News from May 2012
U.S. SC throws out suit over lender's settlement services, fees
Scalia WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court, in a ruling Thursday, sided with a mortgage lender in a lawsuit filed over its settlement services and fees.
Mich. AG: State can't collect union dues from home help workers
Schuette LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) - Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said last week that the State cannot collect union dues from independent health workers.
Ga. AG issues guidelines for hiring private attorneys
Olens ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) - A week after Mississippi added some transparency to contingency fee agreements between its attorney general and private lawyers, Georgia has done the same.
Report: Mass. Senate OKs bill to stop charities from paying boards
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - The Massachusetts Senate last week approved a measure that bans pay for nonprofit boards.
N.Y. comptroller, shareholders again ask Chevron to settle
DiNapoli NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli continues to put pressure on Chevron Corp. to settle an ongoing legal battle with a group of Ecuadorians suing the company.
Law firm will be sanctioned over padded expense sheet
Bull SPOKANE, Wash. (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge plans to sanction a class action law firm that he says purposely padded its hours and expense sheets.
NLRB member, criticized by Dems, resigns
Flynn WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A Republican appointee to the National Labor Relations Board has resigned after a deluge of criticism by Democrats.
Trade commission alleges $11M fraud
Carter WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission on May 11 filed a lawsuit in federal court that alleges fraud in the sale of two automated trading systems known as the Boomer and Victory Trading systems.
Judge: Auto dealers must disclose loan rate reasoning
Huvelle WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge ruled Thursday that automobile dealers who use third-party financing transactions must tell borrowers who receive higher interest rates the reason for the adverse rates.
Feds to investigate alleged Honduran labor violations
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The AFL-CIO announced Wednesday that the federal government will investigate charges that the Honduran government is ignoring "repeated and well-documented violations of workers' rights."
W.Va. SC sides with circuit court in ruling over tax assessments
Ketchum CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals last week agreed to set aside the decision of the state's Office of Tax Appeals against a packaged foods company over tax assessments.
Cleveland-area roofer faces lawsuit
DeWine CLEVELAND (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine filed a lawsuit on Thursday against the owner of a Cleveland-area roofing company for multiple alleged violations of state consumer law, including shoddy work and failure to deliver.
Conn. AG files suit against dental practice over billing
Jepsen HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen filed a lawsuit on Thursday against a Winsted dentist and his practice for allegedly violating the state's Unfair Trade Practices Act by engaging in illegal billing.
Water park in trouble with Ohio AG
DeWine CINCINNATI (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine filed a lawsuit on Friday against the operators and owners of The Beach Waterpark in Mason for allegedly violating the state's Consumer Sales Practices Act by failing to deliver.
Pa. AG takes action against former fire and ambulance organizations
Kelly HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly's Charitable Trusts and Organization Section filed a civil legal action on Friday against several former directors and officers of defunct Adams County fire and ambulance organizations.
W.Va. SC rules for insurer in suit over car's pumpkin damage
West Virginia Chief Justice Menis Ketchum CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, in a ruling Thursday, sided with an automobile insurer in a lawsuit brought by a driver who argued that the damage to his car was the result of Halloween hijinks and should've been covered.
AFL-CIO alerts worker safety bureaus to silica exposure at fracking sites
Rotunda WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The AFL-CIO has put federal bureaus responsible for worker safety on alert regarding silica exposure at hydraulic fracturing sites.
Report: Okla. AG's office facing $2 million budget cut
Pruitt OKLAHOMA CITY (Legal Newsline) - Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt's office is reportedly facing a $2 million budget shortfall.
Cuccinelli pushes for Wis. governor in recall election
Cuccinelli RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) - Virginia Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli is throwing his support behind fellow Republican, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
First Circuit finds for railroads in suit over cumulative injuries
Souter BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals court last week upheld a ruling in favor of two railroad companies in a case over a former employee's cumulative injuries.