News from October 2011
Del. judge frustrated with docket, tees off on asbestos attorney
Crumplar NEW CASTLE, Del. (Legal Newsline) - In slamming the actions of an asbestos attorney and imposing a $25,000 penalty on him, a Delaware judge said last week that lawsuits from out-of-state plaintiffs are clogging her court.
Study: Tort costs go down, employment goes up
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The costs associated with the United States tort system are excessive compared to other countries
Intel makes case against N.Y. AG's antitrust suit
Schneiderman WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman cannot prove that Intel Corp. unfairly created a monopoly in the microprocessor market, the company is arguing.
Little Nashville Opry refunding sales of cancelled shows
Zoeller NASHVILLE, Ind. (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced a consent judgment on Friday with Little Nashville Enterprises Inc. and its principals for $26,500 in refunds for ticketholders.
Ohio AG seeks shutdown of refinery
DeWine COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced Friday that his office is seeking the temporary shutdown of a Columbia petroleum product refinery for alleged air pollution violations.
Masonry companies ordered to pay $68K
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Friday that three masonry companies and their owners have been ordered to pay more than $68,000 for allegedly failing to pay the prevailing wage.
The science of asbestos: The arguments for juries
Shein WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - With so much at stake for businesses weighted down by litigation costs, can juries in asbestos cases be trusted to render fair and just verdicts?
Judge calls letter to asbestos witnesses 'improper'
Guerry CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - Asbestos attorneys have agreed to be enjoined from undertaking "further improper communication" with potential witnesses, according to an order filed in a Tennessee circuit court.
Miss. speaker candidate: Hood mishandling settlement funds
Gunn JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - One Mississippi lawmaker says Gov. Haley Barbour's warning not to rely on recent legal settlements as a "windfall" for the state's budget is another example of why the Legislature -- not Attorney General Jim Hood -- needs to do the appropriating.
Miss. AG candidate: Video leak '100 percent' political slander
Hood JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) -- Mississippi attorney general candidate Steve Simpson says incumbent Jim Hood used his office's investigatory power to get a video of him helping a friend out of jail and then used it for his campaign.
Conn. AG settles with Mass. insurance broker
Jepsen HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen and Insurance Commissioner Thomas Leonardi announced a $1.7 million settlement Friday with a Massachusetts-based insurance broker over allegations that the company misrepresented and concealed commissions and fees.
Mass. AG reaches settlement over fuel spill
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a settlement Thursday with the owner and operator of a Milford gas station who allegedly failed to notify authorities of a 15,000 gallon diesel fuel spill.
Mo. AG enters agreement with breeding facility owner
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced Friday that the Schuyler County Circuit Court has entered a consent judgment against a breeding facility owner for violations of the Animal Care Facilities Act.
Okla. AG warns EPA using 'questionable science'
Pruitt OKLAHOMA CITY (Legal Newsline) -- In a letter Monday to his fellow attorneys general, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt warned that the federal government is using "questionable science and data" to estimate methane emissions from natural gas production.
Calif. AG sues over plastic water bottles
Harris SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - California Attorney General Kamala Harris is suing three companies for allegedly making false and misleading claims in marketing their plastic water bottles as "100-percent biodegradable and recyclable."
N.J. AG objects to Morgan Stanley's $6.5M settlement
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow has a problem with financial services firm Morgan Stanley's proposed settlement in a class action lawsuit that alleges bid-rigging.
Biden suing mortgage registry
Biden WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden announced a lawsuit on Thursday against the mortgage registry MERS that he says is at the middle of the housing crisis.
Ind. AG sues Fla. businesses
Zoeller INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced a lawsuit on Thursday against two Florida-based foreclosure assistance companies that allegedly promised to stop home foreclosures and failed to deliver.
Texas AG, weight loss clinics come to agreements
Abbott AUSTIN (Legal Newsline) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced agreements on Thursday with several weight loss clinics and a distributor of a weight loss product in Texas requiring that the companies significantly alter their marketing.
Study: Philly courts courting plaintiffs from outside city
Wright PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - A newly released academic study by a law school professor asserts that Philadelphia's civil court system is attractive to plaintiff's from outside of the city at the expense of local consumers and businesses.