News from July 2010
Manchin proposes bill for Byrd replacement election
Manchin CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Gov. Joe Manchin on Tuesday released special session legislation that will clarify West Virginia code on the succession process for the state's vacant U.S. Senate seat.
Cooley leads Harris in Calif. AG race
Cooley SACRAMENTO (Legal Newsline) - Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley is leading San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris in California's attorney general race, according to poll results released over the weekend.
Corbett: Unemployed waiting on benefits to run out
Corbett HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett said last week that some workers who are between jobs will stay that way as long as they are receiving unemployment benefits.
Blumenthal urges DPUC to reject water rate increase
Blumenthal HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal filed a brief on Monday calling for the rejection of a proposed water rate hike.
Punitives will stay cut in W.Va. class action
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Plaintiffs in a once-$381 million class action lawsuit against DuPont have accepted the West Virginia Supreme Court's decision to reduce the award by nearly $100 million.
Abbott defends Texas open meetings law
Abbott AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott filed a brief on Monday that defended the Texas Open Meetings Act, which is intended to protect transparency and openness in government.
W.Va. lawmakers will meet to discuss special election
Manchin CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant says her office is already moving forward in preparing for a special legislative session called by Gov. Joe Manchin.
EPA, pesticide maker at odds over study
Jackson WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The federal Environmental Protection Agency says a new review of atrazine, a commonly used agricultural pesticide, is rooted in a statutory mandate and prompted by new evidence about the effects of the pesticide to humans and animals.
Bill Clinton backs Baker for Georgia governor
Baker ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) - Former president Bill Clinton is supporting Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker's quest to become the state's next governor.
Mo. AG: Lt. Gov can't represent my state
Koster ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster wants to intervene in a lawsuit filed last week by Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder that challenges federal health care reform.
ABA: Federal judgeships need filled
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Legal Newsline) - American Bar Association President Carolyn Lamm says the increasing number of vacancies in the nation's lower federal courts is affecting the efficiency and fairness of the justice system.
Dating service shot down in N.Y.
Cuomo MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has won a lawsuit against a dating service that was accused of fraudulent and illegal business practices.
Judges say self-representation hurts litigants
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) -- State trial judges, in a survey released Monday by the American Bar Association, say an increase in self-representation is hurting both those parties involved and the courts.
Final approval hearing for Big Sky settlement set Monday
Stack EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - Madison County Circuit Judge Daniel Stack is set to give the final go-ahead to a $21 million settlement in a long running class action suit brought by small business owners against AT&T.
McKenna settlement nets $200K in restitution
McKenna SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna has announced a settlement with an e-commerce services company that promised increase Web site hits but allegedly failed to deliver.
McGraw: W.Va. should hold Byrd replacement election this year
McGraw CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginians should elect someone this year to replace the late U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd, a legal opinion issued Thursday by state Attorney General Darrell McGraw says.
Coakley settles with health care company
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Wednesday that she has reached a settlement with a home health care company accused of deceptive marketing to veterans and their families.
Col. AG sues debt repair company
Suthers DENVER (Legal Newsline) - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced on Wednesday that he has filed charges against a Westminster-based debt repair company for allegedly defrauding consumers through infomercials and ads.
Fifth window company settles with McKenna
McKenna SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - As part of an effort to target window businesses he says aare involved in deceptive business practices, Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna reached a settlement with another window seller on Wednesday.
Abbott: Don't believe insurance ad
Abbott AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has sent a cease-and-desist letter to a company behind a television ad that he says claims Texans can lose their home without adequate auto insurance.