News from May 2013
N.J. AG reaches $11.2 million settlement with biotech companies
NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa announced an $11.2 million settlement Thursday with multiple Bergen County biotechnology companies and their former president and CEO, Thomas Fagan.
Indiana AG files petition to see Boobies Rock! financial records
INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller's office filed a petition Thursday in Marion County to ask the court to compel a Colorado-based merchandise seller to turn over its financial records.
Mass. AG files lawsuit against NOAA to protect fishing industry
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley filed a lawsuit Thursday against the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for enforcing allegedly over-restrictive regulations against the state's fishing industry.
Arkansas AG announces $4.26 million order against travel agent
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel announced a $4.26 million court order Thursday against a travel agent that allegedly took money without providing a promised trip to Hawaii for two state marching bands.
Wisconsin AG announces $80,000 settlement with dairy operation
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced an $80,000 settlement Thursday with a Winnebago County dairy operation and its principals to resolve allegations of state water pollution violations.
Miss. appeals court remands lawsuit over alleged alligator infestation
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) -- The Mississippi Court of Appeals, in a ruling this week, said it is leaving a case over an alleged alligator infestation up to a lower court.
Texas AG shuts down unauthorized immigration consultant operations
MCALLEN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced permanent injunctions Wednesday against three allegedly fraudulent notario operations in the Rio Grande Valley.
Coakley files labor lawsuit against Ohio-based painting company
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against an Ohio-based painting company that allegedly failed to pay more than $2 million in wages to its employees.
Wis. AG announces agreement with window retailer over alleged No Call violations
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced an agreement Tuesday with an Outagamie-based retailer of replacement windows and doors to resolve allegations that it solicited people on the state's No Call List. Van HollenCreative Openings allegedly failed to register certain telephone lines as a telemarketer, as required by law, and illegally made hundreds of
Mass. AG gets court order against landlord, property manager
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a $38,000 court order Thursday against a Melrose landlord and property manager to resolve allegations of housing discrimination.
Maine AG issues consumer warning about Life Alert scam
AUGUSTA, Maine (Legal Newsline) - Maine Attorney General Janet Mills warned elderly Maine residents on Thursday about a phone scam related to a fake free Life Alert giveaway meant to obtain sensitive, personal financial information from victims.
Groups appeal to federal judge for fair lending data on homeowner relief
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- More than a dozen housing and consumer advocates, in a letter to a federal judge last week, questioned whether homeowner relief given under the requirements of a nationwide mortgage settlement is being given fairly to borrowers in communities hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis.
Federal judge rejects mass action case against mortgage registry, banks
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) -- A federal judge ruled last week that a lawsuit filed by hundreds of homeowners against the national mortgage registry known as MERS and dozens of member institutions is unsupported by facts and rejected the mass action attempt.
Kellogg reaches $4M settlement over Mini-Wheats ad campaign
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (Legal Newsline) -- A $4 million settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit over Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats cereal.
Tort reform group supports Wis. lemon law revisions
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) -- A national tort reform group is backing an effort by Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin to revise the state's lemon law.
Deepwater Horizon settlement sees struggles
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) -- Motley Rice founding member Joseph Rice is no stranger to complex litigation settlements.
N.Y. AG settles with five more gas stations that allegedly gouged prices
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has announced settlements with five more gas stations to resolve allegations of price gouging in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
N.J. AG sues gas stations that allegedly sold aviation fuel
NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa announced a lawsuit Tuesday against six gas stations, their parent company and two fuel distribution firms for allegedly selling leaded aviation fuel to unknowing motorists.
N.Y. AG announces ADA agreements with regional bus companies
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced settlements Tuesday with two charter bus companies to resolve allegations of failing to provide services to disabled individuals as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Justice group supports Judiciary's request for $73M in emergency funds
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- Justice at Stake, in a letter to congressional leaders this week, voiced its support for a recent request by the federal courts for an emergency infusion of $73 million, including $41 million for federal public defenders.