News from January 2012
Poll: McKenna leading Inslee in Wash. governor's race
McKenna OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) - Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna is leading his opponent, U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, in the race to be the state's next governor, according to new poll results released Tuesday.
Koster settles with counseling company
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced a settlement on Wednesday with the owner of a Dexter-based counseling company for allegedly submitting false claims to Medicaid.
Injunction issued against Mo. composting facility
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced that his office obtained a preliminary injunction on Wednesday shutting down an allegedly unauthorized composting facility in Lawrence County.
U.S. SC approves nuisance call lawsuits for federal court
Ginsburg WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week that people can sue telemarketers and other businesses in federal courts, in addition to state courts, for nuisance phone calls.
Coakley takes action against subcontractors over wages
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced enforcement actions on Wednesday against subcontractors working at Pulte Homes in eastern Massachusetts.
Ill. AG suing Westwood College
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against a national for-profit college for allegedly engaging in deceptive practices that left Chicago-area students with debt for degrees and limited job opportunities.
Report: Ala. AG says settlement in BP suit still possible
Strange MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange said Tuesday there is still a possibility a settlement could be reached before the start of an upcoming trial over the 2010 BP oil spill.
Torts conference set for Feb. 8 in Philly
Rafferty PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - An organization called Mass Torts Made Perfect will conduct a plaintiff's only seminar next month in Philadelphia titled"Actos and Pelvic Mesh Litigation Update."
Recall group wants Wis. justice to recuse himself
Gableman MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - A lawyer for a recall election group in Wisconsin says state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman should recuse himself from a case that could affect the group's efforts, according to a filing Tuesday.
DOJ collects more than $1 billion in antitrust fines
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - The Department of Justice collected more than $1 billion in fines, penalties, restitution and other fees during Fiscal Year 2011 from criminal antitrust violators, according to a recent report.
Woman pleads guilty in $200M Medicare fraud
MIAMI (Legal Newsline) - A Miami woman has pleaded guilty to her role in making more than $200 million in fraudulent Medicare claims.
Navy vet awarded more than $7.5 million for groin injuries
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - A U.S. Navy veteran was awarded more than $7.5 million after a motorcycle collision resulted in injuries to his groin and reconstructive surgery that permanently altered the length of his penis.
Federal appeals court hears fen-phen lawyers case
Chesley CINCINNATI (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals court was expected Tuesday to hear the case of two attorneys sentenced to 20 years in a federal prison for their roles in duping clients out of millions in settlement money.
AGs met to talk foreclosure settlement
Miller DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - A spokesman for Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says that despite last week's meeting, there is no settlement in a nationwide investigation of the foreclosure practices of the nation's top mortgage servicers.
AGs file brief in support of ObamaCare
Gansler BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) - Attorneys general from 14 states and territories on Friday filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the federal health care law.
Fla. AG objects to lawyer payment in oil spill MDL
Bondi NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a brief on Thursday in the multi-district oil spill proceedings in New Orleans challenging a plan that she says will take hundreds of millions of dollars from business and individual claimants.
Ore. trial lawyer to run for AG
Heekin PORTLAND, Ore. (Legal Newsline) - Oregon trial lawyer Katherine Heekin says she is running for state attorney general.
Hedge fund CEO gets a year and a day for insider trading
NEW YORK -- The CEO of a Denver-based hedge fund has been sentenced to a year and a day for insider trading.
Wash. lawmakers take aim at AG's office in bill
McKenna OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) - A bill introduced this week in the Washington Legislature takes aim at the state attorney general's powers.
Arguments scheduled in attorneys' appeal of fraud ruling
HOUSTON (Legal Newsline) - Asbestos attorneys found to have committed fraud against a railroad company will argue their case to a federal appeals court on March 6.