News from February 2010
McGraw says settlement must be enforced
McGraw CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw has filed a lawsuit against the owners of a used auto dealership in Beckley to enforce the terms of a settlement agreement.
Dow officially N.J.'s AG
Dow being sworn in TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - Paula Dow was sworn in as New Jersey's attorney general Tuesday, making her the first African-American woman to hold the position.
Entergy submits report, suspends high-ranking employees
MONTPELIER, Vt. (Legal Newsline) - Entergy Corp. has handed over the results of an internal investigation to Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell while lawmakers are mulling the future of one of its plants.
U.S. SC ruling could limit forum shopping by trial lawyers
Ed Murnane WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-A U.S. Supreme Court ruling this week could put a damper on the trial lawyer practice of filing lawsuits, particularly class actions, in vaguely related jurisdictions where judges are seen as plaintiff-friendly.
Madigan stands firm on keeping shipping locks open
Lisa Madigan (D-Ill.) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline)-In what is shaping up to be an epoch legal battle between Great Lakes states, the Illinois attorney general Tuesday urged the U.S. Supreme Court not to change its mind and order the closure of Chicago-area shipping locks.
Calif. chief justice laments court closures
Ronald George (R) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-California's court system has borne more than its fair share of the state's budget woes, Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald George told lawmakers Tuesday.
Oregon governor to decide whether to expand AG's powers
Ted Kulongoski (D) SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline)-Oregon Attorney General John Kroger could be just days away from having the statutory authority to prosecute lenders under the Beaver State's consumer protection laws.
Ohio pays $670 an hour for outside legal services
Richard Cordray (D) COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline)-Ohio taxpayers are paying a law firm $670 an hour to represent the University of Cincinnati in a case, and two state lawmakers say that is out of line.
Tire Works attacks reporter after AG dismisses suit
Masto LAS VEGAS (Legal Newsline) - A Nevada tire and automobile service company is blaming a Las Vegas television reporter and a defunct state agency for the legal problems it has experienced since March.
Blumenthal mad at the Fed
Blumenthal HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has demanded an explanation from the U.S. Federal Reserve as to why it failed to meet this week's deadline to roll back credit card interest rate and fee increases.
Attorneys, AG Hood want Pickering to drop fees case
Hood JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - Opponents of Mississippi Auditor Stacey Pickering say he has spent too much time and taxpayer money fighting $14 million in attorneys fees for private lawyers hired to represent the State.
Tire Works case resolved in Nevada
Masto LAS VEGAS (Legal Newsline) - The parties in Nevada's lawsuit against Tire Works have, by mutual stipulation, agreed to dismiss their respective cases against each other, Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto has announced.
Coakley reaches settlement with brokerage firm
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - An insurance brokerage firm that allegedly accepted undisclosed commission payments from insurance companies has agreed to a settlement to provide refunds to consumers, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has announced.
U.S. justices rule in closely watched civil jurisdiction case
U.S. Supreme Court building WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that a company's principal place of business is where its top executives work, not where most of its business is transacted.
Group puts the brakes on Honda class action settlement
Ted Frank WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-An otherwise dreary Monday in the nation's capital turned especially bright yesterday for noted legal reformer Ted Frank after learning he helped to keep nearly $3 million out of the pockets of trial lawyers - at least for now.
Pawlenty calls for medical malpractice reform
Tim Pawlenty (R) ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline)-Changing the way medical malpractice cases are handled would be a "commonsense" way to help bring down skyrocketing U.S. health care costs, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said.
Texas SC Justice Guzman faces primary challenge
Eva Guzman (R) AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline)-Eva Guzman, seated on the Texas Supreme Court since last month, faces a challenger in the March 2 Republican primary.
Colorado's Amendment 54 declared unconstitutional
Nancy Rice DENVER (Legal Newsline)-The Colorado Supreme Court on Monday declared the state's landmark Amendment 54 unconstitutional because it violated free speech rights.
U.S. high court allows $600 million class action against bond house
U.S. Supreme Court building WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday denied an appeal by Pacific Investment Management Co., allowing a securities class action lawsuit to proceed against the company.
Calif. tort reform bills face certain death, observers say
Kassy Perry SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-Republicans in the California Legislature are aiming to level the state's legal landscape through a handful of bills they say will also help jumpstart the state's sputtering economy.