News from 2013
Conn. AG asks PURA to deny Aquarion rate increase application
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) -- Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen filed a brief on Thursday with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority requesting the authority reject a water company's application to increase customer rates by $33 million over three years.
Wis. AG announces $40,000 judgment against waste storage facility
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) -- Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced Thursday a $40,000 judgment against a Dodge County-based liquid waste storage facility that allegedly violated state water pollution and permit laws.
Plaintiffs' attorneys respond to NY Times columnist's biting critique of BP claim process
NEW ORLEANS - Two attorneys on the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee have responded to New York Times' columnist Joe Nocera's op-ed published on July 8, alleging that the claims process awarding damages to those affected by the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill is not just flawed, but likely evidence of corruption within Louisiana's legal profession.
Report: Head of committee to investigate Utah AG has ties to St. George businessman
SALT LAKE CITY (Legal Newsline) -- The head of a nine-member legislative committee tasked with investigating embattled Utah Attorney General John Swallow reportedly has ties to a St. George businessman who has made allegations against Swallow.
Report: Ill. House GOP leader says he won't run for AG
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) -- Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross said he no longer is considering a run for state attorney general.
Texas lawmaker expected to announce run for AG
DALLAS (Legal Newsline) -- Texas lawmaker Dan Branch is set to officially kick off his campaign for state attorney general next week.
Report: Cuccinelli cleared in ethics probe
RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) -- Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who also is running for governor, reportedly has been cleared in an ethics probe over gifts he received from the head of a dietary supplement company.
Plaintiffs' expert in Calif. lead paint trial never investigated lead exposure in state
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) -- The expert health witness in a $1 billion public lawsuit against former manufacturers of lead-based paint and pigments never investigated lead exposure specific to California.
Wis. SC sides with property owners in suit against transmission company
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) -- The Wisconsin Supreme Court this week ruled that a couple's property, after a transmission company's taking of a pair of easements to construct high-voltage lines, was left an "uneconomic remnant."
N.M. SC: Out-of-state Internet retailer had 'substantial nexus' with state
SANTA FE, N.M. (Legal Newsline) -- The New Mexico Supreme Court last month sided with a state agency in a tax dispute with a popular online book retailer.
Neb. AG looking into deceptive practices by patent trolls
LINCOLN, Neb. (Legal Newsline) -- Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning said Thursday his office is looking into whether recent patent infringement efforts by a Texas law firm are in violation of state law.
Schneiderman co-hosts tech test of security features on smartphones
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) -- New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman on Thursday co-hosted a test of security features on the latest smartphones.
N.Y. AG settles with two moving companies that underpaid workers
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) -- New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Thursday his office has settled with two New York City-based moving companies that allegedly failed to pay legal wages to their employees.
Wash. AG announces successful prosecution of illegal sewage dumping case
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) -- Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Thursday the successful prosecution of the operator of a Snohomish County septic service company who allegedly dumped more than 6,000 gallons of sewage illegally.
Mass. AG announces $800,000 settlement with Lowell orthodontist
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) -- Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced an $800,000 settlement Wednesday with a Lowell orthodontist who allegedly improperly billed the state's Medicaid program, which led to thousands of dollars in overpayments.
AGs file lawsuit demanding 'transparency' in EPA's settlements with environmental groups
OKLAHOMA CITY (Legal Newsline) -- Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, joined by 11 other attorneys general, filed a lawsuit Tuesday in federal court requesting access to documents related to the federal Environmental Protection Agency's "sue and settle" strategy with environmental groups.
Federal judge gives DOJ's lawsuit against S&P the green light
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) -- A federal judge this week refused to dismiss a lawsuit against The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. and its subsidiary Standard & Poor's Rating Services by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Ill. AG announces provision of $70M to help state communities
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) -- Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced Wednesday that her office will dedicate $70 million in settlement funding from the National Mortgage Settlement to help rebuild Illinois communities devastated by the foreclosure crisis.
Schneiderman releases preliminary report on Superstorm Sandy charities
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) -- New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman released a preliminary report Wednesday looking into how charitable organizations spent more than half a billion dollars in the months following Superstorm Sandy.
Ariz. AG announces $400,000 settlement with telemarketers
PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) -- Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne announced a settlement Tuesday against two Arizona telemarketing companies and their owners after they allegedly defrauded consumers in a work-from-home business opportunity scam.