Mattel to Pay $12 Million to End States’ Lead Probe (December 15, 2008)
Mattel Inc., the world’s biggest toymaker, agreed to pay $12 million to 39 U.S. states to settle claims it shipped toys tainted with lead paint, according to Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley.
Midland National Settles Lawsuit with Minnesota Attorney General's Office (December 15, 2008)
Midland National Life Insurance Company announced today that it has entered into a settlement agreement with the Minnesota Attorney General's Office relating to the sale of deferred annuities in Minnesota.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has announced that she is willing to invoke a state Supreme Court rule that would allow justices to vote to remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was arrested on December 9 on a number of corruption charges.
College Board Settles State Loan Probes (December 9, 2008)
The College Board, the nonprofit best known for administering college-admissions tests, agreed to settle state investigations into its student loans. The group will invest $675,000 to develop tools to help identify the loan options as part of the settlement.
NC Attorney General puts Hickory grant scam out of business (December 9, 2008)
A Hickory company that took people's money but failed to help them get free government grants as promised has been barred permanently from offering grants or credit repair and ordered to pay nearly $200,000 to consumers, Attorney General Roy Cooper announced today.
Gansler to Aid Justice Transition but Intends to Keep His Day Job (December 7, 2008)
Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler has joined Barack Obama’s presidential transition team as an adviser on matters related to the Justice Department. Gansler, a co-chair of Obama’s campaign within the state, has denied interest in serving in the Obama administration post-transition.
California Attorney General Jerry Brown, who has frequently criticized the Environmental Protection Agency for what he views as inactivity on global warming, has issued a sharply critical comment on the EPA’s proposed regulation procedures.
In addition, Brown, along with 13 other attorneys general and a number of mayors and environmental officials, challenged the EPA in a joint letter to more strongly support and enforce anti-global warming measures. Click here to read the letter.
A dispute between North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper and State Treasurer Richard Moore has developed over Moore’s decision to hire outside attorneys for a class-action lawsuit against Freddie Mac, which Cooper claims broke state law.
AG Shuts Down Two Mortgage Originators (November 12, 2008)
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office announced Wednesday that it has secured a preliminary injunction against two mortgage originators accused of deceptive mortgage practices.
Texas AG Files Suit Against Darque Tan (November 11, 2008)
The Texas Attorney General’s office filed suit this week against the parent company of Darque Tan, accusing the tanning salon business of conducting an unlawful marketing campaign.
Coakley: Forensics Testimony a Burden (November 11, 2008)
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley told the Supreme Court yesterday that requiring forensic scientists to testify at criminal trials where their reports are presented as evidence would place an undue burden on the state's already-backlogged drug testing system.
Craigslist Search to Help Cops Fight Crime (November 9, 2008)
Bowing to a challenge from the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office, the popular Web site craigslist.org last week unveiled new search tools for use by law enforcement aimed at helping track down exploited children and victims of human trafficking.
Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg has ordered state commissioners to get the approval of his agency, the Department of Law, before answering public records requests. Since Gov. Sarah Palin was named the Republican Vice Presidential nominee, the state has received an unprecedented flood of such requests.
Voters have three choices for state Attorney General (October 26, 2008)
Take a closer look at the candidates in the Ohio Attorney General race: Democrat Richard Cordray, Republican Mike Crites, and Independent Robert Owens.
North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper has announced a settlement with the drug company Pfizer for $60 million. Pfizer was under investigation from attorneys general in 33 states for allegedly misrepresenting the effects of drugs, including Celebrex and Bextra.
Kansas Attorney General Steve Six filed suit Monday along with the United States Department of Justice and a number of other state attorneys general to block the acquisition by JBS Beef, SA, of National Beef Packing Co.
Attorney General of New York Andrew Cuomo announced today that he will be investigating all of AIG’s expenses since January 2007. According to Cuomo, AIG, a recipient of federal bailout funds, has been funding “outrageous” expenditures, leaving taxpayers to clean up the mess.
State Attorney General Tom Corbett has announced lawsuits against four Florida-based companies accused of illegally marketing vacation packages. He said the companies lured Pennsylvania consumers into buying timeshares they did not want and could not afford.
New York Attorney General Cuomo to Sue Merrill Lynch (August 15, 2008)
In the latest development in New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s investigation into the auction-rate securities market, his office will soon take legal action against Merrill Lynch (MER: 25.19, +0.85, +3.49%).
Missouri attorney general files suit against JK Harris (August 14, 2008)
The attorney general of Missouri has filed a lawsuit against a North Charleston company that offers help to taxpayers who owe money to the Internal Revenue Service, alleging that it failed to provide the services it promised and didn't provide refunds to customers who complained.
