News from January 2009
Daschle nomination hits tax snag
Tom Daschle (D) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -President Barack Obama's nomination of former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle has hit a snag amid revelations that the tort reform opponent has significant tax problems.
Va. AG gives out OxyContin money
McDonnell ABINGDON, Va. (Legal Newsline) - Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell handed $650,000 from a settlement with OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma Friday.
Kroger urged to fix public records response times
John Kroger (D) EUGENE, Ore. (Legal Newsline)-Oregon Attorney General John Kroger is being urged to change the way state agencies respond to public information requests.
Madigan praises lawmakers for Blagojevich's ouster
Lisa Madigan (D) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline)-Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has praised state lawmakers for ousting Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Obama hands trial lawyers a major win
Barack Obama (D) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-In signing his first piece of legislation, U.S. President Barack Obama provided a bonanza for the nation's trial bar, legal reformers say.
Federal judge lets McGraw ruling stand
McGraw CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) -- A federal judge has denied a request by Capital One to alter his ruling in a dispute over West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw's investigation into it.
N.J. SC sets new liability standard
Wallace TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - From a cemetery to the courtroom, a New Jersey woman found $1.6 million. Now, the state Supreme Court has made it harder for her to keep it.
Ten health care tips from AG Cox to Mich. legislature
Cox LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) - Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox says there are 10 ways to improve health care in his state.
Ala. AG King defends stance in W.Va. recusal controversy
King MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - Alabama Attorney General Troy King would prefer it if those criticizing his brief in support of West Virginia Chief Justice Brent Benjamin would hold off until they read it.
Van Hollen draws criticism over voter verification lawsuit
J.B. Van Hollen (R) MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline)-Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen drew criticism from a state lawmaker for not detailing expenses associated with a lawsuit he filed to force a state agency to perform voter checks.
California AG wants to end prison receivership
Jerry Brown (D) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - California Attorney General Jerry Brown has filed a motion in U.S. District Court urging the court to terminate the court-appointed receivership over the state's prison system.
Washington AG challenges Avista rate hike
Rob McKenna (R) OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline)-Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna has filed an appeal challenging Avista's electric and gas rate increase that took effect this month.
Striking nurses will get unemployment
Albin TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - Nurses on strike in New Jersey may collect unemployment benefits, the state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.
Caperton always opposed Benjamin being on W.Va. SC
Benjamin CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - The man challenging West Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Brent Benjamin's ability to hear certain cases apparently never wanted Benjamin on the Court anyway.
Gulfport mayor indicted over Katrina claims
Warr JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - Brent Warr, the mayor of Gulfport, Miss., has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that he attempted to defraud the Federal Government after 2005's Hurricane Katrina.
California AG presses for tuna labeling
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - California continued its push to force the makers of canned tuna to post warning labels in an hour-long hearing at a state appellate court on Tuesday.
McCollum not happy with Fla. lawmaker
Sansom TALLAHASSE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum is criticizing a meeting state House Speaker Ray Sansom helped organize.
Suit over old Studebaker site will continue
Shepard INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - The Indiana Supreme Court has decided the City of South Bend may seek reimbursement for the cleanup of costs at an old Studebaker site but dismissed the City's common law claims.
Scruggs' co-conspirators will soon learn fate
Balducci OXFORD, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - Two of the co-conspirators of disgraced former plaintiffs attorney Richard "Dickie" Scruggs will be sentenced for their admitted roles in a judicial bribery scheme on Feb. 13.
Even bigger bucks coming from Eli Lilly?
Ramza-Kutz CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - The recent $1.4 billion settlement into which Eli Lilly & Co. entered with the federal government and more than 30 states may benefit those states that have been holding out on an agreement, a Chicago attorney recently opined.