News from December 2010
Gulf Coast AGs warn oil spill claimants
Alabama Attorney General Troy King MOBILE, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - Attorneys general in Gulf Coast states are urging all claimants in the Gulf oil spill fund to "proceed with caution" in evaluating whether to accept an offer of final payment or quick final payment, or to sign a release.
Cox protests Indian casino's location
Cox LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) - The Michigan Attorney General's Office has ordered an Indian community to close its Vanderbilt-area casino, according to a letter sent to the tribe's lawyer.
Swanson sues TaxMasters
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson on Thursday filed a lawsuit against TaxMasters, Inc., a so-called "tax relief" company based in Houston, for misrepresenting the tax help it provided to customers.
Insurer moves to dismiss antitrust lawsuit filed by Mich. AG, feds
Cox DETROIT (Legal Newsline) - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan on Friday filed a motion in a Michigan federal court seeking dismissal of the antitrust lawsuit brought by the Justice Department and state Attorney General Mike Cox in October.
Arguments held in states' health care challenge
McCollum PENSACOLA, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Outgoing Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, who is leading the charge in a multi-state lawsuit against federal health care reform, called the case "of pivotal importance" following a three-hour hearing on Thursday.
Two adopt Cuomo's code
Cuomo NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday that a hedge fund manager and an equity firm have agreed to adopt his Public Pension Fund Reform Code of Conduct.
Koster gets judgment against real estate company
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced on Thursday that he has obtained a summary judgment against a real estate company and two of its operators for allegedly defrauding consumers.
Conway probing for-profit schools
Conway FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway announced on Wednesday that his office is launching an investigation into what he calls "questionable" business practices by for-profit postsecondary schools.
Consumer group not happy with AGs in DirecTV case
California Attorney General Jerry Brown SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - California-based Consumer Watchdog, in a statement Wednesday, contends a $13.25 million settlement reached between 50 states and the District of Columbia and the satellite television provider DirecTV doesn't go far enough.
GM agrees to cleanup
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray announced on Wednesday that he has reached two settlements totaling $12 million with the former General Motors Corp. over alleged environmental violations.
Cooper still weighing TVA appeal, gets extension
Cooper WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper has been given extra time to decide if he wants to give the U.S. Supreme Court another environmental public nuisance lawsuit to think about.
Okla. AG-elect plotting health care challenge
Pruitt OKLAHOMA CITY (Legal Newsline) - Oklahoma Attorney General-elect Scott Pruitt, in light of a federal judge's decision to side with Virginia in its case against federal health care reform, says he still plans to take action against the reform.
Ohio AG voted out of office, finds federal gig
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Outgoing Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray reportedly will head the new Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection's enforcement branch.
Dannon settles Activia claims with 39 states
McGraw CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw and 38 other state attorneys general filed settlements on Wednesday with The Dannon Company over its Activia yogurts and DanActive dairy drinks.
Land developers lose court battle
Van Hollen RHINELANDER, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced on Monday that a judgment has been granted against the developers of a large lakeshore condominium project for alleged violations of various environmental laws.
Goddard gets default judgment
Goddard PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) - Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard announced on Monday that he has obtained a $581,533 default judgment against a loan modification company that allegedly violated the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act.
Coakley settles with fundraisers
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Tuesday that her office has obtained judgments against three professional solicitors who allegedly used deceptive statements to raise funds.
Hellhole report draws varied reactions in West Virginia
Romano CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Reaction to West Virginia's being placed again on the Judicial Hellholes list drew varied but expected responses from those state court watchers.
U.S. SC won't hear $54 million appeal
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear an appeal by Shell Oil Company of a Stephens County jury award of $53.6 million -- the largest punitive damages award in Oklahoma history.
Hood happy with Entergy ruling
Hood JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - An administrative law judge for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has found that electricity provider Entergy Corporation did not sell its lowest cost power to benefit its affiliated companies.