Nick Rees News
Mich. energy customers to receive $106 million in refunds‏
Mike Cox (R) LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) - Barring appeals, Attorney General Mike Cox has said customers of Consumers Energy across the state can expect $106 million in refunds following revelations about surcharges billed to consumers from 2001 through 2003.
Minn. consumers to receive restitution from falsely extended cell phone contracts‏
Lori Swanson (D) ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - Following a consent judgment between Attorney General Lori Swanson and Sprint Nextel, customers who believe that their cell phone contracts were extended without their permission or the length of their contract or applicable penalties for early termination were not disclosed may file a claim for monetary relief.
W. Va. AG files lawsuits against Internet payday lenders‏
Darrell McGraw (D) CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Seventeen Internet payday lenders, collection agencies and their principals have been hit with two lawsuits by Attorney General Darrell McGraw's Consumer Protection Division.
Marsh settles with N.J., Ohio pension funds
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - A class action lawsuit against Marsh & McLennan filed by pension funds in New Jersey and Ohio has tentatively been settled for $400 million.
N.H. settles with manufacturer over air pollution
CONCORD, N.H. (Legal Newsline) - New Hampshire Attorney General Michael A. Delaney has announced a settlement with a New Ipswich manufacturing company over violations of the state's air pollution and air toxics law and federal air pollution laws.
Iowa settles with eight drugmakers over prices
Miller DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - Iowa will receive more than $4.3 million from eight prescription drug-making companies to settle allegations that they purposefully reported false and inflated drug prices that served as the basis for Medicaid reimbursements paid by taxpayers.
Conn. A.G. moves to block layoffs at two utilities‏
Richard Blumenthal (D) HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - An immediate order by the Department of Public Utility Control to block layoffs at Connecticut Natural Gas and Southern Connecticut Gas is being sought by Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Consumer Counsel Mary Healey.
Relief coming to more than 8,000 Mass. homeowners
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - An agreement between Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley's office and the Texas-based American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc., will provide benefits to approximately 8,200 Massachusetts borrowers with loans originated by Option One Mortgage Corp., and H&R Block Mortgage Corp.
Vermont landlord to pay for violations of state lead law
MONTPELIER, Vt. (Legal Newsline) - A Vermont landlord will pay the State $10,000 in civil penalties as part of a settlement for filing a false lead compliance document for a Lyndonville property.
Texas A.G. begins legal action against alleged foreclosure scheme
Abbott DALLAS (Legal Newsline) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has begun legal action against two unlicensed Dallas-based businesses to obtain restitution for victims of an alleged fraudulent mortgage rescue scam.
Target agrees to settlement in N.J.
Milgram NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - The Target Corporation has agreed to a $375,000 settlement with New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram to resolve a lawsuit alleging that infant formula and non-prescription drugs were sold beyond their expiration dates.
CVS agrees to settlement with Cuomo
Cuomo NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has reached a settlement with a national retail pharmacy chain to end its alleged sale of expired products.
Madigan files suit against telemarketers
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed a lawsuit that targets an alleged telemarketing scam promising consumers immediate reduction of credit card interest rates.
Cuomo settlement changes colors
Cuomo BUFFALO, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - A western New York gas provider alleged to have used deceptive tactics has agreed with state Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo to amend a 2008 settlement to change how it does business.
Cox applauds Blue Cross decision
Cox LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) - A preliminary ruling by the Michigan Insurance Commissioner's that slashes proposed rate increases for Blue Cross Medigap insurance has been praised by state Attorney General Mike Cox.
Social networking site to change contact policy following N.Y. settlement
Cuomo NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - The social networking site Tagged.com has been stopped by New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo's office from misappropriating the contacts list and identities of its members and from sending out millions of deceptive and unsolicited promotional emails.
Mass. company settles over failure to pay prevailing wage
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - An asbestos abatement company has agreed to a settlement with Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley's office for intentionally failing to pay the prevailing wage and failing to pay overtime at various public construction sites in Massachusetts.
Alaska utilities to refund customers $1.2 million
Sullivan ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Legal Newsline) - Customers in Alaska will be refunded an additional $1.2 million by two Fairbanks utility companies following an order sought by Attorney General Dan Sullivan from the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.
Lawsuit filed over upfront fees by Fla. foreclosure rescue companies‏
Bill McCollum (R) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Two Central Florida companies and their owner have been hit with a lawsuit by Attorney General Bill McCollum over allegations of up-front fees charged for foreclosures rescue-related services.
Home mortgage servicing company files suit against Ohio AG
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc., has filed a lawsuit in Franklin County Circuit Court against Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray regarding what it asserts are unsupported allegations of unfair servicing practices made against them by Cordray in a pre-suit letter.