News from March 2011
Miss. Bar seeking disbarment of asbestos lawyers
Chief Justice William Waller, Jr. JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - If two asbestos attorneys found to have defrauded a railroad company do not win their appeal, they should be permanently disbarred, the Mississippi Bar Association says.
Fla. SC affirms gov's right to refuse grant
Scott TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - The Florida Supreme Court has upheld Gov. Rick Scott's decision to reject federal grant funds for construction of a high-speed rail project.
Calif. court: Sprint fees designed to keep customers from leaving
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A California appeals court has upheld the decision of a trial court that found cell phone service provider Sprint's early termination fees to be "unlawful penalties."
D.C. AG's office will probe new mayor
Nathan WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The District of Columbia Attorney General's Office now is looking into allegations concerning "alleged improprieties" during last year's mayoral campaign.
Calif. AG becomes Obama's ally in health care fight
Harris RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) - First, President Barack Obama supported Kamala Harris' campaign for California attorney general. Now, she's defending Obama's federal health care reform package that has twice been ruled unconstitutional.
Business court recommended in West Virginia
Workman CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - A committee has recommended that the West Virginia Supreme Court create a business court.
Calif. group praises lawsuit abuse report
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - The Civil Justice Association of California is praising a new report by the state's Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse that is aimed at showing how lawsuit abuse is hurting the state's economy.
Reports: AGs eyeing large foreclosure settlement
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - State attorneys general could be nearing a settlement with top U.S. banks over the foreclosure crisis, according to reports.
Koster announces foreclosure requests
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced on Tuesday that he would like to see any settlement agreement with the nation's largest banks concerning robo-signatures to include mortgage loss mitigation measures.
Schneiderman sues wedding photographers
Schneiderman BUFFALO, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against a wedding photo company that allegedly failed to deliver photos to customers who pre-paid in full.
Schneiderman settles with GM for $154M in cleanup costs
Schneiderman NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced on Tuesday that he has reached a landmark $154 million settlement with the former General Motors Corporation to help clean up and redevelop land the company left behind.
Calif. group begins tort reform campaign
California Sen. Jean Fuller said, "California consistently chooses lawsuits over jobs." SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - California's Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse has launched an effort to show how lawsuit abuse is hurting the state's economy.
South Carolina's Risperdal suit goes to trial
McMaster SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - South Carolina's lawsuit against Janssen Pharmaceutica over its prescription antipsychotic Risperdal went to trial Tuesday in the state's 7th Judicial Circuit Court.
Ark. SC: Insurance lawyer can't represent plumbing company
Danielson LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - The Arkansas Supreme Court has upheld a lower court's order disqualifying a lawyer from representing a plumbing company.
Insurance issues surface in BP oil spill litigation
Barbier NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - Below the surface of lawsuits blaming oil company BP for the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion, tremors of insurance disputes begin to roll.
Ala. SC dismisses suit over injuries in Israel
Justice Glenn Murdock wrote, "The arguments the Kelleys made in this case as to inconvenience and Alabama's door-closing statute fail to undermine the enforceability of the forum-selection clause."
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - The Alabama Supreme Court on Friday ordered a lower court to dismiss a couple's action against a Christian travel company.
Judge issues injunction against $8B judgment in Ecuador
Judge Lewis Kaplan wrote, "The purpose of such multiplicitous and burdensome proceedings against a company like Chevron is plain. By their own admissions, it is to exert pressure on Chevron by means of this litigation strategy to force a quick and richer settlement."
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge has granted Chevron Corp.'s motion for a preliminary injunction to stop the collection of more than $8 billion from the company.
Curves settles with New York
Schneiderman NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced on Tuesday that he has reached an agreement with a fitness company that allegedly collected money for memberships and then closed without warning.
Hurricane Dolly price-gouging resolutions reached
Abbott MCALLEN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Five price-gouging cases against South Texas motel operators stemming from conduct during Hurricane Dolly were resolved on Monday by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.
Koster files lawsuit against landfill owner
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced on Tuesday that he has filed a lawsuit against a landfill owner who allegedly violated the state's Clean Water law.