News from May 2012
Labor dispute settled at Alabama plant
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - An Alabama manufacturer and the union representing its workers ended a lengthy labor dispute Tuesday after signing a settlement agreement endorsed by the National Labor Relations Board.
Workers group launches charter school initiative
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A workers' advocacy group that represents those who do not want to be compelled to join a labor union announced Wednesday it will begin a campaign to assist charter school teachers to be aware of their rights regarding unionization.
Mass. AG suing driving school
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Tuesday that a Weymouth driving school has had its financial assets frozen and faces approximately $100,000 in restitution after allegedly closing abruptly and abandoning its students.
Feds, 17 states suing Healthpoint over Xenaderm
Gansler WASHINGTON, D.C. (Legal Newsline) - Seventeen states and the federal government announced on Thursday the filing of a Medicaid fraud lawsuit against the Fort Worth, Texas-based Healthpoint Ltd.
Mass. AG announces contempt judgment
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a contempt judgment and an order to pay $310,000 in civil penalties on Wednesday against the owner of two companies who allegedly ran a vacation club membership scheme.
Court orders $7.5M payments over Ponzi scheme
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A South Carolina federal court has entered two orders requested by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
W.Va. SC says court right not to remove juror in personal injury case
McHugh CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, in a ruling Wednesday, upheld a lower court's decision to dismiss a motion for a new trial in a lawsuit brought over a man's electrocution.
Compromise announced on 'legacy lawsuit' reform
BATON ROUGE, La. (Legal Newsline) - After weeks of contentious debate, a compromise has been announced on Louisiana legacy lawsuit reform.
Report: Pa. lawyers argue Risperdal case should've gone to jury
Cowan PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - Lawyers for the state of Pennsylvania argued Wednesday that a case over $150 million in payments for the drug Risperdal should have gone to a jury.
N.J. lawmakers to discuss class action reform
Chiusano TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - The New Jersey Assembly Judiciary Committee plans to take up the issue of class action lawsuit reform on Monday.
Deutsche Bank paying $202M in settlement with feds
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Deutsche Bank will pay $202.3 million to the United States to resolve allegations made under the False Claims Act, the Department of Justice announced May 10.
Mass. man sentenced for using kids to solicit donations
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - A Boston man pleaded guilty Friday in state court and was sentenced to jail on charges his organization violated state child labor laws by illegally employing kids to solicit funds unattended.
Hawaiian charged in multimillion dollar boiler room scheme
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A Hawaii man was charged Wednesday with operating a fraudulent stock sale scheme.
Mich. judicial commission won't comment on Hathaway allegations
Hathaway DETROIT (Legal Newsline) - The independent state agency tasked with investigating judicial misconduct and recommending discipline will not say if it is looking into allegations that a sitting Michigan Supreme Court justice engaged in suspicious real estate transactions.
Suit over soda's formula points to problems in W.Va. legal system
Bailey CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Proponents of lawsuit reform in West Virginia say a case filed by a prison inmate over a popular soda maker's formula is a prime example of how such frivolous suits are casting a cloud over the state's business climate.
Skechers settle with 43 AGs over health care claims
Zoeller WASHINGTON, D.C. (Legal Newsline) - The Federal Trade Commission and multiple states have reached a settlement with Skechers USA Inc. for allegedly falsely claiming its shoes caused consumer weight loss.
N.J. AG obtains TRO against auto dealer
Chiesa NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa and the Division of Consumer Affairs announced an order on Tuesday against a Paterson-based used car dealership that allegedly violated the Consumer Fraud Act.
Zoeller sues former school treasurer
Zoeller BEDFORD, Ind. (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced a lawsuit on Monday against a former school treasurer demanding that she repay more than $110,000 in public funds she allegedly misappropriated and used for personal expenses.
Verizon employee settles with employer, union
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (Legal Newsline) - A Newport News, Va., Verizon employee has settled with Verizon, the Communications Workers of America labor union and the union Local 2205 for labor law violations following last year's strike.
Mich. SC justice under scrutiny for real estate transactions
Hathaway DETROIT (Legal Newsline) - Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert P. Young Jr. is asking a fellow justice to respond to recent allegations that she engaged in suspicious real estate transactions.