Probe: Teens worked illegally at Agriprocessors (August 6, 2008)
The Agriprocessors meat-processing plant in Postville could be hit with up to $1 million in fines as a result of alleged violations of child-labor laws. The state's labor commissioner is asking Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller to pursue charges against Agriprocessors for what is alleged to be a record-setting number of criminal violations related to underage Iowa workers.
Prop. 8 not retroactive, Jerry Brown says (August 5, 2008)
If voters approve a November ballot measure banning same-sex marriages in California, thousands of gay and lesbian weddings conducted since the state Supreme Court legalized the unions on May 15 will probably remain valid, Attorney General Jerry Brown said Monday.
AG Investigates Ga. Academic Program (August 4, 2008)
Attorney General Thurbert Baker has launched a probe into the alleged mismanagement of funds in a teacher-coaching program once championed by Gov. Sonny Perdue.
Lawsuit over potato chip ingredient settled (August 2, 2008)
Frito-Lay and two other potato chip companies have agreed to reduce the levels of a cancer-causing chemical in their products in a settlement of a state lawsuit, Attorney General Jerry Brown said Friday. The court-approved settlement comes three years after Brown's predecessor, Bill Lockyer, sued fast-food chains and potato chip companies, saying they had failed to warn California consumers about the dangers of acrylamide.
UBS agrees to pay $1m to Mass. (July 31, 2008)
UBS AG agreed to pay Massachusetts $1 million to settle an investigation by Attorney General Martha Coakley into the marketing of auction-rate securities to 20 towns and public agencies in the state. The payment follows a May agreement between the Zurich-based bank and the attorney general to return nearly $37 million to 17 towns and cities that invested in the securities, as well as to the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority. In addition to paying the state $1 million, UBS also will repay a total of $3.4 million to the towns of Norwood and Southborough and the cities of Fall River and Woburn.
California ‘to sue on emissions’ (July 31, 2008)
California and five other US states are set to sue the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) if it does not act soon to cut pollution, officials say.
Connecticut Opens New Assault on Credit Agencies (July 30, 2008)
Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal is suing Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard and Poor’s for giving artificially low credit scores to cities and towns across the state.
Blumenthal said those actions are costing taxpayers millions of dollars because of unnecessary bond insurance and elevated interest rates on municipal borrowings.
Bruning Praises New [Internet] Agreement (July 20, 2008)
Attorney General Jon Bruning praised an agreement reached between the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA), the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG). Under the agreement, cable operators that bring Internet service to 87 percent of homes will take additional voluntary measures to limit the distribution of child pornography. Bruning was one 45 attorneys general who signed a letter in support of the agreement.
The National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units announced on July 15, 2008 that 43 states, the District of Columbia, and the federal government have settled with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMS) and its former wholly owner subsidiary Apothecon, Inc., to resolve allegations of illegal drug marketing and pricing of prescription medication paid by the participating states' Medicaid programs totaling $389 million plus interest.
Attorney General Unveils Internet Safety Site (July 11, 2008)
Kansas Attorney General Stephen Six has unveiled a new Internet safety web site geared toward children, teenagers, parents, and consumers to increase Internet safety education.
State Attorney General Says Video Game Inappropriate for Teens (July 8, 2008)
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has taken on an alcohol-themed video game that he says is inappropriately rated "suitable" for teenagers. In response, the manufacturer has agreed to change the title of the game "Beer Pong" to "Pong Toss" and eliminate all references to alcohol.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is suing Countrywide Financial, the troubled mortgage lender, and Angelo R. Mozilo, its chief executive, contending that the company and its executives defrauded borrowers in the state by selling them costly and defective loans that quickly went into foreclosure.
The Iowa Attorney General Office is warning Iowans to be on the lookout for con-artists trying to cheat tornado or flood victims. Traveling “scam-artists” sometimes migrate into storm or flood areas to capitalize on high demand for repairs and clean-up, but a shortage of contractors. This article contains tips on how to avoid scams.
AG Cuomo announces $600K in settlements with law firms (June 18, 2008)
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced today that he has reached settlement agreements with two law firms and their partners in connection with what he called abuses of the public pension systems.
Rhode Island Hosts Meeting of Attorneys General (June 15, 2008)
The National Association of Attorneys General will hold their annual summer conference this week in Rhode Island, where RI attorney general Patrick Lynch will assume the presidency of the organization.
Attorney General Sues Contractors for Bad Work (June 14, 2008)
Attorney general Tom Corbett of Pennsylvania is suing eleven home improvement contractors for “accepting payment from consumers but failing to begin projects, failing to complete projects, or performing the work in a shoddy or unsatisfactory manner.”
