News from February 2014
Bondi sends refund claim forms for DADATA settlement
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) -- Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Friday that claim forms were mailed to more than 17,000 Floridians who were allegedly billed for unauthorized charges by a Pinellas County-based company.
North Carolina AG reminds towing companies of anti-price gouging laws
RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) -- North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper reminded towing companies on Friday that state laws against price gouging and unfair business practices are still in effect after a major winter storm.
Schneiderman reaches settlement with former NARAL president
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) -- New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Friday his office has settled with the former president of NARAL-NY Pro-Choice and its affiliated foundation, resolving allegations she siphoned funds for personal use.
Coakley files lawsuit against Lawrence landowner
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) -- Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced Thursday her office is suing the owner of a former paper plant site in Lawrence, alleging he conducted illegal demolition and metal salvaging at the property.
Nebraska AG issues alert about FitFlop settlement
LINCOLN, Neb. (Legal Newsline) -- Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning issued an alert Thursday notifying Nebraskans they may be eligible to receive cash funds from a settlement with a footwear retailer. BruningFitFlop USA LLC, FitFlop Ltd., Brand Slam Ltd. and Marcia Kilgore allegedly engaged in unfair and deceptive conduct by advertising that its FitFlop-branded footwear products provided benefits
W.Va. House to consider False Claims Act bill again
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - A bill that would establish a False Claims Act for West Virginia will get a second look this legislative session.
Corporations write letter backing amendments to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Legal Newsline) - A group of more than 300 corporations collectively have written a letter to the Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Judicial Conference of the United States supporting select proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
W.Va. Mass Litigation Panel operates as 'cohesive unit'
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - The chairman of West Virginia's Mass Litigation Panel says the judges have come to act as a single unit over the last 18 years.
Kentucky introduces its own bill to combat patent trolls
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) -- Add Kentucky to the growing list of states that are introducing their own legislation to combat so-called "patent trolls."
Colorado AG sues magazine telemarketers
DENVER (Legal Newsline) -- Colorado Attorney General John Suthers filed a civil lawsuit Wednesday against several magazine telemarketers and their principals for allegedly violating the Colorado Consumer Protection Act.
North Carolina AG warns consumers about tree removal scams
RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) -- North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper is warning North Carolinians about scammers who might try to take advantage of consumers following this week's winter storm.
North Dakota AG issues orders against unlicensed contractors
BISMARCK, N.D. (Legal Newsline) -- North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem issued cease and desist orders on Wednesday against two contractors for allegedly engaging in contractor services without the proper licensure.
West Virginia AG warns consumers about utility scam
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) -- West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey warned West Virginians on Wednesday about scammers posing as utility representatives, threatening consumers and demanding payment.
Group announces agenda of asbestos conference
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - Perrin Conferences has announced the agenda for its annual Cutting-Edge Issues in Asbestos Litigation Conference.
Republicans shrinking from California state races
SACRAMENTO (Legal Newsline) - Referred to as the worst "judicial hellhole" in the U.S. by some groups, California likely won't change the ranking any time soon as Republicans seem to be coming up short in 2014 state races.
Heating contractor imprisoned for illegal asbestos removal and witness intimidation
DEDHAM, Mass. (Legal Newsline) - A Massachusetts heating contractor has been sentenced to jail after pleading guilty to illegally removing asbestos from a single-family home and intimidating witnesses when he suspected charges were coming.
Microsoft, Voxx sign patent agreement for Android devices
REDMOND, Wash. (Legal Newsline) -- Microsoft Corp. and Voxx Electronics Corp. have signed a worldwide patent licensing agreement.
Legal foundation to Federal Circuit: Burden of proof should remain with alleged patent infringers
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- In a brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Wednesday, a Washington D.C.-based legal foundation urged the court to reconsider its decision in a patent infringement case shifting the burden of proof to the patent holder.
Defense attorney: Judges should look for asbestos claims fraud
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - A recent ruling by a bankruptcy judge that exposed "double dipping" has an attorney in the nation's asbestos litigation epicenter calling for more transparency between the two systems set up to compensate people sickened by asbestos.