News from 2011
Iowa hog-feeding operation penalized
Miller FORT MADISON, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller announced on Monday that a Lee County judge has penalized a Wever hog-feeding operation for alleged water pollution and animal feeding operation violations.
Ohio company settles pollution allegations
DeWine AKRON, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced a settlement on Monday with an Akron dry cleaning business that allegedly violated Ohio's air pollution control laws.
Van Hollen takes on meat company
Van Hollen MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced on Monday that his office filed an enforcement action against a Stevens Point meat company for alleged violations of consumer protection laws.
Woman takes another shot at Wal-Mart class action
Scalia DALLAS (Legal Newsline) - Four months after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to certify a nationwide class action lawsuit against Wal-Mart, a former plaintiff has initiated a class action against the retail giant that could include up to 45,000 female Texas employees.
Rig workers who pleaded the Fifth settle with Transocean
Barbier NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - Deepwater Horizon rig owner Transocean and five workers settled personal injury suits that the workers undercut by pleading Fifth Amendment privilege against self incrimination.
Fear of mesothelioma prompts suit against Illinois Central Railroad
Gavin BELLEVILLE, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - A former railroad employee alleges he developed a non-cancerous disease after working near asbestos throughout his nearly 40-year career.
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.