News from 2013
Lawyer for plaintiffs in BP case known as a Renaissance man in legal community
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) -- Samuel Issacharoff, the New York University School of Law professor who is representing a group of class action plaintiffs against oil giant BP, often is described as a Renaissance man.
BP faces off against class action plaintiffs
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals court today heard arguments involving the administration of claims processing to individuals and businesses negatively affected by the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Federal judge rules in favor of mortgage registry, banks in R.I. recording fee lawsuit
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline) -- A federal judge last month dismissed a class action lawsuit filed against the national mortgage registry known as MERS and various banks over alleged violations of Rhode Island's recording requirements.
N.Y. AG announces agreement with Thomson Reuters
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced an agreement Monday with financial information company Thomson Reuters to stop the company from providing high-frequency traders with market-moving information before other subscribers.
Pa. AG praises General Assembly for budget increase
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane thanked lawmakers in the General Assembly on Saturday for passing a budget that will partially restore effective funding levels for her office.
Mass. AG awards $1.5 million to local mediation, consumer programs
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced Friday that her office awarded $1.5 million in grants to local mediation and consumer programs through the Local Consumer Aid Fund Grants.
Oregon AG announces court order against debt settlement company
SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline) - Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced a court order on Wednesday against a Texas-based debt settlement company that allegedly charged excessive fees and lied about using Oregon attorneys to handle client cases.
Colorado AG obtains restraining order against allegedly deceptive charity
DENVER (Legal Newsline) - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers has announced a temporary restraining order against a for-profit company that allegedly deceived consumers into thinking they were donating money to a breast cancer charity.
Md. high court: Manufacturer owed no duty to warn household members of asbestos dangers
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Legal Newsline) -- Maryland's highest court ruled Monday that the maker of a joint compound owed no duty of care to a household member who, in this case, came in contact with the dust of the asbestos-containing compound while doing laundry.
Consumer, worker advocates praise N.Y. AG for investigation into prepaid cards
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) -- The National Consumers League, one of the nation's leading consumer and worker advocacy groups, says New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is right to launch an investigation into retailers that use prepaid cards to pay their employees.
Federal Circuit clarifies law on 'race to judgment' in concurrent federal, PTO proceedings
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- A federal appeals court ruled last week that federal trial and appellate courts are required by statute to dismiss pending patent cases if the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has cancelled the asserted claims through reexamination.
Former solicitors general write letter in support of Millett for D.C. Circuit
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- A bipartisan group of seven former U.S. solicitors general, including Kenneth W. Starr, say they support Patricia Ann Millett's nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
BP seeks reversal, says settlement easy set up for fraud
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) -- Attorneys for BP claim a judge's ruling has allowed payments for fictitious claims from the 2010 oil spill, and they are asking a federal appeals court to reverse the decision.
Illinois AG files suits against three Metro East contractors
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed lawsuits Wednesday against three Metro East contractors who allegedly took more than $89,000 in upfront payments from homeowners without completing contracted repair work.
Ohio AG settles with stores that allegedly sold synthetic drugs
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced settlements Tuesday with the owners of four Highland County businesses that allegedly sold synthetic drugs.
Ky. AG announces final restitution payments for Eastern Livestock victims
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway announced the distribution Wednesday of an additional $56,500 worth of restitution to victims who were wronged by the now-defunct Eastern Livestock.
AGs send letter to Google about internet safety and advertising policies
LINCOLN, Neb. (Legal Newsline) - Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning sent a letter Tuesday to Google that expressed his concern related to the company's internet safety and advertising policies.
Ohio AG settles with South Carolina vacation business
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced a $19,823.54 agreement Wednesday with a South Carolina-based vacation company to resolve allegations of consumer law violations.
Complaint details unethical conduct by asbestos attorneys
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A former associate at the law firm Brayton Purcell LLP has filed a complaint in the California Superior Court against the firm and its founder, Alan R. Brayton.
N.Y. AG announces court decision to uphold $300 million tax fraud lawsuit against Sprint-Nextel
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a court decision Tuesday that denied Sprint-Nextel Corporation's efforts to dismiss a $300 million tax fraud lawsuit.