News from February 2009
McGraw settles Countrywide suit
McGraw HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw and Countrywide Financial Corp. have settled a lawsuit that alleged the company issued home loans it knew its customers could not afford.
Lynch shakes fist at energy company
Lynch PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline) - Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch is not happy that Weaver's Cove Energy is attempting to deliver liquefied natural gas to an offshore site in Mount Hope Bay.
New arguments spring in Bailey Perrin disqualification attempt
Rendell PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - Three new matters are at issue in Janssen Pharmaceutica's attempt to have the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's contingent fee counsel disqualified.
Holder promises no Wall Street 'witch hunts'
Eric Holder WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Newly sworn in U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on Tuesday said he was not planning to zealously pursue corporate America amid public outrage over perceived excess.
Obama backers boost Harris's bid for AG
Kamala Harris (D) SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - San Francisco City Attorney Kamala Harris's close ties to U.S. President Barack Obama have already bolstered her campaign for California attorney general in 2010, observers say.
McDonnell resigning AG post
McDonnell RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) - Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell will step down from his post this month in preparation for his gubernatorial campaign.
Iowa chief justice orders one-day furlough; More court holidays could loom
Marsha Ternus DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline)- The Iowa Supreme Court, amid a cut to its budget, has issued an order closing all state court offices Feb. 16.
Aetna to refund students over out-of-date reimbursement rates
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Aetna, the nation's third largest health insurer, has agreed to reimburse more than 73,000 students at more than 200 colleges for claims involving out-of-network care.
Oregon AG probes OppenheimerFunds over college funds handling
John Kroger (D) SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline)-Oregon Attorney General John Kroger's office has expanded its investigation of declines in portfolios in the Oregon 529 College Savings Network, which allows families to invest for college and receive tax breaks.
Utah justices hear mineral lease case
Utah Supreme Court building SALT LAKE CITY (Legal Newsline)-The Utah Supreme Court on Monday heard arguments in a case whether environmentalists should have a chance to challenge a company's mineral leases to operate on the Great Salt Lake.
AGs push for mortgage modifications
Rob McKenna (R-Wash.) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-A group of state attorneys general is urging federal officials to push national banks and federal thrifts to modify home mortgage loans that are becoming unaffordable for struggling buyers.
Blumenthal will seek re-election
Blumenthal HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Richard Blumenthal will be happy to remain Connecticut's attorney general in 2010.
Obama taps one-time consumer protection official as HUD's No. 2
Ron Sims (D) OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline)-An official who started his career by working on consumer protection issues at the Washington attorney general's office has been tapped to serve as President Barack Obama's deputy housing secretary.
Benjamin recuses himself from Massey cases
Benjamin CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - While he waits for the U.S. Supreme Court to make a decision on his recusal policy, West Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Brent Benjamin is disqualifying himself from any cases involving a major campaign contributor.
Blumenthal to support contracting reform proposals
Richard Blumenthal (D) HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) -- Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is scheduled to submit testimony to the state Legislature today in support of two contracting reform proposals.
Brown announces fundraising prowess
Jerry Brown (D) LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - It will be well over a year before the 2010 candidates for governor fight for primary votes, but the fight for donor dollars is in full swing.
Brown claims drug companies blocked generic testosterone
Jerry Brown (D) LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - California Attorney General Jerry Brown and the Federal Trade Commission on Monday filed an antitrust lawsuit against four pharmaceutical companies over an alleged conspiracy to monopolize the sale of testosterone supplements.