News from January 2009
Calif. Supreme Court allows for binding fee arbitration
Carlos Moreno SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A ruling issued by the California Supreme Court clarifies the state's Mandatory Fee Arbitration Act by stating clients in fee disputes with lawyers do not necessarily have a right to a trial if they previously agreed to binding contractual arbitration.
Obama draws praise from Democratic AGs over emissions standards
Patrick Lynch (D-R.I.) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - U.S. President Barack Obama's move to clear the way for states to regulate tailpipe emissions drew praise from several state attorneys general.
Eid exits Colorado AG race
Troy Eid (R) DENVER (Legal Newsline)-Former Colorado U.S. Attorney Troy Eid said Monday he will not run for state attorney general after incumbent John Suthers announced he planned to seek reelection in 2010.
U.S. Supreme Court sides with worker in retaliation case
U.S. Supreme Court building WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)--Companies can be held liable for firing workers after they cooperate in sexual harassment investigations, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday.
Herman Memorial settles Texas AG's antitrust claims for $700,000
Greg Abbott (R) HOUSTON, Texas (Legal Newsline)-Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in Houston has settled antitrust claims by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, his office announced Monday.
Shurtleff spent $730,000 on re-election bid
Mark Shurtleff (R) SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Legal Newsline)-Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff spent $730,315 on his November reelection race.
Calif. appeals court to hear canned tuna case
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)-A California court today will hear a appeal brought by the state attorney general's office over a court decision that exempted tuna canners from a law requiring companies to warn consumers of products containing potentially harmful ingredients.
Kentucky gas stations settle over price gouging claims
Jack Conway (D) FRANKFORT, K.Y. (Legal Newsline) -- Gas price gouging following September's Hurricane Ike and a subsequent windstorm has resulted in a $107,500 settlement between the attorney general's office and eight retail gas stations in seven Kentucky communities.
Give tobacco farmers what's due, pair of AGs argue
Gansler HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett and Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler are appealing a North Carolina court decision that allowed three major tobacco companies to stop making annual payments to farmers in their states.
Attorneys settle pension abuse allegations with Cuomo
Cuomo ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - Two more settlements have been reached in New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's investigation into abuse of the state's pension system by attorneys.
AG: Michigan taxpayers deserve a massive tax refund
Mike Cox (R) LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline)-Michigan taxpayers deserve a $712 million refund, says state Attorney General Mike Cox.
Colorado AG says he won't run for U.S. Senate, governor
John Suthers (R) DENVER, Colo. (Legal Newsline)-Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said Monday will not run for governor or U.S. Senate in 2010.
Oakland central platform for Brown's bid in 2010
Jerry Brown (D) OAKLAND, Calif. - California Attorney General Jerry Brown and the city of Oakland have been inexorably linked for decades. As Brown readies to run again for the state's top post in 2010, those ties, for better or worse, will continue to define him.
Poll: Cuomo's approval rating reaches all-time high
Andrew Cuomo (D) ALBANY (Legal Newsline)-New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's star continues to rise even though he was passed over for the state's recent U.S. Senate vacancy.
Church asks Calif. justices to clarify a recent ruling
Ming Chin SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - While several national leaders of religious denominations hailed a recent California Supreme Court ruling, one church that broke away from its leadership has asked the court to clarify its ruling.
U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear Mohawk case
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)- The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider an appeal by Mohawk Industries Inc., which wants kept secret its communications with a lawyer who investigated an employee complaint the company was hiring undocumented workers.
Obama could render Brown's greenhouse crusade moot
Jerry Brown (D) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-California Attorney General Jerry Brown's legal maneuvers to get the federal government to allow the state to regulate greenhouse gas emissions could be coming to a happy end.
Blagojevich impeachment hearings begin today
Rod Blagojevich (D) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline)-Embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich says since his arrest on corruption charges he has thought about peace icons Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi.
United Mine Workers' president blasts Alabama AG
Cecil Roberts, Jr. FAIRFAX, Va. (Legal Newsline)-An call by the Alabama attorney general to get his counterparts around the nation to oppose the appeal Hugh Caperton and Harman Mining have before the U.S. Supreme Court against Massey Energy has drawn the ire of the president of the United Mine Workers.
Clyburn doubtful health care reform will emerge from Congress this year
James Clyburn (D) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)- An industry group pushing Congress to overhaul the nation's health care system -- including medical malpractice laws -- got some grim news Sunday from a leading House Democrat.