John Breslin News
Milwaukee DA faces mounting criticism of bail reform policy; Critic says parade massacre was 'avoidable tragedy'
MILWAUKEE (Legal Newsline) - County District Attorney John Chisholm is facing criticism over his advocacy for bail reform following multiple deaths in Waukesha's Christmas parade on Sunday.
Fluorinated foam that legislators want banned is used to fight massive chemical plant fire in Illinois
ROCKTOW, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - A chemical-based foam that many in Congress want banned was used to fight a fire that burned and blazed for two days earlier this week in Illinois.may have contained "chemicals of conc erns," the EPA said.
AGs warn of stimulus bill's impact on tax-setting powers, call its language unconstitutional
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - State officials have joined forces to warn provisions of the massive federal stimulus bill could impact on the states' abilities to manage their own taxes and call for a clear rules from the Treasury Department.
Manchin poised to become one of the most important Washington players in wake of Georgia results
West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin is poised to become one of the most important players in Washington if the Democrats manage to grab the two Georgia Senate seats.
Dismissal of Depp's out of state lawyer in libel action 'extremely rare' event, legal ethics expert says
RESTON, Va. (Legal Newsline) - An attorney's dismissal from a high profile libel action involving the actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard is an "extremely rare" event, according to a veteran Virginia attorney.
Roundup settlement would net plaintiffs average of $60K; Lawyers could take $3 billion in fees
ST. LOUIS - An average of more than $60,000 will be paid out to plaintiffs claiming they were harmed by the weedkiller Roundup, but it is unclear how the money will be divided up. Lawyers for plaintiffs, on the other hand, will receive between 25 and 33 percent in fees, or close to $3 billion, plus costs.
Supreme Court considers whether lawyers can be forced to pay state bar dues
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court was due to discuss May 21 whether to fully review a case involving attorneys objecting to being compelled to join the Wisconsin state bar and pay fees.
Report shows steady production of asbestos lawsuits in 2019
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - New filings claiming exposure to asbestos caused lung cancer sharply increased by more than 20 percent last year, according to an annual report by a business consultancy firm.
New Virginia law resets clock for asbestos plaintiffs, overturns Supreme Court decision
RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) – Virginia legislators have passed a bill in the wake of a state Supreme Court decision over when a lawsuit can be filed in relation to asbestos-connected conditions and injuries.
First-of-its-kind asbestos litigation reform held up by coronavirus
DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - Iowa legislators have passed a bill addressing the naming of too-many defendants in asbestos lawsuits.
Pipeline scores court win as Virginia county unable to block construction
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge has ruled a Virginia county can't block the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline, a project that is at the center of another dispute recently heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Industry reps argue U.S. Forest Service, not National Parks Service, should determine route of natural gas pipeline
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – An appeals court made a judgment contrary to the wishes of Congress and the Executive Branch when it effectively barred the construction of a natural gas pipeline, according to a group of trade associations.
Unions ask SCOTUS to approve pipeline route under Appalachian Trail
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Unions representing pipeline workers have thrown their support behind the construction of a pipeline that will cross a national forest and under the Appalachian Trail.
In pipeline/Appalachian Trail case, law prof tells SCOTUS natural gas is needed to fight climate change
WASHINGTON, D.C. – An abundant supply of natural gas is crucial to the United States' ability to combat the effects of climate change, a leading expert in energy law argued in a brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court.
SCOTUS hears arguments in fight over pipeline under Appalachian Trail; 18 AGs support project
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court last week heard oral arguments over whether a 605-mile natural gas pipeline can be constructed under parts of the Appalachian Trail.
AGs unite to oppose opioid lawyers' attempt to take 7% of possible multibillion-dollar settlement
CLEVELAND (Legal Newsline) – Attorneys general from dozens of states are objecting to an attempt by attorneys litigating on behalf of various local government entities suing over the opioid crisis to secure a fee based on a global settlement that could be worth close to $50 billion.
Broad, vigorous opposition to lawyers' move to secure billions from opioid settlement
CLEVELAND (Legal Newsline) - Drug companies, state attorneys general and some local government entities are vigorously opposing an attempt by certain lawyers to secure a significant percentage of a probable multibillion-dollar global settlement stemming from nationwide opioid litigation.
Fox News backs Tucker Carlson's 'hyperbolic opinion' in libel suit brought by alleged Trump mistress
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Fox News host Tucker Carlson's hyperbolic opinion cannot be characterized as sober factual reporting, the network argues as it seeks the dismissal of a slander suit filed by a woman who claims to have been the longtime mistress of President Donald Trump.
Atlantic Richfield wants clean-up costs paid by former owner of Colorado mine
DENVER (Legal Newsline) - A company has filed suit against the former owner of a Colorado mine seeking to recover costs relating to an Environmental Protection Agency-ordered clean-up.
Consumer protection agency sues bank over allleged failures to right unauthorized use, billing errors
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline) - A federal consumer protection agency has filed suit against a bank over claims it failed to investigate and reimburse credit card holders following unauthorized use and billing errors.