News from June 2012
Wis. AG announces judgment against fuel products company
Van Hollen MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced on Tuesday that his office has obtained a $109,396.55 judgment against a fuel products business owner for allegedly fraudulently billing his clients.
District judge in Arkansas sides with plaintiff in Miller County remand
District Judge Susan O. Hickey TEXARKANA, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - In a pending class action lawsuit against Mona Vie juice products, U.S. District Judge Susan O. Hickey has granted plaintiff's motion to remand the case back to Miller County Circuit Court in Arkansas.
Minn. AG: Accretive broke law with 'ASS,' 'Blue Balls' program
Swanson ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson wants to add new allegations in her lawsuit against Accretive Health, a company that engages in medical debt collection.
Del. court favors companies in asbestos rulings
Parkins WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - In a series of recent rulings, a Delaware superior court mostly found in favor of a group of companies all at the center of asbestos litigation.
Senators/doctors say EPA rules could cause unemployment, illness
Barrasso WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Four U.S. Senators who are also physicians wrote President Barack Obama Monday urging him to halt the regulatory zeal of his Environmental Protection Agency.
Seventh Circuit affirms 'South Park' fair use ruling
Cudahy CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals court this month ruled that the use of a viral video by the popular animated television show "South Park" is permissible under the First Amendment.
Philly Courts reintroduce punitive damage claims in mass tort cases
Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge John W. Herron PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - Suspension of reverse bifurcation in asbestos and other mass tort claims heard at Philadelphia's Common Pleas Court will continue, but punitive damage claims in such cases are now once again allowable.
Miss. SC orders new trial in suit over asbestos exposure
Kitchens JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - The Mississippi Supreme Court, in a ruling earlier this month, remanded for a new trial a case over a chemical company's asbestos-filled drilling mud additive.
Koster sues auto dealer over mileage claims
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced a lawsuit and a temporary restraining order on Friday against a Springfield car dealership for allegedly marketing vehicles as having lower mileage than they actually did.
EPA to update soot pollution rules
Schneiderman WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - An 11-state coalition announced a settlement on Friday with the federal Environmental Protection Agency requiring it to update its air standards for harmful particulate matter.
N.C. AG reaches consent order while lawsuit moves forward
Cooper RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) - North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper announced a consent order on Monday with a Robeson County manufactured home dealer resolving allegations of failure to deliver and selling damaged homes.
Va. SC: Some evidence of previous van fires can be admitted
McClanahan RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) - The Virginia Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that a circuit court was wrong to exclude some evidence of other Ford Windstar minivan fires in a wrongful death case against the company.
U.S. SC sides with Ninth Circuit, rules against OT pay for salespeople
Alito WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday 5-4 against pharmaceutical industry sales staff seeking to be paid overtime wages.
W.Va. high court sides with breakfast biscuit maker
Chief Justice Menis Ketchum CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, in a ruling last week, said a circuit court should have set aside a default judgment against popular breakfast sandwich maker Tudor's Biscuit World.
Former Goldman board member convicted of insider trading
Gupta NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Rajat Gupta, a former board member of Goldman Sachs, was convicted on four counts of insider trading Friday in federal court in Manhattan.
Exec pleads guilty to Greek bribe
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A former executive with the California-based valve company Control Components pleaded guilty Friday to violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
N.H. AG announces $110k settlement with landowners
Delaney CONCORD, N.H. (Legal Newsline) - New Hampshire Attorney General Michael Delaney and Department of Environmental Services Commissioner Thomas Burack have announced a $110,000 settlement with a group of landowners to resolve allegations of unlawful asbestos removal.
Ore. AG announces eligibility for Wash. RealNetworks settlement
Kroger SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline) -- Oregon Attorney General John Kroger says Oregon consumers may be eligible for restitution as part of a Washington state settlement with RealNetworks Inc.
Stanford sentenced for fraud scheme
Stanford WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- The Department of Justice says R. Allen Stanford, the former board of director's chairman of Stanford International Bank, was sentenced to a prison term of 110 years for orchestrating a 20-year investment fraud scheme in which he misappropriated $7 billion from SIB to finance his personal businesses.
SEC obtains judgment in $20M Ponzi scheme
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Legal Newsline) -- The Securities and Exchange Commission says the U. S. District Court for the District of Utah granted its motion for entry of final judgment against three people in a $20 million Ponzi scheme.