News from 2013
Paul A. Hackner named new circuit administrative judge
Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera has appointed Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge Paul A. Hackner as the new administrative judge for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, which includes Anne Arundel, Carroll, and Howard counties.
N.J. AG announces settlement over sand dune easement
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) -- New Jersey Acting Attorney General John Hoffman announced a settlement Wednesday related to compensation for the partial taking of a couple's Harvey Cedars beachfront property to construct a storm-abating sand dune.
Schneiderman files lawsuit against heating oil company
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) -- New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against a Westchester heating oil company and its principals for allegedly defrauding more than 70 consumers.
N.C. AG to appeal latest Duke Energy rate increase
RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) -- North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper said Wednesday that the latest rate hike for Duke Energy customers fails to adequately consider the impact on consumers and will be appealed.
Ohio AG files lawsuit against solicitor
LIMA, Ohio (Legal Newsline) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine filed a lawsuit and was granted a temporary restraining order Wednesday against a Youngstown-area solicitor and its agents for allegedly deceiving donors while soliciting for charities.
Fla. SC to decide rate increase case
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) -- The Florida Supreme Court is being asked to overturn a rate increase approved last year for the state's largest utility provider.
Obama administration wants U.S. SC to review ruling in Hobby Lobby case
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- The federal government is taking a case filed against it last year by Oklahoma-based Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. to the U.S. Supreme Court.
N.J. SC: Nonprofit housing group doesn't have to pay property taxes
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) -- The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled this week that a nonprofit housing group does not have to pay state property taxes.
Ariz. SC OKs legislature's seizure of mortgage settlement funds for budget
TUCSON, Ariz. (Legal Newsline) -- The Arizona Supreme Court said this week that the state legislature wasn't wrong to take $50 million from a court-ordered trust fund set up to help residents hurt by the foreclosure crisis.
Ninth Circuit: Mass action against pharmaceutical company can stay in state court
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) -- A federal appeals court ruled this week that a mass action filed against Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. can remain in a California state court.
N.Y. AG notes growing threat of early access trading abuses
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman remarked on the threat to financial markets Tuesday posed by high-frequency trading, the illicit sale of early access to market-moving information and early access to analyst reports.
Obama nominates Harvard Law professor to federal appeals court
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- President Barack Obama has nominated David Jeremiah Barron, a Harvard Law professor, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Illinois AG urges FDA to ban sale of e-cigarettes to minors
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday to regulate the ingredients and advertising of e-cigarettes and ban the sale of the products to minors.
Colorado AG demands feds end sequestration of funds
DENVER (Legal Newsline) - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers wrote to the U.S. Secretary of the Department of Agriculture on Tuesday demanding that the federal government stop the sequestration of payments made to the western states.
Federal court dismisses suit by Pa. judges over mandatory retirement age
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) -- A federal judge has dismissed a challenge filed by a group of judges challenging Pennsylvania's mandatory retirement age.
Longtime DOJ lawyer becomes first openly gay judge to serve on a federal appeals court
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- The U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted to confirm Todd Hughes to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Survey: Support for constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United growing
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- Advocates of a constitutional amendment to overturn a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2010 that allowed unrestricted campaign spending by corporations said Tuesday support for the campaign is one-third of the way there.
W.Va. AG: Banking companies to pay state nearly $8M to settle lawsuits
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) -- West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced Tuesday that four large banking companies will pay the state $1.95 million, or $7.8 million total, to settle lawsuits over their credit card protection programs.
Lead paint decision now in hands of judge
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) -- Whether childhood lead poisoning in 10 California cities and counties can be blamed on one-time lead paint and pigment manufacturers is a decision that rests solely in the hands of Santa Clara Superior Court Judge James Kleinberg after a six-week trial that concluded in closing arguments Monday.
List of candidates for Md. AG grows
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Legal Newsline) -- The list of candidates looking to replace Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler continues to grow.