News from February 2009
McMaster a likely candidate for S.C. governor
McMaster MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - It looks like South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster will be attempting to become the state's governor next year.
A year later, Scruggs singing instead of fighting
Scruggs ABERDEEN, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - Famous federal prisoner Richard "Dickie" Scruggs was expected to enter a second guilty plea related to a second Mississippi judicial bribery scheme on Feb. 10, and he did, in a dark suit and leg irons.
AG wins price gouging lawsuit against Pharmacia Corp.
J.B. Van Hollen (R) MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline)-Drug maker Pharmacia Corp. has been found to have defrauded Wisconsin's Medicaid program by reporting inflated drug prices, state Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said Tuesday.
Wisconsin court tosses product liability lawsuit against Medtronic
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline)-The Wisconsin Supreme Court has thrown out a case against Medtronic, Inc., ruling that federal law preempts state claims against approved medical devices.
Iowa Senate passes pay equity bill
Iowa state Capitol
DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline)-A bill advancing in the Iowa state Legislature could make it easier for women to sue if they feel they have been underpaid on the job.
Wal-Mart class action discrimination suit faces review
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-A federal appeals court will review a lower court decision that approved class action status for a lawsuit claiming that Wal-Mart was discriminatory in its pay and promotion policies.
Franken goes by 'senator-elect' despite lawsuit
Al Franken (D) MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Legal Newsline)-Even though the Minnesota Supreme Court is still considering a request by Al Franken to force state election officials to provide him an election certificate, the Democrat's staff has begun publicly calling him the state's senator-elect.
McDaniel helps defeat public records proposal
Dustin McDaniel (D) LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline)-Legislation opposed by the Arkansas attorney general that would have made public criminal records of elected officials and agency heads has been rejected by state lawmakers.
Brown suggests government input on media
Jerry Brown (D) OAKLAND, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - While liberals on the surface may love the latest comments from California Attorney General Jerry Brown about the Fairness Doctrine, conservatives have quickly jumped on the Democratic AG as advocating government control over the media.
AG announces restitution program for foreclosure victims
Greg Abbott (R) AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline)-More than $7 million will be available to Countrywide Financial Corp residential mortgage customers in Texas, the state attorney general said this week.
McGraw's claims against Eli Lilly dwindling
McGraw NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - The State of West Virginia has agreed to drop its request for civil penalties for any acts committed before 2002 by Eli Lilly & Co. regarding its antipsychotic drug Zyprexa.
Texas chief justice calls for judicial election reform
Wallace Jefferson (R) AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson says the Lone Star State ought to change the way it elects its judges to help take the influence of money out of judicial politics.
Harron, others named in Miss. suit over asbestos scheme
Ray Harron LEXINGTON, Miss. -- An embattled West Virginia radiologist, his son and others have been sued in Mississippi on racketeering and other charges related to an alleged scheme involving asbestos screenings for lawsuits across the nation.
Oregon lawmakers advance bill to increase liability caps
Dr. Alan Bates (D) SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline)-A bill winding its way through the Oregon Legislature would allow plaintiffs to sue state and local governments for more money than currently allowed under the state's public liability cap.
Two-year sentences for Scruggs' co-conspirators
Patterson OXFORD, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - Former Mississippi Auditor Steven Patterson and attorney Timothy Balducci each received a two-year prison sentence Friday for their roles in the judicial bribery scheme of famed plaintiffs attorney Richard "Dickie" Scruggs.
More bad news looms for Iowa courts
Marsha Ternus DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline)-Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Marsha Ternus is expected to deliver more bad news next week to court employees who will be furloughed Monday.
Arkansas SC says charitable hospitals can be sued retroactively
Robert Brown LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline)-A 2007 Arkansas law that allows charitable hospitals' risk pools to be sued directly should be applied retroactively, the state Supreme Court has ruled.
DeLaughter pleads not guilty to Scruggs' bribery scheme
DeLaughter JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - Mississippi judge Bobby DeLaughter was bribed by famed plaintiffs attorney Richard "Dickie" Scruggs and his legal team, a federal indictment against DeLaughter that was unsealed Thursday alleges.
Brown asked to probe Republicans for vote trading
Brown SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - As California lawmakers push closer to a possible budget vote that could help shore up one the state's worst economic crises ever, labor and environmental groups are asking Attorney General Jerry Brown to look into allegations of Republican lawmakers trading votes for favors, according to published reports.
Brown says homeowners should be on 'high alert'
Brown SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - California Attorney General Jerry Brown issued a consumer alert on Thursday warning homeowners to be wary of a prevalent scam that targets those with rapidly declining property values.