News from 2013
Maryland AG reaches settlement with mortgage relief company
BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler announced a $231,216 settlement Tuesday with a mortgage assistance relief company and its principals to resolve allegations of Consumer Protection Act violations.
Manufacturers, business groups join AGs in challenge to EPA ruling
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- Manufacturers and business groups are joining more than 20 state attorneys general in challenging the federal Environmental Protection Agency over its decision to rescind parts of a Clean Water Act permit issued to a West Virginia coal mining company.
Law school dean weighs in on Calif. lead paint ruling
BRISTOL, R.I. (Legal Newsline) -- A law school dean and expert in class-action lawsuits and mass torts said Tuesday he wouldn't be surprised if a $1.1 billion ruling against one-time paint and pigment manufacturers isn't upheld at the next level.
New York's high court rejects independent cause of action for medical monitoring
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) -- New York's highest court ruled Tuesday that New York law does not allow for an independent cause of action for medical monitoring.
AGs support federal information-gathering project on patent trolls
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- A group of state attorneys general say they support a proposed project by the Federal Trade Commission aimed at collecting data and information about patent trolls.
N.Y. AG settles with out-of-state auto title loan company
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a settlement Monday with an out-of-state company that allegedly offered short-term auto title loans at usurious rates of interest.
Ohio AG urges FDA to require tamper-resistant pain relief prescriptions
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday to require manufacturers of generic prescription pain relievers to develop tamper-resistant versions of the medications.
Colorado AG files lawsuit against online loan servicing companies
DENVER (Legal Newsline) - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers filed a lawsuit Monday against two online consumer loan servicing companies, a collection agency and the companies' principal for allegedly operating illegally in Colorado.
Tenn. AG reaches $540,000 agreement with Memphis pediatric group
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper announced a $540,000 agreement Monday with a Memphis pediatric group that allegedly overcharged Tennessee's managed Medicare program, TennCare.
N.C. AG files lawsuit against Western Sky
RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) - North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper filed a lawsuit Monday against an out-of-state lender that allegedly charged North Carolinians interest rates of up to 342 percent.
U.S. SC says terms of ERISA-covered plan must be upheld
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- A unanimous U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that the limitations provision of an Employee Retirement Income Security Act-covered plan is enforceable.
W.Va. AG warns about phone scammers posing as IRS agents
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) -- West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey cautioned residents Monday about phone scammers who are pretending to work for the Internal Revenue Service and threatening individuals with arrest or punishment if they don't pay up.
Update: NL, ConAgra, Sherwin-Williams to file objections to Calif. judge's lead paint ruling
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) -- A spokeswoman for NL Industries, ConAgra Grocery Products and The Sherwin-Williams Company says the companies will file objections with the California judge who, on Monday, ordered them to pay $1.1 billion to replace or maintain lead paint in millions of homes.
Judges engage Baltimore students in civics education through academy
Maryland judges will return to school on Thursday, December 19, as part of a Civics and Law Academy initiative aimed at educating Baltimore high school students about law and society.
Calif. named worst 'judicial hellhole' by tort reform group
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- California again is the nation's No. 1 "judicial hellhole," according to a report issued by the American Tort Reform Association Tuesday.
Calif. judge says NL, ConAgra, Sherwin Williams must pay $1.1 billion in lead paint case
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - A California judge on Monday ordered NL Industries, ConAgra and Sherwin Williams to pay $1.1 billion to replace or maintain lead paint in millions of homes.
Recount in Va. AG's race underway
RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) -- The recount of the Virginia attorney general's race is officially underway.
New York AG reaches $7.7 million settlement with charitable foundation
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a $7.7 million settlement Friday with a not-for-profit education company that allegedly misused charitable assets to benefit a for-profit company.
Report: Toyota enters into settlement talks over sudden-acceleration lawsuits
SANTA ANA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) -- Toyota Motor Corp. reportedly is entering into settlement talks over hundreds of lawsuits, both federal and state, alleging the company's vehicles suddenly accelerated, causing injuries and deaths.
Fidelis to pay $9.3 million in multi-state settlement
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced a multi-state settlement Friday with a now-defunct dealer of vehicle service contracts that will provide $9.3 million worth of restitution to approximately 19,000 consumers.