News from August 2009
Schwarzenegger shields Good Samaritans from lawsuits
Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-Good Samaritans in California will be protected from civil liability, under legislation signed this week by Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Desalination could help quench arid states, attorney tells AGs
Frederick Lowther (Legal Newsline)-The West's water shortage would all but dry up if developers were able to build plants to covert ocean water into drinking water without having to spend millions of dollars in fees and waiting years for regulatory approval, a leading energy attorney said.
Senate confirms Sotomayor to U.S. Supreme Court
Sonia Sotomayor WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, making her the nation's first Hispanic justice.
AGs look to outside counsel amid states' budget woes
Doug Gansler (D-Md.) (Legal Newsline)-State legal officials, struggling against budget cutbacks, may be forced to increasingly look to outside lawyers to litigate cases on behalf of the public, said Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler.
Shurtleff takes aim at Sotomayor
Mark Shurtleff (R) SALT LAKE CITY (Legal Newsline)-Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff on Thursday took aim at U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor over her views on gun rights.
Western AGs score major environmental victory
Jerry Brown (D) SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)-Four Western state attorneys general have won what they and environmentalists are calling a major victory in the effort to preserve federal forest lands.
McKenna cracks down on Australian scammers
Rob McKenna (R) SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna said officials from his office are willing to travel more than 8,000 miles to catch a con artist.
Samsung America settles with AG Milgram
Anne Milgram NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram has reached a settlement with Samsung America Inc., resolving claims the company violated the state's Consumer Fraud Act.
Kansas AG ends 20-year water dispute
Steve Six (D) TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) - Kansas Attorney General Steve Six signed papers Wednesday, officially ending a 20-year dispute between his state and Colorado over usage of the Arkansas River.
Argentinians invoke 1853 treaty in Delaware asbestos suit
WILMINGTON, Del. - Three men from Argentina accusing chemical maker DuPont of exposing them to asbestos in Argentina have invoked American jurisdiction pursuant to a treaty that President Franklin Pierce signed in 1853.
Asbestos lawyers oppose subpoena of radiologist in national litigation
Robreno PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline)- Asbestos lawyers at Motley Rice in Mount Pleasant, S.C., and Provost Umphrey in Beaumont, Texas are blocking a subpoena on radiologist Jay Segarra.
Bruning threatens to seek multistate antitrust suit against LexisNexis
Jon Bruning (R) SUN VALLEY, Idaho (Legal Newsline)-After successfully leading a large group of state attorneys generals in their opposition to the original General Motors Corp. bankruptcy plan this year, Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning has turned his legal sights to LexisNexis, in what will likely be another high profile role for the Republican.
N.M. AG reaches agreement with former Indian jewelry retailer
Gary King (D) SANTA FE, N.M. (Legal Newsline) New Mexico Attorney General Gary King announced Tuesday that his office has entered into a Consent Decree with a local jewelry company after the business allegedly sold fake Native American jewelry.
Cuomo secures $40,000 in refunds for customers
Andrew Cuomo (D) NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that his office has reached a settlement from a local auto parts dealer over allegations the company failed to deliver purchased merchandise to customers.
Milgram sues furniture stores
Anne Milgram NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram has filed suit against four furniture retailers over allegations the companies violated the state's Consumer Fraud Act.
Judge Robreno: Cleaning up clogged asbestos MDL
Robreno Serving in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, a federal judge is making a name for himself for his swift handling of a huge asbestos docket.
Madigan sues Wells Fargo
Lisa Madigan (D) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed suit against Wells Fargo and Co., accusing the bank of illegally forcing minorities into high-cost subprime loans.
AGs' actions can have 'far-reaching' implications
SUN VALLEY, Idaho (Legal Newsline)-There are oftentimes broad public policy implications to lawsuits that states file on behalf of consumers, the director of the Northwestern Law Attorneys General Education Program said Monday.
Cordray sues mortgage loan servicer
Richard Cordray (D) COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray along with the Ohio Department of Commerce, has filed suit against Carrington Mortgage Services LLC over allegations the company violated the state's Consumer Sales Practices Act.
Cordray settles with chemical manufacturer
Richard Cordray (D) COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray and an Addyston-based plastic resin manufacturer reached a settlement Monday over allegations the company violated state regulations.