News from January 2012
U.S. SC chief justice addresses recusal issue
Roberts WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, in his annual report, brushes off calls for fellow Justices Elena Kagan and Clarence Thomas to recuse themselves from the challenge to President Barack Obama's federal health care law.
W.Va. officials to appeal redistricting ruling to U.S. SC
Kessler CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Those West Virginia officials named as defendants in a congressional redistricting lawsuit said Thursday they will ask for an immediate stay of a ruling earlier this week and seek an appeal from the U.S. Supreme Court.
Record $322M asbestos verdict wiped away
Bowen RALEIGH, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - A record-setting verdict in a Mississippi asbestos case has been vacated.
Md. AG, Wells Fargo reach agreement
Gansler BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) - Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler and Wells Fargo have settled allegations stemming from the marketing of adjustable rate mortgages.
Former appeals court judge running for Ore. AG
Rosenblum SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline) - Former appeals court judge Ellen Rosenblum is seeking the job of Oregon's top lawyer.
Madoff trustee suing Calif. AG Harris
Harris MANHATTAN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - The trustee overseeing the liquidation of Bernard Madoff Investment Securities LLC is suing California Attorney General Kamala Harris to stop her from "undermining" a bankruptcy court's continuing jurisdiction over the estate and its customers' property.
Report: N.J. Senate panel advances AG nominee Chiesa
Dow TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey's Senate Judiciary Committee has reportedly interviewed and advanced Gov. Chris Christie's attorney general nominee.
Colo. AG announces $6.3M joint settlement
Suthers DENVER (Legal Newsline) - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced a $6.3 million settlement on Thursday with a Denver medical center that allegedly overbilling Medicare and Medicaid by misclassifying patients for hospital admissions.
Conn. AG wants explanation from Wells Fargo
Jepsen HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen requested on Wednesday that Wells Fargo & Co. give an explanation of why it may have disclosed the Social Security numbers of customers when it sent them copies of subpoenas.
Fla. AG suing two foreclosure management companies
Bondi TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a lawsuit and obtained a temporary injunction and limited asset freeze on Thursday against two foreclosure management companies that allegedly misled distressed homeowners.
Judge grants 6 percent charge to lawyers for oil spill settlements
Barbier NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier exiled Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell from Deepwater Horizon litigation and granted plaintiff lawyers a 6 percent charge on $14 billion in future settlements at BP's Gulf Coast Claims Facility.
Calif. appeals court rules insurance agent is independent contractor
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A California appeals court, in a ruling Friday, held that a company's insurance agent was properly classified as an independent contractor in a putative class action.
Ecuadorian court upholds $18B judgment against Chevron
QUITO, Ecuador (Legal Newsline) - An Ecuadorian appellate court has upheld an $18 billion judgment against Chevron Corp. for the company's "intentional contamination" of the country's rainforest.
N.J. AG's office in transition period
Dow TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - Approximately three weeks after a nomination from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Senate panel will consider confirming Jeff Chiesa as the next state attorney general on Thursday.
CEO of debt collector pledges changes to industry
McGraw TULSA, Okla. (Legal Newsline) - Bill Bartmann, the chief executive officer of the Tulsa-based debt-collection agency CFS II, and other debt collectors have started a national reform initiative and have created a debt collector pledge.
Conn. AG pleased with decision to review merger
Jepsen HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen praised state utility regulators on Wednesday for a draft decision that would allow a state review of the proposed merger of Northeast Utilities and NSTAR.
WSJ: Mass. AG wrong to file foreclosure lawsuit
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - The Wall Street Journal slammed Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley in an editorial Tuesday, claiming her lawsuit against five national banks is politically motivated.
UPDATE: GOP senator not OK with Obama's recess appointment
Shelby WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama started with a joke in his response to President Barack Obama skipping Senate approval for one of his nominees, but ultimately does not appear to find much humor in the situation.
Hawaii judge fines sheet metal workers union over deposition
HONOLULU (Legal Newsline) - A Hawaii federal judge has fined a sheet metal workers union, its principal officer and its attorney for violating the Court's earlier orders.
Three Swiss bankers indicted for $1.2B conspiracy
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York has indicted three Swiss bankers for conspiring to hide more than $1.2 billion in assets from the IRS.