News from August 2011
Koster alleges animal cruelty
Koster JEFFERSON CITY (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced a lawsuit on Monday against a Ray County, Mo., dog breeder for alleged violations of animal care and cruelty laws.
Texas furniture store faces lawsuit
Abbott LAREDO, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced a lawsuit on Monday against a Laredo, Texas, furniture store and its owners for allegedly violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Va. AG settles with mortgage loan modification company
Cuccinelli RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) - Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli announced a settlement on Thursday with a Virginia Beach, Va.-based mortgage loan modification company for allegedly charging illegal advance fees.
Report: Ex-AG puzzled by delay in Okla. chicken case
Edmondson OKLAHOMA CITY (Legal Newsline) - Former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson says he doesn't understand why a judge is taking so long to rule on the state's lawsuit against the poultry industry.
S.C. AG endorses Huntsman for president
Wilson COLUMBIA, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has reportedly endorsed Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman.
Spitzer sued for defamation
Spitzer NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Former New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and Internet magazine Slate are being accused of defamation, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court last week.
Texas AG will take up railroad commission's cause against EPA
Abbott AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - A spokeswoman for Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott says the office pledges to oppose a new air rule by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
Madigan against $90M rate hike
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - State regulators should reject a proposed $90 million rate hike increase by power company Ameren and instead order a rate cut, according to new testimony filed by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and a utility watchdog group.
Wis. chief justice: Justices must uphold reputation
Abrahamson MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson says a special prosecutor's decision not to prosecute Justice David Prosser over an alleged attack on a fellow justice "should be respected."
Va. AG settles with loan modification company
Cuccinelli RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) - Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli announced a lawsuit on Thursday against a Chesapeake, Va.-based mortgage loan modification company for allegedly charging illegal advance fees for its "foreclosure rescue" services.
DISH Network settles with Vermont
MONTPELIER, Vt. (Legal Newsline) - Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell announced a settlement on Friday with DISH Network LLC resolving allegations that it violated the state's Consumer Fraud Act.
Coakley settles with highway maintenance company
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a settlement on Thursday with a Burlington, Mass., highway maintenance company that allegedly dumped solid waste illegally.
Iowa AG feels backlash for Schneiderman's removal
Schneiderman SALEM, Mass. (Legal Newsline) -- John L. O'Brien, register of deeds for Southern Essex County in Massachusetts, says it is "a travesty of justice" to have New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman removed from an executive committee negotiating a nationwide foreclosure settlement.
Hood wins lawsuit over tobacco payments
Hood JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - A Mississippi judge has ruled in favor of state Attorney General Jim Hood, ordering Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. to pay nearly $8 million to the state.
No assault charges to be filed against Wis. SC justice
Prosser MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser will not face criminal charges over an alleged attack on a fellow justice.
Abbott asked to challenge new EPA rule
Abbott AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - The Texas Railroad Commission asked Attorney General Greg Abbott in a letter Tuesday to challenge the federal Environmental Protection Agency's recently adopted Cross-State Air Pollution Rule.
Link between asbestos trusts, courts hard to pinpoint
Dixon SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - Researchers who set out to explore connections between asbestos trusts and asbestos courts returned with guesswork because of a lack of factual evidence.
Feinberg urges oil spill judge to reject call for special master
Feinberg NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - Paying oil spill claims on an honor basis sounds generous to a fault, but Gulf Coast Claims Facility administrator Kenneth Feinberg plans to keep doing it.
Carnival ride company fails to show for hearing
McGraw WAYNE, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Representatives for a carnival ride company that was sued last week by the West Virginia Attorney General's Office for unfair sales practices failed to appear Tuesday in Wayne Circuit Court.
Mo. AG alleges hazardous waste violations
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced a lawsuit on Wednesday against a Laclede County, Mo., man for violating the state's Hazardous Waste Management Law.