News from July 2012
Fourth Circuit to hear case over key parts of W.Va. election ad laws
Johnston RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) - A decision striking down key provisions of West Virginia election laws that attempt to regulate political ads by special interest groups will be heard by a federal appeals court in October.
Attorney convicted in $66M mortgage fraud scheme
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Attorney Michael Raphan has been found guilty of conspiring to commit bank fraud and wire fraud in connection with a $66 million mortgage fraud scheme.
Trustees consent to correcting loans
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge has signed a consent order between the United Employee Benefit Fund and the Secretary of Labor amending the UEBF's governing documents.
Albany newspaper repays those laid off
ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - The Times Union newspaper of Albany has offered to reinstate three employees and pay more than $800,000 in past wages and interest to 11 employees who were laid off.
Ariz. AG settles with two alleged scams
Horne PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) - Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne announced consent judgments on Friday against two alleged telemarketing and business opportunity scams.
Schneiderman, insurer reach agreement for restitution
Schneiderman NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announce a settlement on Friday with an insurance company that allegedly made an undisclosed change to its medical claim reimbursement policy.
Colossus defendants want McDaniel to intervene in class action
McDaniel TEXARKANA, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - Insurance companies battling class action litigation in Miller County, Ark. are asking state Attorney General Dustin McDaniel to intervene.
McKenna files response in Backpage.com's lawsuit
McKenna SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna, along with county prosecutors from across the state, has filed a response to a lawsuit from the online classified website Backpage.com.
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act is 'sword of Damocles,' critic says
Frezza WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act have been expanded to include not only what actual bribes are known to be paid but what bribes a business owner or executive "should have known" were being made.
Report: Mo. AG reaches deal with some former US Fidelis workers
Koster ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster has reportedly reached a deal with some former US Fidelis workers, allowing them compensation for being laid off without proper warning.
Minn. AG: Lawsuit against Accretive should move forward
Swanson MINNEAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson shot back in a federal court filing last week, arguing that her lawsuit against Chicago-based service provider Accretive Health Inc. should continue.
Del. AG settles with national mortgage registry
Biden WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - The national mortgage registry known as MERS has agreed to implement certain reforms as part of a settlement with Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden's office last week.
Report: N.C. AG seeks more documents in utility merger
Cooper RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) - North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper is demanding that more documents be released in his investigation into a merger between Duke Energy Corp. and Progress Energy.
NLRB sides with union in dues-revocation case
Raudabaugh WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The National Labor Relations Board has affirmed the reversal by an administrative law judge of an NLRB regional director in a dues revocation case.
BP paying more than $13M for OSHA violations
Solis WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - BP Products North America will pay $13,027,000 in penalties, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Thursday.
Ariz. AG alleges work-from-home scam
Horne PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) - Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne announced a lawsuit against 26 defendants on Thursday who were allegedly part of a work-from-home scam.
Coakley calls for penalty against utility
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has called on the state's department of public utilities to assess a $4 million penalty against a utility that allegedly failed to take necessary actions during the October snow storm.
N.H. AG settles with sand and gravel company
Delaney CONCORD, N.H. (Legal Newsline) - New Hampshire Attorney General Michael Delaney announced a settlement on Thursday with Plourde Sand and Gravel Inc. for air emission violations.
Second Circuit dismisses suit against title insurers
Chin NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals court has agreed to dismiss a lawsuit against a group of title insurance companies.
Third Circuit vacates settlement agreement over Sprint fees
Jordan PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals court, in a ruling last month, vacated an order by a district court certifying a class and approving a settlement agreement in a case over a cell phone service provider's early termination fees.