News from June 2008
Gov. Strickland: Treasurer is money
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland threw his support behind state Treasurer Richard Cordray Wednesday, endorsing the Democrat for this November's Attorney General election.
Wyoming SC upholds $9.5 million award to coal miner
William Hill CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Legal Newsline) - The Wyoming Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a $9.46 million award to a coal miner who was paralyzed in a January 2002 accident at the Black Thunder Coal Mine.
Former plaintiffs' attorney to lead Calif. Judges Association
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-San Francisco Superior Court Judge Mary Wiss was elected president of the California Judges Association this week.
Lawmakers hear testimony on nursing home arbitration clauses
Gavin Gadberry WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-Federal lawmakers heard Tuesday that binding arbitration clauses in nursing home contracts provide a fair and timely resolution of patient disputes.
Former justice: Philip Morris case may define punitive damages law
Edwin Peterson WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)- The U.S. Supreme Court's decision Monday to hear for the third time a case involving a $79.5 million punitive damages award to a smoker's widow could set the stage for a judicial showdown, a former Oregon chief justice told Legal Newsline.
Hill accuses Utah AG of ethical lapse
Jean Welch Hill SALT LAKE CITY (Legal Newsline)-Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff erred in holding a fundraiser for a state treasurer candidate, his Democratic challenger said.
Brown escapes 10 percent pay cut
Jerry Brown SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-California Attorney General Jerry Brown on Tuesday narrowly escaped a 10 percent cut to his $184,301 annual salary.
ISPs join Cuomo in combatting child porn
Cuomo NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Agreements with three major Internet Service Providers will help fight child pornography, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday.
Dems dominate foreclosure report
Coakley NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - Democrats are more focused on helping homeowners deal with the country's foreclosure crisis, a recent study ranking state attorneys general shows.
Republicans thwart $1.6 billion tax break for trial lawyers
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-Federal legislation that would afford trial lawyers a special tax break Tuesday failed to muster the support needed to end debate and move to a vote.
Unions sue over Vioxx settlement
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Two of the nation's most powerful unions have sued six law firms for their handling of litigation against Vioxx maker Merck & Co. Inc.
Trial lawyer tax break heads for Senate vote
Lisa Rickard WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-Federal legislation that would afford trial lawyers a special tax break is headed for a vote in the U.S. Senate.
Court asked if airports are public forum; Question could resolve Hare Krishna lawsuit
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)-The California Supreme Court was asked Monday by a federal appeals court to determine whether an airport is a "public forum" under state law.
DeWine says he won't run for Ohio AG
Mike DeWine COLUMBUS, OHIO (Legal Newsline)-Former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine said Monday he won't run for Ohio Attorney General in November.
Blumenthal says gas relief measures on safe legal ground
Blumenthal HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Asked by Gov. Jodi Rell if the State of Connecticut should rely on federal law for relief from high gasoline prices, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said Monday it is up to the state's Legislature.
A street runs through it? So what, S.C. high court says
Beatty COLUMBIA, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - South Carolina's Supreme Court decided Monday that even though a public street runs between them, a business' office can be taxed like it is part of a manufacturing plant.
Bruning, commission reach agreement on illegal immigrant cases
LINCOLN, Neb. (Legal Newsline)-A long-running dispute between Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning and the state commission charged with fighting discrimination reached an agreement Monday on how to handle cases involving illegal immigrants.
U.S. justices reject AT&T appeal
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected AT&T Inc.'s appeal of a $31.2 million verdict from a class action lawsuit over lump-sum retirement benefits paid to employees.
McMaster may run for Governor
McMaster COLUMBIA, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster can boast of a long list of accomplishments, and he may still be looking to add to it.
U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear smoker lawsuit for the third time
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Monday to review for a third time a $79.5 million punitive damages award against tobacco company Altria Group Inc.'s Philip Morris USA unit.