A Charleston firm that claimed to offer people help settling their tax debt agreed to change its advertising and pay $1.5 million in restitution under a settlement with attorneys general in 18 states: Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, and West Virginia.
Net Providers to Block Sites with Child Sex (June 10, 2008)
Three internet service providers have agreed to restrict access to internet bulletin boards and web sites that disseminate child pornography. The agreement follows an eight-month investigation by the office of New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo in which undercover agents posed as subscribers and complained about the proliferation of child pornography. After initially ignoring the complaints, the companies agreed to cooperate when the involvement of the AG office became known to them and threats of fraud and deceptive business practices charges were leveled against them.
New Hampshire no longer is asking the California Supreme Court to delay finalizing its ruling to legalize same-sex marriage. Attorney General Kelly Ayotte announced that New Hampshire was withdrawing from the request because the state addresses the recognition issue in its civil union law.
In a decision dated Friday and released Tuesday regarding Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's suit filed last year against Dell and its Dell Financial Services LP, New York State Supreme Court Justice Joseph C. Teresi in Albany ruled that Dell engaged in deceptive practices regarding its advertisement of attractive financing terms to purchase computers, its advertising of technical support that purchasers were entitled to under their warranties and administratrion of its rebate program.
The Ohio Attorney General's Office, which has been prosecuting a securities class action case against American International Group, Inc. (AIG) and 22 other defendants for more than three years, announced its intention to add claims relating to AIG's recent multi-billion dollar write-downs stemming from its exposure to problems in the residential housing market.
Attorney General Martha Coakley announced Tuesday that the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston has agreed to give up control of its financially struggling chain of six eastern Massachusetts hospitals, but will still retain authority over moral and ethical issues. Under terms of an agreement with the Attorney General’s Office, the archdiocese essentially retains veto power over major strategic moves, including major transactions, Catholic identity, bylaw and charter changes as well as the hiring of the president and chief executive officer.
Two years ago, Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott pledged to root out what he called an epidemic of voter fraud in Texas. He established a special unit in his office, tapped a $1.4 million federal crime-fighting grant and dispatched investigators and since then, Mr. Abbott has prosecuted 26 cases – all against Democrats, and almost all involving blacks or Hispanics, a review by The Dallas Morning News shows. Democrats accuse Mr. Abbott of a partisan operation to discourage voters, especially minorities.
North Carolina community colleges yesterday banned illegal immigrants from seeking degrees, creating a new policy that is among the most restrictive in the US. Community college system President Scott Ralls said he based the decision on the advice of the state attorney general's office, which said last week that federal law appears to ban states from enrolling illegal immigrants in state colleges and universities. It comes despite the federal government's assertion last week that it has no authority over admissions at North Carolina colleges and despite Governor Mike Easley's request that the colleges remain open to all students.
The National Association of Attorneys General conference on energy brings together attorneys general from all 50 states who will be briefed on how numerous energy issues are likely to end up before them in coming years. Those issues will include the siting of power plants, efforts to restrict energy use, efforts to mandate how much power must come from renewable resources and myriad other issues.
Attorney General Jon Bruning argues that America's federal 1996 welfare reform law prohibits him from providing legal services to illegal immigrants, pointing to a section that says only legal residents should get state or local public benefits. Immigration activists suggest they may be laying the groundwork for a first-of-its-kind lawsuit, with Bruning as the defendant.
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal outlines some of the top issues his office is focused on for 2008. Among them: the environment, consumer protection and bans on smoking.
Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced his office has stopped Upstate Capital, Inc., a Syracuse-area reverse mortgage lender, from preying on seniors statewide through false advertising and portraying itself to be a local non-profit organization. The company must reform its marketing practices and indicate that it is a registered mortgage/reverse mortgage broker, as well as pay $20,000 in costs and penalties to the state.
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, in formal testimony today, called for a prohibition against drug company gifts and other benefits provided to doctors that may improperly influence health care decisions.
Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann delivered a free lecture about the predatory lending crisis sweeping the nation at the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law on Apr. 14. Dann, a Democrat and former Ohio Senator, combined sharp criticisms of the federal government with an overview of what the state is doing to fill the resulting vacuum of responsibility, such as Ohio's foreclosure prevention effort called 'Save the Dream' in which more than 1100 attorneys are working for free to help homeowners at risk of foreclosure.
Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson on Thursday sued six out-of-state foreclosure consulting companies (National Foreclosure Relief, Lewis Loss Mitigation of Alabama, D.R. Financial Services of California, American Foreclosure Specialists of Oklahoma, Mortgage Default Assistance of Florida, and Home Assure of Florida) who she claims defrauded Minnesota homeowners out of thousands of dollars.
