News from February 2010
Teachers' union seeks to close corporate tax break
David Sanchez BURLINGAME, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-California's largest teachers' union is throwing its political muscle behind a ballot measure that would repeal corporate tax breaks intended to jumpstart the state's lagging economy.
Probe into secret recordings clears Brown's office
Jerry Brown (D) OAKLAND, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-California Attorney General Jerry Brown's office did not break any laws when a former spokesman surreptitiously recorded phone conversations with journalists, an investigation found.
Washington SC Justice Sanders faces challenge
Richard Sanders OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline)- Washington Supreme Court Justice Richard Sanders faces a challenge this year from a Bainbridge, Wash., attorney.
AG issues report critical of Senate health care bill
Greg Zoeller (R) INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline)-Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller on Friday issued a lengthy report on the Senate health care bill before Congress, saying the proposal would cost the Hoosier State millions of dollars if enacted.
Neb. court upholds decision against insurance companies in cleanup case
LINCOLN, Neb. (Legal Newsline)-The Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday upheld a decision ordering two insurance companies to pay about $550,000 of the cost of cleaning up industrial contamination.
Ky. SC: Med-mal plaintiffs better bring experts
Abramson FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - A Kentucky judge was right to rule against a plaintiff who had not retained an expert witness for his 17-month-old medical malpractice lawsuit, the state Supreme Court recently ruled.
Nevada AG reaches settlement with loan modification company
Catherine Cortez Masto (D) CARSON CITY, Nev. (Legal Newsline) - Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto said Friday that her office has reached a settlement with an unlicensed in-state loan modification company.
Cuomo files fraud suit against Bank of America
Cuomo NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - After months of toying with the idea, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo on Thursday filed a lawsuit against Bank of America regarding its merger with Merrill Lynch.
Nebraska AG Bruning's political star rising
Jon Bruning (R) LINCOLN, Neb. (Legal Newsline)-Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning's political star continues to rise, political observers told Legal Newsline.
Republican announces run for New Mexico AG
Matt Chandler (R) ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Legal Newsline)-A Republican county prosecutor has announced he will run for New Mexico attorney general, possibly challenging Democrat incumbent Gary King.
N.Y. firm changes mind, won't seek Fla. securities suits
McCollum TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A prominent New York plaintiffs firm has withdrawn its application to represent the state of Florida in securities lawsuits one day after a Wall Street Journal report chronicled its campaign contribution strategy.
Ballot measure targets Calif. climate-change law
Dan Logue (R) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-Supporters of an effort to suspend California's landmark greenhouse gas law are now able to collect signatures to get a measure on the statewide ballot, officials said.
Mass. enters into largest securities recovery settlement to date‏
Martha Coakley (D) BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has entered into a settlement with State Street Bank & Trust Company to resolve allegations that it misled fund investors about the riskiness of investments.
Michigan AG again pushes for closure of Chicago-area shipping locks
Mike Cox (R-Mich.) LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline)-Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox on Thursday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider its decision not to close some Chicago-area shipping locks to block Asian carp from migrating into the Great Lakes.
Ill. AG files suit against contractor alleging shoddy work‏
Lisa Madigan (D) CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed a lawsuit against a home repair contractor who allegedly solicited contracts and collected fees for work that was never performed or completed in a substandard manner.
Trucking firm settles with Brown over misclassifying workers
Jerry Brown (D) LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline)-California Attorney General Jerry Brown on Thursday said he has won a judgment against a trucking company that was misclassifying workers as independent contractors.
Fla. files lawsuit against Calif.-based loan modification company‏
Bill McCollum (R) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A lawsuit has been filed by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum alleging that a California-based loan modification company violated Florida's Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act by charging consumers up-front fees.
Illinois Supreme Court strikes down med-mal caps
Thomas Fitzgerald SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline)-An Illinois law limiting damage awards in medical malpractice cases is unconstitutional, the state Supreme Court said Thursday in a long-awaited and closely-watched ruling.
Lilly decides to settle with AG Hood
OXFORD, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - Even after a federal judge dismissed most of Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood's claims, Eli Lilly & Co. has decided to pay $18.5 million to settle the remaining part.
Cooper, feds settle with Bank of America
Cooper RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) - Bank of America has reached a settlement with North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper and the federal Securities and Exchange Commission over its 2009 merger with Merrill Lynch.