News from May 2011
W.Va. SC affirms $2M verdict for miner
Chief Justice Robin Davis CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Supreme Court justices chose not to second guess Boone County jurors who awarded coal miner Stanley Stevenson almost $2 million for a wrist injury.
Ohio SC critiques utilities commission's opinion
Stratton COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - The Ohio Supreme Court says the state Public Utilities Commission partially erred in authorizing new generation rates for two American Electric Power companies.
Van Hollen settles over ID cards
Van Hollen MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has obtained a default judgment against a company that allegedly sold fake international driver's licenses and state identification cards.
UPDATE: Senate affirms trial lawyer's nomination to federal judgeship
McConnell WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A measure to bring the controversial judicial nomination of plaintiffs attorney Jack McConnell to a vote passed the U.S. Senate Wednesday with a 63-33 vote.
Neb. AG picked by balanced budget group
Bruning PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) - A group calling for a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution has selected Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning as Nebraska's state chair and to serve on its national advisory board.
Zach Scruggs wants father Dickie's testimony
Dickie Scruggs OXFORD, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - Zach Scruggs, the son of disgraced plaintiffs attorney Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, has petitioned to have his father brought in to testify in a hearing later this month.
S.C. SC won't rehear negligent hiring case against Wal-Mart
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - The South Carolina Supreme Court last month said it will not reconsider its decision to not hear a case in which retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. was accused of negligently hiring and retaining an employee with a criminal history.
Wash. SC sees no reason for sanction
Stephens OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) - The Washington State Supreme Court has reversed a trial court's ruling in favor of a travel center company because the lower court abused its discretion in imposing a discovery sanction.
Judge: Louisiana not playing by the rules in oil spill case
Caldwell NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier had stern words for the state of Louisiana at the most recent BP oil spill MDL status conference regarding a recent filing by the State which came after a deadline set by a court management order.
Senator slams Obama judicial nominee
Cornyn WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - U.S. Sen. John Cornyn on Tuesday called one of President Barack Obama's judicial nominees a liar who manipulates ethical standards for his own financial gain.
Gansler settles with Ticketmaster
Gansler BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler announced a settlement on Monday with three Ticketmaster companies over allegedly deceptive ticket resale practices.
States settle with USB
Abbott AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Twenty-five states attorney general have reached a settlement with Switzerland-based USB AG over antitrust allegations.
McKenna: Company violated settlement
McKenna KENNEWICK, Wash. (Legal Newsline) - Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna announced on Monday that an online home decor company violated a 2008 settlement and must provide additional refunds.
Vote might be coming on controversial judicial nominee
McConnell WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is pushing for a vote on one of President Barack Obama's judicial nominees, Rhode Island plaintiffs attorney Jack McConnell.
Class action suit filed over flood
Koster WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A class-action complaint was filed Tuesday on behalf of the farmers whose land was flooded after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers breached a levee on the Mississippi River.
Patient's treatment was continuous, Va. SC rules in statute of limitations case
RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) - The Virginia Supreme Court has reversed the judgment of a circuit court in favor of a radiology group, saying the court erred in sustaining the group's plea of the statute of limitations.
Okla. SC: Common law wife entitled to death benefits
OKLAHOMA CITY (Legal Newsline) - The Oklahoma Supreme Court, in a ruling last month, said a common law wife's status as surviving spouse was sufficient to establish her entitlement to death benefits under the state's Workers' Compensation Act.
Levee detonated, despite Koster's wishes
BIRDS POINT, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers went ahead with its plans to detonate a Missouri levee Monday night.
Ohio SC reinstates medical malpractice claim
Brown COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - The Ohio Supreme Court says damages for emotional distress stemming directly from a physical injury are to be considered in traditional medical malpractice claims.
W.Va. AG otains court order against collection agencies
McGraw CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw said on Tuesday his office has obtained a court order halting illegal loan collections in the state by two Illinois and Nevada companies.