News from February 2012
W.Va. AG plans foreclosure settlement workshops
McGraw MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw is organizing a workshop to administer funds recovered by last week's nationwide $25 billion settlement with five mortgage servicers.
Ind. AG says governor can't be ordered to testify
Zoeller INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller argued on Monday that a trial court judge may not order a sitting governor to give a lawsuit deposition, asserting the constitutional separation of powers.
Synthetic pot recovered from Ill. stores
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced on Friday that undercover busts last week led to the confiscation of almost 3,000 packages of synthetic marijuana worth more than $58,000 from retail establishments.
Eleven AGs want new rules regarding soot
Schneiderman NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a multistate lawsuit on Friday seeking to compel the Environmental Protection Agency to revise air quality standards for pollution involving soot.
Coalition asks Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac overseer to do more
DeMarco WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A coalition of more than 200 civil rights groups last week sent a letter to the head of a federal agency overseeing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, asking him to do more to reduce foreclosures and stabilize the housing market.
Another hot coffee lawsuit filed
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - A Philadelphia woman who claims she became burned by a hot cup of coffee at local Burger King is suing the fast food giant in state court.
Coakley, Cuccinelli debate federal health care law
Coakley WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Two state attorneys general squared off Thursday in a discussion about the constitutionality of President Barack Obama's health care law.
Okla. AG defends his decision not to join mortgage settlement
Pruitt OKLAHOMA CITY (Legal Newsline) - Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt is defending his decision not to join a multistate agreement between other state attorneys general and the nation's five largest banks.
Payday lender ruled in contempt of Wis. settlement
Van Hollen MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced on Friday that an Internet payday loan company has been found in contempt of a February 2010 settlement agreement.
Bill limiting Miss. AG's authority dead for breaking rules
Hood JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - A bill that would have taken away some of Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood's authority is dead.
Vermont GOP wants Sorrell to look into possible union bullying
MONTPELIER, Vt. (Legal Newsline) - The Vermont Republican Party is asking state Attorney General William Sorrell to investigate a possible case of union bullying.
N.M. working on laws to limit lawsuits by future space travelers
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Legal Newsline) - One New Mexico city is supporting legislation that would limit lawsuits by future space travelers.
W.Va. SC says city can't be sued for injuries at trash station
Ketchum CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, in a ruling last month, said the city of Buckhannon could not be sued for a man's injuries that resulted from unloading garbage at the city's transfer station.
Catholic TV network sues over 'ObamaCare'
IRONDALE, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - The Catholic television network EWTN is suing the federal government over the requirement by the Department of Health and Human Services for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as ObamaCare.
Madigan recovered more than $1M for workers in 2011
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced on Tuesday that her office has collected close to $2.2 million in benefits and wages owed to workers in Illinois in the past two years.
Mass. AG recovered $5M from labor violations
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced last Friday that nearly $5 million in restitution and penalties was recovered for labor and wage violations in the state in 2011.
Reporter excluded from covering mass torts program
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - A reporter who was denied access to a mass torts forum involving judges and lawyers - after its organizers said the private event was not open to the media - discovered the exclusion applied to Legal Newsline, but not the Legal Intelligencer.
S.C. chief justice says courts essential to economic development
Toal COLUMBIA, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal said Wednesday that a strong courts system will help draw businesses into the state.
Blog: Mortgage settlement not all that great
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Federal officials and state attorneys general have come to an agreement with the nation's five largest banks over their mortgage practices, but that doesn't mean everybody has to like it.
Report: Va. AG sues over health spa memberships
Cuccinelli CHESTERFIELD, Va. (Legal Newsline) - Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli reportedly filed a lawsuit on Monday against a Chesterfield recreation complex, alleging that the business violated laws governing the sale of memberships to health spas.