News from February 2012
Va. AG worried scams resulting from $25B settlement
Cuccinelli RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) - Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli warned consumers on Thursday to be wary of scam e-mails or phone calls related to a recent multistate foreclosure services settlement.
Ohio AG suing asphalt company
DeWine COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced a lawsuit on Friday against the operators of J and J Asphalt Paving and Sealcoating for allegedly engaging in multiple violations of Ohio's consumer laws.
Three nations file amicus brief in Kiobel
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Department of State and the governments of Germany, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom are on opposite sides of the issue of corporate liability in the Supreme Court case of Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum.
Conn. SC rules in favor of insurer in carbon monoxide case
Palmer HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - The Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled in favor of an insurance company in a case over whether a homeowner's policy would cover carbon monoxide-related injuries.
CFPB wants authority over two more industries
Cordray WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The new federal consumer protection agency created by regulatory reform wants to supervise debt collectors and consumer reporting agencies.
Alaska SC reinstates major fraud judgment
Christen JUNEAU, Alaska (Legal Newsline) - The Alaska Supreme Court last week overturned a lower court ruling that a company had to pay damages to its former business partner, who cheated it out of millions.
Feds set precedent in mineral rights case
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The Department of Justice says three companies will pay a total of $550,000 for antitrust and False Claims Act violations in bidding for four natural gas leases.
Change coming to controversial Philly courts system
Herron PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - The administrative judge of the Philadelphia court system's trial division signed off on new judicial regulations that will greatly affect the way mass tort cases are handled at the Common Pleas Court.
W.Va. lawmaker asks state SC to remove primary opponent
Boley CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - A West Virginia lawmaker is asking the state Supreme Court of Appeals to remove her primary election opponent from the May primary ballot.
Ohio SC upholds tort reform law
O'Donnell COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - The Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a state law requiring courts to bifurcate tort lawsuits into separate proceedings.
Mass. AG announces rate agreement with merging utilities
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Wednesday that a settlement with NSTAR and Northeast Utilities will save customers approximately $217 million through a distribution rate freeze and rate credits.
No expert found co-defendant contributed to Gulf oil spill
Barbier NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - Documents pertaining to the dismissal of Swiss oil rig equipment manufacturer Weatherford have been unsealed by U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier in the ongoing BP oil spill litigation.
Coakley touts $40M False Claims Act recovery in 2011
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Wednesday that more than $40 million was recovered by Coakley's office using the False Claims Act in Fiscal Year 2011.
N.Y. AG has new plan for nonprofits
Schneiderman NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a plan on Thursday that he says would revitalize and reform New York's nonprofit sector by eliminating outdated burdens.
AGs mulling objection to Honda settlement
Abbott SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - Attorneys hoping to snag $8.5 million in fees from class action lawsuits against Honda that would result in coupons for affected customers continue to experience trouble.
U.S. SC blogger: Harris could be Obama's next Court pick
Harris WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The publisher of a website devoted to U.S. Supreme Court news says he thinks California Attorney General Kamala Harris could be President Barack Obama's next Supreme Court pick.
Ill. SC: Provision doesn't allow for judicial review of terms of mining permits
Theis SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - In a unanimous ruling earlier this month, the Illinois Supreme Court said mining act permits are not subject to judicial review outside of the Administrative Review Law.
Texas facing May primary if redistricting not resolved, judge says
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Super Tuesday is out, April is out and now it may be the end of May before Texas can hold its Republican primary.
Mandate not a tax, Obama's budget director says
Obama WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - President Barack Obama's acting budget director has said that the challenged mandate in federal health care reform is not a tax, a stance in contrast to the legal position taken by the Obama administration.
Feds fine Allegiant Air for disability, advertising violations
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Allegiant Air was fined $100,000 by the U.S. Department of Transportation Wednesday for violating disability regulations. It was also fined for not complying with advertising rules about fares.