News from February 2011
Illinois lawyers might get new asbestos theory
Stack SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - A coming ruling from the Illinois Supreme Court could offer asbestos attorneys with a new group of plaintiffs.
Coakley files objection to rate hike
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Wednesday that her office wants a proposed $6.2 million rate hike planned by the New England Gas Company to be rejected.
Koster reaches deferred prosecution agreement
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced on Wednesday that he has reached an agreement with a health care provider over alleged Medicaid infractions.
Coakley sues landlord
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Wednesday that she has filed a lawsuit against a property owner who allegedly violated state anti-discrimination laws.
N.Y. AG sues federal nuclear agency
Schneiderman BUCHANAN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced on Tuesday that he has filed a lawsuit against the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for approving a regulation he alleges would be dangerous to the environment.
Ohio AG sues over BP oil spill
DeWine COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced on Monday that he has filed a class action lawsuit against British Petroleum and other defendants for allegedly failing to be prepared for the Deepwater Horizon disaster that occurred in April.
Congressional tort reform caucus faces hurdles, observer says
Obama WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A legal reform proponent says the newly formed Congressional Civil Justice Caucus will have a tough time drumming up support from the current administration.
Report: Texas tort reform a success
Halbach AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - A legal reform group says legislation passed in 2005 to help Texas courts deal with asbestos and silica lawsuits has been successful.
W.Va. AG says 2012 funds can't be used in 2011 special election
McGraw CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw's office says gubernatorial candidates who raised campaign money for committees for the 2012 election can't use those funds for this year's special election.
Kroger sues charities, alleges unreported political donations
Kroger SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline) - Oregon Attorney General John Kroger announced on Tuesday that he has filed a lawsuit against the founder of two charities who allegedly kept money that was earmarked for Oregon veterans.
Frequent asbestos defendant settles with Massachusetts
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Tuesday that her office reached a settlement with a chemical company that was allegedly responsible for contaminating nine sites in the state.
AGs worried about emissions from cement plants
Schneiderman NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, as head of a coalition of five attorneys general, urged the House of Representatives on Monday to reconsider a current resolution that he says could put New York communities in harm's way.
Report: Selection process for Tenn. AG is flawed
Cooper WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A new report says the Democratic Party's hold on the Tennessee Attorney General's Office is a product of the state's flawed selection method.
Gansler settles with out-of-state florists
Gansler BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler announced on Monday that he has reached an agreement with a Florida-based florist and a separate Florida-based floral business for allegedly violating Maryland's False Advertising Law.
Expert calls AAJ's confidentiality agreement into question
von Spakovsky WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A legal expert says it's suspicious that the American Association for Justice would impose a confidentiality agreement on members to attend the group's winter convention.
Public nuisance cases 'like a knife fight in a dark alley'
Sweeney NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - Noted environmental law attorney John Parker Sweeney recently spoke about the unpredictable nature of public nuisance lawsuits and the possible long-ranging effects of a few high-profile cases working through federal courts.
Pa. contractor agrees to comply
Ryan HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - Pennsylvania acting Attorney General Bill Ryan announced on Monday that his office has reached an assurance of voluntary compliance with a contracting company that allegedly provided shoddy work and issued incorrect contracts.
Public corruption the focus of Mich. AG's new unit
Schuette LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) - Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced on Thursday that he has created a new Public Integrity Unit to "ratchet up" the fight against corruption in state and local government.
Report: Wash. democrat mulling AG run
McKenna SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - A former Washington state litigator is reportedly eyeing the Attorney General's Office.
Gansler worried about chicken feed additive
Gansler ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Legal Newsline) - A group of Maryland lawmakers and state Attorney General Doug Gansler say they want an arsenic additive removed from chicken feed.