News from December 2011
Fla. AG settles with AT&T over charges added to consumers' bills
Bondi TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a settlement on Friday with AT&T Mobility resolving allegations that roadside assistance plans were charged to customers' cell phone bills without their consent.
Ind. AG applauds upholding of robo-call law
Zoeller INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller applauded the Indiana Supreme Court's ruling on Thursday in favor of the state's ban on robo-calls to homeowners that determined that the Autodialer Law does not violate free speech.
Nev. AG approves divestiture of two psychiatric hospital facilities
Masto CARSON CITY, Nev. (Legal Newsline) - Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto approved the divestiture of two Las Vegas psychiatric hospital facilities on Thursday from Universal Health Services Inc. to Strategic Behavioral Health LLC.
Boeing employees file discrimination complaint against union
Boeing Employees File Complaint Against Union for Discriminating against Workers in Right to Work States
Texas company to be fined more than $1 million by OSHA
Solis WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced Dec. 28 that it has cited Piping Technology and Products Inc. of Houston for 13 willful and 17 serious violations of worker safety regulations at the company's Houston facility. The amount of fines sought total $1,013,000.
GE Healthcare Inc. pays feds $30 million
DETROIT (Legal Newsline) - GE Healthcare Inc. has paid $30 million plus interest to resolve allegations that Amersham Health Inc., a 2004 company acquisition, violated the False Claims Act by causing Medicare to overpay for Myoview, a radiopharmaceutical.
N.J. company settles with Iowa attorney general
Miller DES MOINES (Legal Newsline) - Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller announced a settlement on Tuesday resolving allegations that a New Jersey direct television marketing company charged unknowing Iowans for a membership program.
Rulings go against Calif. redevelopment agencies
Werdegar SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - The California Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Assembly Bill 1X 26 and struck down Assembly Bill 1X 27 on Thursday, resolving challenges filed by multiple organizations and cities.
Zoeller sues former highway superintendent
Zoeller NEW ALBANY, Ind. (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller filed a lawsuit on Thursday against a former county highway superintendent and a surety company to recover more than $17,000 in public funds.
Ky. SC may reinstate $42M award to fen-phen plaintiffs
Chesley FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - The Kentucky Supreme Court will decide if former plaintiffs in fen-phen litigation that was tainted by the actions of attorneys will receive $42 million.
Mass. SC sides with offshore wind farm project
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - The Massachusetts Supreme Court has ruled that the state public utilities department was right to deny a motion filed against a 2009 power purchase agreement involving a wind farm.
N.Y. AG wants to move struggling antitrust suit against Intel
Schneiderman WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says he should no longer proceed with his antitrust lawsuit against Intel Corp. in federal court.
AGs support graphic warning labels for cigarettes
Wasden WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A group of state attorneys general led by Idaho's Lawrence Wasden has filed a brief in support of the Food and Drug Administration's new graphic warning labels for cigarettes.
School treasurer ripped off taxpayers, Ind. AG says
Zoeller WINCHESTER, Ind. (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against a former Randolph County school treasurer who allegedly billed more than $39,000 in fraudulent expenses and overpayments to taxpayers.
Texas, Actavis reach $84M settlement
Abbott AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced an $84 million settlement on Wednesday with a pharmaceutical manufacturer resolving allegations of Medicaid fraud.
Conn. AG wants review of utility merger
Jepsen HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen continued his efforts on Wednesday to persuade state utility regulators to recognize their authority and open a state review of a proposed merger between two major utility companies.
AIG wants judge to toss $58M verdict
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Chartis and AIG plan to ask a Harrison County, W.Va., judge to toss a $58 million jury verdict from earlier this month involving a leaking tank at a gas station.
N.J. AG announces $130K bullying settlement
Dow TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow and Division on Civil Rights Director Craig Sashihara announced a settlement on Friday between a student and the Emerson school board, accused of failure to effectively address harassment.
State AGs reach $538.5M settlement over LCD panels
Bondi WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Eight state attorneys general announced a multi-state $538.5 million settlement on Tuesday with the sellers and manufacturers of thin film transistor liquid crystal display panels.
N.J. AG says gas station raised prices in wake of Hurricane Irene
Dow NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow announced a lawsuit on Thursday against a Sussex County gas station for alleged price-gouging following landfall by Hurricane Irene in August.