News from December 2009
Nebraska SC revives injured UP conductor's lawsuit
Michael McCormack LINCOLN, Neb. (Legal Newsline) -- A Union Pacific Railroad conductor who sued the company for injuries he suffered while walking to work may sue his employer, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled Friday.
Nevada swears in legion of foreclosure mediators
James Hardesty CARSON CITY, Nev. (Legal Newsline)- The Nevada Supreme Court chief justice on Friday swore in 75 more mediators to the Nevada Foreclosure Mediation Program.
Calif. electronic bingo machine ban upheld
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)--California charities may not use electronic bingo machines, a federal appeals court panel ruled this week.
Former Oklahoma AG to head university
Robert Henry OKLAHOMA CITY (Legal Newsline)--The chief judge of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver has been selected to be the next president of Oklahoma City University.
House passes bill that would curb state AG powers
Nancy Pelosi (D) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-State attorneys general powers are limited in a bill that narrowly passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday.
Conn. AG shuts down purported Madoff auctions‏
Richard Blumenthal (D) HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Two auctions scheduled for this weekend that allegedly featured items connected to Bernard Madoff have been canceled by the auction company advertising them following threats of legal action from Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.
Meijer reaches $3 million settlement over barred pharmacists
Richard Cordray (D) GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Legal Newsline)-Supermarket giant Meijer Inc. will pay $3 million to settle claims over having employed four pharmacists who were barred from federal health programs, officials said.
Settlement reached over improper denial of emergency medical services claims‏
Tom Corbett (R) HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - More than 600 Pennsylvania consumers whose claims for emergency room treatment were improperly rejected by a Harrisburg-based health insurance company will see their claims reprocessed and bills paid as part of a settlement With Attorney General Tom Corbett's office.
O'Connor leads push against judicial elections
Sandra Day O'Connor DENVER (Legal Newsline)- Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is leading the push against the election of judges, saying the process taints jurists who depend on political contributions to keep their places on the bench.
Goddard encouraged by recent polls
Terry Goddard (D) PHOENIX, Ariz. (Legal Newsline)-Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard says he is encouraged by recent polls as he considers a run for governor.
City of Worcester agrees to settlement over asbestos removal
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - An agreement has been reached between the City of Worcester and Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley to resolve allegations that vinyl asbestos tiles at the Vernon Hill School were improperly removed and disposed of by public school officials.
ASARCO provides states $1.8 billion for environmental cleanup
Brian Schweitzer (D-Mont.) TUCSON, Ariz. (Legal Newsline)- ASARCO LLC's emergence from federal bankruptcy protection has meant $1.79 billion will go to 19 states for environmental cleanup, officials said Thursday.
Blumenthal fighting rate increase
Blumenthal HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has said he will fight a requested $210 million rate request from Connecticut Light & Power that will erase an expected 5 percent rate decrease.
Springfield contractor faces lawsuit from Madigan
Madigan SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit against a Springfield-based contractor alleged to have collected more than $72,000 in fees for work that he completed in a substandard method or failed to complete at all.
Calif. lawmakers want to hear from businesses hurt by over-regulation
Dave Cox (R) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-Two California state lawmakers say they want to hear from businesspeople who believe they are being strangled by over-regulation.
Mass. cites Deerfield company for prevailing wage violations‏
Martha Coakley (D) BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - A Deerfield, N.H., electrical company has been cited by Attorney General Martha Coakley's office for violating the Massachusetts Prevailing Wage Law.
Scott: Speakership change could be good for business community
John Perez (D) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-A leader in California's tort reform movement said Thursday he is "very cautiously optimistic" about John Perez becoming the leader of the California state Assembly on Thursday.
Arbitration to begin in tobacco agreement dispute
NAAG President Jon Bruning of Nebraska WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - An arbitration process will help decide a disagreement over whether states are diligently enforcing the rules of the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement against non-participating manufacturers.
Firefighters finally get their promotions after U.S. Supreme Court victory
U.S. Supreme Court building NEW HAVEN, Conn. (Legal Newsline)-The group of Connecticut firefighters who the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June were unfairly denied promotions because of their race received their promotions Thursday.
ASARCO sets aside millions for environmental cleanup
Greg Abbott (R-Texas) AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline)- ASARCO LLC has placed $52 million into a custodial trust fund to help bankroll environmental cleanup at the company's now-closed smelter in El Paso, the state attorney general's office said Thursday.