News from July 2012
Report: Fla. AG campaigns for Romney
Bondi BEDFORD, N.H. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly spent part of the weekend stumping for Republican Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney.
Ill. man gets 10-year sentence over asbestos removal
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Illinois federal judge Michael McCuskey has sentenced Duane "Butch" O'Malley, to 10 years in prison over asbestos cleanup violations.
Capital One to pay $12M in settlement
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Capital One has agreed to pay approximately $12 million to settle a Justice Department lawsuit that accused it of violating the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, it was announced Thursday.
N.Y. man charged with stealing federal housing funds
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Louis Abate was arrested Friday by federal law enforcement agents and is accused of stealing federal housing benefits intended for low-income Long Islanders in need of financial assistance.
Ecuadorian judge increases Chevron damages to $19B
Hinton QUITO, Ecuador (Legal Newsline) - An Ecuadorian judge ruled last week that Chevron Corp. now must pay more than $19 billion for the alleged damage it has caused to the country's Amazon region.
SEC alleges insider trading in Nexen acquisition
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - The Securities and Exchange Commission obtained an emergency court order Friday freezing the assets of traders using accounts in Hong Kong and Singapore to allegedly make insider trading profits of more than $13 million.
SEC says man pretended to be president of company
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The Securities and Exchange Commission charged Ronald Feldstein Wednesday for his alleged role in disseminating a fake investment to boost a struggling penny stock company.
Papa John's franchise owner says Obamacare may force job cuts
Nichols BEAUMONT - Papa John's pizza restaurant owner Judy Nichols' plan to expand her business in Southeast Texas with a fourth location is on hold because of uncertainty over the impact "Obamacare" will have on her operations.
Wis. justice recuses self from court-fight case
Prosser MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - A Wisconsin Supreme Court justice says she must disqualify herself from the disciplinary proceedings involving an altercation between two other justices.
Conn. AG wants probe into Energy Plus Holdings
Jepsen HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen and Consumer Counsel Elin Swanson Katz jointly petitioned the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority on Thursday.
Koster suing Calif. company
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced a lawsuit on Thursday against a California-based company for allegedly distributing deceptive advertisements and soliciting service contracts without a license.
W.Va. judge tells companies to comply with AG's subpoenas
McGraw CHARLESTON, W. Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw announced on Friday that the Circuit Court of Kanawha County has ordered three payday lenders to appear in court to answer McGraw's allegations of contempt.
States settle pricing allegations against McKesson
Harris SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - Thirty states have settled fraud charges against drug maker McKesson Corporation for $151 million.
Shenango to pay $1.75M in civil penalties
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - Shenango Inc. must pay $1.75 million in civil penalties and make significant upgrades to its plant as part of a settlement reached with the Environmental Protection Agency.
Two construction companies fined $50K in Kansas
Schmidt TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) - Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced fines of $50,000 against two construction companies from outside the state on Wednesday for allegedly violating the Kansas No-Call Act.
Mo. AG files lawsuit against loan modification company
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against a Florida resident and his inactive Florida company for allegedly engaging in unfair and illegal business practices.
CFTC charges Altamont Global partners with fraud
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced that on July 16 an emergency order freezing defendants' assets and protecting books and records was entered in the case against Altamont Global Partners of Longwood, Fla.
Order filed against N.Y. head shop
Schneiderman ROCHESTER, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a consent order on Thursday against a Rochester head shop banning the sale of mislabeled synthetic drugs.
Texas baker order to pay back pay
FORT WORTH, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Texas bakery Sterling Foods has agreed to pay more than $58,000 in back pay and interest to six employees who were discharged following a union organizing campaign.
Political Action Committee sues over Illinois campaign contribution limits
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - A political action committee led by a former Republican candidate for governor has filed a lawsuit over Illinois' Election Code, claiming that certain campaign contribution limits violate its constitutional rights to equal protection and free speech.