News from January 2012
N.Y. AG settles with 8 health insurers
Schneiderman NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has announced settlements with eight major health insurance companies for allegedly failing to publish accurate provider directories.
Federal judge rules Vt. power plant can stay open
BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge has ruled that Vermont's only nuclear power plant can remain open past its scheduled March shutdown date.
Minn. child care providers file suit challenging compulsory unionization
ROCHESTER, Minn. -- A group of Minnesota home-based child care providers have filed a federal lawsuit to halt an order forcing them to unionize.
EPA to begin water sampling in Pa. town
ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says it will take water samples from at nearly 60 homes in the Carter Road/Meshoppen Creek Road area of Dimock, Pa. to further assess whether any residents are being exposed to hazardous substances.
Ind. AG to attend hearing on state's robo-call ban
Zoeller INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller is continuing his defense of the state's robo-call ban.
Second Circuit denies Chevron motion to lift stay on injunction
Kaplan NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals court has denied a motion by Chevron Corp. to lift the stay on the injunction to block an $18 billion judgment against the company in an Ecuador court.
Madison County asbestos docket feeds off intake firm referrals
Behrens EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - As a clearinghouse for massive numbers of asbestos lawsuits from all over the country, Madison County is a prime example of a highly successful processing center.
Report: Calif. AG says Brown can start collecting tax initiative signatures
Harris SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - California Attorney General Kamala Harris on Wednesday gave Gov. Jerry Brown the green light to begin collecting signatures on his tax initiative.
UPDATE: Texas AG's Risperdal settlement worth $158M
Abbott AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has settled his lawsuit against Janssen Pharmaceutical over the marketing of its prescription antipsychotic drug Risperdal.
Minn. AG alleges debt collector didn't protect confidentiality
Swanson SAINT PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson filed a lawsuit on Thursday against the debt collection agency Accretive Health Inc. for allegedly failing to protect patient-health care confidentiality.
Propane company settles for $315K in Vermont
Sorrell MONTPELIER, Vt. (Legal Newsline) - Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell announced a $315,000 settlement on Thursday with Ienergy Propane, doing business as Pyrofax Energy.
Settlement reached in New Hampshire's push poll case
Delaney CONCORD, N.H. (Legal Newsline) - New Hampshire Attorney General Michael Delany announced a settlement on Wednesday with OnMessage Inc. resolving allegations of push polling.
Conn. AG endorses fine on power company
Jepsen HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen recommended on Wednesday that state utility regulators fine Connecticut Light & Power Co. for allegedly failing to correct and upgrade long-standing problems.
Editorial: Pa. SC justice needs to remove herself amid investigation
Orie Melvin PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin needs to step aside, one Philadelphia newspaper says.
Report: Meeting on foreclosure deal set for next week
Miller DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - Democratic state attorneys general have been asked to attend a meeting with federal officials next week in hopes of gaining support for a proposed settlement with the nation's top mortgage servicers.
Ecuadorians: Chevron decision not to reconsider ruling unusual
QUITO, Ecuador (Legal Newsline) - The Ecuadorian plaintiffs suing Chevron Corp. say they find it unusual that the oil giant did not ask an Ecuador appellate court to reconsider or clarify its recent decision against the company.
LA Times press workers file charges against Teamsters
LOS ANGELES -- Two Los Angeles Times printing press operators have filed federal charges with the National Labor Relations Board against a local Teamster union for violating their rights.
Supreme Court says telemarketing cases eligible for federal courts
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Supreme Court says lawsuits by private persons for violation of the "Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (TCPA)" can be heard in federal courts.
Oil spill claimants who avoided litigation won't have to pay attorneys
Barbier NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - Plaintiffs attorneys will not receive 6 percent of settlements from those claimants who settled their oil spill claims without resorting to litigation.
Pa. House passes punitive damages limit
Turzai HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has given its approval to legislation that would limit the amount of punitive damages that can be recovered in lawsuits against nursing homes.