News from February 2012
Bone marrow registry settles allegations for $520K
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a $520,000 final judgment on Thursday against a bone marrow registry and medical laboratory company that allegedly hired fashion models to help increase donor registration.
Trump companies assessed small penalties
Chiesa ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa announced a ruling by the New Jersey Division of Gaming and Enforcement on Thursday, in which Trump Marina, Trump Plaza and KGM Gaming LLC agreed to monetary penalties.
Mo. AG alleges scam against Joplin tornado victims
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster filed a lawsuit on Thursday against a Reeds Spring-based contractor and his construction company in Branson West for allegedly failing to provide goods and home repair services.
Madison County asbestos litigation has billion-dollar impact
Simmons EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - Local law firms attract asbestos cases from around the country to litigate in local courts. One result has been an injection of more than a billion dollars into the local economy in recent years.
Mo. AG says tobacco payment loophole causing big problems
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster says the state legislature's inaction on a tobacco payment loophole has placed the state in "terrible and unnecessary peril."
Ill. AG files suit over foreclosure documents
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced a lawsuit on Thursday against Nationwide Title Clearing for allegedly filing faulty documents with county recorders in Illinois.
Wash. AG touts consumer protection efforts
McKenna SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna said Thursday that his office's Consumer Protection Division saved the public more than $4 million in 2011 while fielding approximately 40,000 calls, 23,000 letters and 450 walk-ins.
Md. company proposes $19.5 million asbestos settlement
COLUMBIA, Md. (Legal Newsline) - A Maryland-based company at the center of thousands of asbestos-related claims announced this week a proposed $19.5 million settlement has been reached between it and those sickened by exposure at a former plant in Montana.
NRC won't grant exemptions to nuclear plant
Schneiderman NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Wednesday that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has sided with his office by rejecting Indian Point's request for more than 100 exemptions from major fire safety requirements.
DOJ settles with health system over ADA violation
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- The Department of Justice has reached a settlement with the Henry Ford Health System to resolve a complaint filed alleging HF failed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
EPA prosecutes New England companies for Clean Air Act violations
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Two New England companies that store and distribute hazardous chemicals will pay more than $179,000 in penalties and donate about $43,000 worth of equipment and training, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday.
Ore. AG says he's backing settlement with banks
Kroger SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline) - Oregon Attorney General John Kroger said Wednesday he plans to join a settlement with the nation's top mortgage servicers.
Pa. SC won't meddle with Philly forum-shopping
Cutler HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will not intervene in the Philadelphia courts system, which a pharmaceutical company says is actively encouraging out-of-state lawsuits.
Coakley, Cuccinelli to debate health care law
Coakley WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Two state attorneys general will square off in a discussion next week about the constitutionality of President Barack Obama's federal health care law.
D.C. high court tackles government contacts principle
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The District of Columbia's highest court said last week that a person who uses the government as an "instrumentality of fraud," causing unwarranted government action against another, forfeits the protection of a government contacts principle.
Conn. SC: Physician's opinion in med mal case detailed enough
Palmer HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - The Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled that a written opinion in a medical malpractice case satisfies the "detailed basis" requirement of a state statute.
Keep Fair Housing Act strong, AGs argue to U.S. SC
Coakley WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Twelve state attorneys general have joined in an amicus brief submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in a case involving the Fair Housing Act.
Calif. AG pleased with legislation targeting debt buyers
Harris SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - California Attorney General Kamala Harris announced on Tuesday her happiness that the state Senate has passed legislation that would protect consumers from unfair practices of debt collection.
Wis. AG sues Travel Services, Inc.
Van Hollen MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced a complex forfeiture action on Wednesday against two companies and their principals for allegedly violating laws governing solicitations and misleading representations.
Feds collect fine from GM for Superfund cleanup
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - The federal government has entered into a an agreement with a successor trust to the Chapter 11 debtor Motors Liquidation Company ("Old GM"), formerly known as General Motors Corporation.