News from December 2008
Poll: New Yorkers don't expect Cuomo to be picked for U.S. Senate seat
Andrew Cuomo (D) ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline)-New York voters say they do not expect state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to be appointed to the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Secretary of State-nominee Hillary Clinton, a poll indicates.
Report: Dann misspent state and campaign money
Marc Dann (D) COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline)-Former Attorney General Marc Dann misused his office and campaign money before he resigned in disgrace, Ohio Inspector General Thomas Charles said in a report Monday.
Nevada AG makes case against Yucca Mountain project
Catherine Cortez Masto (D) CARSON CITY, Nev. (Legal Newsline)-The Nevada attorney general has filed 229 challenges to a proposal to build a nuclear waste depository in the remote Nevada desert.
Newsom prepares for battle with Calif. AG
Jerry Brown (D) SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)-San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has quietly ramped up efforts to carve into California Attorney General Jerry Brown's political base in preparation for the 2010 gubernatorial election.
Investigation report on former Ohio AG due today
Marc Dann (D) COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline)-The results of a six-month investigation into former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann is set to be released today.
Cigarettes removed from San Francisco pharmacies
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)-Continuing a stream of legal victories for the city of San Francisco against tobacco makers, Judge Peter Bucsh of San Francisco Superior Court dismissed a legal challenge of the city's ban on selling tobacco products in pharmacies.
Good Samaritans lose in Calif. court
Carlos Moreno SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)-Do not try this on your own.
That's the message sent by the California Supreme Court last week in a controversial 4-3 ruling that subjects would-be Good Samaritans to potential civil liability.
High value Madison County asbestos cases like 'steak of the salmon'
Murnane EDWARDSVILLE, IL - As the Madison County asbestos docket continues to rise following a brief, yet dramatic two-year period of decline, many legal experts say the real growth spurt is just getting started.
N.Y. court rules in favor of tobacco companies in $20 mil suit
Smith ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York's higher court has rejected an argument that says tobacco companies have been negligent in their designs of cigarettes, using levels of nicotine and tar that are too high.
Louisiana courts the focus of new report
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - The Manhattan Institute's latest edition in its "Trial Lawyers, Inc." series explores the impact Louisiana's legal system has had on the state's slow population growth.
Feinstein's appointment sets 2010 in motion
Dianne Feinstein (D) SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)-U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein has the Senate post she's long sought, opening the door to candidates for California's top posts to announce their intentions for the 2010 election.
MillerCoors settles with AGs, agrees to reformulate alcohol-spiked energy drinks
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline)-MillerCoors LLC has reached an agreement with 12 state attorneys general and the city of San Francisco to stop marketing caffeine-spiked alcoholic beverages, including its top-selling Sparks brand.
Coakley reaches agreement with Big Dig company over death
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Powers Fasteners will pay $16 million to resolve a criminal manslaughter charge and any civil actions stemming from a fatal ceiling tunnel collapse in Boston.
Illinois court rejects AG's attempt to remove governor
Lisa Madigan (D) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline)- In a blow to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's efforts to oust embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the state Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected her lawsuit to transfer the governor's powers to Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn.
Abbott mentioned as possible U.S. Senate candidate
Greg Abbott (R) AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline)-Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is being mentioned as a possible candidate to succeed fellow Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison in the U.S. Senate, political observers told Legal Newsline.
Law firm wants out-of-state asbestos claims heard in W.Va.
Peirce WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A Pittsburgh firm is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that West Virginia courts should open their doors for out-of-state visitors with asbestos claims.
Judge tosses antitrust suit against Hurricane Katrina insurers
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) -- A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit Wednesday against some of the largest U.S. insurance companies after Hurricane Katrina.
Oklahoma AG appeals poultry waste ruling against injunction
Drew Edmondson (D) OKLAHOMA CITY (Legal Newsline)-Thirteen poultry companies in Oklahoma should be barred from disposing bird waste in the Illinois River watershed, state Attorney General Drew Edmondson said in court papers this week.
ATRF report focuses on actions of plaintiffs bar
Joyce WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Aside from ranking judicial hellholes, the American Tort Reform Foundation is highlighting what it feels is a movement from plaintiffs attorneys to influence elected officials.
Like Scruggs, Langston gets maximum sentence
Langston OXFORD, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - Apparently Michael Mills, the chief U.S. judge for the Northern District of Mississippi, has decided that patience and mercy have limits when it comes to admitted felon Joey Langston.