News from May 2010
Prominent Ala. attorney among those filing oil spill suits
Beasley MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - Heavyweight Alabama trial lawyer Jere Beasley is among those filing lawsuits over an explosion and oil spill at an offshore drilling site owned by BP.
O'Neill to leave Texas Supreme Court next month
Harriet O'Neill (R) AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline)-Texas Supreme Court Justice Harriet O'Neill has announced she will be leaving the high court next month.
Appeals court refuses to delay Blagojevich corruption trial
Rod Blagojevich (D) CHICAGO (Legal Newsline)-Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's federal corruption trial will begin as planned on June 3, a federal appeals court has decided, upholding a trial court ruling.
Leading Republican senator questions Kagan nomination
John Cornyn (R) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-U.S. Sen. John Cornyn on Tuesday questioned the experience of President Barack Obama's pick this week to the U.S. Supreme Court.
AGs sue Wyeth over hospital discounts
Rob McKenna (R) MADISON, N.J. (Legal Newsline)-U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturer Wyeth faces legal action from 17 state attorneys general who say the company owes millions of dollars to their Medicaid programs.
Del. AG Biden suffers apparent stroke
Biden NEWARK, Del. (Legal Newsline) - Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden is in the hospital after apparently suffering a mild stroke.
La. SC sides with Shell in hiring dispute
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - The Louisiana Supreme Court has found in favor of Shell and another corporation, deciding that an oil industry service provider failed to produce enough evidence to prove that Shell stole two of its employees.
Rate freeze pleases both sides in Florida
McCollum TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Progress Energy Florida has reached what it calls "a fair agreement" with state Attorney General Bill McCollum that freezes base rates through 2012.
Suthers suit garners $2.5M judgment
Suthers DENVER (Legal Newsline) - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers has obtained a $2.5 million judgment against a Colorado Springs business and its owners and operators for allegedly defrauding consumers in search of assistance in obtaining or completing federal immigration forms.
Coakley settles mortgage fraud suit
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced Tuesday that a Norwich, Conn., man has been ordered to pay $187,657 in damages and civil penalties resulting from his alleged involvement in mortgage fraud that resulted in numerous foreclosures.
Cuomo sues company over Madoff advice
Cuomo NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General said Tuesday that Ivy Asset Management misled clients about investments tied to Bernie Madoff, while one of those sued says Cuomo is targeting the wrong individuals.
Harris, Harman lead Calif. AG primary races
Kamala Harris (D) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-The races for the Democratic and Republican nominations for California attorney general appear to be wide open contests, a poll Monday indicates.
Hearing set on McConnell's nomination to federal judgeship
McConnell WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee will discuss five judicial nominees Thursday, one of whom is a plaintiffs attorney who has donated to 13 current senators.
Auto dealer gets max penalty in Oregon
Kroger SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline)- An Oregon auto dealership has been ordered to pay $650,000 in fines for deceiving customers about the damage history of its vehicles, state Attorney General John Kroger announced on Monday.
McMaster settles with energy company
McMaster COLUMBIA, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster announced on Monday that he has entered into an agreement with Duke Energy South Carolina over the company's 401 Water Quality Certification.
AG hopeful's oil severance tax proposal held by committee
Pedro Nava (D) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-Legislation by a Democratic candidate for California attorney general to enact a $1.5 billion a year tax on oil producers stalled Monday.
Obama expected to nominate Kagan to Supreme Court
Elena Kagan WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-President Barack Obama later today is widely expected to announce his nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Report: GOP eyes Whitman for 2012
Meg Whitman (R) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-Republicans have a larger plan for Meg Whitman besides just defeating California Attorney General Jerry Brown in this year's governor's race, a report says.
Staggering award in Calif. asbestos case not expected to stand
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline)-The Southern California jury that awarded a whopping $200 million punitive damages award in a household-contact asbestos exposure case in which jurors awarded compensatory damages of $8.8 million will likely be reversed, a leading legal scholar said Sunday.
Lawyers 'working around the clock' on cases against BP
Mark Lanier AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline)-Litigation arising out of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico will provide trial lawyers with countless cases and stacks of money in attorney fees.