News from December 2009
Brown reaches $23 million settlement with drugmaker
Jerry Brown (D) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-California Attorney General Jerry Brown has reached a $21.3 million dollar settlement with Schering-Plough Corporation.
Coakley gets settlement with property management company
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - A consent judgment has been obtained by Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley's office against a property management company and its former manager to resolve allegations that they violated state anti-discrimination laws.
Gansler gains victory in foreclosure case
Gansler BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) - Baltimore City Circuit Court has handed down a judgment for Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler of nearly $1 million against participants in a foreclosure rescue scam.
AGs oppose Honda class action settlement
Frank RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - Twenty-five state attorneys general and the Center for Class Action Fairness are objecting to a proposed class action settlement with Honda that would allow attorneys to pocket $3 million while providing small refunds and DVDs on saving gas to consumers.
Dow up as AG Milgram's replacement
Dow TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - Republican New Jersey Gov.-elect Chris Christie has chosen a Democrat as state Attorney General Anne Milgram's replacement.
Editorials say King's salary too high
King MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - Now that he is the highest paid state attorney general, Alabama's Troy King is receiving some backlash over his $168,000 salary.
Home warranty company will pay in N.Y.
Cuomo NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has announced a court victory against a now-defunct home warranty company that defrauded consumers in New York and nationwide.
Flooring company settles asbestos-removal claim
Van Hollen THIENSVILLE, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - A lawsuit against a Thiensville, Wis., for violations of air pollution control laws that regulate the handling of asbestos-containing materials has been resolved, state Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has announced.
Settlement reached over handling of N.M. college savings programs
King SANTA FE, N.M. (Legal Newsline) - New Mexico's investigation into the management of the state's 529 college savings programs by OppenheimerFunds, Inc., has resulted in a settlement of more than $67 million.
Charity in trouble in N.Y.
Cuomo NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - A New York City-based not-for-profit group has been order to shut down following an interim court order obtained by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
McCollum settles with Avis, Budget
McCollum TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Two rental car agencies have reached an agreement with Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum over allegations that they did not clearly inform customers about the terms of usage for toll plaza passes.
Jefferson County cases keep Texas on Judicial Hellhole 'Watch List'
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - When a Jefferson County, Texas, judge granted a losing plaintiff a new trial "do-over" without giving his reason, it was enough to keep the watchful eyes of tort reformers focused on Southeast Texas for another year.
Madison and St. Clair counties on 'Hellhole' watch list
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) The American Tort Reform Foundation's 2009 "Judicial Hellholes" report released Tuesday places Madison County and St. Clair counties on the group's "watch" list.
ATRF has eyes on Calif. in 'Judicial Hellholes' report
Sullivan SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newline) - California is on the verge of earning the dubious distinction of being a "judicial hellhole" by national court observers, a group said Tuesday.
South Florida the top 'Judicial Hellhole'
ATRF President Sherman Joyce WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - South Florida is again the country's most plaintiffs-friendly jurisdiction, according to the American Tort Reform Foundation's annual "Judicial Hellholes" report, released Tuesday.
W.Va. drops from top spot in 'Judicial Hellholes' report
Manchin WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The American Tort Reform Foundation was less critical of West Virginia's legal system this year, but still ranked it as the No. 2 Judicial Hellhole in the country in their annual report Tuesday.
State AGs, supreme courts don't go unnoticed in Hellholes report
King WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Several state attorneys general and state supreme courts were put under the microscope by the American Tort Reform Foundation in its annual "Judicial Hellholes" report, released Tuesday.
Hellhole report sparks debate in W.Va.
Heath CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - As usual, West Virginia's place in the annual "Judicial Hellholes" report released Tuesday by the American Tort Reform Foundation was met with widely differing reactions.
Stenehjem goes after network marketing company
Stenehjem BISMARCK, N.D. (Legal Newsline) - A cease and desist order has been issued by North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem against a Lexington, Ky., company for alleged violations of the state's transient merchant, consumer fraud and home solicitation laws.
Group of AGs send letter to FTC
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has been joined by 42 state attorneys general in calling on the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to toughen restrictions against companies advertising free credit reports.