News from December 2012
Mass. AG reaches settlement with cement company
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a settlement Thursday with a Hopedale cement finishing company and its owner to resolve allegations of labor law violations.
Ponzi scheme targeted deaf people
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A California man has been charged with operating a commodity pool Ponzi scheme that fraudulently solicited and accepted at least $670,000 from 17 people.
Ohio Senate passes asbestos bill
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - A bill meant to stop the duplication of asbestos lawsuits has passed the Ohio state Senate.
Mass. AG announces $700,000 order against Newton man
WORCESTER, Mass. (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a $700,000 order on Thursday against a Newton man who allegedly paid kickbacks to regional transit authority employees to divert funds to five of his companies.
Iowa AG cautions Allied, Nationwide customers after data breach
DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller warned Allied Insurance and Nationwide Insurance customers Tuesday about a recent data breach in which computer hackers accessed the personal information of more than 91,000 Iowans.
Ill. AG warns utility customers of scam
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and the Illinois Commerce Commission warned consumers Wednesday of a recent scheme in which scam artists pose as utility employees and ask for immediate bill payment.
NY SC rules for state in fatal boat accident case
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) -- The New York Supreme Court has dismissed a case over a fatal public boat tour accident.
California SC rules on mobile home park case
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - By a 6-1 vote, the California Supreme Court has ruled that the conversion of a mobile home park from tenant occupancy to residential ownership is a "development" that falls under California's Coastal and Mello Acts.
D.C. court backs BAE Systems tax exemption
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Legal Newsline) - The D.C. Court of Appeals has rejected the arguments of the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue and affirmed the administrative decision granting a tax exemption to a high-tech company.
N.J. small businesses says court vacancies, decisions affect them
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) -- New Jersey's "hostile business climate" can be attributed to recent "outrageous lawsuits" and state Supreme Court vacancies, according to a recent survey released by the New Jersey Lawsuit Reform Alliance.
Tenn. AG reaches $325,000 agreement with psychiatrist
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper announced a $325,000 agreement on Monday with a Madison psychiatrist who allegedly overbilled Tennessee Medicaid patients for visits.
Wis. AG announces erosion control judgments
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced Monday that his office obtained a $5,000 judgment against two Portage County landowners for allegedly engaging in erosion control violations.
Mass. AG announces $2.8 million in refunds through motorcycle insurance settlements
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced $2.8 million in refunds Tuesday through settlements with two insurance companies that allegedly overcharged policyholders who owned motorcycles.
Federal court rules for credit rating agencies
CINCINNATI - A federal appeals court has sided with three major credit rating agencies in ruling against Ohio pension funds regarding mortgage debt.
Miss. SC set to hear Texaco appeal
JACKSON, Mississippi - The Mississippi Supreme Court on Monday was scheduled to hear oral arguments in Texaco's appeal of a $19 million verdict that said the oil company was to blame for five children born with disabilities and illness.
Colo. AG secures judgment against door-to-door magazine companies
DENVER (Legal Newsline) - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced a default judgment Friday against multiple door-to-door magazine companies that were the subject of hundreds of complaints with Suthers' office and the Better Business Bureau.
N.C. AG settles with Duke Energy
RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) -- North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper's office has reached a settlement with Duke Energy after the firing of former executive Bill Johnson.
Md. AG announces cease and desist against two contractors
BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler announced a cease and desist order on Thursday against two unlicensed home improvement contractors who allegedly took money from consumers and failed to perform the contracted services.
Conn. AG seeks agreement enforcement with NU after merger
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen and Consumer Counsel Elin Swanson Katz asked state utility regulators on Monday to require Northeast Utilities to respond to layoff and staffing questions after its merger with NSTAR.