News from July 2014
Class action filed over canceled Dirty Girl Mud Run
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - A class action lawsuit has been filed against the companies responsible for Dirty Girl Mud Run, which was slated for Saturday in Charleston, W.Va., and later canceled due to an internal financial dispute.
Patent troll law goes into effect in Georgia
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) - A Georgia law aimed at combating so-called "patent trolls" went into effect earlier this month.
Judge sides with Legal Newsline, overturns sealing of fraud evidence against asbestos attorneys
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Legal Newsline) - Nearly one year after Legal Newsline filed a motion to keep the bankruptcy estimation trial of Garlock Sealing Technologies open to the public, a federal judge has ruled that evidence that alleged fraud on the part of asbestos attorneys should not have been sealed.
Crane Co. granted summary judgment based on bare metal defense
SAVANNAH, Ga. (Legal Newsline) - A Georgia judge has granted summary judgment for Crane Co. in an asbestos lawsuit, concluding that general knowledge, or speculator assumptions, is insufficient to defeat the defendant's motion.
'Every exposure' theory rejected in La. asbestos case
SHREVEPORT, La. (Legal Newsline) - A Louisiana federal judge has rejected the "every exposure" theory in an asbestos lawsuit and granted summary judgment to four defendants, concluding that the plaintiffs' expert's testimony is "internally inconsistent."
Sony agrees to $15M settlement in data breach class action; $2.75M for attorneys
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - Sony has agreed to a $15 million preliminary settlement in a class action lawsuit regarding its 2011 data breach.
Coakley reaches $50,000 agreement with travel company
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced Tuesday a $50,000 settlement with an Illinois-based travel company and its principals, resolving allegations they used high-pressure sales tactics to sell vacation club memberships.
Vermont AG files lawsuit against Dollar Tree chain
MONTPELIER, Vt. (Legal Newsline) - Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell said Tuesday his office is suing a Virginia-based national discount chain for allegedly violating a 2010 settlement by continuing to sell jewelry.
Pennsylvania AG obtains injunction against hearing aid fitter
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced Tuesday her office has obtained a preliminary injunction a New Oxford hearing aid fitter who allegedly continued to operate with a suspended license.
Law professor: Federal patent reform 'certainly' not going away
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Though one federal bill aimed at combating so-called "patent trolls" failed to make it out of a U.S. Senate committee in May, one legal expert says patent reform is nowhere near dead.
Med-mal caps in the crosshairs as trial lawyers attack California's landmark act
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - A landmark act constraining the amount of money plaintiffs attorneys and their clients can reap from medical malpractice lawsuits has come under fire by California trial lawyers - an expensive battle that may end up spreading to other states.
Personal injury lawyer spends another million on Davis' campaign for Texas governor
HOUSTON (Legal Newsline) - Over the past few months, personal injury trial lawyers Steve and Amber Mostyn continued to pump hundreds of thousands of dollars into the campaign coffers of state Sen. Wendy Davis, the Democratic nominee for governor.
Hotwire settles class action lawsuit for $130,000
OAKLAND, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - Hotwire has agreed to settle a class action against it alleging the company misled its customers by providing an estimated price for international vehicle rentals that did not include insurance fees or taxes.
Republican AGs rejoice at Obamacare ruling
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued an opinion Tuesday that held a part of President Barack Obama's health care plan is invalid.
W.V. AG endorses Mooney for Congress
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - A Republican nominee running for Congress has received an endorsement from West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.
Pennsylvania AG sues two online furniture retailers
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced Friday a lawsuit against two Philadelphia-based online furniture retailers and their owners after they allegedly failed to deliver orders.
North Carolina joins $7.3 million multi-state settlement with Astellas
RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) - North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper announced Thursday that North Carolina will share in a $7.3 million multi-state settlement with Astellas Pharma to resolve allegations of Medicaid fraud.
New York AG obtains injunction against debt collection operation
BUFFALO, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced Monday that his office and the Federal Trade Commission have obtained a preliminary injunction against a debt collection operation that allegedly violated state and federal laws.
Tentative settlement reached in W.Va. water crisis case
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - A tentative settlement has been reached in 24 lawsuits involving Freedom Industries regarding the January chemical leak that affected nine West Virginia counties.