LEGAL NEWSLINE

Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Tuesday that she has reached a settlement with a surety company that allegedly overbilled the state on a construction project.

George SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald George in an interview Wednesday suggested it might be time to stop electing state Supreme Court justices, and instead appoint them to a single term of 15 years.

Troy King WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A tort reform group says, in a new report, that some plaintiffs attorneys have used their relationships with state attorneys general as "a litigious cash cow."

West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A public interest law and policy center called last month's decision by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in favor of Janssen Pharmaceutica and its parent company Johnson & Johnson a victory.

Dow NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow announced on Tuesday that she has reached a $140,000 settlement with an Elizabeth, N.J.-based used car dealer that allegedly engaged in questionable business practices.

Suthers DENVER (Legal Newsline) - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced on Wednesday that his office has filed a lawsuit against a Denver-based debt collection agency and its CEO for allegedly violating state consumer protection statutes.

Mills AUGUSTA, Maine (Legal Newsline) - Maine lawmakers on Tuesday nominated Assistant U.S. Attorney William Schneider to be the state's next attorney general.

Burns JUNEAU, Alaska (Legal Newsline) - Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell on Tuesday announced his appointment of Fairbanks attorney John J. Burns to the state's attorney general post.