News from May 2012
Correction: Pa. DEP officials not liable in $6.5M lawsuit
Editor's note: The following is a corrected version of a story published Tuesday that incorrectly reported Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection employees were held liable for $6.5 million in damages in a lawsuit recently decided by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Vt. AG, auto dealers reach agreement
Sorrell MONTPELIER, Vt. (Legal Newsline) - Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell announced an assurance of discontinuance with eight car dealers on Tuesday, resolving allegations of failing to honor advertised sales prices.
Ariz. man wins millions in casino, allows wife to pay off theft fine
Horne PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) - Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne announced on Wednesday that his office has secured over $360,000 in restitution from a Phoenix woman who has owed the money since a 2007 felony theft conviction.
Contractors settle with New York for $500K
Schneiderman NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a $500,000 settlement with two contractors and their companies for allegedly failing to properly pay employees working on construction projects from 2005 to 2008.
Alaska SC reinstates wrongful death suit against restaurant
Carpeneti JUNEAU, Alaska (Legal Newsline) - The Alaska Supreme Court ruled last week that a lower court erred in dismissing a wrongful death lawsuit against a fast food restaurant.
Maine SC: Roadside sign could be cause of accident
Silver AUGUSTA, Maine (Legal Newsline) - The Maine Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a jury could "rationally find" that a roadside sign proximately caused a man's motorcycle accident.
Calif. court affirms asbestos award, calls company 'reprehensible'
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A California appeals court has ruled that a $4.5 million punitive damages award in an asbestos lawsuit was not excessive.
W.Va. gov candidate says EPA head should resign
Maloney MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Maloney is demanding Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin call for the firing of Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson.
Sixth Circuit dismisses class action over personal information release
Zatkoff CINCINNATI (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals court this week upheld the dismissal of a proposed class action lawsuit over the distribution of personal information from a state's motor vehicle records.
W.Va. AG has raised $38K from private attorneys he hired
McGraw CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - After the latest round of campaign finance reports, private attorneys who were hired to do state work by West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw have given more than 40 percent of the amount he has raised.
Second Circuit affirms dismissal of claims against Merck
Lohier NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals court, in a ruling Tuesday, upheld a lower court's dismissal of claims against Merck Sharp and Dohme Corporation, the manufacturer of prescription drug Fosamax.
Fifth Circuit dismisses misrepresentation claim against insurer
Clement NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals court last week ordered a district court to dismiss a man's claim for negligent misrepresentation against an insurer.
Coors' appeal of Puerto Rico decision denied by First Circuit
Rotunda BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Coors Brewing Company's appeal of a ruling by the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico was denied Friday by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
EPA sanctions Columbia sportswear
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - Columbia Sportswear Company of Portland, Ore., was sanctioned by the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday.
Tenth Circuit: Ponzi scheme perpetrator owes $4.7M
DENVER (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has affirmed a Utah federal court that entered a judgment against a company for a Ponzi scheme.
Justice Dept. obtains settlement with mortgage broker
Perez WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The Department of Justice announced April it settled its lawsuit against the Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation for violation of the Fair Housing Act.
Scam artists hitting North Dakota, AG says
Stenehjem BISMARCK, N.D. (Legal Newsline) - North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem warned consumers about a fake check scam on Thursday in which scam artists use checks to defraud consumers that are supposedly from a North Dakota government agency.
W.Va. AG wants Ga.-based company to stop doing business in state
McGraw WINFIELD, W. Va. (Legal Newsline) - West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw filed a lawsuit on Monday against a major distributor of the ingredients used to manufacture synthetic designer drugs that are available widely throughout West Virginia.
Colo. AG alleges magazine scheme
Suthers DENVER (Legal Newsline) - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced a lawsuit on Tuesday against Jennifer Proffitt-Payne, Cody Payne and multiple magazines businesses for allegedly engaging in deceptive trade practices.
Fla. AG asks for public input on how to spend settlement funds
Bondi TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is asking state residents how best to spend $300 million, recovered on behalf of consumers as part of the nationwide mortgage settlement.