says the GOP's "escalating obstruction" of judicial nominations is threatening the Senate's ability to "do the work of the American people."
Ninth Circuit upholds dismissal of proposed class action over melatonin-laced brownies
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) -- A federal appeals court this week upheld a lower court's dismissal of a proposed class action filed over the allegedly harmful effects of a company's melatonin-laced brownies.
Report: Ariz. AG suing over negative ads
TUCSON, Ariz. (Legal Newsline) -- Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne reportedly is suing a group that has been running negative ads against him.
Wisconsin AG reaches $500,000 settlement with dating service provider
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced a $500,000 settlement Tuesday with a Texas-based dating membership company and its Wisconsin affiliate to resolve allegations they misled consumers.
Ohio AG files lawsuit against door-to-door magazine seller
DAYTON, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced a lawsuit on Tuesday against a door-to-door magazine seller and its owner for allegedly failing to deliver magazine subscriptions sold to consumers.
N.Y. AG settles lawsuit with Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a settlement Tuesday with the directors of a charitable organization dedicated to caring for retired racehorses to resolve allegations of fiscal mismanagement and neglect of animals.
N.J. AG reaches $1 million settlement with gaming company
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Acting Attorney General John Hoffman announced a $1 million settlement Tuesday with E-Sports Entertainment LLC to resolve allegations that it spied on users computers.
Mass. AG announces $240,000 order against financial company
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a court order Tuesday against a Lawrence financial company and its owner for allegedly violating court orders and continuing to solicit consumers for loan modification services.
W.Va. AG: Banking companies to pay state nearly $4 million to settle lawsuits
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) -- West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said Tuesday Discover Financial Services and HSBC Finance Corporation will pay the state $1.95 million each, or $3.9 million total, to settle lawsuits alleging the companies' credit card protection programs violated state law.
Johnson & Johnson to settle hip replacement lawsuits for $2.5 billion
WARSAW, Ind. (Legal Newsline) -- Johnson & Johnson has agreed to settle thousands of lawsuits over defective all-metal replacement hips for $2.5 billion.
N.J. SC swears in new justice
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) -- One day after he was approved by the state Senate, Faustino Fernandez-Vina was sworn in as a justice on the New Jersey Supreme Court.
Lawyer disputes findings of asbestos insurer report
OAKLAND, Calif. (Legal Newsline) -- Experts are in disagreement about the findings of a newly released report that says insurers suffered increasing losses from asbestos and environmental claims in 2012.
DOJ, federal and state working group reach record $13 billion settlement with JPMorgan Chase
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) -- New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced Tuesday that a state and federal working group he co-chairs, along with the U.S. Department of Justice, have reached a $13 billion settlement with JPMorgan Chase.
Man files wrongful death lawsuit against deceased wife's employer, says she was 'worked to death'
CINCINNATI (Legal Newsline) -- An Ohio man is suing the hospital where his wife worked, saying she was "worked to death."
Google to pay $17 million in multi-state settlement
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen announced a $17 million multi-state settlement on Monday between Google Inc., Connecticut, 36 other states and the District of Columbia to resolve allegations Google circumvented web browser privacy settings.
Missouri AG announces settlement in cramming matter
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced a settlement Monday with a New Jersey communications company for allegedly putting unauthorized charges on customers' telephone bills, a practice known as cramming.
Missouri AG sues Ohio-based telemarketer
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced a lawsuit Monday against an Ohio-based telemarketer and its owner for allegedly using robocalls that harassed Missourians.
W.Va. AG: County ambulance authorities can't sue to collect unpaid special fees
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) -- West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, in an opinion earlier this month, said a local emergency ambulance authority can't file lawsuits in magistrate court to collect unpaid special emergency ambulance service fees.
U.S. SC agrees to hear securities class action litigation
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that business groups argue challenges a key precedent in securities class action cases.