News from June 2011
Transocean pushes for production of medical records
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - Seven workers claiming orthopedic and emotional injuries from the Deepwater Horizon explosion won't let their employer examine their bodies or minds.
Federal agency ticks off state attorneys general
Zoeller WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The nation's state attorneys general are claiming the federal Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has been attempting to preempt state consumer protection laws for a decade.
Class action complaint against power company ruled insufficient
Thomas SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - The Illinois Supreme Court has upheld a lower court's decision to dismiss a third amended complaint by a class of plaintiffs against power company Commonwealth Edison Company.
Smoking companies must fund cessation program
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday denied to review a Louisiana class action judgment that ordered the nation's major cigarette companies to fund a statewide 10-year smoking cessation program.
Proposed budget cuts anger Calif. SC, AG
Harris SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - Neither California's supreme court or attorney general are very happy with a budget proposed by Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Jerry Brown.
Wis. commission begins probe of alleged attack
Prosser MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - The Wisconsin Judicial Commission confirmed Monday that it received information about an incident that occurred at the state Supreme Court.
U.S. SC will hear case involving union fees
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Monday to review an appeals court's ruling that a union is not required, in addition to an annual fee notice to members, to send a second notice when adopting a temporary, mid-term fee increase.
Schneiderman says breast cancer charity funneled donations
Schneiderman NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against a charity that had allegedly funneled donation money to organization insiders and fundraisers.
McConnell event came at no extra cost, court says
McConnell PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline) - A who's who of Rhode Island politicos looked on Monday as Jack McConnell was sworn in during a public investiture ceremony that was a marked departure from similar ceremonies involving U.S. District Court nominees.
Wis. AG settles with property owner
Van Hollen MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced on Tuesday that his office has reached a settlement with a Shorewood Hills, Wis., property owner over allegedly unlawful construction.
AG orders contractor to pay $18,500
Van Hollen WINNECONNE, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced on Monday that a Winneconne, Wis., contractor has been ordered to pay $18,500 for waste violations in the Rat River.
ATRA lawyer says movie slashed key part of argument
Schwartz WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A tort reform advocate who was interviewed for a documentary that debuts Monday on HBO says his comments were taken out of context, though the filmmaker is defending her editing.
U.S. SC rules against public financing program
Roberts WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision Monday, struck down Arizona's campaign financing program.
Gambling banned at Internet cafes in Massachusetts
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced Friday that her office has issued a permanent regulation under the Consumer Protection Act that will ban illegal gambling at so-called "Internet Cafes" and other establishments.
Fair Share Act passes Pa. House, ready to become law
Corbett HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - An amended version of a bill that will do away with Pennsylvania's joint and several liability doctrine is headed to Gov. Tom Corbett's desk.
Wis. SC justice denies assaulting colleague
Prosser MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Newly reelected Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser says claims that he physically attacked a fellow justice -- grabbing her around the neck -- will be "proven false."
Report: Antitrust probes start against Google
Abbott MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - A handful of states reportedly have begun their antitrust probes into search engine giant Google Inc.
Coakley settles with Wesco Insurance
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a settlement on Monday with a credit unemployment insurance product company that allegedly charged inflated premiums to consumers.
McKenna elected president of NAAG
McKenna CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna was unanimously elected last week by the members of the National Association of Attorneys General to become its 104th president.
Ohio AG settles with company over wreck
DeWine COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Transportation announced a settlement on Monday with a Henderson, Texas, machine transport company.