News from April 2011
Fees dispute in oil spill case is sealed
Barbier NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - Former teammates in oil spill litigation are grappling for $1,166,125 in fees, and U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier will handle it in secrecy.
Company settles with Massachusetts over fluroscent light bulbs
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Wednesday that her office had reached a settlement with a Michigan company that allegedly took part in false advertising about environmentally friendly products.
Fertilizer producer settles air violations
Miller DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller announced a settlement with a nitrogen fertilizer producer on Wednesday over alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act.
N.Y. AG settles with utilities over marketing
Schneiderman NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced on Wednesday that his office had reached a multimillion dollar settlement with two utility companies over alleged deceptive marketing tactics.
Suthers' settles with company that allegedly sold free documents
DENVER (Legal Newsline) - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced a settlement with a Colorado Springs, Colo.-based immigration services company over alleged fraudulent activity.
U.S. SC hears states' global warming case
Obama WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments in a case filed by several states who allege power plants are causing a public nuisance with their emissions.
Feds, states settle whistleblower suit with CVS
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Tuesday that CVS Pharmacy has agreed to pay $9 million as part of a settlement.
Ala. SC won't dismiss county's complaint against J.P. Morgan
Shaw MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - The Alabama Supreme Court has declined to review a trial court's decision not to dismiss a case against J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank, among others, for alleged fraud and conspiracy.
Judge splits trial over Ecuador lawsuit
Kaplan NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge has granted Chevron Corp.'s motion to bifurcate its lawsuit against the lawyers who brought a class action against it in Ecuador.
Wash. SC rules AT&T class action shouldn't cross state borders
Madsen OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) - The Washington Supreme Court elected last week not to certify a class of plaintiffs suing AT&T over extra charges because it would place too big a burden on the company.
Plaintiffs lose coal dust case in West Virginia
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - A West Virginia jury last month rejected a claim for medical monitoring by a group of plaintiffs who alleged they were exposed to toxic coal dust from a nearby Massey Energy Co. processing plant and silo.
Dow Chemical not beyond subpoena power of Pa. court
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - The Pennsylvania Superior Court has upheld a trial court's denial of Dow Chemical Co.'s motion to quash a subpoena to compel the deposition of a company-designated witness.
W.Va. judges can force insurers to destroy records
Davis CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Judges can require insurers to destroy or return medical records that crash victims provide in lawsuits, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has ruled.
Alaska SC: Union breached duty to terminated employee
Winfree JUNEAU, Alaska (Legal Newsline) - The Alaska Supreme Court, in a ruling last week, said an airline employee's union breached its duty in refusing to take her grievance to arbitration under its collective bargaining agreement.
Calif. AG sues funeral trusts
Harris LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - California Attorney General Kamala Harris filed a lawsuit on Monday against one of the nation's largest funeral trusts, alleging that it illegally diverted some $14 million.
Madigan sues, alleges sites feature fake news
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced on Tuesday that her office has sued a Chicago-area man for alleged fraudulent marketing of acai berry dieting schemes online and fraudulent business practices.
Plaintiffs attorney should be kept from federal judgeship, WSJ says
McConnell WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The Wall Street Journal does not believe plaintiffs attorney Jack McConnell is fit to be a federal judge and says Democrats should not be surprised if his nomination leads to a Republican filibuster.
Official results show Prosser keeps his spot on Wis. SC
Prosser MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Incumbent Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser looks poised to keep his seat on the high court, according to results received by the state's Government Accountability Board last week.
N.Y. AG vows to sue government over fracking safety
Schneiderman NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman made a pledge on Monday to sue the federal government if it fails to commit within 30 days to an environmental review of of natural gas drilling in the Delaware River Basin.
Madigan happy with bill's progress
Madigan SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced on Monday that state lawmakers have passed legislation to protect consumers from paying for traded-in vehicles after a dealership shuts down.