News from 2011
Kan. AG asks court to block new EPA rules
Schmidt TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) - Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt on Monday asked a federal appeals court to block new Environmental Protection Agency regulations that he expects will increase the cost of electricity for state consumers.
Second Circuit rules against Chevron in Ecuador case
Kaplan NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) -- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on Monday ordered that a preliminary injunction blocking worldwide enforcement of an $18 billion judgment against Chevron Corp. be vacated.
Alabama plans appeal of water ruling
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said Monday the state plans to seek review of a federal appeals court's decision refusing to reconsider a ruling made earlier this year that allowed Atlanta to tap Lake Lanier for water.
Gravestone company owner sentenced to jail
Koster ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced on Monday that Jeffrey Thomure, who did business as Standard Monument Company, has been found in criminal and civil contempt of an injunction.
Pa. AG reaches settlement over shipping and handling fees
Kelly HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly announced a settlement on Tuesday with a N.Y.-based business that sells a wide range of consumer products through infomercials and the Internet.
Calif. AG announces $44 million bridge crash settlement
Harris SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) -- California Attorney General Kamala Harris said Monday a settlement has been reached with the owners and operators of the ship M/V Cosco Busan that struck the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in 2007.
Madigan suing repair businesses
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed three lawsuits on Monday against allegedly fraudulent home repair businesses in the Chicago area.
Wis. AG wins case against mobile home park owner
Van Hollen MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced a $12,519.60 judgment on Monday against a mobile home park owner in Dunn County, Wis.
Schneiderman reaches settlement with Michaels over advertising
Schneiderman ROCHESTER, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric. Schneiderman announced a $1.8 million settlement on Monday with a retailer of arts, crafts, scrapbooking and custom framing over alleged deceptive advertising practices.
Pruitt says governor's husband can continue legal work
Pruitt OKLAHOMA CITY (Legal Newsline) -- Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, in an opinion released last week, said Gov. Mary Fallin's husband can continue to provide legal services for the University of Oklahoma and the state's workers' compensation agency.
Mont. SC to hear case on corporate campaign contributions
Bullock HELENA, Mont. (Legal Newsline) -- The Montana Supreme Court this week will hear a case challenging the state's Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits corporate contributions in state political campaigns.
GOP contributor backs Rafferty for Pa. AG
Rafferty HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) -- John Rafferty Jr., a Republican candidate for Pennsylvania attorney general, now has the support of businessman and GOP contributor Bob Asher.
Hood questions opponent's new job
Hood JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) -- Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood is questioning whether his Republican opponent should be working for a company he helped to award a nearly $6 million state contract.
Mich. AG: Building owners can ban pot-smoking
Schuette LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) - The owner of a hotel, motel or apartment building can prohibit the smoking of marijuana and the growing of marijuana plants anywhere within the facility, according to an opinion by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette.
Hatch presses union official over intimidation efforts
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) is asking National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) member and former Service Employees International Union (SEIU) official Craig Becker to explain his involvement in alleged union intimidation efforts.
Quicken Loans taking fight to W.Va. high court
Emerson CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) -- The CEO of Quicken Loans Inc., the nation's largest online home lender, says a West Virginia circuit court judge's decision to award one of its former customers $2 million in punitive damages "made absolutely no sense."
Asbestos abatement school owner sentenced
Ortiz A woman who was one of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "most wanted" fugitives was sentenced Sept. 13 to 87 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Seven states move to block AT&T's merger with T-Mobile
Madigan WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Seven states have joined the federal Department of Justice's effort to block AT&T's purchase of T-Mobile.
Ark. SC says city's utility fee is not an illegal tax
Baker LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that a stormwater utility fee, tacked onto city residents' water bills, is not an illegal tax.
Plaintiffs lawyers: State Farm bought Karmeier's SC seat
Karmeier SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - State Farm Insurance bought Lloyd Karmeier a seat on the Illinois Supreme Court to escape a billion dollar judgment, according to lawyers who want the billion back.