News from May 2010
Lawyer says capping his team's fees at $50 million would derail $3 billion settlement
John Barrasso (R) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-One of the trial lawyers who sued the federal government over claims it mismanaged Indian trust funds says the proposed $3.4 billion settlement would be derailed if Congress tries to reduce fees he and other counsel in the case would receive.
Payroll company ordered to pay up
Cuomo ROCHESTER, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has obtained a court order and judgment for more than $2.2 million against a payroll company based in Rochester that is alleged to have defrauded hundreds of area businesses.
Kansas-Nebraska water fight back before U.S. justices
Steve Six (D-Kan.) TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline)- Kansas Attorney General Steve Six is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to find Nebraska in contempt of court for allegedly violating the terms of a 2003 settlement over water rights in the Republican River basin.
Illinois files suit against construction firm
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has announced a lawsuit against a Chicago construction firm that is alleged to have fraudulently obtained public funds reserved for minority-owned subcontracting firms.
Judge says Bysiewicz may run for Conn. AG
Bysiewicz HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - A Connecticut judge has ruled Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz has met the legal experience standard required of an attorney general candidate.
Hood wants settlement to stay sealed
Hood HATTIESBURG, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood is again opposing the unsealing of the settlement in State Farm Insurance's lawsuit against him.
Trial lawyers have new leader
Lipsen WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-The U.S. trial lawyer lobby this week got a new chief executive officer, capping the American Association for Justice's year-long search for an administrator.
Fla. AG candidate: Ban off-shore drilling
Gelber TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida lawmaker and attorney general hopeful Dan Gelber wants Gov. Charlie Crist to call a special legislative session to discuss banning off-shore drilling in the wake of the recent British Petroleum explosion and oil spill.
CSX: U.S. SC helped fraud case against attorneys
Robert Peirce RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) - CSX Transportation is using a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in an attempt to get its fraud case against a Pittsburgh law firm going again.
Ethics complaint filed against Conway by opponent
Conway FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway's opponent in the race for a U.S. Senate seat has filed an ethics complaint against him.
Koster sues owners of mobile home park
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster has filed a lawsuit against a Malibu, Calif., couple for violating Missouri's Clean Water Law.
Florida settles with Internet advertising company
McCollum TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum announced on Tuesday that Florida will receive $2.9 million as a result of a settlement with an Internet advertising company.
Blumenthal: Brothel business booming on craigslist
Blumenthal HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - A 39-state coalition wants to know if classified advertisement Web site craigslist is combatting prostitution ads.
Referendum on Calif. greenhouse law appears headed for voters
Kamala Harris (D) SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)-California voters will likely be asked in the November general election if the state's greenhouse gas law should be put on hold for rosier economic times, a postponement the Democratic frontrunner for attorney general, Kamala Harris, said Monday would be a colossal mistake.
Fall at W.Va. coal mine not company's fault
Davis CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Former driller Kyle Ramey can't blame his employer for an 80-foot fall at a Logan County coal mine, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals ruled on April 15.
Missouri AG asked to opine on 'constitutional crisis'
Chris Koster (D) JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline)-A Republican state senator in Missouri said Monday that the state's Democratic governor and former attorney general has sparked a constitutional crisis.
Court rejects Pfizer appeal in Celebrex shareholder lawsuit
U.S. Supreme Court building WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday dealt pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. a major legal blow, rejecting its appeal of a securities lawsuit over its pain medication Celebrex.
UBS settles class action suit
Cox LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) - Michigan's public pension fund is one of the shareholders that will benefit from a recent settlement reached by Swiss bank UBS.
Wal-Mart settles Calif. environmental claims for $27 million
Jerry Brown (D) SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline)-Wal-Mart, the nation's largest retailer, has agreed to pay more than $27 million to settle claims the company violated California environmental laws in how it handled hazardous materials.
Dow settles with auto repair chain
Dow NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow announced a $250,000 settlement on Monday with an auto repair chain alleged to have charged consumers for repair work that was not actually performed.