News from 2009
Brown to retailers: Products contain 'illegal' amounts of lead
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-California Attorney General Jerry Brown has warned a group of national retailers that some of the children's products on their store shelves were found to contain "illegal levels of lead," his office said Tuesday.
Obama administration opposes Siegelman's appeal
Don Siegelman (D) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-Disagreeing with 91 former state attorneys general, the Obama administration says former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman's appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court should be rejected.
Calif. group pushes for $1 tobacco tax increase for cancer research
Don Perata (D) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-Smokers in California will have to dig much deeper into their pockets to buy a pack of cigarettes next year if a proposed ballot measure passes.
Conn. AG applauds decision to block layoffs at utitlities‏
Richard Blumenthal (D) HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has announced victory in blocking layoffs at Connecticut Natural Gas and Southern Connecticut Gas that could potentially serve to jeopardize the safety of its workers and public.
Lawsuit filed against Illinois car dealer over failure to pay off trade-in vehicles
Lisa Madigan (D) CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed a lawsuit against a South Holland, Ill., auto dealer alleged to have failed to pay off nearly $120,000 in loans on trade-in vehicles.
Calif. AG candidates get lackluster review from taxpayer group
Jon Coupal SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-California's four candidates for state attorney general who are members of the state Legislature on Monday received poor marks from the state's taxpayer rights group.
Colorado AG says medical marijuana is taxable
John Suthers (R) DENVER, Colo. (Legal Newsline)-Medical marijuana dispensaries in Colorado are subject to collecting sales taxes, state Attorney General John Suthers said in a formal legal opinion issued Monday.
Conn. A.G. seeks greater disclosure by hospitals of medical mistakes
Richard Blumenthal (D) HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has announced that he will seek legislation to require greater disclosure by hospitals of medical mistakes as well as to provide regulators with increased investigative resources and new authority to impose civil penalties.
Mich. energy customers to receive $106 million in refunds‏
Mike Cox (R) LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) - Barring appeals, Attorney General Mike Cox has said customers of Consumers Energy across the state can expect $106 million in refunds following revelations about surcharges billed to consumers from 2001 through 2003.
Minn. consumers to receive restitution from falsely extended cell phone contracts‏
Lori Swanson (D) ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - Following a consent judgment between Attorney General Lori Swanson and Sprint Nextel, customers who believe that their cell phone contracts were extended without their permission or the length of their contract or applicable penalties for early termination were not disclosed may file a claim for monetary relief.
W. Va. AG files lawsuits against Internet payday lenders‏
Darrell McGraw (D) CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Seventeen Internet payday lenders, collection agencies and their principals have been hit with two lawsuits by Attorney General Darrell McGraw's Consumer Protection Division.
VONAGE agrees to $3 million multistate settlement
Lawrence Wasden (R-Idaho) (LEGAL NEWSLINE)-One of the nation's largest providers of Internet-based phone service has settled claims by 32 state attorneys general who alleged the New Jersey-based company was overcharging consumers, officials said Monday.
U.S. Supreme Court rejects Redskins mascot challenge
U.S. Supreme Court building WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)--The U.S. Supreme Court declined Monday to determine if the name of the Washington Redskins football team is unable to be trademarked, potentially preventing legal challenges for other controversial monikers.
W.Va. judicial reform panel submits report
O'Connor CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia needs a mid-level appeals court to lighten the caseload of the state Supreme Court, according to a judicial reform panel report.
AG: Greenhouse regulations are an insurance policy against catastrophe
Jerry Brown (D) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-California Attorney General Jerry Brown says when it comes to enacting legislation to curb greenhouse gas emissions, it's better to be safe than sorry.
New York Bar Assn. president decries tort reform proposals
Michael Getnick ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline)-The U.S. Senate should eschew cost-cutting tort reform measures in its health care overhaul bill, the president of the New York State Bar Association said.
Oregon justices tweak tax-raising ballot measures
Oregon Supreme Court justices SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline)-The Oregon Supreme Court has tweaked language for two ballot measures aimed at raising $733 million from higher taxes on businesses and high-income earners.
Miss. SC: Pharmacist reimbursement change was illegal
Randy Pierce JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline)-The Mississippi Supreme Court has upheld a chancery judge's ruling that the Division of Medicaid had no authority to change the way in which pharmacists were paid for prescriptions for those enrolled in the program.
House health care bill costs more than previously believed
John Boehner (R-Ohio) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-The mammoth $1 trillion health care overhaul bill passed by the House last week will cost more than previously believed, a government report said.
Tort reformers, trial bar honor Calif. assemblyman
Mike Feuer (D) SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)-Rarely do California's trial lawyers and tort reformers agree on anything. But they are both hailing state Assemblyman Mike Feuer as a political hero.