News from 2009
Ohio SC rules in gas line case
Robert Cupp COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline)-An Ohio utility is responsible for ensuring that consumers' natural gas lines are safe, the state Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.
U.S. Supreme Court to hear text privacy case
U.S. Supreme Court building WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear a case that will decide whether employees' text message sent by devices owned by their employer are private.
Florida SC orders mediation in home foreclosure cases
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline)-The Florida Supreme Court on Monday issued an administrative order requiring a statewide mediation program to handle some home foreclosures.
AG Madigan decries mortgage broker kickbacks
Lisa Madigan (D) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline)-Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is among 15 state attorneys general asking the Federal Reserve to eliminate certain financial incentives for loan officers and mortgage brokers.
Calif. appeals court: Prop. 65 meat warnings preempted
Joan Irion SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline)-The USDA stamp of approval remains the acceptable standard on meat quality, the state Appellate Court has ruled.
Indiana releases funds as final part of 2001 consent decree to clean landfill
Greg Zoeller CONNERSVILLE, Ind. (Legal Newsline) - The city of Connersville will receive a $500,000 transfer from the state of Indiana left over from the cleanup of a landfill to aid in rehabilitating the former Ford-Visteon industrial site.
Minnesota joins multistate fight against carp migration
Lori Swanson (D-Minn.) ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline)-Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson has joined the multistate legal fight to keep Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes.
Parraguirre to serve as Nevada chief justice
Ron Parraguirre (R) CARSON CITY, Nev. (Legal Newsline)- Nevada Supreme Court Justice Ron Parraguirre will serve as the high court's chief justice next year.
N.J. mortgage modification business agrees to cease operations in Idaho‏
Lawrence Wasden (R) BOISE, Idaho (Legal Newsline) - Homeowners in Idaho who had sought mortgage modifications from a New Jersey-based company will see refunds, following a settlement agreement announced by Attorney General Lawrence Wasden.
Wisconsin SC refuses to hear Xerox tax appeal
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline)- Xerox Corp. must pay state property taxes on some office equipment leased to customers in Wisconsin, the state Supreme Court said in letting a lower court decision stand.
Democratic AGs call for end to home lending incentives
Richard Cordray (D) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-A group of 15 Democratic state attorneys general are asking the Federal Reserve to prohibit home loan officers and mortgage brokers from receiving incentives for steering borrowers into expensive loans.
CalChamber sues over recycling fund raids
OAKLAND, Calif. (Legal Newsline) -California officials could be forced to return more than $480 million taken as loans from the Beverage Container Recycling Fund if the California Chamber of Commerce wins a lawsuit it filed last week.
Pharmacies not liable for death, Nevada SC rules
Nevada Supreme Court building CARSON CITY, Nev. (Legal Newsline)-In a 5-2 ruling, the Nevada Supreme Court has said that eight pharmacies in the Las Vegas-area cannot be sued for negligence after a man was killed by a motorist who was under the influence of prescription drugs.
Mass. Super Fund site to be cleaned up following agreement‏
Martha Coakley (D) BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Forty-nine parties have agreed to a settlement with Attorney General Martha Coakley and several government agencies to clean up the Tewksbury, Mass., Sutton Brook Disposal Area Superfund Site.
Suthers defends Colorado's $54,698 NAAG dues
John Suthers (R) DENVER, Colo. (Legal Newsline)- The thousands of dollars the state of Colorado pays each year to belong to the National Association of Attorneys General could come to an end, at least for a while.
California settles major disability access lawsuit
Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-California has agreed to spend $1.1 billion over the next 30 years to repair and improve sidewalks, crosswalks and park-and-ride facilities so they are handicap accessible.
Ariz. appeals court: Pet owner cannot sue for emotional distress
PHOENIX, Ariz. (Legal Newsline)-A pet owner cannot sue for emotional distress or loss of companionship as part of a veterinarian malpractice claim, the Arizona Court of Appeals has ruled.
Calif. AG candidate shakes up mortgage laws
Ted Lieu (D) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)--A Democratic candidate for California attorney general is shaking up state law that relates to home loans.
Senate rejects Obama's NLRB nominee
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-The U.S. Senate has rejected one of President Barack Obama's nominees to the National Labor Relations Board.
Colorado justices uphold smoking ban in live theaters
BOULDER, Colo. (Legal Newsline)-The Colorado Supreme Court, in a 6-1 ruling, has upheld a state ban on smoking in live theaters.