News from 2011
House passes bill that reins in NLRB
Kline WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) The U.S. House of Representatives has passed The Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act, legislation that its sponsor says will allow employers to participate in fair union election processes.
Lafarge must create environmental executives as condition of EPA settlement
Giles RESTON, Va. (Legal Newsline) - The Environmental Protection Agency has settled with Lafarge North America Inc., a large construction materials supplier in the United States and Canada, as well as four of its U.S. subsidiaries, to resolve alleged Clean Water Act violations.
N.J. court validates bear management policy
Martin TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - Animal rights groups suffered a setback as the Appellate Division of the New Jersey state Superior Court upheld the state's Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy.
Ga. SC calls attorneys greedy, disbars them
Hunstein ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) - The Georgia Supreme Court has disbarred two attorneys found to have used "runners," non-lawyer third-parties who referred clients to their practice.
Lawyer for accused killer files complaint against Hood
Hood JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - The lawyer for a man accused of killing a Catholic priest has filed a complaint alleging ethics violations by Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood for airing a campaign commercial that, he says, tainted the jury pool.
Texas AG pushes to avoid interim redistricting maps
Abbott WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott says the federal Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division is delaying preclearance of his state's redistricting maps.
Health insurer, Mich. AG reach Medigap agreement
DETROIT (Legal Newsline) - Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette and a health insurance provider have reached an agreement to continue Medigap benefits to Michigan's Medicare beneficiaries through at least August 2016.
Conn. AG sues over dietary supplements
Jepsen HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Attorney General George Jepsen and the Federal Trade Commission announced a lawsuit on Thursday against three Branford-based companies over Internet marketing and sales practices that allegedly violated federal and state law.
Report: Schneiderman investigating military foreclosures
Schneiderman ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is reportedly looking into what could be illegal mortgage foreclosure practices by banks on active-duty military members.
Coakley sues five national banks
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a lawsuit on Thursday against five national banks for allegedly pursuing illegal foreclosures on properties in Massachusetts, as well as deceptive loan servicing.
Gansler says lawyer not licensed
Gansler BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler announced on Thursday that he has issued a cease and desist order against an allegedly unlicensed lawyer and his business for illegally providing professional services.
Report: Cuccinelli eyeing governor's office
Cuccinelli RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) - Sources say Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli next week will unveil his plans to run for governor in 2013.
Ecuadorian spokeswoman: Chevron motion sign of 'desperation'
Kaplan NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - A spokeswoman for the Ecuadorian plaintiffs suing Chevron Corp. says a new order filed by a federal judge is part of a "conspiracy" between the company and the judge to prevent enforcement of a $18 billion judgment against the oil giant.
First lawsuit filed against Penn State in child molestation case
Anderson PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - The first civil action arising out of the Pennsylvania State University child sex-abuse scandal has been filed in state court.
Chevron seeks prejudgment attachment in RICO case
Kaplan NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Chevron Corp. on Tuesday filed a motion for attachment, seeking to prevent the Ecuadorian plaintiffs suing the company from collecting any monies based on what it describes as a "fraudulent judgment that they have obtained through collusion with a corrupt Ecuadorian court."
Mich. SC approves most of new tax law
Markman LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) - The Michigan Supreme Court earlier this month approved most of Gov. Rick Snyder's controversial plan to tax pensions.
Ohio AG warns of Medicare scam
DeWine COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine warned Ohioans on Wednesday to beware of callers who pretend to be from Medicare asking for personal information.
Mass. motorcycle owners to receive an additional $5.6 million in insurance refunds
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Tuesday that more than $5.6 million in additional insurance refunds are headed back to Massachusetts motorcycle owners.
N.J. alternative energy co. to pay over fraud allegations
Dow NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow announced a summary order on Wednesday against a purported alternative energy company and its chief executive over allegations of fraud.
Vt. high court: State Police can be sued for mistake
Dooley MONTPELIER, Vt. (Legal Newsline) - The Vermont Supreme Court said last week a lower court erred in dismissing a plaintiff's claim of gross negligence against two State Police troopers who went to the wrong house when asked to do a welfare check of an elderly woman.