News from February 2011
Tillery given fresh start on $10 billion tobacco class action
Tillery MOUNT VERNON, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Fifth District appeals judges granted Stephen Tillery a fresh start on his $10 billion class action against cigarette maker Philip Morris on Feb. 24.
Former N.Y. AG's suit alleged no harm, court rules
Spitzer ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York's highest court ruled earlier this month that insurance brokers did not have to tell their customers about incentive agreements they had with insurance companies.
Former Ga. judges lose law licenses
Camp ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) - The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday accepted former U.S. District Judge Jack Camp's voluntary surrender of his law license and disbarred former Alapaha Circuit Superior Court Judge Brooks E. Blitch III.
Ark. AG against lending bill
McDaniel LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel says he opposes a bill that would allow the state Legislature to increase the interest rate on loans less than $5,000.
Mo. AG: Debt collection tops list of consumer problems
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster says debt collectors topped his office's list of the top 10 consumer complaints and scams in 2010.
Former prosecutor mulling another run at Wash. AG
Ladenburg TACOMA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) - A former Washington prosecutor says he is considering a second run for state attorney general.
Ind. AG proposes fix to gambling revenue dispute
Zoeller EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced on Friday that he has reached out to the East Chicago City Council to propose setting up a trusteeship for money generated through a local development agreement.
Ark. AG alleges charity was a scam
McDaniel LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel announced on Monday that he has filed a lawsuit against a Florida-based company and its owner alleging that they defrauded state consumers with a charity scam.
Coakley makes club apologize
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Friday that she has reached a settlement with the owner of a Boston-based nightclub that allegedly engaged in racial discrimination.
Asbestos lawyers file another appeal in fraud case
NATCHEZ, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - The two lawyers found to have committed fraud during asbestos litigation are appealing an order requiring them to pay more than $500,000 of a company's attorneys fees.
Ky. lawsuit lending bill irks business group
Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - Companies that provide loans to litigants are the main beneficiaries of a bill pending in the Kentucky Legislature, the state Chamber of Commerce says.
Graves to Fifth Circuit, replaced by appellate judge
King JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour announced this week the appointment of Judge Leslie King to the Mississippi Supreme Court.
Pa. SC: Privilege goes both ways
Saylor HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that the attorney-client privilege in the state operates in "a two-way fashion," protecting those communications made from client to attorney or attorney to client.
W.Va. SC issues full opinion on high school football brawl
McHugh CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - The West Virginia Supreme Court says "there was no basis for the trial court's involvement" in the case of four South Charleston High School football players who were suspended following an on-the-field brawl last fall.
Driveway paver shut down by N.C. AG
Cooper RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) - North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper announced on Friday that a Forsyth County man has been ordered by a court to stop performing driveway paving and gravel work.
Coakley resolves discrimination suit
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has obtained a consent judgment against a property management company and an assistant property manager over allegations that they violated state anti-discrimination law.
Health insurer paying feds, Illinois
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced on Thursday that she has reached a $14.25 million settlement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois over allegations that the company defrauded the federal government.
Report: Law firm in Fla. AG's sights
Bondi TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is reportedly investigating a law firm that allegedly presented false and misleading documents to judges.
Atheists: No dependence on God in war on terror
Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - The Kentucky Court of Appeals was expected to hear oral arguments Thursday over a state law that an Atheist civil rights group says violates state and U.S. constitutions.
Fla. AG says U.S. Government dragging its heels
Bondi TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, in a response in the multistate health care lawsuit, is calling the federal government's recent motion to clarify "an attempt to delay the process."