The Authentication and Online Trust Alliance (AOTA) announced keynote speakers for its 4th annual Summit focused on enhancing online trust, confidence and brand protection from escalating online threats. Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna will join Chris Siouris, U.S. postal inspector, cyber investigations, Hemanshu Nigram, chief security officer of Fox Interactive Media and MySpace, in delivering a keynote titled “Defining Customer Trust Points,” on the best practices for fighting cybercrime and protecting businesses and consumers online.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit late yesterday against Victory Consulting and Investments Inc., a Chicago-based mortgage rescue fraud firm, for allegedly violating the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act for activities that have caused at least five homeowners to lose their homes to foreclosure.
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel says most of the payday lending companies operating in Arkansas have said they will close in response to his threat last month to sue them if they continued to do business in the state. McDaniel targeted 156 payday lending locations in a March 18th letter, informing their operators that they were violating the state constitution by charging more than 17 percent interest.
Kansas Attorney General Stephen Six gave a boost to the kickoff event Friday morning for a student-led campaign to raise domestic-violence awareness at Pittsburg State University. Friday’s event, White Ribbon Day, will kick off a month of activities aimed at raising awareness of domestic violence.
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley claims that the auto insurance website, autoratecompare.doi.state.ma.us, which is intended to provide consumers with the best rates on auto insurance, in fact is only 20 to 40 percent accurate. Coakley has called on Insurance Commissioner Nonnie Burns to revamp the website rather than dismantle it.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against Chicago-based Advantage Mortgage Counseling for engaging in deceptive lending practices that have resulted in the loss of at least one consumer's home.
The California state Attorney General's Office Tuesday shut down six lending companies (Lifetime Financial, Nations Mortgage, Greenleaf Lending, Virtual Escrow, Olympic Escrow and Direct Credit Solutions) that allegedly pushed homeowners into "illegal and unconscionable loans." Attorney General Jerry Brown, who is also asking for $20 million in penalties and restitution, said he expects to bring civil and criminal action against other lenders and foreclosure consultants who are also allegedly violating the law.
Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDanielis sending letters to about 60 companies that run 156 payday lending firms in Arkansas telling the companies to stop lending and to stop collections on any current or past-due debt or else be sued by the attorney general's office. McDaniel expects written responses from the companies no later than April 4th.
Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch has proposed a bill that would correct the fact that, in spite of being a state well versed in public corruption, Rhode Island currently has no law that designates corruption as illegal. The bill would extend the statute of limitations for any such crime to 10 years, and violators would be punishable with imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $150,000.
Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard was at the University of Arizona Friday to promote his new Consumer Guide for Young Adults. The guide is a 27-page booklet with tips to guide people in their late teens and early 20s through first-time financial decisions such as buying cars, applying for credit cards and signing leases.
Delaware taxpayers have paid more than $17 million since 2003 to private law firms for work state lawyers are supposed to handle. James Tierney, former Maine Attorney General and current Director of the National State Attorneys General Program at Columbia University Law School, comments on why the bulk of taxpayers' legal work should be performed by government lawyers.
Last week, Maryland Attoryney General Douglas Gansler rejected an anti-solicitation ordinance passed by the City Council that would have made looking for work or workers along city streets a misdemeanor by claiming that the rule violated the First Amendment and Maryland’s vehicle laws.
Illinois attorney general Lisa Madigan on Thursday subpoenaed units of Countrywide Financial Corp (CFC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Wells Fargo & Co (WFC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) in a probe of whether the companies violated federal lending and civil rights laws by steering minority borrowers into more expensive loans.
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley is supporting House Bill 1722, a proposal to amend the state’s civil rights laws to provide protections based on gender identity and expression.
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has subpoenaed bond insurers, including MBIA Inc (MBI.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Ambac Financial Group Inc (ABK.N: Quote, Profile, Research), as part of a widening probe into who is to blame for the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis.
Attorney General Martha Coakley is investigating the $16.4 million retirement benefit Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts made to William C. Van Faasen, the insurer's former chairman and chief executive, who retired Jan. 1. Coakley is also examining the new management structure at Blue Cross-Blue Shield under which Cleve L. Killingsworth holds the positions of chairman and chief executive.
Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler today announced that Maryland, Along with Attorneys General from 17 other state and local governments sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the agency’s lack of progress in responding to last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Massachusetts v. EPA. The states are considering further legal action to compel EPA’s compliance with the Supreme Court’s mandate and issue regulations to curb greenhouse gas emissions without further delay.
Michigan's Attorney General Mike Cox has organized a forum where lenders and loan service companies will answer questions and give advice to homeowners who are having problems making their payments.
Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann last Friday filed a securities fraud class action lawsuit against Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation in federal court in Youngstown, Ohio, on behalf of Ohio Public Employees Retirement System and all other purchasers of Freddie Mac common stock from August 1, 2006 through November 23, 2007. The complaint alleges that Freddie Mac and its top executives artificially inflated the company’s publicly traded common stock.
Last month, Attorney General Mike Cox decided to reverse the state's practice of allowing illegal immigrants to get driver's licenses. However, on Monday, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land announced that neither legal nor illegal residents will be allowed to get a Michigan driver’s license. Land is working to change state law so those here legally but temporarily -- such as international students and workers -- will be able to get a license.
Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann says he wants the state's 174 non-profit hospitals to provide more information about their finances. Dann’s mission picks up on his predecessor Dan Petro’s efforts to have hospitals register with his office, outline measures taken to prevent fraud, adopt policies on collecting bills and prove that their rates for treating indigent patients are reasonable.
The Supreme Court agreed Friday to decide whether tobacco companies can be sued under state law for allegedly deceptive advertising of "light" cigarettes or whether federal law bars such lawsuits. A federal judge initially threw out a suit filed by three Maine residents against Altria Group Inc. and its Philip Morris USA Inc. subsidiary. A separate federal lawsuit filed by smokers is pending in New York. The class action suit alleges tobacco companies violated federal racketeering laws by promoting light cigarettes as lower-risk alternatives to regular cigarettes even though their internal documents showed they knew the risks were about the same.
A sweep of Massachusetts mall retailers during December’s busy holiday shopping season resulted in 31 stores earning fines for 177 violations of state child labor laws. The biggest offenders were the Hollister Co. stores at the Burlington Mall and Cape Cod Mall in Hyannis, which accounted for more than 60 percent of the citations issued.
In 2008, 10 states will hold elections for attorney general. This is the first of "Out There"'s periodic assessments of these contests, which are rated “Vulnerable” for the party in power (West Virginia, Montana, Missouri), “Worth Watching” (Pennsylvania, Indiana, Washington State, North Carolina) or “Safe” (Oregon, Utah, Vermont).
In arguing that the Second Amendment does not limit the power of state governments to regulate gun ownership, NY Attorney General Cuomo is finding himself largely alone among state attorneys general. Former attorney general of Maine and current Director of National State Attorneys General Program at Columbia University, James Tierney, comments on possible reasons for the lack of support.
At least eight states— Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina and Rhode Island — passed laws in 2007 to curtail predatory lending. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller suggests that more states and cities would take on questionable lending practices more aggressively if federal law didn't limit them.
A group of Attorneys General today with MySpace announced a task joint force and new efforts by the site to better protect children from online predators and educate parents about the risks of social networking sites.The site will work with the attorneys general to form the Internet Safety Technical Task Force, aimed at developing and improving technical safeguards such as secure identity verification.
Attorneys General of N.Y. and Connecticut cooperate in investigation of whether banks such as Citigroup Inc. and Bank of America Corp., left out material details in their disclosures about the risks posed by extremely high-risk loans, deceiving credit-rating agencies and investors.
In an effort to protect immigrants from potential fraud, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel is looking into a Malvern-based nonprofit group's distribution of identification cards to Hispanic immigrants who work in the state. Although the card purports to be a membership card, it looks very similar to an official ID, and several police departments have started accepting the card as identification.
Attorney General Marc Dann unveiled a new consumer-complaint Web site (www.ag4ohio.gov), through which users can seek assistance on consumer issues, report suspected fraud or corruption or inquire about state laws covering gaming and charities. The effort to make the AG office more accessible also includes extended telephone hotline hours during evenings and weekends.
Long before subprime mortgages were on the national agenda, Tom Miller, the attorney general of Iowa, led teams of state officials to negotiate major settlements with home lenders accused of misleading and overcharging borrowers. While some AGs are quick to prosecute, Miller asserts that as an advocate for consumers, his group must try to forestall the devastation that foreclosures wreak upon neighborhoods and has been pressuring mortgage servicing companies to modify loans before borrowers fall too far behind.
California AG Jerry Brown, along with other states, cities, and organizations, is calling on the federal government to impose greenhouse gas emissions limits on aircraft. Currently there are no restrictions. Citing last April’s Supreme Court ruling that greenhouse gasses fall under EPA jurisdiction, their petition asks the EPA to respond within 180 days and initiate a formal process to limit emissions from all aircraft - both domestic and foreign - arriving or departing U.S. airports.
