News from June 2011
Cow hearts in the sausage, Mo. AG alleges
Koster ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced on Tuesday that he has filed a lawsuit to stop a local meat processor from the alleged practice mislabeling meat products.
Ark. AG sues payday lender
McDaniel LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel announced on Monday that he has filed a lawsuit against a Kansas-based debt collection agency that allegedly failed to fully answer two formal investigative requests.
Olens against principal write-downs
Sam Olens ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) -- Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens says he is opposed to a national settlement with mortgage servicers that would force state attorneys general to conduct principal write-downs.
Tennessee wins case against JK Harris
Cooper NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - Tennessee Attorney General Robert Cooper announced on Tuesday that a civil contempt order and permanent injunction have been secured against a tax preparer and its co-defendants that didn't abide by terms of a 2008 agreement.
Medical groups agree to Mass. AG's oversight
Martha Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) -- Medical groups Atrius Health Inc. and Fallon Clinic Inc. have entered into an assurance of discontinuance and agreed to provide information on future contract terms, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced Tuesday.
Swanson asks Minn. SC to dismiss lawmakers' petition
Lori Swanson ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) -- Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson, in a memorandum Monday, says state spending amid a government shutdown is constitutional.
Conn. AG: State auditor to look into union complaint
George Jepsen HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) -- Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen says his office will refer to the State Auditors of Public Accounts a complaint alleging improper use of the state's email system.
U.S. SC sides with Wal-Mart in gender-bias class action
Antonin Scalia WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- The U.S. Supreme Court, in a significant victory for businesses, sided Monday with retail giant Wal-Mart in a challenge to a class action lawsuit alleging discrimination against its female employees.
Conway files suit against developers
Conway FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway filed a consumer protection lawsuit on Friday against the developers of Green Farm Resort in Grayson County.
Del. insurer wants 2004 law revised
Beau Biden DOVER, Del. (Legal Newsline) - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware says it believes "current questions" about the intent of some of the language contained in the state's 2004 Not-for-profit Health Care Conversion Act warrant the input of the General Assembly.
Abbott settles with online ticket broker
Abbott AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced a settlement on Friday resolving an enforcement action against an Austin-based online ticket broker.
U.S. SC: States cannot proceed with emissions lawsuits
Ruth Bader Ginsburg WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court, in an 8-0 decision Monday, said an appeals court erred in ruling that federal judges may set limits on greenhouse gas emissions.
Largesse or license - cy pres a weapon of class warfare?
Burbank When a court orders cy pres awards to be distributed to charities or other unrelated nonprofit organizations, is the court being charitable or licentious with these unclaimed funds from class action suits?
Ga. city council in trouble with AG again
Sam Olens SAVANNAH, Ga. (Legal Newsline) - Savannah city officials, already warned by Attorney General Sam Olens in April for violating Georgia's Open Meetings and Open Records laws, contend they have not violated the laws in settling a councilwoman's flood claim.
Tennessee gets tort reform
Haslam NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslem on Thursday signed a tort reform package into law that he says was part of his job-creating agenda.
Nomination of former Kan. AG stalled
Six TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) - Former Kansas Attorney General Steve Six's nomination to a federal appeals court is being held up.
Tort reform package becomes law in South Carolina
Haley COLUMBIA, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley recently signed a tort reform measure concerning appeal bonds and punitive damages into law.
Fla. tax rule possibly being updated
Bondi TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Gov. Rick Scott and the state's Cabinet have asked the state Department of Revenue to consider updating a decades-old tax rule to better determine whether online travel companies are avoiding state taxes.
TVA, N.C. AG close to settlement
Cooper KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper asked a federal judge on Thursday to sign off on a landmark settlement with the Tennessee Valley Authority to reduce air pollution in North Carolina.
Mass. AG orders cleaning company to pay up
Coakley SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Wednesday that a Springfield cleaning company has been ordered to pay a fine for alleged retaliation against an employee.