News from April 2010
Mississippi SC rules state can sue Bayer
James Kitchens JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline)-The Mississippi Supreme Court has revived a lawsuit against Bayer AG, ruling the state can refile a claim the pharmaceutical giant defrauded its Medicaid program.
Calif. AG accuses Wall Street firm of ignoring subpoena
Jerry Brown (D) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-California Attorney General Jerry Brown on Monday said he is asking a judge to compel Moody's Investors Service Inc. to comply with a state subpoena in the investigation of the company's ratings of risky mortgage-backed securities.
Two AGs want EPA to reopen greenhouse gas hearings
Cuccinelli WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - State attorneys general Ken Cuccinelli and Troy King say the federal government did not take recent findings into account when it issued its first pronouncement on the dangers of greenhouse gases.
Blumenthal files suit over Madoff scheme
Blumenthal HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal sued a Westport National Bank, a Wilton money manager and his company on Monday to recover $16.2 million for investors affected by Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme.
McGraw wants subpoena enforced
McGraw CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw filed a lawsuit Monday against a Kanawha County home improvement services company and its owner following numerous complaints that the company was not completing jobs.
Conway moves to intervene in case against J&J
Conway FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway wants to join a lawsuit filed by the federal government against pharmaceutical maker Johnson & Johnson.
Obama to hold bipartisan meeting on Supreme Court vacancy
Barack Obama (D) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-U.S. President Barack Obama next week is scheduled to meet with key leaders in the U.S. Senate to discuss the upcoming retirement of Associate Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, the White House said.
Brown seeks pre-primary debates with GOP rivals
Jerry Brown (D) LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline)-California Attorney General Jerry Brown, the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor, on Saturday called for three-way debates with his two Republican rivals.
U.S. Supreme Court to hear 'sexting' case
U.S. Supreme Court building WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday will hear the case of whether employees' text messages sent by an employer-owned device are considered private.
Poll: Obamacare champion Harry Reid trails GOP challenger
Harry Reid (D) LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Legal Newsline)-U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, a leading force behind the controversial national health care overhaul, faces a tough election fight, a poll indicates.
Edmondson tells Okla. legislators to 'fish or cut bait' on lawsuit resolution
Drew Edmondson (D) TULSA, Okla. (Legal Newsline)-Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson on Friday said Republican lawmakers should "fish or cut bait" on a resolution that would force him to file a challenge to the national health care overhaul.
Watchdog group sues over Palin speaking contract
Sarah Palin (R) TURLOCK, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-A lawsuit was filed Friday against a California public university over its refusal to disclose details about its confidential agreement with national Republican figure Sarah Palin -- a brouhaha that sparked an investigation this week by the state attorney general.
Cuomo's pension probe gains five more agreements
Cuomo NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced five more agreements in his investigation into pay-to-play tactics in public pension funds.
Fla. financial services company settles over data breach
McCollum TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum has announced a settlement with a financial services company that allegedly exposed the personal information of approximately 5.9 million consumer files during a data breach.
Bysiewicz goes to court to prove AG qualifications
Bysiewicz HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz testified in a lawsuit she filed against herself this week, with the Democrat hoping to prove she is qualified to run for attorney general.
Former Senate GOP leader Frist questions health care lawsuits
Dr. Bill Frist (R) NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline)-Lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the new federal health care law are not likely to succeed, a former U.S. Senate Republican leader said.
Oregon SC: Medical marijuana users not entitled to workplace accommodations
Oregon Supreme Court justices SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline)-Oregon employers are not required to make accommodations for legal medical marijuana users, the state Supreme Court ruled late this week, drawing praise from business groups.
Villaraigosa eschews local candidates, backs Harris for Calif. attorney general
Kamala Harris (D) LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline)--Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is not expected to endorse either the former city attorney or the county prosecutor in their runs for state attorney general.
Obamacare scofflaws to have tax refunds withheld
Barack Obama (D) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-The Internal Revenue Service in the coming years will withhold refunds belonging to taxpayers who cannot show that they have adequate health insurance, an official told a congressional panel Thursday.
Crist signs slip-and-fall reform
Crist TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - It wasn't just the transparency bill signed by Gov. Charlie Crist Wednesday that pleased a Florida legal reform organization.