News from September 2012
Lawsuit against SEC over Ponzi scheme survives motion to dismiss
MIAMI (Legal Newsline) - A lawsuit against the Securities and Exchange Commission will be allowed to proceed, a Florida federal judge said Friday.
Miller settles with labor law poster company
Miller DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller announced an agreement on Monday with a Michigan labor law poster sales company that allegedly misled Iowa workplaces about state requirements and its products.
Former director barred from Mass. public employment
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Monday that the former executive director of the Medford Housing Authority has been barred from public employment.
Payday for private lawyers in Capital One case came after W.Va. SC decision
McGraw POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - After the West Virginia Supreme Court decided not to hear a challenge of their employment, two private attorneys earned $4.5 million by settling the State's case against Capital One.
Mo. AG announces judgment agains Queen City Emporium
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced a $29,000 judgment on Monday against a now-defunct Springfield consignment shop and its former president for allegedly failing to pay consignors or return their merchandise.
Mich. Democrats nominate three women for SC
Brewer LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) - At its state convention in Lansing over the weekend, the Michigan Democratic Party nominated three women to run for the state Supreme Court.
W.Va. judge finds Internet lender CashCall engaged in 'sham'
McGraw CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Louis "Duke" Bloom has ordered a California Internet lender to pay $15 million in civil penalties, refunds and cancelled debts to the nearly 300 West Virginia consumers who obtained loans and to the State.
Mich. AG sues to block planned Lansing casino
Schuette GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Legal Newsline) - Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has filed a lawsuit in federal court over a planned American Indian casino in downtown Lansing.
Labor Dept. sues insurance brokerage firm
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Dietrich & Associates, an insurance brokerage firm, and its chief executive officer and sole shareholder, Kurt E. Dietrich, accusing them of violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
Man accused of real estate scam in Nevada
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - Western Financial Planning Corporation and owner Louis Schooler were accused Sept. 4 by the Securities and Exchange Commission of operating a $50 million real estate investment fraud.
NLRB certifies union being voted out
McALLEN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Nurses at the Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen, Texas, have succeeded in their efforts to remove a union from their workplace.
Ohio nurses claim they were threatened before union vote
Mix CLEVELAND (Legal Newsline) - Two Ohio hospital nurses want to overturn a union certification election because they allege they were intimidated by the union, and this tainted the election results.
Groups sue Agriculture Secretary over meat-labeling rule
Vilsack DENVER (Legal Newsline) - Several advocacy groups filed a lawsuit Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against the World Trade Organization, Obama's Secretary of Agriculture and his trade representative.
Legal groups weigh in on W.Va. SC campaign finance ruling
Skaggs CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Though some legal experts argue that the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals' decision deeming the matching funds provisions of the state's Public Campaign Financing Pilot Program unconstitutional is "disappointing," there are those who contend the ruling also is slightly encouraging.
W.Va. lawsuit climate ranked last again
Rickard CHARLESTON -- For the fifth consecutive year, West Virginia's lawsuit climate has been ranked worst in the nation.
Ariz. AG settles with Chicago law firm
Horne PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) - Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne announced a settlement on Friday with a Chicago-based law firm that allegedly attempted to collect advance fees from consumers looking for assistance in obtaining mortgage loan modifications.
Company settles with Colo. AG
Suthers DENVER (Legal Newsline) - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced a settlement on Monday with an Internet-based affiliate company and its owner to resolve allegations of fraud.
Iowa AG reaches agreement with used car dealer
Miller DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller announced an agreement on Friday with an Ottumwa used car dealer resolving allegations that the company illegally repossessed vehicles.
Ninth Circuit grants NLRB's petition against Waikiki hotel
PASADENA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Friday granted the National Labor Relations Board's petition for enforcement of a 2011 decision against owners of the Pacific Beach Hotel, a luxury Waikiki hotel, in a decade-long dispute.