News from August 2014
FTC’s patent troll study gets approval
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A Federal Trade Commission study designed to develop a better understanding of how patent assertion entities may impact innovation and competition has been given the green light.
Braley begins airing TV ad touting support for Iowa National Guard
WATERLOO, Iowa (Legal Newsline) – U.S. Rep. and Senate-candidate Bruce Braley, a Democrat, began airing a new television ad Monday touting his support for the Iowa National Guard.
DNC/RNC file joint advisory opinion request with FEC
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Two opposing factions have found common ground and are uniting for a single cause - raising money.
Federal judge rejects 'bare bones' motions to dismiss
ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) – A Missouri federal judge has denied several motions to dismiss an asbestos case, holding that the defendants’ motions were “bare bones” requests with no legal support.
Company that collected on payday loans settles with N.Y. AG
COMMACK, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman reached a settlement on Friday with a New York debt collection firm that allegedly collected on predatory payday loans.
Law school, DuPont sponsoring IP seminar
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - DuPont and Widener University School of Law are sponsoring a daylong seminar in September that will feature discussions on patent litigation, non-practicing entities and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Davis, supporting PAC react to Gov. Perry’s indictment
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) – The Democratic gubernatorial candidate and committee funding her campaign to become Texas’ next governor reacted immediately to Friday’s news that GOP Gov. Rick Perry, a potential 2016 presidential candidate, had been indicted on two felony charges.
Polls show Wisconsin, Georgia governors races neck-and-neck
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) – The races to become the next governors of Wisconsin and Georgia could be tight, if sets of fresh polls are any indicator.
FEC permits Senate candidate to purchase books with campaign funds
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – An independent candidate from Oklahoma running for U.S. Senate has been granted permission to purchase copies of her own book with campaign funds.
Defendants win summary judgment in Okla. take-home asbestos exposure case
OKLAHOMA CITY (Legal Newsline) – An Oklahoma federal judge has granted summary judgment for three defendants in a take-home asbestos exposure case, concluding two box manufacturing companies and a boiler manufacturer did not owe a duty of care to a former plant supervisor’s wife.
Wisconsin AG reaches $27,500 agreement with animal rendering facility
Story CopyMADISON, Wis.
New York AG reaches settlement with debt collection firm
Story CopyCOMMACK, N.Y.
Massachusetts AG reaches $100,000 agreement with lobbying firm
Story CopyBOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a $100,000 joint disposition agreement on Friday with a lobbying firm that allegedly profited from an inappropriate contingency fee agreement with a hospital in Brighton.
N.Y. congressional candidate withdraws FEC request regarding reality TV show
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – A Republican candidate seeking to dethrone U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., has withdrawn his request for permission to star in his very own reality television show as he campaigns.
FEC allows Crowdpac to collect fees on political donations
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – An Internet service company offering users the opportunity to browse an array of candidates and donate on site, instead of going to a candidate’s individual website to donate, has had its request approved by the Federal Election Commission.
Federal Circuit sides with U.S. PTO in appeal over stem cell patent
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals court has ruled against a consumer group challenging a patent on stem cells.