News from November 2010
Iowa AG settles four digging violations
Miller DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller announced on Tuesday that he has settled four separate lawsuits against companies that allegedly violated the state's One Call laws by not providing proper notice on excavations.
Va. AG rules on federal work permit issue
Cuccinelli RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) -- The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is not required to accept federal work permit cards as proof of "lawful status" in the United States when it comes to issuing a driver's license, driving permit or ID card.
Toxicogenomics could lead to explosion of litigation, says expert
Hartley As advances in molecular science develop rapidly in laboratories, legal observers wonder if toxicogenomics will provide the next holy grail for toxic tort litigation -- specific causation.
Harris maintains lead in Calif. AG race
Harris SACRAMENTO (Legal Newsline) -- Democrat Kamala Harris retained a 30,000-vote lead over her Republican opponent Steve Cooley on Tuesday in the race to be California's next attorney general.
Kansas AG-elect looks to join challenge to federal health care law
Schmidt TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) -- Kansas is looking to join the ongoing legal challenge to President Barack Obama's federal health care law.
N.Y. AG-elect names transition team
Schneiderman NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) -- New York Attorney General-elect Eric Schneiderman on Tuesday announced the creation of a so-called bipartisan transition committee that will help recruit "top legal talent" to join the attorney general's staff and to provide policy recommendations.
Blumenthal wants ban on alcoholic energy drinks
Blumenthal HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - After several incidents in which people were hospitalized, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced on Monday that he has asked the Food and Drug Administration to ban alcoholic energy drinks.
R.I., Mass. settle with Buzzards Bay oil spill company
Coakley WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- The Department of Justice, the commonwealth of Massachusetts and the state of Rhode Island have announced that they have settled with parties allegedly responsible for the Buzzards Bay oil spill.
Conn. AG seeks postponement of insurance hearing
Blumenthal HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) -- Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has announced that he has asked for a postponement of the Insurance Department's public hearing on Anthem's massive proposed health insurance price hike due to a lack of critical evidence.
Wash. AG to bring in counsel to work on minimum age defense
McKenna OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) -- The Washington State Farm Bureau and a handful of other business groups have filed a lawsuit seeking to reverse an increase in the state's minimum wage.
McGraw reaches $7.9 settlement with N.J. lawyer, debt agencies
McGraw CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) -- West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw on Tuesday announced a settlement with a New Jersey lawyer and several out-of-state debt collection agencies that the lawyer represents.
New S.C. AG names chairman to transition team
Wilson COLUMBIA, S.C. (Legal Newsline) -- South Carolina Attorney General-Elect Alan Wilson announced on Tuesday that Thad Westbrook will serve as chairman of his transition team.
Miss. SC to hear AG's price-gouging appeal
Hood JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) -- The Mississippi Supreme Court has decided it will take up the state Attorney General Office's appeal of a judge's ruling that Mississippi's price-gouging law is "unconstitutionally vague," according to The Associated Press.
Nevada AG files psychiatric antitrust lawsuit
Masto LAS VEGAS (Legal Newsline) -- Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto announced Monday her office has filed antitrust lawsuit and settlement papers directing Universal Health Services Inc. and Psychiatric Solutions Inc. to sell PSI's psychiatric hospital assets in Las Vegas to proceed with their proposed merger.
Shurtleff files Avandia lawsuit
Shurtleff SALT LAKE CITY (Legal Newsline) - Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff announced that his office has filed a lawsuit against a pharmaceutical giant that allegedly made misleading claims about a drug.
Gansler sues over election calls
Gansler BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler announced on Wednesday that he filed a complaint in federal court against a company and two women for allegedly violating the state's Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
Maine may pick Republican as AG
Mills AUGUSTA, Maine (Legal Newsline) - For the first time since 1980, Maine's next attorney general is expected to be a Republican.
New Kan. AG picks transition chief
Schmidt TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) - Kansas Attorney General-elect Derek Schmidt announced late last week that a former senior deputy attorney general will lead his transition team.
Cox OKs hospital purchase
Cox DETROIT (Legal Newsline) - Outgoing Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox has given the sale of the Detroit Medical Center to a for-profit Nashville, Tenn., firm a go, according to a report released Saturday.
New Yorkers excited for Cuomo era, poll shows
Cuomo LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - A majority of New Yorkers say they are optimistic that Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo will succeed in addressing several key issues, according to the results of a Siena Research Institute poll released Monday.