For the third time this year, Attorney General Lori Swanson sued a life insurance company over annuity sales to aging Minnesotans. This time it's Midland National Life Insurance of West Des Moines, Iowa. Swanson alleges that Midland National Life has been selling long-term annuity plans to seniors who aren't suitable candidates because of their age, health or personal circumstances. AG Swanson asserts that the policies are extraordinarily complex and confusing and many of the customers aren't fully aware of the surrender penalties they face if they need access to their money. She further claims that “seniors, because of the equity in their homes and other wealth accumulated over the years, are now viewed as cash machines by some in the investments industry.”
After advocating for the University of Oregon in a case against the RIAA, Oregon AG Hardy Myers is hoping to launch his own investigation into RIAA investigative tactics. Several concerns of the AG include the RIAA’s lack of an investigation warrant in the state, what information the RIAA is actually obtaining beyond IP addresses, and “with particularity, the economic damage, if any, that the RIAA suffered as a result of the unlawful conduct of each Doe Defendant."
Over a year ago Virginia’s Attorney General Bob McDonnell filed suit against the SIL Clean Wastewater Plant for violations of nitrogen and phosphorous discharge permits. The efforts of AG McDonnell were realized on Wednesday when the sale of the plant to the town of Broadway was finalized. Claiming victory for the environment and Virginians alike, AG McDonnell states “SIL has suffered the ultimate sanction for polluting our environment and will no longer operate the facility…we are eliminating a source of pollution…and providing for the health, safety and welfare of the present and future citizens of the Commonwealth.”
California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. and Los Angeles City Attorney Rockard Delgadillo are suing 20 companies for manufacturing or selling toys with "unlawful quantities of lead." The lawsuit alleges that companies knowingly exposed individuals to lead and failed to provide any warning about this risk – a violation of California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. This is not the first time AG Brown has dealt with this issue, as just last year he prompted over 70 retailers and distributors to meet tougher lead standards for jewelry.
James C. Platts has been accused by the Attorney General of Pennsylvania of scamming hundreds of home buyers and sellers out of more than $2 million in fraudulent real estate transactions. AG Corbett’s suit against Mr. Platts seeks restitution from 115 real estate transactions and to permanently prevent Platts from running any type of real estate business. Citing a packed caseload in his own office, AG Corbett is hoping that the federal government will pursue a criminal case. However, should they refuse, General Corbett has said his office will likely file the charges.
Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal has called for sanctions against Medicaid provider Health Net for sending fraudulent computer messages to pharmacies. Health Net uses a “not covered” message in response to prescriptions that require prior authorization, which is misleading and results in misinformed denial of certain medications.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has filed an enforcement action against a fraudulent “Yellow Pages” company and its owner for deceiving business owners, nonprofits, churches and other organizations. Since March 2006, the company has mailed more than 2 million deceptive solicitations in an effort to lure customers from across the United States. “Deceptive mailings, hidden charges and the deceptive use of a well-known corporate logo were all part of a complex scheme to defraud small business owners and others,” said Attorney General Abbott. The Attorney General’s legal action has been brought under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Ohio AG Marc Dann, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the Buckeye State Sheriff's Association, and the Ohio Association of Chief's of Police have a formed a partnership to combat animal fighting. Thanks to the partnership, the HSUS is now going to offer double the reward it had been offering for information that leads to the conviction or arrest of any person involved in illegal animal fighting. AG Dann has previously been honored at the 2007 Humane Law Enforcement Awards and led an investigation which culminated in one of the largest and most successful criminal animal fighting crackdowns in U.S. history.
Oregon AG Hardy Myers has joined the University of Oregon in it's attempt to quash seventeen John Doe subpoenas issued by the RIAA. The University insists that the measures needed to find out which students illegally downloaded music would violate student’s privacy and is beyond the university’s responsibility. “It is the university’s position that it is not their role to be the enforcement arm of the [music] industry.”
Vermont AG Bill Sorrell has issued criticism of Windsor Prosecutor Bobby Sands for not laying felony marijuana charges against lawyer and occasional acting judge Martha
Davis. Sorrell believes that it sets bad precedent for legal consistency across the counties of Vermont, and sends a bad message to the public about who is subject to law and who may evade it.
Following an investigation of health insurers suspected of directing patients to cheaper doctors by the New York Office of Attorney General, Cigna Corporation has agreed to improve its rankings of physicians. Cigna will use an outside monitor and will report to the Office of Attorney General every six months. Read the settlement
Oregon AG Hardy Myers is challenging a court order to return a deer, named Snowball, to its previous owner. AG Myers has said the deer is public property and that Jim Filipetti and his family had no right to own the deer in the first place. He also fears what precedent the ruling is setting. “The logic of the court's ruling is that police could be compelled to return stolen property or other property to people who are not entitled by law to possess it. The impact of the ruling potentially extends beyond this wildlife case." Wildlife organizations have also raised concerns of precedent setting, with regards to opening the door for people to remove animals form the wild.
