News from 2013
Report: Law professor officially joins Mich. AG race
LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) -- Michigan State University law professor Mark Totten has officially joined the race to become the state's next top lawyer.
Food companies sued in federal court over high fructose corn syrup
BUFFALO, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) -- A group of food companies are being sued in a New York federal court over allegations that their product, the highly controversial high fructose corn syrup, is linked to type 2 diabetes and that they failed to warn consumers of its possible dangers.
U.S. SC sides with American Express in lawsuit over forced arbitration
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-3 ruling Thursday, said corporations can force arbitration on small businesses and individuals, even when it can be proven that the forced arbitration clause in the contract is too costly or inherently unfair.
Obama nominates three to serve on Calif., N.C. federal courts
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- President Barack Obama made three nominations to two different federal courts Thursday, in an effort to fill three judicial emergencies.
R.I. Assembly OKs AG's legislation banning certain synthetic drugs
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline) -- The Rhode Island General Assembly has approved legislation backed by Attorney General Peter Kilmartin placing synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones on the highly-regulated Schedule I drug list.
Report: Utah lawmakers vote to investigate AG Swallow
SALT LAKE CITY (Legal Newsline) -- Utah lawmakers have voted to launch an investigation into Attorney General John Swallow and the growing list of allegations against him.
N.Y. AG settles with Long Island beverage distributor
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a $300,000 settlement Thursday with a Long Island beverage distributor that allegedly failed to pay overtime wages to employees.
Fla. AG files lawsuit against pool builder
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi's office filed a lawsuit Tuesday against a pool builder and its principals for allegedly violating Florida's Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Mass. AG urges DPU to reject WMECO's $20 million cost increase
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley on Thursday urged the Department of Public Utilities to reject a $20 million cost increase request by the Western Massachusetts Electric Company.
Missouri AG files lawsuit against defunct medical spa
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against a defunct Kansas City-based medical spa and its owner for allegedly failing to deliver services or offer refunds to customers.
Ohio AG announces agreement with Florida-based nonprofit
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced an agreement Wednesday with a Florida-based nonprofit and its principals to stop the organization from soliciting charitable donations in the state.
Ark. AG asks state SC to uphold $1.2B judgment against Johnson & Johnson
LITTLE ROCK (Legal Newsline) -- Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, along with 35 state attorneys general and 65 members of the state's General Assembly, is asking the Arkansas Supreme Court to uphold a $1.2 billion judgment against Johnson & Johnson and Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Report: Va. AG wants rest of Medicaid settlement payment from feds
RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) -- Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli reportedly is pressing the U.S. Treasury Department to release the remaining $105 million due to the state for the attorney general's office's role as the lead investigator into a 2012 Medicaid fraud settlement.
Report: AGs want federal law protecting Internet publishers, service providers amended
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) -- A group of state attorneys general wants Congress to amend a federal law that protects Internet publishers and service providers against libel suits and other actions.
Wis. AG elected president of attorneys general association
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) -- Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen was elected president of the National Association of Attorneys General during its annual summer meeting, held in Boston this week.
Hood to issue subpoenas to Google over illegal, counterfeit goods sales
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) -- Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, at a meeting of state attorneys general this week, said he plans to issue subpoenas to Internet search giant Google for possible violations of state consumer protection laws.
N.Y. AG responds to report that Wells Fargo did not comply with National Mortgage Settlement
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman responded Wednesday to a progress report that found Wells Fargo failed to comply with the timeline servicing standards of the National Mortgage Settlement.
Ohio AG files lawsuit against professional solicitor
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine filed a lawsuit Tuesday against a Massachusetts-based professional solicitor that allegedly engaged in multiple violations of the state's Charitable Organizations Act.
Mass. AG announces $1.5 million agreement with health insurer
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced Tuesday that a health insurer will pay more than $1.5 million in additional restitution after allegedly failing to comply with an earlier consent judgment.
U.S. SC sides with FTC in challenge to drug companies' 'pay-to-delay' agreements
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- The U.S. Supreme Court, in a ruling Monday, upheld the Federal Trade Commission's power to challenge so-called "pay-to-delay" agreements in which drug companies pay settlements to generic manufacturers that would challenge their patents.