News from May 2012
N.H. AG announces $78K settlement
Delaney CONCORD, N.H. (Legal Newsline) - New Hampshire Attorney General Michael Delaney announced a $78,000 civil settlement on Friday with two fiduciaries resolving allegations of improper handling of their mother's assets from the sale of jointly owned real estate.
Ohio AG suing Calif. company over marketing calls
DeWine COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced a lawsuit on Monday against a California-based investment software company for allegedly calling Ohio consumers who were on the National Do Not Call Registry.
Conn. SC: Employer liable for sexual harassment
Rogers HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled this week that an employer is liable for failing to take "reasonable steps" to prevent an employee from being subjected to hostile work environments based on his sexual orientation.
Md. SC: Circuit court went too far in dismissing wrongful death suit
Rodowsky ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Legal Newsline) - The Maryland Supreme Court of Appeals said in a ruling this month that a lower court went too far in dismissing a wrongful death lawsuit against a medical system simply for failure to identify another plaintiff.
Second Circuit rules against NLRB in Starbucks case
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) -- The Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has ruled against the National Labor Relations Board in a case regarding Starbucks employees wearing pro-union buttons.
Two stock promoters, trader and lawyer sentenced in scheme
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- The U.S. Department of Justice says two stock promoters, a securities lawyer and a stock trader associated with a Costa Rican brokerage firm have been sentenced for a stock manipulation scheme that defrauded people who invested in a company called CO2 Technologies of about $7 million.
Utah SC finds in favor of tenants in lawsuit over arson
Durrant SALT LAKE CITY (Legal Newsline) - The Utah Supreme Court, in a ruling earlier this month, sided with a group of tenants who blamed the owners of their apartment complex for a fire and the subsequent damage and their injuries.
Pa. starting new procedures for 'cy pres' funds
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) -- New rules announced May 11 by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania direct unclaimed money from class-action lawsuits be mandated to provide legal services for low-income Pennsylvanians.
Miss. SC shoots down wrongful death suit over lung disease
Carlson JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - The Mississippi Supreme Court earlier this month ruled in favor of a group of businesses that were sued for allegedly causing a man's lung disease and, later, his death.
Thirty-one states join antitrust suit against Apple
Cuccinelli WASHINGTON, D.C. (Legal Newsline) - A group of 31 state attorneys general have joined a lawsuit against Apple Inc. and two other e-book publishers for allegedly violating federal and state antitrust laws.
N.J. dentist has license revoked
Chiesa NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa announced on Thursday that the State Board of Dentistry has revoked the license of a Manalapan dentist and assessed penalties for alleged fraud and misconduct.
Mass. AG settles with auto dealer
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced an agreement on Friday with a family of car dealerships based out of Hanover and Raynham to resolve allegations of deceptive marketing tactics.
Three N.Y. union leaders guilty of racketeering, extortion
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) -- Three leaders of a United Food and Commercial Workers International Union local have been found guilty of racketeering, and extortion in connection with their roles as union officials from 1989 through June 2011.
W.Va. SC upholds pay increase for region's DOH workers
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, in a ruling last week, affirmed a circuit court order upholding a wage increase for Division of Highways employees in the state's Eastern Panhandle.
Special prosecutor wants three-judge panel to hear Prosser case
Prosser MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - The special prosecutor who brought a case against Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser says he "strongly opposes" the resolution of the case outside of a three-judge panel.
Harris testifies in support of Homeowner Bill of Rights
Harris SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - California Attorney General Kamala Harris urged lawmakers again this week to support of a package of bills that aim to better protect homeowners.
Dem. Congressman calls attorneys who contacted him 'parasites'
Cohen WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - At a House subcommittee hearing on legislation concerning asbestos bankruptcy trusts, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen on Thursday referred to plaintiffs attorneys who contacted him about the illness of his friend as "parasites."
UPDATE: Ninth Circuit corrects Superman opinion
PASADENA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has cleared the name of an attorney it portrayed as having stolen documents related to attorney's fight to claim possession of Superman.
International judges elect Wis. SC justice to serve as delegate
Bradley MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - A group of international women judges has elected Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley to its board of directors.
Controversial presentation on creating 'legacy lawsuits' uncovered
BATON ROUGE, La. (Legal Newsline) - A video has recently surfaced that shows a consultant advising a group of trial lawyers to find the defendants with deep pockets when pursuing a "legacy lawsuit."