News from September 2012
Patent lawsuit against Mercedes Benz dismissed
Hochberg NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - A New Jersey federal judge has dismissed a patent infringement lawsuit against luxury car maker Mercedes Benz.
Scotts to pay for using insecticides
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - One of the nation's largest lawn and garden products companies was ordered by an Ohio federal court on Friday to pay a penalty exceeding $6 million and spend $2 million on environmental projects.
Judge dismisses lawsuit over secret ballot amendment
Horne PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) - A federal Judge on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought by the National Labor Relations Board against the state of Arizona's constitutional amendment guaranteeing workers the right to vote for a union by secret ballot.
Jindal files appeal in case over La. SC's next chief justice
Jindal NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is now getting involved in the fight over who will become the state Supreme Court's next chief justice.
Cuccinelli endorses GOP candidate in W.Va. AG race
Cuccinelli CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is lending his support to Patrick Morrisey, the GOP candidate for West Virginia attorney general.
Appeals panel overturns Saints' suspensions
Vilma NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - A three-member collective bargaining agreement appeals panel overturned the suspension of four current and former New Orleans Saints football players allegedly involved in a "bounty" program.
SEC alleges investment fraud scheme
MIAMI (Legal Newsline) - An attorney and two other South Florida residents were charged Wednesday by the Securities and Exchange Commission with operating a $27.5 million investment fraud scheme.
W.Va. SC: Matching funds provision of public financing program unconstitutional
Loughry CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals on Friday deemed the matching funds provisions of the state's Public Campaign Financing Pilot Program unconstitutional.
N.Y. AG reaches $13.4M settlement with hospital
Schneiderman NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a $13.4 million settlement on Wednesday with New York Downtown Hospital to resolve allegations of Medicaid fraud.
Ill. AG says tire recycler poses West Nile threat
Madigan SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced a multi-count lawsuit on Thursday against a Champaign County tire recycler for allegedly violating state environmental safety standards.
N.Y. head shop assessed $15K in penalties
Schneiderman POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a consent order and judgment on Wednesday against a Poughkeepsie-based head shop that will result in a permanent ban of mislabeled products and $15,000 in penalties.
McKenna reaches agreement over parking tickets
McKenna SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna announced a consent decree on Thursday with a King County parking enforcement company to resolve allegations of issuing misleading tickets.
Mass. AG approves ban on sale of water bottles
Coakley CONCORD, Mass. (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley this week approved one town's ban on the sale of single-serving plastic water bottles.
Va. AG expresses support for eminent domain amendment
Cuccinelli NORFOLK, Va. (Legal Newsline) - Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli this week came out in support of a proposed constitutional amendment on property rights, which would make it more difficult for governments to take private land in the state.
Solar panel company settles SEC charges
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A San Francisco solar panel manufacturer and three of its former executives on Thursday settled charges brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission that they were defrauding investors.
Suzuki settles Clean Air Act allegations
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - American Suzuki Motor Corporation and Suzuki Motor Corporation must pay an $885,000 penalty for allegedly importing and selling 25,458 uncertified all-terrain vehicles and off-road motorcycles.
JPMorgan Chase paying $1.28M to feds for cleanup
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - JPMorgan Chase Bank has reimbursed the federal government $1.28 million for costs incurred by the Environmental Protection Agency in cleaning up the Browning Lumber Company Superfund Site.
Calif. pharmacist files complaint against union
Mix SAN JOSE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - The Service Employees International Union Local 521 had a complaint filed against it Aug. 27 by the California Public Employment Relations Board's San Francisco office.
10th Circuit sides with NLRB over fired bill collector
DENVER (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has affirmed the ruling of the National Labor Relations Board in the case of an angry electric company bill collector.
Mass. construction company pleads guilty
Coakley DEDHAM, Mass. (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Wednesday that a Dedham construction company and its owner pleaded guilty to charges that they failed to pay the prevailing wage, among other labor violations.