News from November 2009
Report: Nevada courts see uptick in cases
Nevada Supreme Court building CARSON CITY, Nev. (Legal Newsline)-Judges in Nevada are swamped, a report by the state Supreme Court said Monday.
Schwarzenegger names lieutenant governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday appointed a state lieutenant governor the same day a Democratic candidate for attorney general urged the Republican governor to hold off.
Kansas AG bemoans budget cuts
Steve Six (D) TOPEKA, Kansas (Legal Newsline)-Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson's plan to help close a $258 million revenue shortfall in the current year's budget has drawn criticism from the state attorney general.
Shurtleff balks at BCS's hiring of Ari Fleischer's firm
Mark Shurtleff (R) SALT LAKE CITY (Legal Newsline)-Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said Monday that it is telling that a college football playoff system has hired a former White House spokesman to defend the Bowl Championship Series.
Conn. AG seeks information on compensation for laid off Aetna workers‏
Richard Blumenthal (D) HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Aetna, Inc., has been asked by Attorney General Richard Blumenthal to provide information about the company's plans to fully compensate hundreds of laid off employees who had accrued vacation, leave time and other benefits.
Mass. company indicted for allegedly deceiving consumers‏
WOBURN, Mass. (Legal Newsline) - Indictments were handed down for a Wakefield oil tank installation and removal company, its president and treasurer on charges that customers were knowingly deceived and that the company's compliance with environmental laws was misrepresented.
Seven Missouri auto dealers face action over violations‏
Chris Koster (D) JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Action has been taken against seven Missouri used car dealerships by Attorney General Chris Koster over violations of laws governing the sale of used vehicles, including violations that could compromise the safety of consumers purchasing the vehicles.
N.Y. auto dealership hit by lawsuit over altered prices‏
Andrew Cuomo (D) HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - A St. James car dealership is the target of a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo for surreptitiously altering contract prices after agreeing to a different price and terms with consumers.
Poll: Goddard trails Arpaio in Ariz. gubernatorial race
Terry Goddard (D) PHOENIX, Ariz. (Legal Newsline)-Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard may not coast into the governor's office as some political observers have said, a poll indicates Monday.
Involuntary petitions for bankruptcy filed against two N.H. businesses‏
CONCORD, N.H. (Legal Newsline) - Involuntary petitions for bankruptcy have been filed by Attorney General Michael A. Delaney against two New Hampshire businesses abandoned by their owners.
Texas judge tosses state's Vioxx lawsuit
Greg Abbott (R) AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline)-A Texas judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by the state attorney general against drugmaker Merck & Co. over its now-withdrawn painkiller Vioxx.
Nava: Schwarzenegger should wait to fill Lt. Gov. post
Pedro Nava (D) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger should not immediately appoint someone to fill the recent vacancy left when Lt. Gov. John Garamendi was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, a candidate for state attorney general said Monday.
Texas SC agrees to rehear long-running Exxon sabotage case
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline)- The Texas Supreme Court has agreed to rehear a case in the long-running case over whether Exxon Mobil Corp. sabotaged abandoned wells.
Utah justices uphold strip club tax
Matthew Durrant SALT LAKE CITY (Legal Newsline)-The Utah Supreme Court has upheld the state tax on strip clubs but said the levy shouldn't be charged to companies providing escort services.
Democrat enters Oklahoma AG race
Jim Priest (D) OKLAHOMA CITY (Legal Newsline)-A Democrat has finally jumped into the race for Oklahoma attorney general.
Poll: Coakley leads Democratic pack in Mass. Senate race
Martha Coakley (D) BOSTON (Legal Newsline)- Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley is in an enviable position as she heads into the race to succeed the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, a poll indicates.
Wisconsin SC to rule on coverage for surrogates
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline)-The Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to make a decision on whether or not insurance companies can refuse to pay for the maternity costs of surrogate mothers.
Brown, securities regulators in spat over Wells Fargo settlement
Jerry Brown (D) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-California Attorney General Jerry Brown and a group of securities regulators from other states are bickering over who forced Wells Fargo & Co. to buy back $1.4 billion in troubled securities.
Senate Republicans to push tort reform
Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)- The U.S. Senate will have "extensive" debate on health care reform in the coming weeks, with Republicans pushing for tort reform, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Sunday.
Senate health care bill clears major hurdle; Republicans decry plan
Harry Reid (D-Nev.) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-The U.S. Senate narrowly moved Saturday night to advance a mammoth health care overhaul bill offered by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.