News from April 2008
Ind. SC tells cardiac surgeon to pay up
Dickson INDIANAPOLIS - A $325,000 judgment was appropriate compensation for an argument between a so-called "workplace bully" and a co-worker, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.
AG Brown asked to investigate campus gossip site
Jerry Brown SACRAMENTO-California Attorney General Jerry Brown has been asked to investigate a college Internet gossip portal that allows classmates to anonymously attack other students for such things as their physical characteristics, race and sexual orientation.
Starcher's public hearing canceled
Starcher CHARLESTON - Justice Larry Starcher's unprecedented public hearing to listen to a recuse request won't happen after all.
At 74, Wisconsin Chief Justice seeks 10 more years
Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson (R) MADISON -- Seventy-four-year-old Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson will run for a fourth consecutive 10-year term in 2009.
Jailed Fen-Phen attorney wants new judge
Judge William Bertelsman COVINGTON, Ky.-An embattled plaintiffs' attorney behind bars pending trial for allegedly bilking clients out of $46 million from Kentucky's Fen-Phen settlement says the judge hearing his case should be disqualified.
Internet company settles with AG McKenna
Rob McKenna OLYMPIA -- Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna announced Tuesday a settlement agreement with a company that sells search-engine optimization services to small businesses.
CSX ponies up half-million for dead fish
King MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Facing the threat of a lawsuit, CSX Corp. agreed Monday to pay nearly $500,000 to the State of Alabama.
Blumenthal tells N.Y. to rebuff company's plan
Blumenthal HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal made his final push Monday to the State of New York, urging it to reject an energy company's construction of a liquefied gas facility in Long Island Sound.
Historic settlement provides states with $24 million
Cuomo COLUMBUS, Ohio - The figures are out on a $75 million portion of a landmark settlement between the country's largest power company and the federal government and several states.
Katrina's flood damage is excluded, Louisiana SC rules
BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Supreme Court on Tuesday unanimously ruled that homeowners insurance policies do not have to cover damages caused by levee breaches in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Calif. SC: Workers can hold jobs while on medical leave
SAN FRANCISCO -- In a ruling long-anticipated by employers, the California Supreme Court ruled Monday that working at one job while on medical leave from another is acceptable in some instances.
State AGs grapple with plummeting revenue, increased costs
California's $16 billion deficit may push Brown on federal crusades SACRAMENTO -- Attorneys general around the West could see their administrative budgets trimmed as state lawmakers face the daunting task of drafting spending plans in the wake of plummeting state revenues and skyrocketing costs.
$30 million dispute may leave Conn. offices powerless
Blumenthal HARTFORD, Conn. - A private energy company is holding the State of Connecticut hostage by threatening to cut power to State buildings in May, state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said Friday.
Debt collector penalized for harassing customers
McCollum TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum obtained a $1.3 million judgment Monday in his case against a Jacksonville debt collection agency.
Scruggs' actions cause disqualification of former business partners
David Nutt GULFPORT, Miss. - A federal judge has disqualified the former business partners of famed trial lawyer and admitted judicial briber Richard "Dickie" Scruggs from hundreds of Hurricane Katrina lawsuits against insurance companies.
Libertarian AG candidate in race to 'pull pillars out' from Utah establishment
McCullough SALT LAKE CITY - In political parlance, Salt Lake City attorney W. Andrew McCullough would be considered a nuisance candidate, running as a third-party nominee with virtually no chance of winning in the solidly Republican state.
Google 'Street View' invaded suburban Pa. couple's privacy, suit claims
PITTSBURGH -- Internet juggernaut Google is being sued by a Pennsylvania couple who claim that the search engine invaded their privacy by taking a picture of their home for its Google Street View feature.
Wasden named 'Statesman of the Year' by Idaho group
'Statesman' Wasden POCATELLO -- Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden has been named the 2008 Idaho Statesman of the Year.
Even more filed in W. Va. SC's recusal debate
Maynard CHARLESTON, W. Va. - West Virginia's Supreme Court attempted to return to normality Thursday after a 3-2 decision affirmed its earlier ruling in a controversial case.
'Sophisticated users' should know product dangers, Calif. SC rules
SAN FRANCISCO - The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that manufacturers cannot be held liable for not warning professionals about product dangers that should be known among members of their trade.