News from February 2013
Law firm releases report on litigation trends in 2013
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- A Washington D.C.-based law firm says in-house legal departments will face "growing challenges" from trade secret thieves and energized government regulators, among other litigation trends this year.
CFPB launches inquiry on campus financial products
WASHINGTON - (Legal Newsline) - Financial products marketed to college students will be examined by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to determine whether the offers are in the best interest of students.
Johnson & Johnson to fight $181M legal fees in Ark. Risperdal case
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - Johnson & Johnson says a $181 million fee awarded last week to attorneys who represented the state of Arkansas in a lawsuit over Risperdal is not reasonable and plans to appeal
EPA settles with Calif. power plant
SAN FRANCISO (Legal Newsline) - The Environmental Protection Agency has announced a $145,000 Clean Air Act settlement with Thermal Energy Development Partnership.
Fourth Circuit remands case following decision by W.Va. SC
RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) -- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has remanded an arbitration clause case back to the district court after receiving the state Supreme Court's response to a certified question.
Vermont SC rules against landlord in notice case
MONTPELIER, Vermont (Legal Newsline) - The Vermont Supreme Court found that because a landlord's notice of default was defective, the landlord was not entitled to rent accrued after the wrongful eviction.
Colorado AG settles with debt settlement company
DENVER (Legal Newsline) - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced a stipulation and final agency order Monday against a Westminster-based debt settlement company and its owner to resolve allegations that the company failed to meet regulatory requirements.
Idaho AG settles with coupon ad seller
BOISE, Idaho (Legal Newsline) - Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden announced a settlement Monday with the owner of a coupon ad seller who allegedly failed to deliver ads paid for by small business owners.
Calif. AG announces suit against BP, ARCO
OAKLAND, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - California Attorney General Kamala Harris filed a civil lawsuit Friday against multiple BP companies and Atlantic Richfield Company for allegedly violating state laws that govern hazardous materials.
Wis. SC candidate wants opponents to reject out-of-state donations
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) -- Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Vince Megna is challenging his opponents to turn down out-of-state donations.
Report: Coakley broadening investigation into for-profit colleges
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) -- Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley is reportedly expanding her current investigation into for-profit colleges and trade schools.
Deputy can sue over phlegm-filled burger, Wash. SC rules
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) - The Washington State Supreme Court says a deputy sheriff who alleges he was served a burger with phlegm inside the bun can proceed in his lawsuit against a Burger King even though he did not consume the burger and did not have physical injury.
Maryland SC answers questions about Ticketmaster charges
BALTIMORE, Maryland (Legal Newsline) - The Maryland Court of Appeals has answered four certified questions submitted by a U.S. district court regarding the service charge fees charged by ticket agencies.
Alaska SC: Landlord not responsible for tenant's fall on stairs
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Legal Newsline) -- The Alaska Supreme Court last week upheld a jury verdict in favor of a landlord who was sued by a tenant for failure to maintain a set of wooden stairs outside of a second-floor apartment.
EPA, company settle over chemical, pesticide violations
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Two subsidiaries of the Kemira Group reached a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for violations of chemical and pesticide laws.
U.S. DOJ files civil suit against Standard & Poor's for fraud
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) -- The U.S. Department of Justice is accusing the nation's largest credit ratings agency of fraud in a suit filed in federal court late Monday.
Company wants U.S. SC to consider constitutionality of recess appointments
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- A company that manages sub-acute and long-term nursing care facilities filed an emergency application to the U.S. Supreme Court Monday, asking it to consider the constitutionality of President Barack Obama's recently-invalidated recess appointments.
Multi-state coalition argues against voting rights-related constitutional challenge
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman recently announced the filing of a multi-state brief with Mississippi, California and North Carolina to defend a core provision of the Voting Rights Act.
Illinois AG alerts consumers about furniture tip-over accidents
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced a consumer alert Friday to inform Illinois parents and caregivers of the risk of furniture tip-over accidents that have resulted in recalls, injuries and deaths.
Ohio AG takes actions against synthetic drugs
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced Friday that local and state law enforcement served five search warrants as part of an effort to stop the sale of synthetic drugs.