News from March 2009
Blumenthal, USI Consulting settle
Blumenthal HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - One of the nation's largest benefit consulting firms has agreed to pay nearly a half-million dollars to the State of Connecticut to resolve allegations that it received compensation from insurers for access to lucrative pension plan business.
Ward at center of flight-plan change in Texas 'rocket docket'
Judge T. John Ward After thousands of patent infringement cases have passed through the federal court in Marshall, Texas, it may take only two recent court rulings to undo the district's docket.
Progress of judicial campaign reform an issue in recusal case
Souter WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Former U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson stood before the nine Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday and warned them that the manner in which judges are elected is no longer working.
Financial services firm will pay nearly $6M to New Jersey
Milgram TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram has settled a seven-year-old lawsuit against PricewaterhouseCoopers, the financial services firm alleged to have cause losses to the State's pension fund.
U.S. Supreme Court rules against Wyeth in federal preemption case
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected an appeal by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals in a closely watched federal preemption case, ruling that a woman may sue in state court over a federally-approved drug.
Ayotte gets thumbs up from governor
Ayotte CONCORD, N.H. (Legal Newsline) - New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch is renominating Attorney General Kelly Ayotte for another term.
Tough day for both sides of judicial recusal case
Chief Justice John Roberts WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Justices of a seemingly split U.S. Supreme Court took turns grilling attorneys on both sides of a key judicial recusal case during oral arguments Tuesday morning.
Chicago company sued over economic stimulus ads
Lisa Madigan (D) CHICAGO (Legal Newsline)-An Illinois advertising company is being sued for allegedly airing deceptive commercials about President Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan, the state attorney general's office said Tuesday.
Madigan sues over unperformed drug tests
Lisa Madigan (D) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline)-A Chicago drug testing company is being sued by the Illinois attorney general for allegedly billing the state more than $1.3 million for drug tests it never performed.
Oregon trial lawyers push legislation
Sal Esquivel (R) SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline)-Oregon trial lawyers, on the heels of their Senate victory to boost public lawsuit caps, have asked state lawmakers to increase the statute of limitations on product liability cases and allow plaintiffs' attorneys to seek increased damages in personal injury cases.