News from January 2013
R.I. SC ruling cuts amount health facility must pay estate
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (Legal Newsline) - The Rhode Island Supreme Court has ruled that a health care facility is obligated to pay the statutory minimum of $100,000 to the estate of a women who died due to negligence at the facility even though the facility was supposed to pay the first $2 million under the terms of the policy.
Report: Reid joins Swallow in denial of alleged deal with businessman
SALT LAKE CITY (Legal Newsline) -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid this week denied he was ever involved in -- or knew of -- a deal to have a businessman pay him, or someone connected to him, to make a federal investigation go away.
Mich. governor signs medical malpractice reform into law
LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) -- Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder last week signed into law a so-called Patients First Reform Package, aimed at restoring and improving tort reform measures passed in the state 20 years ago.
Report: Neb. AG says he won't run for governor
LINCOLN, Neb. (Legal Newsline) -- Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning says he will not run for governor in 2014.
Former Mo. SC judge named to university board
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has named former Missouri Supreme Court Judge Ann Covington to the University of Missouri Board of Curators.
Ky. SC justice to retire due to medical condition
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) -- Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Wil Schroder said this week he is retiring due to a brain tumor.
Three Va. bank executives charged with fraud
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Three former executives of Bank of the Commonwealth were charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission for understating millions of dollars in loan losses during the height of the financial crisis.
Indiana AG files licensing complaint against NECC
INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller filed a licensing lawsuit Wednesday against the Massachusetts-based pharmacy that is linked to an outbreak of meningitis that killed 37 people across 19 states.
Court upholds N.J. sexual harassment settlement
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa announced Tuesday an appellate panel upheld the legal validity of a $75,000 sexual harassment case settlement with a South Jersey restaurant owner.
Fla. AG settles with prepaid debit card firms
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced settlements Wednesday with five of Florida's largest prepaid debit card companies requiring both reforms and penalties.
Conn. SC awards attorney fees in contract claim
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - The Connecticut Supreme Court held that a defendant was properly awarded attorney fees by the trial court after prevailing in a contract action filed against her by a skilled nursing care facility.
Ala. SC says brand-name drug maker can be liable for injuries from generic
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - The Alabama Supreme Court answered in the affirmative the question of whether a brand-name drug manufacturer, based upon statements made in connection with the manufacture or distribution of the brand-name drug, may be liable to a plaintiff who has claimed injury from a generic version of the brand-name drug.
Va. SC addresses statute of limitations in asbestos case
RICHMOND, Virg. (Legal Newsline) - On a certified question of law from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the Virginia Supreme Court held that a cause of action due to latent mesothelioma accrues "upon the first communication of a diagnosis of an asbestos-related injury or disease by a physician."
McDaniel continues to raise funds for gubernatorial bid
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) -- Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, raised more than $400,000 in the final months of 2012.
Miss. SC agrees to hear case over company's tax assessments
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) -- The Mississippi Supreme Court has agreed to review an appeals court's ruling that the state Department of Revenue bears the burden of proving that the use of an "alternative apportionment" was the proper method to assess a company's income tax obligation.
Report: Investigator sues Ariz. AG, deputy AG over alleged 'smear campaign'
PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) -- A state criminal investigator who has alleged Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne, along with other state officials, are engaging in a cover-up has reportedly sued Horne and Deputy Attorney General Rick Bistrow.
DeWine sues home services companies for shoddy work
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said this week his office has filed lawsuits seeking restitution for consumers harmed by two home services companies.
N.C. AG tells consumers not to fall for security system sales pitch
RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) -- North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper warned consumers this week not to fall for a telephone sales pitch for a new home security system.
CFTC settles charges with Chicago company
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Charges were settled against a Chicago company by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission for failure to diligently supervise employees in connection with handling commodity futures orders of clients.
Ky. AG files fourth suit over for-profit college job placement data
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) -- Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway said Wednesday his office has filed a consumer protection lawsuit against Spencerian College over allegations that it misrepresented job placement numbers.