News from June 2008
Milgram charges 36 in mortgage cases
Milgram TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram filed suit against 15 companies Tuesday, alleging consumer fraud and civil racketeering in the mortgage world.
Third applies for Tenn. court
Schmid NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - A Knoxville attorney wants to become Tennessee's next Supreme Court Justice.
Milberg LLP settles kickback claims for $75 million
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline)-One of the most well known securities law firms in the country has agreed to pay $75 million to settle claims it paid clients to file lawsuits.
Another applies for Tenn. job
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - A Chattanooga attorney has submitted an application to become the next Tennessee Supreme Court Justice.
Olson blasts Lerach's claims of no legal foul
Walter Olson NEW YORK (Legal Newsline)-Disgraced securities class action lawyer Bill Lerach's claims that nobody was harmed by his firm's giving kickbacks to plaintiffs drew a stinging rebuke from a leading tort reform advocate.
Cash for gas equals savings in Conn.
Blumenthal HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - The Connecticut Legislature followed the lead of Attorney General Richard Blumenthal last week, approving a law that would provide a measure of relief for those who purchase gasoline with cash.
U.S. justices allow human rights lawsuit against Exxon to continue
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to stop a lawsuit against Exxon Mobil Corp. for human rights abuses in Indonesia.
ACORN: AG Caldwell should have returned questionnaire
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - After Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell criticized his organization's method for ranking the country's attorneys general, ACORN Financial Justice Center Director Austin King fired back Friday.
Idaho justices: Illegal immigrants entitled to medical assistance
Justice Roger Burdick BOISE, Idaho (Legal Newsline) - The Idaho Supreme Court on Monday ruled that an illegal immigrant who was injured is entitled to medical assistance from Ada County.
McGraw settlement could produce nearly $4M for outside counsel
McGraw CHARLESTON, W. Va. (Legal Newsline) - A settlement designed by West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw's office will entitle consumers to sales tax breaks on appliances, while private practice attorneys hired by McGraw may rake in almost $4 million.
Greear critical of McGraw appointments
Greear CHARLESTON, W. Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Attorney General candidate Dan Greear has called out current AG Darrell McGraw for his recent appointment of three campaign contributors as Special Assistants.
Three special assistant AGs gave to McGraw campaign
McGraw CHARLESTON, W. Va. (Legal Newsline) - Three of the four attorneys recently appointed as Special Assistant Attorneys General in an investigation into teacher annuities have given the maximum $1,000 contributions to West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw's re-election campaign.
Stephens set to coast to full term on Washington court
Debra Stephens OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline)-Washington state Supreme Court Justice Debra Stephens' opponent in the Aug. 19 primary has withdrawn from the race, leaving the court appointee to coast to a full term on the high court.
9th Circuit panel considers Arizona's immigration law
9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)-A three-judge federal appeals court panel is considering whether Arizona has the legal authority to impose its own requirements on employers to prevent undocumented immigrants from being hired.
Lynch to lead nation's AGs
Patrick Lynch (D) PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline)- Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch will become president of the National Association of Attorneys General this week.
North Dakota justices to hear grain bonding case today
BISMARCK, N.D. (Legal Newsline)-The North Dakota Supreme Court will hear a case today that could decide whether grain elevator bonding laws extend to farmers who haul their crops outside the state.
Kozinski asks for ethics investigation into his porn cache
Alex Kozinski SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)-A federal appeals court judge who last week recused himself from an obscenity case after admitting he had sexually explicit material on his personal Web site has called for an investigation into his conduct.
Panel to look into Ohio AG's office
Rogers COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio's Attorney General office has become the subject of another investigation, though the latest one is self-imposed.
AT&T not a tax collector, Md. court rules
Harrell ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Legal Newsline) - AT&T is off the hook for more than $5 million, finally finding a court to agree with its contention that it shouldn't have to be responsible for collecting a Maryland tax on 1-900 calls.
Tax firm JK Harris settles with 18 states
Lisa Madigan SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline)-A South Carolina firm that promised to settle consumer tax debts has agreed to pay $1.5 million in restitution and change its advertising, under an agreement with 18 state attorneys general.