News from April 2012
Dem AGs tell Congress to overturn Citizens United ruling
Coakley WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Eleven state attorneys general want Congress to overturn a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed corporations to spend freely while supporting or opposing political campaigns.
Judge orders defunct company to restore retirement funds
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge has ordered Fresno, Calif. company Explore General Inc. and Jaime M. Gonzalez to pay $519,601 to the company's 401(k) profit-sharing plan.
Third Circuit rules against HMO, permits class arbitration
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - An attempt by Oxford Health Plans to vacate a district order for class arbitration in a contract dispute with a physician was rejected Tuesday by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
JPMorgan Chase to pay $20M fine
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - JPMorgan Chase Bank has arranged to pay a $20 million fine the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
W.Va. SC: Court right to deny motion to stay wrongful death suit
Chief Justice Menis Ketchum CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, in a ruling last month, denied a writ of prohibition seeking to prevent a lower court from enforcing an order denying a motion to stay a wrongful death lawsuit.
Minn. SC rules against railway company in suit over fatal crash
Page ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - The Minnesota Supreme Court last week upheld a $21.6 million verdict against a railway company in a lawsuit brought by the families of four young people who were killed when their car collided with one of the company's trains.
Just What the Doctor Ordered settles Mo. AG's lawsuit
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced a settlement on Tuesday with a medical equipment and incontinence supplies provider for allegedly submitting false claims to Medicaid.
Ill. AG, theater chain reach settlement for handicapped
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced a settlement on Wednesday with the largest movie theater operator in Illinois, providing access for people with vision and hearing disabilities.
N.Y. AG sues with former nursing home director
Schneiderman NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced an $871,000 settlement on Wednesday with Ruby Weston, a former director of two Brooklyn nursing homes, for allegedly receiving excessive and unauthorized compensation.
Miss. SC tosses wrongful death lawsuit
Chandler JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - The Mississippi Supreme Court, in a ruling last month, agreed with a lower court, dismissing a wrongful death lawsuit against a doctor, nurse and a hospice facility.
Fla. insurer pays $137.5M in fines
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- WellCare Health Plans Inc., a Tampa-based managed health care service company, will pay $137.5 million to the federal government and nine states to resolve four lawsuits.
Polston picked to head Fla. high court
Polston, at left. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Supreme Court Justice Ricky Polston has been picked to be the Court's new chief justice, starting July 1.
Mo. SC upholds cap on non-economic damages
Price JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - The Missouri Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the state's cap on non-economic damages is constitutional.
Commission says Royal Bank of Canada washed sales
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission has filed a complaint alleging the Royal Bank of Canada engaged in a wash sale plot worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
The EPA's encroachment of power
Lewis WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued a pronouncement in December 2009 to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
N.Y. attorney won't recoup Madoff losses from ex-wife
Simkin ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - A New York attorney won't have part of his multimillion-dollar divorce settlement set aside because he lost millions in Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme.
Conn. committee passes AG qualifications bill
Jepsen HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - A bill that would change the requirements for Connecticut Attorney General passed committee Monday.
Ind. SC justice stepping down to take law school job
Sullivan INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Supreme Court Justice Frank Sullivan Jr. announced Monday he will be leaving his seat on the state's high court to become a faculty member at Indiana University's law school.
EPA sued over pollution petition
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - Several environmental groups have filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency alleging the agency failed to approve a petition to lower pollution into the Mississippi River Basin and the northern Gulf of Mexico.
Report: Ariz. AG denies he worked with committee on ads
Horne PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) - Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne says allegations that he worked with an independent expenditure committee to run ads against his 2010 Democratic opponent are false.