News from June 2012
Md. AG to lead group of attorneys general
Gansler WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler is the new head of a group of state attorneys general.
States settle with Tool Brothers over pollution allegations
Gansler BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler and Department of the Environment Secretary Robert M. Summers announced a multistate settlement on Thursday with Toll Brothers Inc., one of the largest homebuilders in the nation.
Schneiderman settles with debt collectors
Schneiderman BUFFALO, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced agreements on Thursday with two western New York debt collectors that allegedly engaged in deceptive practices to trick consumers into believing they were in legal trouble.
N.D. AG takes on Fla. business
Stenehjem BISMARCK, N.D. (Legal Newsline) - North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem issued a cease and desist order on Thursday against a business opportunity scheme sales company and its principals for allegedly violating consumer fraud law.
U.S. SC rejects union's argument
Alito WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 Thursday in favor of eight nonunion California state employees who said that an assessment the Service Employees International Union collected from them was unjust.
Vt. SC sides with board, AT&T in installation of cell tower
Robinson MONTPELIER, Vt. (Legal Newsline) - The Vermont Supreme Court ruled last week that a group of landowners do not have a constitutionally-protected property interest at stake in the installation of a cell phone tower.
Nev. SC: 'Mode of operation' doesn't apply to sit-down eateries
Douglas CARSON CITY, Nev. (Legal Newsline) - The Nevada Supreme Court ruled last week that the "mode of operation" approach to premises liability does not extend to sit-down restaurants.
W.Va. AG's decision to give $1 million to Legal Aid troubles some
McGraw CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia lawmakers and others say they are concerned about Attorney General Darrell McGraw's recent decision to dole out $1 million to Legal Aid from the state's share of a nationwide mortgage settlement.
DOJ sues farm over citizenship verification requirements
von Spakovsky WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Rose Acre Farms of Seymour, Ind., is being sued by the Justice Department.
Judge keeps sweepstakes cafe closed
Schuette LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) - Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced on Tuesday that an allegedly illegal gambling operation will remain closed after a judge denied a request by the business to enjoin Schuette from taking action against it.
Colo AG issues tuition opinion
Suthers DENVER (Legal Newsline) - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers released a formal opinion on Tuesday on whether Colorado's state schools have the authority to create discounted tuition categories for undocumented students.
Wis. AG files five lawsuits over fees, licenses
Van Hollen MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced on Tuesday that his office has filed five separate actions against debt adjustment service companies for allegedly charging upfront fees and failing to register for required licenses.
Ga. SC: Woman killed by alligator knew the risks
Melton ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) - The Georgia Supreme Court this week reversed a lower court's ruling in a lawsuit over an 83-year-old woman's death, saying that when she was attacked and killed by an eight-foot alligator in a residential community that she had "equal knowledge" of such a threat.
Ark. SC dismisses farmer's appeal over law firms' fees
Goodson LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - The Arkansas Supreme Court this month dismissed an appeal over attorneys fees by a farmer who sued Bayer for its contamination of the nation's long-grain rice supply.
Del. judge calls employees' allegations in defamation suit 'far-fetched'
Ableman WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - A Delaware judge ruled a state law bars two town employees' claims for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress -- which, they argued, is to blame for their diabetes diagnoses -- against a group of town officials.
Ohio AG probing Chesapeake, could join class action
DeWine COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has initiated an investigation into Chesapeake Energy to see if state public pension funds have been defrauded.
Confidentiality clause ruled a labor violation
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - The National Labor Relations Board says employment agreements written by Hyundai Rotem USA Corp. and Aerotek are in violation of labor laws.
Seventh Circuit: NCAA does not violate antitrust law
Flaum CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled Monday that rules by the National Collegiate Athletic Association concerning athletic scholarships do not violate the Sherman Antitrust Act.
OSHA orders whistleblowers rehired at Norfolk Southern
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has determined that Norfolk Southern Railway Co. violated the whistleblower protection provisions of the Federal Railroad Safety Act.
Zoeller will defend Indiana's Autodialer Law
Zoeller INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced on Monday that his office will defend the state's Autodialer Law even if the U.S. Supreme Court decides to consider the case.