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum has announced the creation of a statewide commission, the Executive Group, to study and offer solutions to the growing problem of gang violence in Florida. The group will consist of a number of the state’s top law enforcement officials. According to McCollum, “the long-range plan of the group will be a comprehensive outline that will include efforts to educate our youth and to dramatically reduce gang membership and activities throughout Florida.”
Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard is one of twelve current and former AGs taking part in the legal exchange program between the National Association of Attorneys General and the Israeli government, in cooperation with the American-Israel Friendship League. The goals of the trip are to learn more about the Israeli legal system, discuss comparative legal systems and confer on mutual issues where cooperation is needed.
AG Bob Cooper of Tennessee along with 42 other states and Guam has joined in an agreement with Kroger Company to help stop tobacco sales to youth. The agreement is part of a multi-state enforcement effort by the Attorneys General to secure agreements from national retailers to take specific corrective actions including "best practices" to prevent sales of tobacco products to minors.
Following the recent work by state attorneys general to increase the legal pressure on the mortgage industry, this article notes that a glut of lawsuits may not be the result. James Tierney, Director of the National State Attorneys General Program suggests that the critical work will be done through public outreach, stating, “AGs have to prosecute fraud, but …. that's not going to keep people in their homes.”
Massachusetts AG Martha Coakley has finalized new regulations for mortgage lenders and brokers in response to the home foreclosure crisis. The regulations require lenders and brokers to treat all borrowers fairly, with the aim of eliminating excessive fees and sales of loans that borrowers cannot afford. In addition to Coakley’s new regulations, the state legislature is working on their own set of rules to prevent further foreclosures.
Having sued more than a dozen lenders and brokers for allegedly inflating home appraisals and otherwise misleading homeowners, Ohio AG Marc Dann is now pursuing Wall Street. Attributing much of the blame for the recent home-foreclosure crisis throughout Ohio and the rest of the U.S. to Wall Street, Dann is focusing on how investment banks packaged mortgages into securities and how credit-rating companies evaluated those securities. Dann is not alone in his probing into the mortgage industry- the attorney general of New York, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Committee of European Securities Regulators, among others, are looking into these issues as well.
Massachusetts AG Martha Coakley has filed suit against Fremont Investment and Loan, accusing the subprime lenders of unfair practices that have led to the increased number of home foreclosures in recent months. Previously an agreement had been reached that would restrict Fremont’s ability to foreclose on its mortgage loans in Massachusetts. The new suit is seeking to keep the foreclosure restrictions in place, along with penalties for violating the state’s 2004 antipredatory lending law and compensation for borrowers.
California AG Jerry Brown and a coalition of environmental groups are petitioning the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for federal regulation to curb heat-trapping emissions from the nearly 90,000 oceangoing ships in all U.S. territorial waters. The coalition’s petitions state that the number of ships, combined with poor government regulation and inefficient fuel practices, result in carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to that of 130 million to 195 million cars. Regulation of ship-generated air pollution and regulation of greenhouse gases have been on California’s agenda for years, and as this marks one of the first times they are being dealt with concomitantly, Brown states, “In terms of the law, E.P.A. can act.”
Twice in the last several months, Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon has been “terminated” by the administration of Gov. Matt Blunt from a high profile case, on charges of a conflict of interest. The AG’s office, in response, says that Nixon cannot be removed from his legal responsibility to defend the state, an assertion backed by Missouri law. Missouri revised statutes maintain the attorney general is responsible for representing the legal interests of the state and must “prosecute or defend all appeals to which the state is party.” MU Law Professor Richard Reuben adds that Nixon’s perceived conflict of interest in certain cases does not ethically mean he should step down. “The fact of the matter is he is the state’s attorney.” Speculation has arisen that the “terminations” are politically inspired by Nixon’s challenge to Gov. Blunt for reelection.
In response to what has become a nation-wide problem, Kansas AG Paul Morrison has announced the creation of a new task force to further investigate the reasons behind home foreclosures in his state, including mortgage fraud and subprime lending. The taskforce, to be chaired by Bank Commissioner Tom Thull, will both investigate why an increased number of home foreclosures have taken place and offer suggestions on how to curb the problem.
Florida AG Bill McCollum has started a new campaign to combat child predators online. The CyberSafety program will see AG McCollum and his staff traveling around the state, educating middle school and high school students about the dangers of cyber space and ways to protect themselves. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is in partnership with the AG’s office on the program.
