News from February 2011
Twitter post costs deputy AG his job
INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced on Wednesday that Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Cox "is no longer employed by this agency" for inappropriate comments he made via Twitter.
U.S. Fidelis settles with another state
McKenna OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) - Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna has reached a settlement with the former owner of an auto service contracting company that allegedly used illegal robocalls and misleading advertisements.
Madigan sues home repair contractor
Madigan SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced on Wednesday that she has filed a lawsuit against a home repair contractor.
Mo. AG files clean water lawsuit
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced on Wednesday that he has filed a lawsuit against a company and its owner for allegedly violating the state's Clean Water Law.
Georgia gets $7.8M in settlement
Olens ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) - Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens announced on Tuesday that his office has reached a $7.8 million settlement with a health care company that allegedly violated the state's False Claims Act.
Tennessee a step closer to AG elections
Cooper NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - Tennessee lawmakers are looking to let voters decide whether the state attorney general should be elected.
Alabama wins fight with feds over Medicaid recovery
King MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge says the U.S. Government sidestepped formal rulemaking procedures when it crafted a new plan for claiming funds from state-filed Medicaid fraud lawsuits.
Texas AG probing diabetes drug
Abbott AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has issued civil investigative demands to drug makers Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. and Eli Lilly & Co. for information related to diabetes drug Actos.
Michigan, health insurer reach agreement
Schuette LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) - Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced on Tuesday that he, the Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan have negotiated a reduction in a rate increase request.
Idaho AG says state hit hard by foreclosures
Wasden BOISE, Idaho (Legal Newsline) - Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden says the national foreclosure crisis was the dominant consumer protection issue in the state in 2010.
U.S. SC rules for vaccine makers
Scalia WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-2 ruling on Tuesday, has protected vaccine makers from lawsuits by parents whose children have allegedly suffered side effects from the medications.
Out-of-staters tossed from North Dakota courts
VandeWalle BISMARCK, N.D. (Legal Newsline) - Thirteen out-of-state plaintiffs should not be filing their lawsuits in North Dakota, the state Supreme Court has ruled.
Abbott sues notaries
Abbott McALLEN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced on Wednesday that he has taken legal action against six Rio Grande Valley "notarios" for allegedly violating state law.
Well driller settles with Wisconsin
Van Hollen LAKE NEBAGAMON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced on Wednesday that he has reached a $7,000 settlement with a drilling company and its owner for allegedly violating numerous pump and drilling laws.
La. officials criticize oil spill claims process
Caldwell
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - A memo submitted by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Attorney General Buddy Caldwell states that the Gulf Coast Claims Facility falls short of compliance with the Oil Pollution Act.
Wisconsin reaches environmental settlement
Van Hollen MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced on Friday that he has reached a $55,000 settlement with an Illinois company that allegedly violated environmental protection laws in Wisconsin.
Ind. AG makes public nuisance claim, wins lead paint case
Zoeller EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Legal Newsline) - An Indiana judge has sided with state Attorney General Greg Zoeller, ruling recently that a county can use a public nuisance claim to sue a property owner.
No decision yet on injunction on $8B judgment
Kaplan NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge has delayed his decision on whether to grant an injunction to stop the collection of more than $8 billion from Chevron Corp.
Former S.C. AG joining alma mater
McMaster COLUMBIA, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - Former South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster is returning to his alma mater, the University of South Carolina, to help fundraise and boost alumni relations, the university announced Monday.
Calif. tort reform group pushing bill
Berryhill SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - The Civil Justice Association of California announced on Friday a Senate bill that it says would help limit "unwarranted" legal filings that clog the courts and "needlessly" cost defendants large sums of money.