News from August 2008
AG Biden touts his father's 'passion and dedication'
Beau Biden (D) WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline)-Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden said Saturday that Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama could not have chosen a better running mate than his father.
Kentucky AG mulls lawsuit against Marathon Oil Co.
Jack Conway (D) LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Legal Newsline)-Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway is considering a lawsuit against Marathon Oil Co. over a spike in regional gas prices, his office said Friday.
Washington AG reaches deal with PSE over rate increases
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline)-Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna's office has reached a deal with Puget Sound Energy to impose a smaller rate increase than the utility had requested initially.
States' Countrywide lawsuits shift to federal court
Lisa Madigan (D-Ill.) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline)-Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says its lawsuit against Countrywide Financial Corp. should not be lumped with others filed by California Attorney General Jerry Brown and San Diego City Attorney Mark Aguirre, as the lender requested.
Group asks Mich. government overhaul proposal be allowed on ballot
Michigan Supreme Court building LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline)-Proponents of a Michigan ballot measure that would cut judges' pay 15 percent and eliminate some of their positions is challenging an appeals court decision this week that blocks the proposal from the Nov. 4 ballot.
Merrill Lynch settles with N.Y.
Cuomo NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Facing a possible lawsuit from New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Merrill Lynch & Co. agreed Thursday to buy back the auction rate securities it had sold before the ARS market collapsed in February.
Doors no more: High court refuses to hear band members' appeal
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-Two former members of the 1960s rock band The Doors will have to pay about $5 million in compensation to other members of the band for their use of the band's name during a 2002-2003 tour.
MPLA a 'monster,' Starcher writes
Starcher CHARLESTON, W. Va. (Legal Newsline) - Though the West Virginia Supreme Court was correct in remanding a malpractice case from Mason County back to the circuit court, one of the justices said the piece of reform legislation that gave rise the suit has become a Frankenstein "monster."
NRC rejects Nevada AG's Yucca Mountain complaint
Catherine Cortez Masto (D) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-Federal regulators on Friday declined to reject an application to build a nuclear waste depository in the remote Nevada desert, a project that Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto has vehemently fought.
Things went 'very well' at settlement hearing, W.Va. Deputy AG says
Hughes SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw's top aide spoke Friday about one of the office's more controversial cases.
Iowa AG seeks to block Carter Lake casino project
Tom Miller (D) DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline)-Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller on Friday asked a federal judge to overturn a federal regulatory decision that would allow the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska to build a $250 million casino in Carter Lake.
Local ordinance to reduce diesel emissions aims to satisfy settlement
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-In an attempt to comply with terms of a 2007 settlement with California Attorney General Jerry Brown, San Bernardino County is considering an ordinance that would require contractors to reduce diesel-engine exhaust emissions.
Appeals court rejects credit-based insurance rates; Case heads to Supreme Court
Michigan Supreme Court building LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline)-Insurance companies may not continue using customers' credit ratings to help set home and auto policy premiums, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled Friday.
Bloggers a buzz over possible Schumer investigation by Calif. AG
Chuck Schumer (D) SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)-- A standard comment from the California Attorney General's office has set bloggers across the country pounding their keyboards over the thought of Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer being brought down from his powerful perch over his role in the demise of IndyMac Bancorp Inc.
Election spotlight shines on W.Va. AG race
McGraw CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) -- The challenger has adopted the role of ethical reformer. The incumbent claims to be the humble target of corporate retaliation.
Three judges nominated to Missouri Supreme Court
Matt Blunt (R) JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline)-Two state appeals court judges and one county judge were nominated Thursday to fill a vacancy on the Missouri Supreme Court.
McGraw warns against scammers
McGraw CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw says a band of scam artists are taking advantage of consumers who allegedly obtained Internet payday loans.
While Cuomo waits, Merrill Lynch settles Mass. claims
Merrill Lynch BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Another seller of auction rate securities has settled allegations that it misled customers.
Bruning calls Nebraska's trial bar 'fairly reasonable'
Jon Bruning (R) LINCOLN CITY, Neb. (Legal Newsline)-Nebraska's legal climate has not become "polluted" because of the absence of traditional punitive damages awards and caps on medical malpractice claims, state Attorney General Jon Bruning told Legal Newsline Thursday.
Bingo deal secures Indian rights, bolsters large non-profits
Jerry Brown (D) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)--California's Indian tribes and major charities have hammered out a deal that allows the charities to expand bingo operations without jeopardizing the tribes stranglehold over slot machines.