News from January 2012
W.Va. AG reaches $13.5 million settlement with Capital One
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw said Tuesday his office has reached a $13.5 million settlement with Capital One over the bank's past credit card practices.
Three plead guilty to cell phone fraud
NEW YORK -- Three people have pleaded guilty to fraud accusations just prior to trial.
Ill. AG launches synthetic drug crackdown
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced the results of three undercover operations that confiscated nearly 2,000 packages of synthetic marijuana with a street value of approximately $40,000 from stores throughout the state.
Report: Ind. AG looks into advertising company
QUINCY, Ind. (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller's office will look into complaints against GCQ Advertising after the company allegedly sent invoices to businesses with which it had no relationship.
Conn. AG announces judgment against dairy manufacturer
Jepsen HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen and state Department of Energy Commissioner Daniel Etsy have announced a judgment resolving a lawsuit against a Newington dairy manufacturer that allegedly made wastewater discharge violations.
Dow scientist sentenced for selling trade secrets to China
HOUSTON -- A former Dow Chemical Company research scientist was sentenced to five years in prison for stealing trade secrets selling them to the People's Republic of China.
Labor Dept. settles racial discrimination
WASHINGTON -- The Labor Department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has announced that government contractor JacintoPort International has agreed to settle allegations of hiring discrimination on the basis of race involving 48 African-American and 21 Caucasian job applicants rejected for longshoreman positions at the company's Houston facility.
Lawyer sentenced to tax evasion
NEW YORK -- A former partner at an international law firm has been sentenced for failing to file tax returns and pay taxes on more than $10 million in income.
Labor Dept. awards funds for N.C. health insurance
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has provided a $2 million National Emergency Grant supplemental award providing an estimated 1,175 additional jobless workers in North Carolina with partial premium payments for health insurance coverage.
Medicare fraud strike force nabs La. company
WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice (DOJ) says an investigation by the Medicare Strike Force involving the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the FBI and the Louisiana State Attorney General's Office, resulted in two Baton Rouge residents pleading guilty for their role in a $21 million Medicare fraud plot.
Advocacy group challenges Obama's NLRB appointments
Obama WASHINGTON -- An advocacy group is challenging the legality of President Barack Obama's recent recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board.
Alaska governor appoints new AG
Geraghty JUNEAU, Alaska (Legal Newsline) - Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell on Thursday announced the appointment of Michael C. Geraghty as the state's next top lawyer.
Coakley supports bill requiring compensation for poor storm responses
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley issued a letter to the Joint Committees on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy on Wednesday expressing support for a bill requiring utility companies to compensate customers for inadequate storm responses.
Va. AG settles with CashPoint over vehicle title loan violations
Cuccinelli RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) - Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli on Thursday announced a settlement with Management Services Inc., doing business as CashPoint, resolving alleged violations of consumer finance laws.
McGraw suit against insurer, body shop moved to federal court
McGraw CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - A lawsuit filed by West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw against an insurer and a frame and body shop has been moved to federal court.
Third Circuit rules on 'special value cards'
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Philadelphia, ruled last week on the constitutionality of an escheat law regarding "special value cards," the successors to gift certificates.
Pa. court reform group wants justice to step down
Orie Melvin HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - Court reform organization Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts is calling for state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin to temporarily step down in light of a report that she is the target of a Allegeheny County grand jury investigation.
Interior secretary announces withdrawal from mining lands
Salazar WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced Monday that more than one million acres of federal land near the Grand Canyon will be withdrawn from additional uranium and other hardrock mining for the next 20 years.
N.J. man sentenced for failing to report Swiss bank accounts
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced Wednesday that a New Jersey man was sentenced to eight months in a community confinement center for failing to report to the Internal Revenue Service Swiss bank accounts he maintained and controlled.
Mont. AG appears on talk show to discuss state SC ruling
Bullock NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock appeared on a prime time talk show Thursday to discuss his state's position on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on corporate campaign spending.