News from 2011
Agreement struck over two who suffocated in corn
Michaels MOUNT CARROLL, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Department of Labor announced Tuesday that it reached an agreement with the grain company Haasbach resolving 25 citations issued by the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Ark. SC upholds $48 million award against Bayer
Goodson LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - The Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed Thursday a lower court's judgment awarding nearly $48 million in a case that challenged the state's cap on punitive damages.
Cordray gets support from Calif. AG
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - California Attorney General Kamala Harris expressed support Thursday for Richard Cordray, the former Ohio Attorney General whose nomination to a federal post has been met with resistance.
Reverse bifurcation suspended in Philly mass torts
Moss PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - Mass tort cases originating from the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Complex Litigation Center will be tried individually and without reverse bifurcation beginning in January, the court announced this week.
Ill. AG alleges auto parts scam
Madigan SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced a lawsuit on Thursday against a central Illinois company for selling consumers aftermarket auto parts online that were allegedly damaged, incorrect parts or never shipped.
Conn. fundraiser to pay $1.2 million, banned in New York
Schneiderman ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced an order on Friday permanently barring a Connecticut fundraising company and its owner from soliciting charitable donations in New York.
Half say it's time for W.Va. AG to go, survey says
McGraw CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Nearly half of registered voters surveyed think it's time for someone other than Darrell McGraw to be West Virginia's attorney general.
Wachovia to pay 26 states $58.75 million
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Legal Newsline) - Twenty-six state attorneys general have reached a $58.75 million agreement with Wachovia Bank N.A., they announced Thursday.
Cordray's nomination blocked by GOP
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Republicans in the U.S. Senate have blocked a vote on President Barack Obama's nomination of former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to head a new consumer protection agency.
N.H. AG: State's mental health system complies with ADA
Delaney CONCORD, N.H. (Legal Newsline) - New Hampshire Attorney General Michael Delaney says he disagrees with allegations by the U.S. Department of Justice that the state is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Newspaper: Cuccinelli needs to resign now
Cuccinelli WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The Washington Post said in an editorial Thursday that Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli needs to resign now that he has announced his gubernatorial run.
Md. AG says medical emergency requests went ignored
Gansler BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler announced a cease and desist order on Thursday against a medical alert service provider for allegedly failing to respond to emergency requests by customers.
State AGs ask Congress to vote down mobile call bill
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A group of attorneys general is urging Congress to reject a bill, it says, would allow debt collectors and other businesses to robocall consumers on their cell phones.
Conn. AG wants administrator to oversee utility pole network
Jepsen HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen and Consumer Counsel Elin Swanson urged state utility regulators on Wednesday to appoint an independent administrator to manage and oversee authority of the state's utility pole network.
New fund paying foreclosure rescue fraud victims
INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced on Thursday that more than 70 victims of foreclosure rescue fraud will receive payments totaling $60,000 from the newly created Consumer Protection Assistance Fund.
Pa. AG brings additional charges against Sandusky
Kelly HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly has lodged additional charges against Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State University assistant football coach who stands accused of sexually abusing young boys over the period of a decade.
Maine SC refuses to sanction GMAC in foreclosure case
AUGUSTA, Maine (Legal Newsline) - The Maine Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hold that a lower court "exceeded its discretion" in not finding loan servicer GMAC Mortgage in contempt when it sanctioned Fannie Mae for submitting a bad faith affidavit.
Contractors draw N.D. AG's attention
Stenehjem BISMARCK, N.D. (Legal Newsline) - North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem announced legal action on Tuesday against four contractors in Dickinson for alleged violations discovered during random compliance checks last month.
Ill. AG suing sauna company
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced a lawsuit on Tuesday against a Sycamore company that traveled the country selling saunas at local home shows and festivals but allegedly failed to deliver the saunas.
Report: Mass. AG asks Congress to investigate banks
Coakley WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley on Tuesday urged Congress to investigate Ally Financial Inc. and its subsidiary, GMAC Mortgage.