News from March 2012
NLRB arbitration ruling appealed
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) -- The National Labor Relations Board has ruled that requiring employees to sign arbitration agreements that contain clauses prohibiting employees from pursuing class or collective actions is a violation of federal labor law.
Courts say online travel companies can't be taxed
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - In the last month, various courts around the country have dismissed cases brought against online travel companies for avoiding hotel occupancy tax ordinances.
Ill. appelate court says Madison judge got it wrong
Matoesian EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - A $1.25 million plaintiff's verdict has been reversed at the Illinois Fifth District Appellate Court and remanded to Madison County for a new trial.
Woman, arrested for drawing on sidewalk, sues Philly
Messing PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - A woman who alleges she was arrested by an overzealous Philadelphia police officer who detained her after she was discovered drawing on a sidewalk with chalk has filed a federal civil rights complaint.
W.Va. candidate wants state to join contraception challenge
McGraw CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Maloney is calling for Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and state Attorney General Darrell McGraw to join a lawsuit against the Obama administration's contraception rule.
Madison County asbestos rules are unfair to defendants, candidate says
Weber EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - A former Illinois circuit judge says the Madison County asbestos docket suffers from a unique problem.
Va. SC vacates half of $6 million award to sailor's widow
Lemons RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) - The Virginia Supreme Court last week vacated awards totaling more than $3 million in a wrongful death action filed by a Navy sailor's widow over her husband's exposure to asbestos.
N.Y. AG says scammers targeting grandparents
Schneiderman NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman issued a warning on Thursday to New Yorkers about the rise in reports of so-called grandparent scams, where perpetrators impersonate relatives in need.
N.J. SC finds in favor of newspaper in defamation suit
Albin TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled last month that there was not "clear and convincing" evidence that the editor of a regional weekly newspaper knowingly, or in reckless disregard for the truth, published a false front-page teaser.
Ohio settles with Columbus refinery
DeWine COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Ohio EPA Director Scott J. Nally announced a settlement on Tuesday with a Columbus refinery to resolve allegations of air pollution control violations.
Mo. AG files No-Call lawsuits
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster filed lawsuits on Thursday against four Florida companies and one California company for allegedly calling Missourians on the state's No-Call list.
N.Y. group fears more suits like movie popcorn class action
ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - A New York legal reform says the movie popcorn class action lawsuit that is gaining headlines could be a preview of the state's class action future if a pending bill passes the state Senate.
W.Va. AG suing debt-buying company
McGraw CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw said Thursday his office is suing Midland Funding LLC, one of the country's largest debt buyers.
Nev. SC says statute allows liability to be split
Parraguirre CARSON CITY, Nev. (Legal Newsline) - The Nevada Supreme Court says the state's comparative negligence statute allows liability to be split between a negligent tortfeasor and an intentional tortfeasor.
Synthetic drug bill advances in Illinois
Madigan SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced a unanimous vote on Tuesday by the Illinois House of Representatives to approve an amendment that would help to combat synthetic drug use in the state.
Scooters at center of scam, Ohio AG alleges
DeWine COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced a lawsuit on Wednesday against several Columbus scooter businesses and their owner for multiple alleged violations of Ohio consumer laws.
Mo. AG files suits against alleged crammers
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced consumer fraud lawsuits against six telephone cramming companies on Wednesday for allegedly placing unauthorized charges on the telephone bills of thousands of consumers.
Maine SC agrees insurer's proposed rate hike excessive
AUGUSTA, Maine (Legal Newsline) - The Maine Supreme Court last month upheld a ruling by the state's superintendent of insurance that a health insurer's proposed rate increase was excessive.
Idaho SC: Power company not responsible for man's burns
Horton BOISE, Idaho (Legal Newsline) - The Idaho Supreme Court ruled last week that a state power company was not negligent in a lawsuit over a man's electrical burns.
No GOP candidates file to run in Ore. AG race
Holton SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline) - Oregon's next attorney general will be a Democrat.