News from May 2011
Another joins class action over coal merger
WINFIELD, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Another common stock shareholder has filed a complaint alleging "inadequate compensation" in International Coal Group Inc.'s planned merger with Arch Coal Inc.
Md. senator seeks end to oil tax breaks
Gansler WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., is urging the executives of the five biggest oil companies to reject any more taxpayer subsidies in light of their nearly $1 trillion in profits over the last decade.
Investment companies buying back auction rate securities
Dow NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow announced on Monday that the state's Bureau of Securities has signed final consent orders with two investment companies over auction rate securities.
Ind. AG: Funding lawsuits cost taxpayers
Zoeller INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, who defended the state's school funding formula from a legal challenge brought last year, says it's "inappropriate" for such government entities to use state tax dollars to sue the State.
No new complaint in New York's antitrust case against Intel
Schneiderman NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman won't be allowed to amend the antitrust complaint filed by his predecessor against Intel Corp.
Pa. Bar opposes reform measure, draws ire of members
Turzai HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - The Pennsylvania Bar Association is fighting the end of joint and several liability, and in doing so lost the membership of the attorneys in a Harrisburg law firm.
Ill. SC rules in wrongful birth case
Garman SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - The Illinois Supreme Court has remanded a case in which a couple alleged various theories of liability in connection with the birth of their second child, who, like their first child, suffers from a rare genetic disease.
R.I. SC vacates default judgment
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline) - The Rhode Island Supreme Court, in a ruling Monday, vacated a lower court's judgment in a case spanning more than four years.
N.Y.'s highest court clarifies defective design defense requirements
Lippman ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - The New York Court of Appeals says a defendant moving for summary judgment in a defective design case must do more than state its product is inherently dangerous and that its dangers are well known.
Appeal of injunction against Ecuador verdict expedited
Judge Lewis Kaplan NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit granted a group of Ecuadorians, who previously won an $18 billion judgment against Chevron Corp., an expedited appeal of a preliminary injunction in an order filed this week.
Tenth Circuit skips arguments in $358M case against Utah
Shurtleff DENVER (Legal Newsline) - Oral arguments were recently skipped in the lawsuit of two former financial advisers who say the state of Utah ruined their professional lives with a witch hunt.
Fla. SC says appeals court exceeded authority
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - The Florida Supreme Court, in a ruling last week, said the state's First District Court of Appeal exceeded its authority by granting certiorari to review whether a plaintiff's expert met the proper qualifications.
Rental company paying up in discrimination suit
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a consent judgment on Thursday with rental property owner AvalonBay Communities Inc., over alleged discrimination of a tenant with young children.
Conway says Marathon Oil illegally raised prices
Conway FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway announced on Friday that he has filed a motion for a temporary injunction over an oil company's alleged price gouging.
DeWine sues home improvement businesses
DeWine COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced on Friday that his office has filed lawsuits against two Ohio home improvement businesses for alleged violations of Ohio consumer law.
Waterproofing company ordered to pay $132K
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Wednesday that a Peabody, Mass., waterproofing company has been ordered to pay $132,000 for inadequate employee compensation.
N.Y. AG sues travel agency
Schneiderman BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced on Thursday that his office has successfully sued a travel agency that allegedly took thousands of dollars from consumers and failed to deliver the promised travel packages.
Ohio AG worried about 'skimming'
DeWine COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is encouraging consumers to closely watch their bank accounts in case of "skimming scams."
N.J. group: Lawsuits hurting pharma industry
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - A New Jersey legal reform group is pointing at a recent study that shows Johnson & Johnson is the most sued company in the state.
CSX wants to talk to former asbestos plaintiffs for fraud case
Peirce WHEELING, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - A company that has filed a fraud lawsuit against an asbestos law firm says it has the right to speak with the firm's former clients.