News from June 2008
First black La. Supreme Court justice dies
Revius Ortique Jr. NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - Civil rights lawyer Revius Ortique Jr., who became the first black justice on the Louisiana Supreme Court, died Sunday of complications from a stroke. He was 84.
Cornyn pushes for securities class action reforms
John Cornyn WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-U.S. Sen. John Cornyn this week will speak to the Federalist Society about legislation he has introduced aimed at preventing plaintiffs' attorneys from giving their clients kickbacks for filing lawsuits.
Corbett reaches $120 million settlement with Shell
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett has reached a $120 million settlement of claims against Royal Dutch Shell, brought on behalf of all U.S. investors who suffered losses as the result of the company's alleged actions.
Suthers drops NG pipeline lawsuit
John Suthers DENVER (Legal Newsline)-Colorado Attorney General John Suthers has dropped a lawsuit against four oil companies for failing to control construction run-off near Parachute, Colo., a spokesman said.
Utah AG hospitalized, Israel trip canceled
Mark Shurtleff (R) SALT LAKE CITY (Legal Newsline)-Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has been forced to cancel his upcoming trip to Israel as he recovers from emergency leg surgery this week, a spokesman said.
Kroger wins Democratic, Republican AG nominations
John Kroger SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline)-Oregon's Democratic nominee for attorney general has also won the Republican nomination, final election results show.
Brown warns CVS over expired medications, baby formula
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline)-California Attorney General Jerry Brown has called on CVS/Pharmacy outlets to pull expired products from their shelves after a state investigation found stores carrying out-of-date baby food and over-the-counter medications.
Landmark Exxon Valdez ruling likely Monday
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday will likely end the long-running class-action lawsuit over the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
Critics scoff at Brown's environmental 'leadership'
Jerry Brown (D) LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline)--The California Clean Air Coalition recognized state Attorney General Jerry Brown Friday for his efforts to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, but critics told Legal Newsline the award is out of line.
Alabama justices remand Hurricane Opal case
Sue Bell Cobb MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline)-A Hurricane Opal lawsuit that has wound its way through Alabama courts for a decade has been bounced back to square one by the state Supreme Court.
Goddard asks justices to overturn school vouchers ruling
Terry Goddard (R) PHOENIX, Ariz. (Legal Newsline)-Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard is urging the state Supreme Court to strike down a lower-court decision that it's unconstitutional to give taxpayer money to parents to help pay for private-school tuition.
Justices affirm class action status for GM brakes lawsuit
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline)-A lawsuit alleging General Motors sold 4 million vehicles with defectively designed parking brakes was OK'd to proceed as a class action lawsuit by the Arkansas Supreme Court.
Brown calls on ISPs to block kiddie porn sites
Jerry Brown SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)--Attorney General Jerry Brown and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are asking Internet service providers to block access to child porn Web sites and newsgroups, and to clear their servers of existing child porn.
Judge blocks D.C. attorney firings
Peter Nickles WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-A judge this week blocked a linchpin of interim Washington, D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles' plan to overhaul his office.
Louisiana AG's office backs Senate mortgage rescue plan
BATON BOUGE, La. (Legal Newsline)- A plan introduced by Senate Democrats aimed at helping stem the tide of foreclosures nationally would be good for Louisiana, an official told Legal Newsline.
Coakley, medical center come to agreement
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Boston Medical Center will pay more than $500,000 as a result of a settlement reached Thursday with Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley.
Virginia duo getting jump on teamwork
McDonnell RICHMOND (Legal Newsline) - In the time he has left in office, Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell wants the state's Lieutenant Governor to help him out. Then next year, he wants to team together permanently.
Six in mix for Tenn. job
Miller-Herron NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - It's a group of six, so far, from which the next Tennessee Supreme Court Justice will come.
Calif. union law unfair to employers, high court says
Stevens WASHINGTON, D.C. (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against California Attorney General Jerry Brown Thursday in his effort to protect a law that prohibits businesses from using taxpayer-funded grants to influence their employees' thoughts on unionization.
Ohio SC shapes attorney malpractice law
Pfeifer COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - A hypothetical jury award is now a very real element in Ohio legal malpractice law, thanks to a Thursday decision by the state's Supreme Court.