News from March 2010
Brown up against wealthy Republicans
Jerry Brown (D) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-California Attorney General Jerry Brown is up against some Republican challengers' very, very deep pockets in his fight to be California's governor once again.
Trial lawyers' group claims victory
Anthony Tarricone WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-The leader of the nation's trial lawyer lobby, Anthony Tarricone, is taking a victory lap over the health care overhaul signed last week by U.S. President Barack Obama.
Abbott charges Texas developer
Greg Abbott (R) AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - A developer in the Cameron County subdivisions of Los Fresnos and El Jardin has been charged by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott with violating the state's colonia-prevention laws.
Lawmaker seeks to blunt Brewer on health care lawsuit
David Lujan (D) PHOENIX, Ariz. (Legal Newsline)-Arizona House Minority Leader David Lujan is seeking to block the state's Republican governor from suing over the national health care bill signed into law last week.
Media outlets to intervene in AG Hood case
Hood JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge has decided that four media outlets should be allowed to seek the unsealing of the settlement in State Farm Insurance's lawsuit against Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood.
Indiana AG joins in health care lawsuit
Greg Zoeller (R) INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana's attorney general is joining 13 of his counterparts from around the country in challenging the constitutionality of the nearly $1 trillion health care overhaul signed into law last week by President Barack Obama.
AG Caldwell back in the national spotlight
Buddy Caldwell (D) BATON ROUGE, La. (Legal Newsline)-Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell is back in the national spotlight for the second time this year, capturing headlines across the nation.
Mass. insurance agency prohibited from charging agency fees‏
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has secured an order against a Peabody, Mass.-based insurance agency prohibiting them from charging so-called "agency fees," which are direct additional charges to consumers.
Attorneys fees cap poised to become law in Florida
McCollum TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsine) - The Florida Senate has passed legislation that will cap the amount private attorneys can be paid when they are hired to represent the Attorney General's Office.
Obama bypasses Senate, sneaks labor lawyers onto board
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- President Barack Obama said Saturday he will make recess appointments of 15 of his pending nominees, including his controversial pick to the National Labor Relations Board.
Former AG, senator defends McKenna joining health care lawsuit
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline)-Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna may have ruffled some political feathers when he joined with other Republican AGs to challenge recently enacted health care legislation but he is within his powers to file suit, one of McKenna's predecessors said Friday.
Texas AG asked about use of forfeiture funds
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline)-Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has been asked to issue an opinion on whether a county attorney may use forfeiture funds to pay a private law firm for representation in a civil lawsuit.
DuPont wins new trial in W. Va. environmental case
CHARLESTON, W. Va. (Legal Newsline)- The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia on Friday reduced the punitive damages award won by residents of Spelter in a pollution class action lawsuit against DuPont Co.
R.J. Reynolds to pay Conn. $150,000‏
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - The state of Connecticut will be paid $150,000 by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company to settle a 2007 lawsuit about an advertising spread in Rolling Stone magazine that used cartoons in violation of the master tobacco settlement, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has announced.
Calif. AG candidate sues over ballot designation
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-California Republican attorney general candidate John Eastman has filed a lawsuit asking that he be allowed put his occupation as "assistant attorney general" in voter materials.
Mass. duct company agrees to make restitution
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachsuetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has reached an agreement with a Worcester, Mass.-based duct cleaning business over allegations that it failed to provide customers with promised merchandise and services.
Nevada AG pressured over possible health care lawsuit
Jim Gibbons (R) CARSON CITY, Nev. (Legal Newsline)-Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons said Thursday he wants to know very soon whether his state's attorney general will pursue legal action against the health care bill signed this week by President Barack Obama.
Calif. AG hopeful launches petition against health care lawsuits
Chris Kelly (D) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-A Democratic candidate for California attorney general is asking people to sign an online petition urging 13 state attorneys general to jettison their lawsuit against the federal health care overhaul signed into law this week.
Lawsuits filed against two N.Y. loan modification companies‏
Andrew Cuomo (D) NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Lawsuits have been filed by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo against two loan modification companies for engaging in nationwide foreclosure rescue scams.
North Dakota AG files cease-and-desist against oil firm
Wayne Stenehjem (R) BISMARCK, N.D. (Legal Newsline) - North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has announced a cease-and-desist order against an oil and gas company and its principals over alleged violations of the state's consumer fraud law and for failure to respond to a Civil Investigative Demand.