News from February 2015
Miss. AG Hood says he’ll seek re-election
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood says he plans to seek a fourth term as the state’s top lawyer.
Alleged phony resort scheme nets man $2.3M Deepwater Horizon claim, and indictment
NEW ORLEANS – In one of the more brazen schemes to defraud BP in the wake of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a North Carolina man has been indicted for mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering after allegedly creating a web of paperwork to substantiate a multimillion dollar claims payment for a non-existent luxury resort.
Garlock offered Philly cases as proof asbestos lawyers were withholding evidence
Editor’s note: This article is part of a series examining evidence submitted in Garlock Sealing Technologies’ bankruptcy proceeding that was recently unsealed as a result of Legal Newsline’s legal challenge.
Santander to change screening policies for ChexSystems
ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - Santander Bank, N.A., will adopt new business practices that will allow more New Yorkers to open bank accounts by the end of September, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced last week.
Law prof says firms facing Garlock's RICO cases are the progenies of Baron & Budd
Editor’s note: This article is part of a series examining evidence submitted in Garlock Sealing Technologies’ bankruptcy proceeding that was recently unsealed as a result of Legal Newsline’s legal challenge.
Santander Bank's policy changes will benefit low-income consumers
Santander Bank will adopt new business practices that will allow more New Yorkers to open bank accounts
Risperdal, pelvic mesh suits cause spike in filings at Philadelphia's mass torts program
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) – Mass tort filings in Philadelphia’s Complex Litigation Center jumped more than 150 percent from 2013 to 2014.
Lawsuit alleging McHugh Fuller 'encouraging' lawsuits through advertising remanded to state court
CINCINNATI (Legal Newsline) - An Ohio federal judge last week sent a lawsuit filed by a Portsmouth-based nursing home facility against Mississippi law firm McHugh Fuller Law Group back to a state court.
Calif. man files class action against HVAC maker over copper coils
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - A Kern County, Calif., man brought a class action lawsuit against a Tennessee manufacturer on Wednesday for allegedly defective heating and air conditioning products.
Vermont city sues EPA, alleges violation of Clean Water Act
BURLINGTON, Vt. (Legal Newsline) - A Vermont city sued a federal agency on Wednesday, alleging it violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), the Clean Water Act and other legislation.
Class action says Jim Beam whiskey isn't 'handcrafted'
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - A San Diego County man sued a large American distillery on Tuesday, alleging deceptive business practices and advertising.
N.Y. settlement will remove immigration status from enrollment materials
ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman reached a deal with 20 school districts in the state this week to, he says, ensure undocumented students receive a proper education.
Iowa AG, colleagues fighting US Foods-Sysco merger
DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller joined in on the fight to stop US Foods and Sysco from merging on Thursday.
Mass. AG wants human trafficking lawsuit against Backpage.com to go forward
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey pushed the federal court in Boston on Friday to allow a lawsuit against Backpage.com over alleged human trafficking to go forward.
Backpage.com faces suit for alleged human trafficking
Massachusetts pushing to allow a lawsuit against Backpage.com over alleged human trafficking to go forward.
Consumer sues HVAC company for allegedly defective products
A Kern County, California, man brought a class-action suit against a Tennessee manufacturer on Wednesday for allegedly defective heating and air conditioning products.
Vermont city sues EPA for alleged anti-consumer practices
A New England city sued a federal agency on Wednesday, alleging it violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), the Clean Water Act and other legislation.
Law prof's Garlock testimony details asbestos lawyers' change in strategy
Editor’s note: This article is part of a series examining evidence submitted in Garlock Sealing Technologies’ bankruptcy proceeding that was recently unsealed as a result of Legal Newsline’s legal challenge.
Background check company that OK'd Snowden, Navy Yard shooter goes bankrupt; Lawsuit against rival still pending
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – An investigation services company that performed background checks on Edward Snowden and the Navy Yard shooter declared bankruptcy weeks after winning its protest of a $13 million contract awarded to its main competitor, all while a lawsuit against that same competitor remains pending.
Federal judge to decide if Miss. AG can investigate Google
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge is expected to rule next week on whether Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood can investigate Internet search giant Google.