News from December 2006
Court stamps out long-running landfill lawsuit
Texas Supreme Court AUSTIN -- Today's Supreme Court decision in an acrimonious dispute between a landfill operator and a Texas county appears finally to have ended a 13-year legal saga.
SC restricts lawyer fees in contractor disputes
Washington Supreme Court OLYMPIA - Building and construction contractors who succesfully sue against another's surety bonds cannot collect additional attorney's fees outside of the value of that bond, the Washington Supreme Court ruled today.
A-G didn't break campaign law, attorney says
Phill Kline TOPEKA, Kan. - The attorney for outgoing Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline, facing a $5,000 fine from the state's Government Ethics Commission, says he doesn't believe Kline committed any wrongdoing.
Brown announces key appointments to A-G staff
Incoming California Attorney General Jerry Brown SACRAMENTO -- Current Oakland, Calif. mayor and incoming California Attorney General Jerry Brown has begun assembling his team as he prepares to take over from Treasury-bound Bill Lockyer.
Casino owners oppose lawsuit challenging A-G's anti-smoking bill
Nevada Attorney General George Chanos CARSON CITY -- Supporters of Nevada's new anti-smoking law have found a surprising new ally in the lobbying arm of the state's most powerful casino companies, according to a recent report in the Las Vegas-based Casino City Times.
Ex-Democratic candidate Appel joins Iowa's top court
New Iowa Supreme Court Justice Brent Appel DES MOINES - Dubuque native Brent Appel was sworn in earlier this week as the newest member of the Iowa Supreme Court. He fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Justice James Carter of Cedar Rapids.
Incoming A-G targets cell phones, gas prices and utilities
Minnesota Attorney General-elect Lori Swanson ST. PAUL - Minnesota Attorney General-elect Lori Swanson is already staking out her legal territory.
State should pay for civil suits filed by the poor, says chief justice
California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald George (center) SACRAMENTO -- California should extend a service that provides lawyers to the poor in criminal cases to civil cases, according to California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald George.
Lockyer moves fourth aide to new digs in three days
Bill Lockyer SACRAMENTO -- Outgoing California Attorney General Bill Lockyer last Friday moved yet another one of his loyal aides to alternative employment.
Nixon's latest suit bolsters 2008 gubernatorial campaign
Jay Nixon JEFFERSON CITY -- Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon's declared run for Missouri Governor in 2008 has already put plenty of noses out of joint in the state's bureaucracies. And observers believe there's more where that came from.
Feuding pig farmers must try mediation before suing
Iowa Chief Justice Marsha K. Temus DES MOINES - A minor dispute between two hog farmers escalated to the point that the Iowa Supreme Court quoted 19th-Century humorist Ambrose Bierce in its ruling today in Klinge vs. Bentien (#111 / 04-0843).
Couple in wreck can't sue bar anymore
Arkansas Supreme Court LITTLE ROCK - Blaming the barkeep for your DUI wreck just took a big hit in Arkansas.
A-Gs say Yellow Pages defrauded small-business customers
Texas Attorney-General Greg Abbott ASUTIN, Texas -- Online phone directory YP Corp. will pay $2 million to businesses and organizations in 33 states in a major lawsuit alleging the groups paid for on-line advertisements they did not want, according to settlements announced today.
Class action masters Freed & Weiss don't carry malpractice insurance
The Burnham Building, home of Freed & Weiss LLC, in Chicago.
Two of the most active class-action plaintiff's attorneys in the Madison/St. Clair County, Ill. courts do not carry malpractice coverage, even though one was once suspended by the Illinois Bar for harassing several women.
Goddard sues work-from-home promoter
Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard PHOENIX -- Attorney General Terry Goddard has sued a company promoting work-from-home business opportunities for violating Arizona's Consumer Fraud Act.
Deputy SC clerk elevated as incumbent bows out
Washington Supreme Court OLYMPIA -- The Washington Supreme Court has named current deputy clerk Ronald Carpenter as the new clerk of the court effective upon the retirement of current clerk Jerry Merritt on Dec. 31. Clerks are responsible for maintaining records, files and documents, preparing the court's calendar and docketing all cases and papers filed.
A-G crimps chiropractors on procedure
LITTLE ROCK - Chiropractors in Arkansas cannot perform a controversial procedure that requires anesthetizing the patient, Attorney General Mike Beebe recently stated in an opinion to the Arkansas State Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
Partial payment puts off statute start, SC says
SALEM, Ore. -- Partially paying an injured plaintiff delays the onset of the statute of limitations for the plaintiff to file a lawsuit, the Oregon Supreme Court recently ruled.
Dog-track extension not tourist attraction, Beebe rules
LITTLE ROCK - A casino-style extension to an Arkansas greyhound-racing track cannot receive state sales tax and income tax credits by qualifying as a "tourism attraction" Attorney General Mike Beebe recently ruled.
Rental car insurance still valid even if license isn't
SACRAMENTO - Excess liability insurers who cover rental vehicles in California are still liable for third-party damages even if the renter's apparently valid licence is actually suspended, according to a recent California Supreme Court decision.