News from August 2010
Cuomo, home security company resolve suit
Cuomo NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced on Thursday that he has settled with a Utah-based home security company that allegedly tricked homeowners into signing contracts.
Blumenthal asks DPUC for probe
Blumenthal HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced on Thursday that he has asked the Department of Public Utility Control to look into an independent power seller.
Appeals court rejects public nuisance suit over foreclosures
CLEVELAND (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has rejected the city of Cleveland's attempt to use a public nuisance doctrine to pin liability on major investment banks for the foreclosure crisis in the city.
More AGs take note of LCD issue
McKenna SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna announced Thursday he is suing the makers of Samsung, Toshiba, Sharp and five other brands of liquid crystal displays screens.
Report questions Whitman's economic policy
Whitman SACRAMENTO (Legal Newsline) - In a letter to Californians published this week, some economists are calling the state's Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman's economic policy proposals and promises "deeply flawed."
Texas sues feds over offshore drilling ban
Abbott HOUSTON (Legal Newsline) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott sued President Barack Obama's administration on Wednesday over its new deepwater offshore drilling moratorium.
Settlement worth $1.3M in Washington
McKenna SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna announced on Tuesday that he has reached a $1.3 million settlement with an online provider of background search services that allegedly engaged in illegal post-transaction marketing practices.
Gansler settles with calling card company
Gansler BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) - Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler announced on Wednesday that his office has reached a settlement with a prepaid telephone calling card company.
Merrill Lynch paying penalty in New Jersey
Dow NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow announced on Tuesday an administrative consent order requiring Merrill Lynch to pay $728,260 in civil penalties.
Blumenthal ad portrays candidate as anti-special interests
Blumenthal HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) -- Longtime Connecticut attorney general and the state's Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Richard Blumenthal, has released his first ad of the general election.
Judge denies Craigslist's request for permanent injunction
McMaster COLUMBIA, S.C. (Legal Newsline) -- A U.S. District Court judge has turned down Craigslist's request for a permanent injunction that would ban South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster from attempting to prosecute the popular classified advertisement website.
Olens wins GOP nomination in Georgia AG primary
Olens ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) -- Sam Olens, the former Cobb County Commission chairman, has won the Republican nomination for Georgia attorney general, beating state Sen. Preston Smith.
King's hand-picked law firm cites conflict in backing out of BP litigation
King BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Legal Newsline) -- The law firm of Balch & Bingham, LLP, which was tapped by Alabama Attorney General Troy King to organize and lead a team of lawyers to sue oil giant BP, now will not take part in the litigation.
MDL judges pick New Orleans venue for BP suits
Barbier NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - After a tug-of-war between plaintiff and defense attorneys, a panel of judges has decided the hundreds of lawsuits against BP over the Deepwater Horizon oil spill will be consolidated and heard in federal court in New Orleans.
Tobacco settlement survives another challenge, appeal coming
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals court decided Tuesday that 1998's Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement is constitutional, ruling against a challenge by the Competitive Enterprise Institute.
Settlement will remove Wis. road
Van Hollen ANTIGO, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen's office announced on Tuesday that a Langlade County property owner has agreed to remove a road that he built on a protected wetlands area.
AG Brown used state plane at least three times
Brown SACRAMENTO (Legal Newsline) - California Attorney General Jerry Brown sometimes travels in a turboprop airplane operated by his office, despite promoting his use of commercial aircraft and recently saying he would cut back on such "perks."
Cuomo expands health care lending investigation
Cuomo NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - In an expansion of last week's industry-wide probe on health care lending companies, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that he has subpoenaed more health care clinics and credit card companies.
Md. locksmith faces preliminary injunction
Gansler BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler announced on Thursday that a preliminary injunction has been ordered against a locksmith business alleged to have engaged in deceptive trade practices.
AG Abbott sues BP over emissions
Abbott AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott on Monday charged BP Products North America with "illegally emitting" close to 500,000 pounds of pollutants from its Texas City refinery for more than a month.