News from January 2007
'Fun Day' injury not within scope of employment, N.C. Court says
RALEIGH, N.C. - The Workers' Compensation claim of a woman injured at her company's annual recreational outing should not be honored, the North Carolina Supreme Court said Friday.
Maryland AG names environmental assistant
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler, helping to fulfill his campaign promise of attacking alleged polluters of the Chesapeake Bay, announced the appointment of Erin Fitzsimmons as his Special Assistant for the Environment on Monday.
Abbott joins Miller in slugging high-risk creditors
Greg Abbott AUSTIN -- The low end of the credit market is taking a hammering from some state attorneys-general these days.
Miss. SC clarifies position on additurs and remittiturs
JACKSON, Miss. -- The personal injury case of a woman involved in a wreck with a laundry company's vehicle recently provided the Mississippi Supreme Court the perfect opportunity to polish its stance on additurs and remittiturs.
Blumenthal settlement draws group's ire
Blumenthal HARTFORD, Conn. - According to Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, the "pay-to-play" principle of business extends beyond the insurance companies against which he has so actively litigated.
Liquidations not taxable as business income: SC
Justice Ronnie White JEFFERSON CITY -- Returns from the sale and liquidation of a company are not considered "business income" and therefore not subject to business income taxation, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled today.
Ambiguity in car insurance policy favors insured, SC rules
Missouri Supreme Court building JEFFERSON CITY -- Injured drivers are entitled to sue their insurers for excess coverage if their policy has an "other insurance" clause, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled today in Tamara Seeck vs. GEICO General Insurance Co. (# SC7995).
Embattled chicken producers want AG on the stand
Drew Edmondson TULSA -- Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson has been so voluble on a controversial forthcoming poultry pollution lawsuit that he's now been called to account.
Brief filed, arguments set in Tenn. SC case
Bredesen NASHVILLE, Tenn. =- Supreme Court Justice hopeful George Lewis filed a reply brief Friday in his case against Gov. Phil Bredesen, and the Court will hear oral arguments Thursday.
Mississippi noisier than its neighbors, attorney says
Hood News stories about lawsuits that claim a lack of insurance coverage after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina have been everywhere recently.
Judge won't sign Hood's settlement
GULFPORT, Miss. -- A federal judge Friday refused to sign off on a settlement between Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood and State Farm Insurance Co., citing procedural concerns over the agreement which would affect nearly 35,000 policyholders who have not filed suit against the company.
Controversial judge lands big win in Supreme Court ruling
Judge Wendell Griffen LITTLE ROCK -- The Arkansas public will finally get to hear the charges against outspoken Appeals Court Judge Wendell Griffen, the Arkansas Supreme Court has ruled.
Miller returns to the used-car-dealership lawsuit well
Tom Miller DES MOINES -- Just over two months after settling his last lawsuit against an auto dealership, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller has launched his next one.
MDL Panel: Clearinghouse for mass torts
U.S. District Judge Frederick Motz of Maryland ST. LOUIS -- Shopping for a judge takes nerve, especially when an attorney only gets four or five minutes to do it.
Georgia Chief Justice applauds state's business-friendly reputation
Sears ATLANTA - Leah Ward Sears, the Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, said Wednesday that her court's reputation has helped the state's economy and suggested that it take another step.
Tenn. SC disagrees with trial court
Justice Holder NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee's Supreme Court decided Wednesday that a trial court erred in ruling that a worker had passed the statute of limitations to make a Workers' Compensation claim and remanded the case for further proceedings.
Nixon gains crucial exposure for '08 governor run
Jay Nixon JEFFERSON CITY -- Democrat Attorney General Jay Nixon, the early front-runner for the Missouri governor's mansion, scored another PR strike last night.
Deep fryer causes deep headaches for McDonald's
CHICAGO -- A McDonald's employee's slip and fall into a deep fryer in 2001 instigated a legal battle that still has not reached trial, despite the efforts of a plaintiff's firm that smells cash (and grease).
Miller's legal actions against landfills joins growing list
Tom Miller DES MOINES - Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller yesterday jumped on the landfill-lawsuit bandwagon by filing suits against four separate Iowa-based landfill operators.
'Monkey' off State Farm's back after settlement, attorney says
With several thousand class-action claims and individual lawsuits originating from an alleged lack of coverage after Hurricane Katrina left to settle, State Farm Insurance Company at least has step one out of the way.