News from July 2011
Holder: Oil spill compensation fund to be audited
Feinberg WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday an independent audit will be performed on the Gulf Coast Claims Facility.
Conway reaches settlement with Passport members
Conway FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway says a $26.4 million settlement has been reached with four members of Passport Health Care Plan.
Md. AG looks to protect landowners from natural gas speculators
Gansler ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Legal Newsline) -- Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler announced this week a campaign aimed at protecting landowners in western Maryland from what he calls "high-pressure sales tactics" by natural gas drilling speculators.
Key parts of W.Va. election ad rules struck down
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) -- A federal judge this week struck down key provisions of West Virginia election laws that attempt to regulate political ads by special interest groups.
Son of beef jerky mogul gets $5 million in Wis. SC ruling
Gableman MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - The Wisconsin Supreme Court last week upheld $5 million in damages awarded to a man who claims he was "squeezed" out of his family's beef jerky business.
McGraw wins case against BlueHippo
McGraw CHARLESTON, W. Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw announced on Wednesday that his office has obtained a judgment against BlueHippo Funding LLC and BlueHippo Capital LLC.
Coakley, power provider renegotiate settlement
Coakley
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Tuesday that National Grid will pay $1.2 million to customers as part of an updated settlement.
Payday lender settles with Idaho AG
Wasden BOISE, Idaho (Legal Newsline) - Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden announced on Tuesday that his office has reached a settlement with a Utah payday lender that will entitle Idaho borrowers to restitution.
Report: Ind. AG asked about political donations ban
Zoeller FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Legal Newsline) - An Indiana senator, in a letter last week, asked Attorney General Greg Zoeller if a bill before the Fort Wayne City Council banning certain political donations is legal.
Calif. SC decision protects L.A. grocery workers
Werdegar SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - The California Supreme Court ruled Monday that a Los Angeles city ordinance protecting grocery workers is "fully consistent" with both state and federal equal protection clauses.
Illinois appellate court reverses asbestos verdict; Justices overrule conspiracy precedents
Appleton SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Asbestos witness Barry Castleman's testimony involving eight cancerous mice can no longer support the heavy load of asbestos litigation in McLean County, Fourth District appellate judges decided on July 15.
Fla. SC won't review $28.3M tobacco decision
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - The Florida Supreme Court won't hear the appeal of tobacco company R.J. Reynolds of a $28.3 million verdict against it.
Agency not required to release Texas gov's travel info
Perry AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Newspapers might expose Gov. Rick Perry to physical harm if they track his travels too closely, the Supreme Court of Texas ruled on July 1.
Law grad sues La. SC for denying bar admission
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - An applicant for admission to the Louisiana bar has filed a lawsuit claiming his constitutional rights were violated after he was denied admission to the bar because of alcohol-related incidents which included two DWIs.
Hold: Asbestos conference
Trust or tort, which system do you use if you are a representing a claimant in an asbestos case. Should the two systems be coordinated?
Hold: Illinois courts remain a problem
The litigious nature of the state of Illinois is such that one could rightfully ask, "What would Abraham Lincoln say?" Certain jurisdictions in the state have been described by tort reformers as "judicial hellholes."
Ill. court overturns $2.6M take-home asbestos verdict
Turner SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - An Illinois appeals court has shot down a theory that held companies liable for a woman's asbestos-related death that was caused by fibers brought home on the clothes of her husband.
No injunction for Entergy in dispute with Vermont
MONTPELIER, Vt. (Legal Newsline) - Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell announced a ruling on Monday denying Entergy's request for a preliminary injunction that would have prevented the state from enforcing its laws during pending litigation.
N.J. AG says company used investments for personal use
Dow NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow announced on Tuesday that the state's Bureau of Securities has filed suit against an Allendale, N.J.-based company for alleged fraud.
Miss. SC stays $322M case while mulling judge's involvement
Bowen JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - The Mississippi Supreme Court has stayed a record-breaking asbestos case in which the defendant argues the judge had a "blatant" conflict of interest.