News from January 2013
Report: 2012's increase in class, collective action filings to continue this year
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Employment class action law and collective action litigation will become more sophisticated and continue to expose employers to significant financial costs this year, a new report shows.
Va. SC reverses, remands $17M asbestos case
RICHMOND, Virg. (Legal Newsline) - The Virginia Supreme Court has reversed and remanded a case in which a jury awarded over $17 million dollars to the estate of a shipyard worker who died from mesothelioma.
Kansas AG fines two companies for No-Call Act violations
TOPEKA, Kansas (Legal Newsline) - Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced $10,000 fines Tuesday against two out-of-state companies that violated the state's No-Call Act.
Mass. AG announces settlement with Met P&C
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a settlement Tuesday with Metropolitan Property & Casualty Insurance Company to resolve allegations that it failed to refund surcharge premiums.
Frat insurer must pay for fight injuries, Ala. SC rules
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - An insurance company for a University of South Alabama fraternity has to cover damages to the plaintiff who filed suit against the fraternity and two of its officers due to injuries he obtained in a fight at the fraternity house.
N.C. AG wins judgment against auto advertiser
RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) - North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper announced a consent judgment Tuesday against a Louisiana auto advertiser that allegedly misled consumers with its advertisements for used car sales events.
Campaign finance report shows Md. AG's coffers up to $5.2M
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Legal Newsline) -- Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler, who is still flirting with the idea of running for governor, has more than $5 million in his campaign account, according to a filing this week with the Maryland State Board of Elections.
Report: Caldwell has paid more than $15M to outside lawyers on BP case
BATON ROUGE, La. (Legal Newsline) -- Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell has paid more than $15 million to outside lawyers for work on the state's case against oil giant BP over the 2010 Gulf oil spill, according to a report earlier this week.
Cingular to pay EPA fine, more for violations
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - New Cingular Wireless will pay a civil penalty of $750,000 to the Environmental Protection Agency and will spend $625,000 on environmental projects to resolve alleged violations.
Former Ohio SC justice to join law firm
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) -- Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, who stepped down from the bench last year, is joining one of the largest Ohio-based law firms.
Ala. AG to run for second term
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) -- Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange told an Alabama news station this week he plans to seek a second term.
Mich. AG warns consumers to be careful when investing
LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) -- Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette this week warned consumers to be cautious when investing, pointing to a Saginaw man's alleged role in what he described as an "extensive" Ponzi scheme.
Calif. AG weighs in on proposed budget
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) -- California Attorney General Kamala Harris seems to approve of Gov. Jerry Brown's recently proposed budget.
Hawaii AG announces $150 million ruling against online travel companies
HONOLULU (Legal Newsline) - Hawaii Attorney General David Louie announced a ruling Saturday by the tax appeal court that orders multiple online travel companies to pay approximately $150 million to the state in overdue taxes.
Mass. AG reaches $4 million settlement with Honeywell
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley reached a settlement Tuesday with Honeywell to resolve allegations that the company included superfluous upgrades as part of an energy conservation program.
Maryland AG announces $160,000 Medicaid fraud settlement with All About You
BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler announced a $159,044 settlement Monday with All About You Health Care Services Inc. to resolve allegations of submitting false claims to Medicaid.
N.Y. AG gets deal with theater to provide wheelchair access
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced an agreement Monday with the 42nd Street Development Corporation to improve access for patrons who wish to buy wheelchair accessible seats.
Report: Va. AG says jail may be effective in protesting mandate
RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) -- In a radio interview last week, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli suggested that going to jail may be a good way to protest a mandate under the federal health care law that requires employers to provide contraceptive coverage.
Oregon's Chief Justice seeks more funds
SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline) -- Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Balmer says he plans on asking lawmakers for funds to restore the state's court system.
Minn. AG backs 'admissible evidence' legislation
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) -- Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson wants debt buyers to prove in court that they are using accurate and complete information when seeking repayment from debtors.