News from 2009
Calif. trial lawyers converge on San Francisco
Tom Scott SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)-Hundreds of trial lawyers are gathered in San Francisco to hear about the newest and greatest ways to litigate cases and win high-dollar judgments.
Marsh settles with N.J., Ohio pension funds
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - A class action lawsuit against Marsh & McLennan filed by pension funds in New Jersey and Ohio has tentatively been settled for $400 million.
CJAC lobbyist takes top honors
Kimberly Stone SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-California's leading tort reform group has on its staff one of the state Capitol's "most effective" lobbyists, a survey of lawmakers indicates.
N.H. settles with manufacturer over air pollution
CONCORD, N.H. (Legal Newsline) - New Hampshire Attorney General Michael A. Delaney has announced a settlement with a New Ipswich manufacturing company over violations of the state's air pollution and air toxics law and federal air pollution laws.
Iowa settles with eight drugmakers over prices
Miller DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - Iowa will receive more than $4.3 million from eight prescription drug-making companies to settle allegations that they purposefully reported false and inflated drug prices that served as the basis for Medicaid reimbursements paid by taxpayers.
Private attorneys get $4M in Utah settlement
Shurtleff SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Legal Newsline) - Private attorneys hired by Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff to sue Eli Lilly & Co. will receive more than $4 million from Wednesday's settlement.
Sherwin-Williams appeals $7M Miss. verdict
Moellenberg FAYETTE, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - Sherwin-Williams has filed its notice of intent to appeal a $7 million verdict in favor of a former Mississippi high school sports star who claims the company gave him lead poisoning.
FDA to probe alcoholic energy drinks
Rob McKenna (R-Wash.) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-At the urging of a group of state attorneys general, the U.S. government Friday announced it was investigating super-caffeinated alcoholic drinks.
Brown bemoans Calif. budget process
Jerry Brown (D) SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)-California's budget woes have been made significantly worse by partisan bickering and interference by the courts, state Attorney General Jerry Brown said.
Lungren: House health care bill violates Lemon Law
Dan Lungren (R-Calif.) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-The massive health care overhaul the House of Representatives recently approved will cost the nation jobs and more money than Democrats are willing to admit, U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Calif., said Thursday.
W.Va. SC says Maynard's e-mails shouldn't have been public
Davis CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Private communications of government employees don't belong to the public, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals decided on Nov. 12.
California official introduces loan modification bill
Pedro Nava (D-Calif.) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-The thousands of Californians facing home foreclosure could have more help on the way, under legislation introduced by a Democratic candidate for state attorney general.
Massey victorious as controversial $50M case comes to close in W.Va.
Blankenship CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - For a third time, the West Virginia Supreme Court has overturned a $50 million verdict in a case that called into question when a justice should recuse himself or herself.
Conn. A.G. moves to block layoffs at two utilities‏
Richard Blumenthal (D) HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - An immediate order by the Department of Public Utility Control to block layoffs at Connecticut Natural Gas and Southern Connecticut Gas is being sought by Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Consumer Counsel Mary Healey.
Outcome of Nexium suit could give plaintiffs heartburn
Wills LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - The Arkansas Supreme Court has affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit against AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, deciding that nine plaintiffs haven't suffered any harm because of the company's marketing of Nexium.
AG Coakley holds huge lead in Senate race
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has a sizeable lead in the race to pick up the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, a recent poll shows.
GOP candidates seek investigation into secret tapes
Jerry Brown (D) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-California's three Republican gubernatorial candidates are calling on state Attorney General Jerry Brown to appoint an independent prosecutor to head an investigation into the secret taping of conversations by a Brown aide.
Trial lawyers discount effects of medical malpractice litigation
Anthony Tarricone WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-Medical malpractice litigation is not the albatross weighing down the U.S. health care system that legal reformers say it is, the nation's trial lawyers argue.
Home foreclosures dip 3 percent
IRVINE, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-The number of Americans on the verge of losing their homes declined for the third consecutive month in October, a home foreclosure tracking service said Thursday.
S.D. justices invalidate gambling-tainted note
PIERRE, S.D. (Legal Newsline)-A $1,500 gambling debt nullifies a loan of $33,000, the South Dakota Supreme Court has ruled.