News from February 2012
S.D. high court affirms judgment in favor of meat company
Zinter PIERRE, S.D. (Legal Newsline) - The South Dakota Supreme Court last week found in favor of the maker of a popular line of processed meats in a workers' compensation case.
Mo. AG: Wedding vendor kept canceling ceremonies
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced a lawsuit on Wednesday against the provider of a wedding venue for allegedly canceling wedding ceremonies without refunding consumers.
BP contractor dismissed from oil spill case
Barbier NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - All claims against BP contractor Weatherford International, Inc., in the Gulf oil spill multidistrict litigation proceeding have been dismissed.
Fla. settlement brings $59K in restitution
Bondi TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Tuesday that her office has secured $59,000 in restitution for approximately 430 customers allegedly harmed by a loan modification scam.
Conn. AG worried with utility merger
Jepsen NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen requested on Tuesday that state utility regulators require that the proposed merger between Northeast Utilities and Boston-based NSTAR demonstrate that it is in the public interest.
Colo. SC says courts can't enforce out-of-state subpoenas
Eid DENVER (Legal Newsline) - The Colorado Supreme Court has vacated an order by a lower court to enforce a civil subpoena that was issued by an arbitrator against an out-of-state non-party.
Mo. AG says ObamaCare should survive legal challenge
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Republican-turned-Democrat Chris Koster, Missouri's attorney general, still has his somewhat-moderate stance on President Barack Obama's health care reform law.
Outlook improving for some judicial nominees
Thacker WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Things are finally looking up for those judicial nominees waiting to be approved, including two from West Virginia.
Ark. SC: Cause of action for negligent credentialing doesn't exist
Brown LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - The Arkansas Supreme Court last week affirmed a ruling in favor of hospital in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
W.Va. SC: Role of high court in redistricting limited to plans' validity
McHugh CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has released a full opinion on its November decision to not change recently redrawn House of Delegates and state Senate districts.
Okla. AG wants SC action on water rights
Pruitt OKLAHOMA CITY (Legal Newsline) - Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt filed a lawsuit on Friday requesting that the Oklahoma Supreme Court begin stream adjudication to determine the rights for water in three major southeastern Oklahoma streams.
Oregon wants lead plaintiff status in class action
Kroger SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline) - Oregon Attorney General John Kroger and Treasurer Ted Wheeler announced on Tuesday that the state is seeking to co-lead a class action lawsuit filed in New York federal court against a Bank of New York Mellon Corp.
Bondi asks lawmakers to ban synthetic drugs
Bondi TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi spoke to legislators on Tuesday, pushing a new bill that would ban a new list of synthetic drugs.
Miss. bill aimed at limiting Hood's authority refiled
Hood JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - A bill aimed at limiting Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood's authority has been refiled.
Intel paying $6.5M to settle Cuomo's antitrust suit
Schneiderman WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - Intel Corp. has agreed to pay $6.5 million to settle a struggling antitrust lawsuit filed by former New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, now the state's governor.
Ind. SC: Governor not required to give civil deposition
Shepard INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - The Indiana Supreme Court ruled Monday that the governor is not required to give a civil deposition.
Employee files complaint against SEIU
ORANGE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) -- A healthcare worker has filed a complaint alleging the Service Employees International Union Healthcare Workers West and Chapman Medical Center illegally manipulated a union organizing election and subsequently compelled workers to recognize union they did not want.
Minn. worker files complaint against AFSCME
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) -- A switchboard operator has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against the local American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, alleging violations of labor laws.
Ga. SC deems assisted suicide law unconstitutional
Thompson ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) - A Georgia law that says a person who publicly advertises assisted suicide services is guilty of a felony has been deemed unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court.
N.Y. AG says he plans to keep investigating mortgage industry
Schneiderman ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, one of the 49 state attorneys general who agreed to a deal with the nation's five largest banks last week, says he's not stopping there.