News from July 2011
Governors of Texas, South Carolina sign tort reform into law
Perry AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Texas Gov. Rick Perry was in Houston Wednesday for the ceremonial signing of a new law that will implement a loser-pays system for frivolous lawsuits filed in the state.
Conn. AG, Walgreens reach $140K agreement
Jepsen HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen and U.S. Attorney David Fein announced a civil settlement on Thursday with a national retail pharmacy chain.
Madigan sues over upfront fees
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against two Chicago companies for allegedly charging consumers upfront fees in mortgage rescue schemes.
Miss. SC says hospital not liable for man's death
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - The Mississippi Supreme Court last week ruled in favor of a Calhoun City hospital sued over a man's death.
Rite Aid paying $2.1M in Mass. settlement
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a $2.1 million settlement on Wednesday with the Rite Aid Corporation for alleged prescription drug overcharges.
DeWine says car dealer violating law
DeWine COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced a lawsuit on Wednesday against a Columbus used car dealer, its owner and its general collections manager for alleged consumer law violations.
Conference will explore how to evaluate judges
Cady DENVER (Legal Newsline) - The Denver-based Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System is hosting a national conference on appellate judicial performance evaluation next month.
Fourth Circuit sticking with decision in W.Va. AG's drug-pricing case
McGraw RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals court has declined to review its rejection of a claim made by prescription drug retailers who said West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw is acting like a class action lawyer.
D.C. court adds interest on med-mal judgment
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The District of Columbia Court of Appeals, in a ruling last week, ordered a radiology group to pay additional money to a woman who sued them for medical malpractice.
Class members get $6, lawyers take $950K in proposed Ill. settlement
Cueto BELLEVILLE, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - A 2008 class action filed over the effectiveness of a generic immune system supplement sold by CVS Pharmacies Inc. has settled and is one step closer to being over.
Op-ed slams Ark. AG's handling of Eli Lilly settlement funds
McDaniel LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - An Arkansas columnist is calling out state Attorney General Dustin McDaniel for his office's distribution of lawsuit settlement money.
N.J. AG sues modeling agencies after 200 complaints
Dow NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow and the State Division of Consumer Affairs announced a lawsuit Tuesday against two modeling companies and their owner for alleged deceptive business practices.
Hurricane shutters the subject of Fla. AG's suit
Bondi TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a lawsuit on Monday against a hurricane shutter company over alleged deceptive and unfair trade practices.
Light bulb settlement yields $7K, ad changes
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a settlement on Tuesday with a New York distributor of compact fluorescent bulbs over alleged misleading environmental advertising and Mercury Management Act violations.
Conway sues over drug prices
Conway FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway announced a lawsuit on Monday against a pharmaceutical wholesaler and a compendium publisher that allegedly conspired to inflate average wholesale prices.
Conn. AG happy with Facebook's changes
Jepsen HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen applauded Facebook on Tuesday for making it easier for users to report imposter profiles and for providing opt-out instructions for new features.
Vermont settles lead glasses case
MONTPELIER, Vt. (Legal Newsline) - Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell has reached a $10,000 settlement with a Utah-based company over drinking glasses that contained excessive levels of lead.
Pizza Hut not at fault for alleged attack by employee
Meierhenry PIERRE, S.D. (Legal Newsline) - The South Dakota Supreme Court last week upheld a lower court's ruling in favor of popular restaurant chain Pizza Hut following an alleged attack by one of its employees.
Ala. SC rules on motorcycle wreck lawsuit
Shaw MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - The Alabama Supreme Court has denied a police officer's motion for summary judgment in a personal injury lawsuit filed by a woman who allegedly was struck by the officer on a motorcycle during a city event.
Plaintiffs: BP uses 'coercive' tactics during oil spill claims process
Feinberg NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - A motion filed in a Louisiana federal court claims that the Gulf Coast Claims Facility fails to comply with the Oil Pollution Act in how it administers payments to victims of the 2010 BP oil spill.