News from January 2009
Maryland AG applauds removal of lead-tainted toys
Doug Gansler (D) BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) -- In a move applauded by the Maryland attorney general, two retailers have suspended the sale of a toy game bag that was found to have excessive levels of lead paint.
Brown winning war for Bay Area
Jerry Brown (D) SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - During the National Democratic Convention last year in Denver, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom was everywhere, from the chic after-hour parties to the hip events designed to attract young voters.
Eli Lilly finalizing $1.4 billion settlement
INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - As expected, pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly & Co. is paying $1.4 billion to settle federal allegations that promoted off-label uses for its prescription antipsychotic Zyprexa.
Alaska AG to challenge beluga whales' endangered species status
Talis Colberg (R) ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Legal Newsline)-The Alaska attorney general plans to sue the federal government over a recent decision to list Cook Inlet beluga whales as an endangered species, the governor's office said.
Lawsuit filed over unpaid $40,000 hole-in-one award
Richard Blumenthal (D) HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) -- A $40,000 unpaid hole-in-one prize from a charity golf tournament in Connecticut sponsored by the Marine Corps League's Lock City Department has lead to a lawsuit against the insurer of the event and its owner.
Massey appealing fine to W.Va. SC
Blankenship CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Brent Benjamin may soon have to decide if he plans to recuse himself from another case involving his largest campaign supporter.
Tenn. SC candidate lands on Court of Appeals
Bredesen NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen couldn't find Chattanooga attorney John McClarty a spot on the state Supreme Court, so he did the next best thing.
Federal judges uphold W.Va. lottery restrictions
McGraw RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) - A three-member panel of federal appellate judges has sided with West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw's argument that certain advertising restrictions on the video lottery industry should be maintained.
Oregon AG blasts LNG proposals
John Kroger (D) SALEM, Ore. - Oregon Attorney General John Kroger on Tuesday made clear his opposition to proposed liquefied-natural-gas (LNG) terminals and pipelines.
Garamendi over Brown in 2010?
Jerry Brown (D) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)--A new year means a new election in California, where every season is political season.
Missouri SC upholds benefits for striking nurses
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline)-Nurses who went on strike in 2004 at St. John's Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis, were entitled to receive unemployment benefits, the state Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.
Franken files another lawsuit
Al Franken (D) ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - Democrat Al Franken has asked the Minnesota Supreme Court to force state officials to issue papers declaring him the winner of the Nov. 4 general election against incumbent Republican Norm Coleman.
Blumenthal applauds FERC commissioner's resignation
Richard Blumenthal (D) HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) -- The chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Joseph Kelliher, has announced he will resign Jan. 20, drawing praise from Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.
AGs' study: Online threats to children decreasing
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Legal Newsline)-A study ordered by 49 state attorneys general says there is no simple way to make the Internet safer for children, and that online threats to children might be exaggerated.
Missouri justices strike down home health law
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline)-A Missouri state law that bars some people with mental disabilities from participating in home health programs has been struck down.
Calif. AG wants disclosure of controverisal prison plan
Jerry Brown (D) SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)-News of a court appointed receiver's plans for seven new inmate hospitals in California, complete with yoga classes and outdoor courtyards, touched a nerve with taxpayers this week.
Senator: Tort reform should move forward despite Oregon's budget woes
Ted Ferrioli (R) SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline)-Efforts to retool Oregon's tort laws should not be jettisoned because of the state's mounting fiscal woes, a state Senate leader told Legal Newsline.
Suit against Scruggs implicates 'former U.S. Senator'
Scruggs OXFORD, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - A new lawsuit against incarcerated plaintiffs attorney Richard "Dickie" Scruggs accuses a state judge and a former U.S. Senator of teaming with Scruggs in a judicial bribery scheme.
Bridge builder settles with Oregon attorney general
John Kroger (D) SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline)-A bridge builder has settled racketeering allegations that it tried to defraud the Oregon Department of Transportation out of more than $1.1 million.
Brown, other state officials refuse to comply with governor's furloughs
Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - California Attorney General Jerry Brown and all five other statewide elected officials have sent letters to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that their offices would not comply with his executive order that will shut down state government two days a month.