News from 2011
Ore. SC says AG's language on ballot not sufficient
Kroger SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline) - The Oregon Supreme Court has referred a ballot measure asking residents to vote on a petition that would phase out taxes on higher-valued estates back to state Attorney General John Kroger for modification.
Borders customers given more time to stop personal info transfer
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley alerted former customers of Borders bookstores on Wednesday that they now have more time to stop the transfer of their personal information to Barnes & Noble.
Mo. AG: Online donations never reached Joplin churches
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster has obtained a consent judgment against a Puerto Rico-based foundation that he says fraudulently solicited donations online to help victims of the Joplin tornado.
Madigan alleges debt settlement scams
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed lawsuits against three Chicago area companies on Tuesday for allegedly fraudulent mortgage rescue and debt settlement schemes.
Barbier dismisses 66 oil spill suits
Barbier NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - Owners of vessels that fought the fire from the Deepwater Horizon explosion owe nothing to those who suffered damage from the oil spill that followed, U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier decided on Oct. 12.
Jury instruction improper, N.Y. high court rules
Lippman ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - The New York Court of Appeals said a trial court erred in giving a jury emergency instruction in favor of a defendant who accidentally hit and killed a pedestrian.
Iowa SC issues cramming opinion
Zager DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - The Iowa Supreme Court last week upheld a district court's ruling that reversed a decision of the state's utilities board penalizing a company for "cramming" a business owner.
Magistrate suggests sending class action to Minn. court
Brian Glasser MINNEAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - A federal magistrate judge has suggested that a class action brought by a West Virginia law firm that drew the ire of the judge who formerly presided over the case should be heard in a state court.
McGraw, feds seek judgment in $2.7M dispute
McGraw CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - With a loss in an identical case behind him, West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw is again arguing over the amount being withheld by the federal government from the state's Medicaid program.
Reasonable fees OK to deduct from gas royalty payments
King JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled last week that an oil company can deduct reasonable processing and investment costs from payments to royalty owners.
Murder at Taco Bell drive-through not covered by auto insurance
Fabe JUNEAU, Alaska (Legal Newsline) - The Alaska Supreme Court on Friday affirmed a lower court's ruling that a man's car insurance policy did not provide liability coverage for his death, which resulted from a collision in a Taco Bell drive-through.
Wis. man ordered to pay penalty
Van Hollen MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced a judgment on Tuesday against a Barron County man for allegedly disposing of solid waste by burning it.
Coakley doesn't sue on condition of new computing center
Coakley HOLYOKE, Mass. (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Friday that an environmental agreement will help pave the way towards the development of a new computing center planned for Holyoke.
Microsoft all paid up on Miss. settlement
Hood JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood announced the final payment on Friday from Microsoft as part of a multimillion-dollar antitrust settlement the company reached with the state in 2009.
Lung group upset with 25 AGs
Schuette LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) - The American Lung Association on Monday called out Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette and other state attorneys general for standing up for what it calls "big polluters."
Ky. AG: No reason to join health care fight at late stage
Conway FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway says there is no reason for the state to join a multistate lawsuit against President Barack Obama's federal health care law now that it's headed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Judge tosses lawsuit brought by Obama nominee
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - The three major credit rating agencies have won a lawsuit filed by former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray, who is President Barack Obama's pick to head a key consumer protection post.
Ga. SC rules for CSX worker
Carley ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) - The Georgia Supreme Court ruled Monday that an appeals court correctly reversed the judgment of a lower court in favor of CSX Transportation Inc.
Va. AG slams Obama administration
Cuccinelli VERONA, Va. (Legal Newsline) - Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is once again criticizing President Barack Obama's administration.
Injunction issued against Texas woman
Abbott AMARILLO, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced a final judgment and permanent injunction on Friday against a Potter County consultant who allegedly provided immigration-related services without a license.