News from September 2008
Langston, Balducci still want federal judge deciding fate of fortune
Balducci NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - A pair of admitted felons who once represented the State of Mississippi in court will again argue on Friday that their fight to preserve $14 million from a state settlement belongs in federal court.
McGraw originally sought $306 million in Visa, MC case
McGraw WHEELING, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw praises private lawyers who helped him settle a suit against Visa and MasterCard for $12.2 million, but neglects to mention that he originally sought $306 million.
Milgram helps fight family of frauds
Milgram
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - Three Jersey City siblings have been sentenced for filing fraudulent applications for 745 Homestead Rebate checks, aiding their father and his business partner in stealing $573,383 from the State of New Jersey.
Corbett: New scam targets senior citizens in Pennsylvania
Corbett HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsilne) - A new financial scam has cropped up in Pennsylvania, says state Attorney General Tom Corbett, who is warning seniors there that scam artists pretending to be family members involved in a traffic accident.
Democrats say they're 'well positioned' for November's AG races
SAVANNAH, Ga. (Legal Newsline)-Democrats say they are "well positioned" for attorneys general races in November, having what they call strong candidates.
Some of W.Va. chief justice's e-mail subject to disclosure, judge rules
Maynard CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - A state judge has ordered West Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Spike Maynard to release five e-mails between him and the head of a major corporation.
Attorneys general urge MillerCoors to drop alcoholic energy drink
King SANTA FE, N.M. (Legal Newsline) - New Mexico Attorney General Gary King has joined attorneys general of 25 other states in asking MillerCoors, LLC to drop its plan to introduce a new alcoholic energy drink with elevated alcoholic content.
Massachusetts AG settles $15,000 child labor lawsuit
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has reached a $15,000 agreement with a Framingham Domino's Pizza franchise that settles allegations of child labor law violations.
Brown supports governor, controller in contempt case
Jerry Brown (D) SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)-California Attorney General Jerry Brown has filed a motion in federal court in defense of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and California Controller John Chiang, following an effort for having both state leaders held in contempt of court.
Ladenburg calls on AG to appoint independent counsel in fundraising case
John Ladenburg (D) TACOMA, Wash. (Legal Newsline)-John Ladenburg, the Democratic candidate for Washington attorney general, is calling on Attorney General Rob McKenna to appoint independent counsel to probe alleged campaign finance violations by the Building Industry Association of Washington.
Bank of America negotiates clouded legal waters
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Legal Newsline)-As four U.S. senators joined the chorus of political leaders and activists calling for a foreclosure moratorium, Bank of America continued to resist requests that it voluntarily adopt such measures on Countrywide Financial Corp. loans.
Board: AG has conflict in Wis. voting lawsuit
J.B. Van Hollen (R) MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen should not be able to sue state elections officials because their agency is one of the attorney general's clients, a lawyer in the case says.
Alaska AG asks for 'Troopergate' subpoenas to be withdrawn
Talis Colberg (R) JUNEAU, Alaska (Legal Newsline)-Alaska state employees are refusing to cooperate with an investigation into Republican vice presidential nominee Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, state Attorney General Talis Colberg said.
Foreclosure freeze movement gains national attention
Mike Aguirre SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-The San Diego City Council resisted a high-profile attempt to put the city on the leading edge of a national push for a moratorium on foreclosures last week.
Maryland Court of Appeals clears the way for slot machine referendum
Maryland Court of Appeals building ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Legal Newsline) - The Maryland Court of Appeals has removed an obstacle to the state's referendum on slot machines by affirming a lower court's ruling that ordered a word change in the language of the ballot initiative.
ExxonMobil settles Maryland contamination lawsuit
Gansler BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) - The settling of a lawsuit against ExxonMobil Corp., alleged to have released pollutants at its Jacksonville Service Station, was announced Monday by Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler.
Pollster defends W.Va. SC findings
Ketchum CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - The company that's recent poll was criticized by a West Virginia Supreme Court candidate said Tuesday that its methodology closer resembled the coming election.
Arkansas AG subpoenas gas stations over price increases
Dustin McDaniel (D) LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline)- Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel is issuing more than two dozen subpoenas to gasoline retailers who allegedly raised their prices as Hurricane Ike made its way to the Gulf Coast, the Democrat said Tuesday.
New York AG settles Medicaid fraud lawsuit for $24.8M
Cuomo NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced today a $24.8 million settlement with Staten Island University Hospital and SIUH Systems, Inc., effectively ending a Medicaid fraud lawsuit that was initiated by a physician who formerly worked at SIUH.
Texas AG to investigate price gouging
Abbott AUSTIN, Tex. (Legal Newsline) - Much like several of his colleagues, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has launched an investigation into price-gouging after his office received hundreds of complaints from consumers in the wake of Hurricane Ike.