News from February 2011
Ark. justice dating class action lawyer
Henry LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - An Arkansas Supreme Court justice has promised to recuse herself from any cases involving a Texarkana attorney she is dating or his law firm.
Pa. AG's office may receive gaming agency
Vereb HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - A Pennsylvania House committee was expected to vote Tuesday on proposed legislation that would move the state agency in charge of overlooking gaming background checks to the Attorney General's Office.
Madigan obtains $1.8M court order
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced on Monday that two individuals and their companies were ordered by a court to pay $1.8 million for allegedly dumping construction debris illegally.
Madigan sues over lifetime guarantees
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced on Tuesday that she filed a lawsuit against two home repair contractors who allegedly promised lifetime guarantees for repair work but didn't deliver on their promises.
Ga. AG reaches $2.7M settlement
Olens ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) - Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens announced on Tuesday that his office has reached a $2.7 million civil settlement with a health systems company that allegedly defrauded Medicaid.
Asbestos exposures contradict in civil and bankruptcy courts, Garlock says
Werkheiser WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - Owners of bankrupt gasket maker Garlock Sealing Technologies claim clients of asbestos lawyers told contradictory stories of exposure in civil courts and bankruptcy courts.
Oil spill judge reaffirms states' rights to choose counsel
Caldwell NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier issued an order Tuesday reaffirming the rights of states in pursuing litigation against BP for damages relating to the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and subsequent oil spill.
Koster files clean water suit
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced on Monday that he has filed a lawsuit against a couple for allegedly violating the state's Clean Water Law.
Pill mills a problem, Bondi says
Bondi TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi unveiled a new strategy on Thursday that she says addresses the increase in pill mills throughout the state.
Van Hollen takes on advertising business
Van Hollen KENOSHA, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has announced an enforcement action against a man and his advertising business for allegedly violating the state's consumer protection laws.
N.C. SC says Google tax break was OK
RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) - The North Carolina Supreme Court has upheld a lower court's ruling that three taxpayers weren't hurt by tax breaks used to lure search engine giant Google Inc. to the state.
Kilmartin drops predecessor's lawsuit
Kilmartin PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline) - Rhode Island's new attorney general, Peter Kilmartin, has filed a motion to dismiss his predecessor's lawsuit that seeks to stop the construction of a wind farm on an island south of the state's coast.
Simpson resigns post for run at Miss. AG
Simpson JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephen B. Simpson, who announced last month he is running for state attorney general, said he will resign his current position Feb. 15.
S.C. AG wants unions' lawsuit dismissed
Wilson COLUMBIA, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson on Thursday filed a motion to dismiss a union lawsuit against Gov. Nikki Haley.
Former N.J. AG to take over Port Authority
Samson TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - Former New Jersey Attorney General David Samson has officially been elected the chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Man forges document from Ala. AG's office
Strange MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange said a man has pleaded guilty to using a forged document -- said to be from the Attorney General's Office -- to try to hide his criminal record from a prospective employer.
Arizona drops support for EPA
Horne PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) - Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne announced this week that the State has withdrawn from a federal lawsuit in which it had previously supported the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's greenhouse gas regulatory scheme.
Schneiderman sues online cigarette vendors
Schneiderman ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced on Thursday his office is suing a group of tobacco retailers for selling cigarettes online.
Oil spill judge rules Feinberg is an agent of BP
Feinberg NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier has issued a 15-page order stating that Gulf Coast Claims Facility administrator Kenneth Feinberg "cannot be considered 'neutral' or totally 'independent' of BP."
GOP boss rips W.Va. AG, radio ads
McGraw CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - The chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party is calling out state Attorney General Darrell McGraw for radio ads that he says are a "shameful waste of money at taxpayer expense."