News from September 2011
N.Y. AG settles with apartment complex
Schneiderman ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a settlement on Monday with the owner, management company and rental agency of a residential apartment complex in Glenville over allegations of discrimination.
Kan. AWP settlement worth $1.4M
Schmidt TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) - Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced on Friday that his office has recovered $1.4 million for the Kansas Medicaid program as part of a settlement with a pharmaceutical company.
Sunken treasure awarded to Spain
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) -- A sunken treasure worth about $500 million was discovered by an American company has been awarded to Spain by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.
Solyndra execs plead the Fifth
Obama WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- Solyndra's top two executives -- CEO Brian Harrison and Chief Financial Officer W.G. Stover Jr. -- invoked their Fifth Amendment rights and refused to answer questions put to them by members of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee during a Friday hearing.
White House wants bailout tax
Obama WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- The White House's proposed "Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee" would collect taxes from financial institutions "to pay the tab of irresponsible firms, namely the auto companies, that still owe the government billions," according to a Thursday blog entry by John Berlau on the Competitive Enterprise Institute website.
Port Authority can't be sued over 1993 WTC bombing
Jones ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York's highest court has ruled that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is immune to claims resulting from the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.
Fourth Fen-Phen lawyer disbarred
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - The Kentucky Supreme Court on Thursday disbarred David Helmers, a Kentucky attorney who worked on a controversial class action lawsuit over the diet drug Fen-Phen.
Tort reform equals more medical care, Texas think tank reports
Brannan AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - A new study issued this month by a Texas public policy think tank states that medical malpractice reform has increased medical access to residents across the state.
Ky. AG: No protection for banks in mortgage probe
Conway FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway is now one of a handful of state attorneys general who say they are against giving banks protection against additional claims over and investigations into their mortgage practices.
ATRA makes case against W.Va. judge's order
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The American Tort Reform Association is arguing that an "overly broad" protective order entered in West Virginia could impose a burdensome and conflicting layer of regulation.
Abbott sues EPA over air pollution rule
Abbott AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott on Thursday filed legal action against the federal Environmental Protection Agency over its "flawed" Cross State Air Pollution Rule.
Wis. AG wins cases against contractors
Van Hollen MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced judgments against contractors in Janesville and Eagle this week for alleged environmental violations.
Ill. AG says website represented itself as government
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit on Thursday against a Chicago man who allegedly cheated consumers out of at least $10,000 for help with their immigration applications that he never provided.
Coakley sues health club that never opened
Coakley NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a judgment on Friday against a Taunton health club that allegedly charged consumers money for a health club that never opened.
Mass. AG files housing discrimina tion lawsuit
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a lawsuit on Friday against the owner and landlord of a Cambridge apartment building for alleged housing discrimination.
Swanson joins lawsuit against college over financial aid
Swanson SAINT PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson announced a lawsuit on Thursday against a for-profit college company that allegedly engaged in the unlawful collection of state taxpayer-financed student financial aid.
Tenn. legislature mulling changes to disciplinary board
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - Tennessee lawmakers are looking to overhaul the state's Court of Judiciary, a board that disciplines judges.
Bullock favors transparency in benefits issue
Bullock HELENA, Mont. (Legal Newsline) - Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock last week held that the public has a right to know how much they are paying state employees in retirement benefits.
Order given to company in Suthers' lawsuit
Suthers DENVER (Legal Newsline) - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced on Wednesday that his office obtained an order barring a Denver-based company from providing consumers with assistance in filing complaints with the state for a fee.
Schneiderman alleges company made false promises
Schneiderman NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a lawsuit on Thursday against a New York City-based company that allegedly tricked out-of-work consumers in a employment scam.