News from August 2008
McGraw, Sears settle
McGraw CHARLESTON, W. Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw has settled allegations against Sears Holdings Corp. that the company was failing to fix problems with the products it sold.
Decision against CNG finalized
Blumenthal HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal celebrated a final decision Wednesday that will force a gas company to give back alleged overearnings.
Cuomo, Coakley continue charge against auction rate securities sellers
Cuomo NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday, along with federal regulators, that Citigroup will buy back more than $7 billion sold in auction rate securities.
State AGs warned against pursuits of sex and money
SEATTLE, Wash. (Legal Newsline)-Ticking off a litany of recent political scandals, a South Dakota judge and former longtime state attorney general warned a group of AGs on Wednesday to avoid even the suspicion of impropriety.
State Farm calls AG Hood's spin on settlement 'perplexing'
Hood JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood says his lawsuit against State Farm Insurance made the company pay $74 million it initially refused to give to policyholders affected by 2005's Hurricane Katrina.
Fla. AG files additional suit against company facing federal trouble
McCollum TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Following a U.S. Secret Service raid on the company's headquarters, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum is filing suit against a company charged with operating a pyramid scheme.
ABA: W. Va. case has chance to provide landmark ruling
Benjamin WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Brent Benjamin's controversial decision not to recuse himself from the appeal of a supporter should serve as a guideline for future similar issues, the American Bar Association says.
State attorneys could get no pay until budget passed
Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-Attorneys in the California Department of Justice could receive no pay until a state budget is signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, an official said.
Lawyers, lobbyists court state AGs
Lawrence Wasden (R) SEATTLE, Wash. (Legal Newsline)-Many of the western states' attorneys general are in Seattle for their annual meeting, and with them came legions of industry leaders, lobbyists and trial lawyers to hobnob with some of the most high-profile legal officers in the nation.
Washington AG reaches agreement with Pacific Power
SEATTLE, Wash. (Legal Newsline)--The Washington attorney general's office has reached an agreement with Pacific Power over its proposed rate increase.
Ohio's economic climate improved by new judges, report says
Copland COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) -- While Ohio's economic climate could be better, it has improved over the last ten years thanks in part to the election of tort reform-minded judges, according to a new report released Tuesday by the Manhattan Institute's Center for Legal Policy, an organization supporting tort reform.
Missouri AG primary up in the air
Chris Koster (D) JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) -The Missouri Democratic attorney general primary is too close to call, with state Rep. Margaret Donnelly and state Sen. Chris Koster each capturing 34 percent of Tuesday's vote.
AG Milgram told to slow down
Milgram TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - Attorney General Anne Milgram has become the latest New Jersey official to experience a bit of trouble on the road, cited Monday for speeding.
Gas company wants to raise rates in Conn.
Blumenthal HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has another rate hike to fight, promising action against Southern Connecticut Gas' proposed increase.
McDonnell acts on more than 100 complaints against furniture company
McDonnell RICHMOND (Legal Newsline) - Virginia Attorney General and Gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell has filed suit against a Petersburg-based furniture company that operates over the Internet.
Nevada weighing options in business tax case
Catherine Cortez Masto (D) SEATTLE, Wash. (Legal Newsline)- Nevada Officials are still deciding how best to respond to a recent state Supreme Court decision that could cost the state millions in tax collections, state Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto said Tuesday.
Cuomo makes federal impact
Cuomo NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Federal lawmakers have passed legislation that will further protections for students from the college loan industry, picking up on a quest started by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
Alaska AG: Exxon Valdez case could drag on
SEATTLE, Wash. (Legal Newsline)-It could be years before the Exxon Valdez case is closed, Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg told Legal Newsline on Tuesday.
Scruggs begins 5-year sentence
Richard "Dickie" Scruggs ASHLAND, Ky. (Legal Newsline)-Convicted trial attorney Richard "Dickie" Scruggs reported Monday to a federal prison in Kentucky.
Scruggs didn't deny State Farm attorney's allegations
Scruggs OXFORD, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - If famed plaintiffs' lawyer and admitted felon Richard "Dickie" Scruggs of Mississippi committed all the crimes he didn't deny in a July 22 deposition, he will never get out of prison.