News from October 2014
Care 4 Life Medical Resources LLC, Missouri settle Medicaid fraud case
Care 4 Life Medical Resources LLC will pay $42,818 for submitting fraudulent claims to Missouri's Medicaid program (MO HealthNet) for home health services.
Judge issues order detailing unsealing protocol in Garlock bankruptcy case
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Legal Newsline) – Roughly two weeks after Bankruptcy Judge George Hodges ruled in favor of Legal Newsline and other proponents of public access in the Garlock Sealing Technologies bankruptcy case by granting access to essentially the entire record, he released an order on Friday specifying what information is to be redacted and detailing the unsealing protocol.
Asbestos firm seeks to transfer racketeering case against it to New York
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Legal Newsline) – An asbestos plaintiffs firm sued by Garlock Sealing Technologies in a RICO lawsuit alleging evidence was withheld while in the asbestos tort system is seeking to transfer its case to a New York federal court.
Maryland Appliance Repair to pay refunds to consumers for unlicensed, unnecessary, incomplete work
Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced on Thursday that Maryland Appliance Repair will reimburse consumers after allegedly performing work without a license, performing unnecessary repairs and leaving work unfinished.
Settlement reached against Green Tree Servicing for illegal debt collection, late property tax payments
Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell has reached a settlement with Green Tree Servicing, LLC, a residential loan servicing company, to pay $176,750 to the State and $55,250 in restitution to consumers for delayed payment of property taxes and illegal debt collection practices.
Company suing Honda over technology in HondaLink, AcuraLink systems
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - This week, a Florida-based company sued American Honda Motor Co. Inc. in federal court, claiming the automaker is illegally using its technology as part of the popular HondaLink and AcuraLink systems.
Trial slots the 'trigger' for Madison County’s attractive asbestos docket
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (Legal Newsline) – As Madison County’s asbestos docket continues to make headlines as one of the largest dockets in the country thanks to an unbalanced scale tipping heavily towards out-of-state claimants, the jurisdiction’s approach to trial slots is being called into question by defense attorneys.
Special interests groups spend $1M in state supreme court races in final week
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Only days out from Election day, special interest groups have set their sights on five state supreme courts, spending more than $1 million in a final push to secure high court victories.
Texas AG race: Davis receives last minute endorsement from Hillary
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) – Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, has received a last minute endorsement from another first lady.
Calif.-based company says CVS allegedly stole two designs for sports-themed toothbrushes
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - The designer of “unique” toothbrushes is suing CVS Pharmacy Inc. for patent infringement, claiming the company has copied two of his designs.
Maryland judiciary introduces e-recording pilot project for Baltimore County
The Maryland Judiciary, in collaboration with several government partners, is set to launch a pilot project aimed at introducing electronic recording (e-recording) of land records in Baltimore County.
Pa. appellate court grants judgment for six asbestos defendants in case of 'mere speculation'
PHILDELPHIA (Legal Newsline) – A Pennsylvania appellate court has granted summary judgment for six asbestos defendants in a case in which the primary witness relied on his own “knowledge and belief” that the products at issue contained asbestos.
Texas AG race: Paxton holds on to funds while Houston goes all out
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) – Perhaps banking on the fact no Democrat has been elected to a state office in two decades, GOP attorney general candidate Ken Paxton has opted not exhaust his war chest in his battle against Democrat Sam Houston.
Candidates neck-and-neck in Kansas U.S. Senate race
TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) – Despite trailing financially throughout the race, Independent Greg Orman remains ahead of GOP Sen. Pat Roberts in the polls with only a few days left until Election Day.
Kan. consumers awarded $13,000 in restitution from paving company
The owner of an Oklahoma paving company has been ordered to pay a $100,000 fine and $13,300 in restitution for violating consumer protection laws, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced on Tuesday.
Defense attorneys give up on jurisdictional fight in Madison County’s asbestos docket
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (Legal Newsline) – Roughly one year after Associate Judge Stephen Stobbs took the bench as Madison County's asbestos judge and made several well-intended strides to improve the “national” docket, defense attorneys have given up on arguing that cases are being filed improperly in the jurisdiction after four similar motions were denied earlier this year.
IP bar association names new executive director
ARLINGTON, Va. (Legal Newsline) - Lisa K. Jorgenson, the former head of intellectual property and licensing for a Texas manufacturing company, has been chosen to lead the 17,000-member national bar association for intellectual property lawyers.