News from September 2012
W.Va. high court: Former steel worker's cancer claim compensable
Chief Justice Menis Ketchum CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals last week upheld an order by the state's workers' compensation board finding a former steel workers' claim for bladder cancer compensable.
Ill. AG takes action over oil spills
Madigan CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced actions on Friday against several oil pipeline companies for spills near Palos Park and Lockport.
Union changes stance after worker's complaint
Mix JOHNSONBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - A federal charge filed with the National Labor Relations Board against a Machinist union has forced union officials to stop opposing workers who did not want to join the union.
Report: State and local government employees making more than private
Patterson WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics issued a report Tuesday titled "Employer Costs for Employee Compensation - June 2012."
Funeral home barred from preneed contracts
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster obtained a judgment on Monday against a Jefferson City funeral home and its director prohibiting them from entering into certain funeral contracts.
Mass. ambulance company to pay $350K in penalties
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced on Friday that an ambulance company will pay $350,000 in civil penalties and costs to settle allegations that its staff was not properly certified.
S.D. company says it was defamed by ABC News
Schneider YANKSTON, S.D. (Legal Newsline) - ABC News is being sued by a South Dakota meat processing company for $1.2 billion.
Report: Harris looking into consolidation by hospitals, doctor groups
Harris SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - California Attorney General Kamala Harris is reportedly investigating whether increased consolidation by hospitals and doctor groups is upping medical care prices.
SEC charges Conn. man with fraud
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced that it has charged Stephen Blankenship of New Fairfield, Conn., and Blankenship's Deer Hill Financial Group with defrauding investors.
La. AG: Privatization plan requires legislative OK
Caldwell BATON ROUGE, La. (Legal Newsline) - Louisiana Attorney General James "Buddy" Caldwell says any contract to privatize the state's Office of Group Benefits must be approved by state lawmakers.
Judge in W.Va. campaign funding case: Judicial elections 'notably different'
Wilkes CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Judicial elections are "notably different" than elections for legislative or executive offices, Judge Christopher C. Wilkes wrote in a concurring opinion filed last week.
Employee benefits attorneys continue to advise clients on Obamacare, say more guidance is needed
Wofford CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - A lot of employers waited for the U.S. Supreme Court to issue a ruling over the Affordable Care Act (ACA) before they started making major decisions.
Mo. hotel agrees to refunds
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced an agreement on Wednesday with the Tiger Hotel in Columbia that will provide refunds to consumers who paid a higher price than what they originally reserved online.
Mo. AG alleges clean water violations
Koster JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against a Boone County business and its owner for allegedly engaging in multiple violations of the state's Clean Water Law.
Mass. AG against Columbia Gas rate increase
Coakley BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley expressed her opposition on Thursday to a proposed $29.2 million rate increase by Columbia Gas.
Tenth Circuit rejects challenge to Kan. judicial selection process
DENVER (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals court, in a 2-1 ruling Thursday, upheld the way Kansas selects members of its state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.
Rand Paul endorses Cuccinelli for Va. governor in 2013
Paul CHANTILLY, Va. (Legal Newsline) - U.S. Sen. Rand Paul announced his support Thursday for Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in his bid to become the state's next governor.
Juvenile court judge named newest member of Ind. SC
Rush INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels announced Friday he has selected a longtime juvenile court judge as the next member of the state Supreme Court.
Two accused of fraud by SEC sentenced
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - Two former senior officers of a finance company were sentenced earlier this month to lengthy prison terms and to pay $53 million in restitution for fraud.
Arts and crafts retailer suing feds over birth control mandate
David Green OKLAHOMA CITY (Legal Newsline) - Oklahoma-based Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. is suing the federal government over a requirement in President Barack Obama's health care law that employers provide their workers with birth control coverage.