News from March 2013
Conn. officials seek information from Sandy Hook charities
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen and Consumer Protection Commissioner William Rubenstein announced Thursday they were seeking additional information about dozens of charities related to the shooting deaths at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Conn. AG announces restitution payments from UBS AG
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen announced that about $541,000 worth of restitution checks would be issued Thursday to 10 Connecticut entities as part of a 2011 multi-state settlement with a Swiss bank.
N.D. AG issues cease and desist against Jamestown retailer
BISMARCK, N.D. (Legal Newsline) - North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem issued a cease and desist order Thursday against the owner of a Jamestown retailer who allegedly violated state consumer fraud laws and business registration laws.
Mass. AG settles with four auto insurance companies
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced settlements Thursday with four auto insurance companies that allegedly charged consumers too much for surcharges that were overturned or otherwise removed from state driving records.
Ark. AG settles with Kansas payday loan collector
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel announced a settlement Thursday with a Kansas-based debt collection agency to resolve allegations that it tried to collect on illegal payday loan debt.
SEC charges Calif. lawyer with fraud
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A California-based lawyer has been charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission for fraudulently giving out baseless legal opinion from letters posted on his website regarding penny stocks.
Conn. AG announces settlement with CBHA
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen and the Department of Social Services announced an agreement Wednesday with Connecticut Behavioral Health Associates to resolve allegations of inappropriate billing of customers.
Minn. AG to hold public hearings on Fairview Health Services takeover
SAINT PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson says she soon will hold a public hearing to receive comments regarding the potential takeover of Fairview Health Services by South Dakota-based Sanford Health.
Mo. AG files suit against St. Louis landfill owner
ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the owner of the St. Louis County-based Bridgeton Landfill after allegedly violating multiple state environmental laws in the operation of the facility.
Ohio AG issues warning about tax-related identity theft
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine issued a warning Wednesday related to an increased number of tax-related identity theft complaints received by his Consumer Protection Section Identity Theft Unit.
Oregon AG issues warning about police impersonators
SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline) - Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum and the Oregon State Police issued a warning Wednesday about two police impersonation scams that recently surfaced in the state.
Ky. SC: Arbitration agreements controlled by FAA enforceable in state courts
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) -- The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled in a decision published this month that an arbitration agreement, which provides it is controlled by the Federal Arbitration Act, is enforceable in state courts.
Texas SC finds for company in lawsuit over 'claw' machine toy prizes
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) -- The Texas Supreme Court this month ordered state Comptroller Susan Combs to refund hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales tax that a company paid on plush toy prizes used to stock its coin-operated amusement machines.
Bill preventing Utah AG from investigating self signed by governor
SALT LAKE CITY (Legal Newsline) -- A bill preventing Utah Attorney General John Swallow, who is under fire for possible election law violations, from investigating himself was signed into law Wednesday.
Kansas Court of Appeals judges now picked by governor, with Senate confirmation
TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) -- Kansas Court of Appeals judges now will be chosen by direct gubernatorial appointment with Senate confirmation, under legislation signed into law by Gov. Sam Brownback Wednesday.
S.D. AG issues alert about sweepstakes scams
PIERRE, S.D. (Legal Newsline) - South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley asked consumers Tuesday to reach out to their elderly family, neighbors or friends to warn them about the potential dangers of sweepstakes scams.
U.S. SC: Class action over cable company's alleged monopolization improperly certified
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Wednesday that a class action filed over a cable company's alleged monopolization was improperly certified.
Iowa AG announces agreement with sound-alike government records company
DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline) - Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller announced an agreement Monday with a California company that allegedly marketed real estate documents to Iowans under the guise of an official government agency.
Mass. AG announces $20K settlement with Worcester condo
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a $20,000 settlement on Tuesday with a Worcester housing complex and its property management company to resolve allegations of disability-based housing discrimination.
Mich. AG files request for grand jury to look into meningitis deaths
LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) - Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced a petition Tuesday with the Court of Appeals requesting a grand jury be convened to determine if a Massachusetts company broke state laws by distributing tainted products.