News from March 2012
U.S. SC allows $28.3M tobacco verdict to stand
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court won't hear the appeal of a tobacco company that was ordered to pay a $28.3 million in an important Florida case.
Blumenthal rails against employer demands for Facebook info
Blumenthal WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal is asking the federal government to investigate what he calls a "disturbing" new trend by employers -- demanding job applicants turn over their usernames and passwords to social networking websites like Facebook.
U.S. SC begins ObamaCare arguments
Obama WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Two years after President Barack Obama's health care reform package, the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments on its constitutionality.
Compromise on Louisiana's legacy lawsuit issue uncertain
Landry BATON ROUGE -- At the spring session heats up, state legislators, energy industry officials and trial lawyers are reportedly not any closer to a compromise on "legacy" lawsuit reform.
Idaho AG settles with magazine promoter
Wasden BOISE, Idaho (Legal Newsline) - Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden announced a settlement Friday with a magazine promoter and his company for allegedly accepting money for advertisements before leaving Idaho without publishing the magazine or giving refunds.
Colo. AG announces consent decree transferring nonprofit's assets
Suthers DENVER (Legal Newsline) - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced a consent decree that will transfer the assets of Fired Up for Kids, a Denver-based organization, to Colorado Firefighter Calendar Inc.
Pa. drug company pays $180K for claims issue
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- A Pennsylvania pharmaceutical company will pay $180,000 to resolve claims that that it allegedly encouraged doctors to submit inflated claims to Medicare for imaging scans.
Colorado-based charity faces lawsuit over asset misuse
Suthers DENVER (Legal Newsline) - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers filed a lawsuit Thursday against a Fort Collins-based charity, its founder and several of the charity's board members for allegedly misusing the charity's assets.
Complaint filed against Calif. nurses union
PLEASANTON, Calif. (Legal Newsline) -- A nurse has filed federal unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board against the California Nurses Association, alleging the union violated her rights as a worker by not refunding to her the appropriate amount of compulsory union dues.
HHS deems rate hikes excessive in nine states
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says requested increases in health insurance premiums from two companies for their customers in the states of Arizona, Idaho, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming were "unreasonable."
Lockheed Martin to pay $15.85M for false claims allegations
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- The Department of Justice says Lockheed Martin Corporation will pay $15,850,000 to settle allegations that a subcontractor inflated the costs of tools from 1998 to 2005.
Neb. lawmakers could overturn SC's ruling on what makes a beer
Bruning OMAHA, Neb. (Legal Newsline) - An alcohol industry watchdog is unhappy that Nebraska's legislature is attempting to overturn a state Supreme Court decision that increased the tax on flavored malt beverages like Mike's Hard Lemonade.
Asbestos defendants urge changes to Madison County asbestos docket
Shultz EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - More than 40 asbestos defendant companies hope to prove to Madison County Associate Judge Harrison that the court's trial reservation system is no longer being used for its original purpose - to resolve local asbestos controversies.
Feds free to retry new rules for Medicaid recovery
Strange ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals court won't prevent the federal Medicaid agency from ever again issuing guidelines that permitted it to recover civil penalties from lawsuits brought by state attorneys general.
Ill. SC allows plaintiff to amend complaint in asbestos lawsuit
Garman SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - The Illinois Supreme Court, in a ruling Thursday, deemed a plaintiff's allegations in a case over asbestos exposure "insufficient."
Feds tell FedEx to pay $3M for hiring discrimination
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs says FedEx will pay $3 million in back wages and interest to 21,635 applicants who were rejected for entry-level package handler and parcel assistant positions at 22 FedEx Ground facilities and one FedEx SmartPost facility.
Ala. AG files motion to intervene in contraception lawsuit
Strange MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange on Thursday filed a motion to intervene in a federal lawsuit challenging President Barack Obama's contraception coverage mandate.
NY AG settles with firm over foreclosure practices for $4M
Schneiderman ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has settled with a Buffalo law firm over its foreclosure practices for $4 million.
Calif. AG reaches agreement with Wal-Mart
Harris SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - California Attorney General Kamala Harris announced a $2.1 million agreement on Wednesday with Wal-Mart to resolve alleged violations of a 2008 judgment against the company.
Colo. AG puts end to alleged scheme
Suthers DENVER (Legal Newsline) - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers and John Walsh, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, announced the end of an alleged national foreclosure rescue scheme on Wednesday.