News from November 2011
W.Va. girl not exempt from vaccinations
Whitehead WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear the case of a West Virginia mother who was denied the right to claim a religious exemption for her child under a state law requiring that children be vaccinated before attending public school.
Pennsylvania receiving $250K in national settlement
Kelly HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly announced on Tuesday that her Medicaid Fraud Control Section has recovered more than $250,000 for the state as part of a national settlement.
N.J. AG's worries in $6.5M settlement not persuasive, judge says
Dow NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge has denied New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow's objection to a $6.5 million settlement reached with financial services provider Morgan Stanley in a class action lawsuit.
International academy a respected asbestos think tank
Shein WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Independent scientific research institutes whose work influences the policies of the U.S. government as well as governments abroad, also impacts litigation in the states, an economics professor says.
Maine to receive $1.3M in taxes
Schneider AUGUSTA, Maine (Legal Newsline) - Maine Attorney General William Schneider announced on Wednesday that the state will recover $1.3 million in sales, gasoline and special fuel taxes that were diverted by the former president of M.W. Sewall & Co.
Coakley says car dealers in contempt
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Monday that her office is bringing contempt of court charges against the former owners of an Auburn car dealership for allegedly selling cars again.
Ind. AG says school bus fees unconstitutional
Zoeller INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced on Thursday that he will ask the State Board of Accounts to review a school corporation's transportation arrangement that charges parents fees for children to ride school buses.
Mo. SC has chance to strike limit on punitive damages
Hulting ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) - The Missouri Supreme Court may end up deciding the fate of the state's punitive damages cap, one St. Louis attorney says.
Newark paper slams gov's treatment of Supreme Court
Christie TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has gone "way too far" in his criticism of the state Supreme Court, according to a recent op-ed.
Report: Dow preparing to leave N.J. AG post
Dow TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow is reportedly expected to step down as the state's top lawyer by the end of the year.
U.S. SC accepts ObamaCare appeal
Obama WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court announced on Monday that it will hear the appeals in a 26-state lawsuit that challenges President Barack Obama's federal health care reform law.
Conn. AG wants charges during storm waived
Jepsen HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen asked all state providers of telecommunications, television and Internet services on Thursday to waive charges for the period its customers were without service following an Oct. 29 storm.
DOJ forces sale of commercial health insurance business
Pozen HELENA, Mont. (Legal Newsline) - The Department of Justice announced Tuesday that it will force New West Health Services Inc. to sell the majority of its commercial health insurance business to a third-party buyer -- most likely Pacific Source Health Plans of Springfield, Ore.
Right to Work group will offer free legal aid for non-union workers
Mix CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Legal Newsline) - Reacting to reports in the blog Red State.com that nonunion workers may be prevented from working at the 2012 Democratic National Convention set next August, the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, is offering free legal aid to workers who may be ordered off their jobs or prevented to work because they refrain from union membership.
U.S. SC makes no decision on Obamacare appeal
U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court has not said if it will hear a multistate challenge to President Barack Obama's federal health care law.
Man says Hood campaign ad went too far
Hood JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - A lawyer for a man accused of killing a priest says a campaign commercial for freshly re-elected Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood has tainted the jury pool.
Report: Upset N.J. gov calls court 'exalted elite'
Christie TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is fuming over the state Supreme Court's decision to take up a case over how much public employees should contribute to their insurance and pensions.
CSX can contact former Peirce clients for fraud case
Peirce WHEELING, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - CSX Transportation can contact former clients of Pittsburgh asbestos lawyer Robert Peirce, U.S. District Judge Frederick Stamp has decided.
AGs team against House bill
Zoeller CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan in Chicago on Wednesday to warn consumers about House Resolution 3035, known as the "Mobile Informational Call Act of 2011."
Former restaurant owner arraigned over wages
Coakley WOBURN, Mass. (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Thursday that the former owner of a Woburn restaurant has been arraigned for allegedly violating the commonwealth's wage and hour laws.