News from June 2012
Environmentalists and politicians pushing for fracking ban
Shumlin MONTPELIER, Vt. (Legal Newsline) - Vermont's passage of a bill that bans hydraulic fracturing pleased environmentalists.
NLRB rules GM's social media policy violates labor law
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The National Labor Relations Board ruled Wednesday that General Motors' social media policy for employees violated the National Labor Relations Act.
Report: N.Y. AG hires former prosecutor to help with mortgage probe
Schneiderman NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has reportedly hired a former federal prosecutor to run his office's investigation into mortgage-backed securities by banks amid the housing crisis.
Aluminum company loses property tax appeal in W.Va. SC
Ketchum CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, in a ruling last week, said state tax officials properly appraised Century Aluminum's inactive Ravenswood plant.
Environmentalists strike out in Ohio federal court
Korleski COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on May 25 reversed a grant of summary judgment against the state of Ohio's Environmental Protection Agency in a lawsuit against its director Christopher Korleski.
CFTC Files Claim in MF Global liquidation
Corzine WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed a general creditor claim in the liquidation of MF Global on Friday.
Fla. AG settles with 411-PAIN
Bondi TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a $550,000 settlement on Friday with a Florida-based referral company for allegedly making misrepresentations to consumers.
Ind. AG files suits on behalf of Lake County residents
Zoeller HOBART, Ind. (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller filed five lawsuits on Monday on issues ranging from car dealer violations to illegal foreclosure consultants to protect Lake County residents.
Miller announces $160K judgment against Iowa contractor
Miller DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller announced a $160,000 consent judgment against a West Des Moines contracting company on Friday for allegedly violating Iowa door-to-door sales and consumer fraud laws.
Mo. SC: Employee not entitled to benefits for fall in office kitchen
Russell JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - The Missouri Supreme Court said last week that an employee who was injured in an office kitchen after making coffee is not entitled to workers' compensation benefits.
Group urges OSHA to protect union whistleblowers
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The Heritage Foundation has published a recommendation for one way the Occupational Safety and Health Administration can improve its whistleblower program - extend whistleblower protections to union employees.
W.Va. SC sides with city in suit over officer's disability benefits
Chief Justice Menis Ketchum CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals last week ruled against a former police officer in a case over his disability benefits.
Jim Crow laws referenced during testy exchange over fracking regulations
Connolly WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) ' While testifying before a House subcommittee about fracking, a Pennsylvania official was told by the committee's ranking member that his views about federal and state interaction were similar to a segregationist's arguments about Jim Crow laws.
Ark. court says plaintiffs were forum shopping
Seidel TEXARKANA, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas ruled Tuesday that plaintiffs in a class action case were engaged in "what amounts to improper forum shopping."
Robocaller to pay $1M over election calls
Gansler BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler announced a $1 million judgment against a company for robocalls during the 2010 election.
Labor borad orders Sands casino to bargain with union
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The National Labor Relations Board on Wednesday ordered the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, Pa., to bargain with a union.
Jepsen alleges $24M Medicaid fraud
Jepsen HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Conn. Attorney General George Jepsen named 28 individuals, dental practices and corporations in a civil action on Thursday, alleging an elaborate and illegal two-year, $24 million Medicaid fraud scheme.
N.H. AG reaches agreement with Concord Hospital
Delaney CONCORD, N.H. (Legal Newsline) - New Hampshire Attorney General Michael Delaney announced a settlement on Wednesday with Concord Hospital resolving allegations of hazardous waste violations.
House subcommittee revisits class action lawsuit reform
Redish WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Some class action lawsuits are only benefitting unharmed parties, a Northwestern University professor said Friday during a House subcommittee hearing on 2005's Class Action Fairness Act.
Report: Drug maker suing La. AG over outside counsel hiring
Caldwell NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - Drug maker GlaxoSmithKline has reportedly filed a lawsuit against Louisiana Attorney General James "Buddy" Caldwell over his hiring of private attorneys in a case against the company.