Arizona AG Terry Goddard and Lenox Financial Mortgage have reached a settlement over what the AG considers false advertising. Accused of omitting necessary information from its advertisements, Lenox has agreed not to claim the company can provide loans with "no closing costs" unless it also discloses that not everyone will qualify.
AG Troy King of Alabama will make no apologies for filing a notice of appeal to the Criminal Court of Appeals in the case of LaSamuel Gamble. The DA’s office has argued that Gamble, who was convicted of the murder of 3 people, cannot be sentenced to death because his accomplice (a juvenile) cannot be. AG King has stated that when determining a defendant's punishment, a court cannot consider his accomplice's sentence.
New York AG Andrew Cuomo and NYC Mayor Bloomberg have filed a joint lawsuit against Merck & Co., alleging misrepresentation of the dangers of Vioxx. Under New York State's newly-enacted False Claims Act and a similar law in the New York City Administrative Code, the suit seeks damages and civil penalties as well as restitution for taxpayer dollars wrongfully spent. A Merck spokesperson has denied the accusations.
In response to a demand from the Iowa AG’s office as part of a civil investigation, the Monsanto Company will provide information regarding its seed, trait, and chemistry related licensing and marketing programs to that office, as well as any other interested state attorneys general.
Attorney General of Ohio, Marc Dann, has filed suit seeking the closure of two failing charter schools and has vowed to investigate the performance of many more. His actions have prompted Ohio's largest teachers union, The Ohio Education Association, to announce it would drop a lawsuit against the state that accuses education officials of failing to monitor charter schools.
As part of his “Project SafetyNet VA” initiative, AG Bob McDonnell is distributing copies of “Faux Paw’s Adventures in the Internet” to every public and private elementary school in the state. Acknowledging that children are gaining exposure to the internet at increasingly young ages, the book teaches students basic lessons about staying safe online.
Led by Iowa AG Thomas Miller, attorneys general and banking regulators from 10 states have formed a task force aimed at pursuading mortgage-servicing companies and investors to restructure troubled subprime loans. The task force, has invited a dozen of the nation's largest subprime-mortgage-servicing companies to meet later this month in Chicago.
To read Iowa AAG Patrick Madigan’s Policy Paper, click here
States Begin the Battle Against Mortgage Fraud and Predatory Lending Schemes (September 7, 2007)
AG’s across the country are beginning to take action against home foreclosure crisis. In Texas, AG Greg Abbot has helped create the Texas Residential Mortgage Fraud Task Force. In Connecticut, AG Richard Blumenthal has filed suit against 7 companies and individuals over misleading mortgage schemes that preyed upon low-income borrowers. The state of Virginia has joined Maryland in blocking Metro Dream Homes from offering homeowners mortgage-free living through a complex investment program, citing concerns about potential consumer "harm and economic loss." Iowa's foreclosure trouble has Attorney General Tom Miller working to establish a mediation service between lenders and borrowers.
Following a report released by NAAG indicating that federal and state laws may not be doing enough to promote safety on school campuses, AG Wasden of Idaho announced that he will join other states in the initiative to create safer school environments.
According to Nicholas Gess (Bingham Consulting Group) and James Tierney (Dir., National State AG Program at Columbia Law School), the next attorney general of the United States will inherit a Department of Justice demoralized by the sidelining of career lawyers who have dedicated their lives to fair law enforcement. In this article, Gess and Tierney outline advice to the next attorney general, including restoration of the career hiring and promotion process and renewing state and local relationships.
AG Martha Coakley of Massachusettes has filed a regulation that permanently bans for-profit foreclosure rescue transactions. The ban is an attempt to protect homeowners from rescue schemes where the homeowner transfers the property to an outside agent, but maintains an option to reacquire the home by maintaining a legal interest. The ban does not apply to rescue plans offered by members of the homeowner's family or by nonprofit or housing organizations that are attempting to help the troubled borrower.
Minnesota AG Lori Swanson has filed a lawsuit against the Ashmore Family Foundation, saying the organization lured people into to making loans to the foundation by falsely promising that the proceeds would go toward charitable work and by offering high return rates on those investments. The complaint alleges that the real purpose of the foundation is to accumulate money for investing in foreign markets.
As attorneys general turn their focus to the home foreclosure crisis, one area of attention is advertising that promises tantalizingly low payments without clearly disclosing the myriad strings that accompany the debts. Although, some states require lenders to disclose the annual percentage rate on any loans they advertise, it can be hard to enforce these and other consumer protection statutes. Companies simply withdraw ads when they receive cease-and-desist letters, but the ads often immediately pop up elsewhere. “You do get an immediate positive feedback,” said James E. Tierney, director of the national state attorneys general program at Columbia Law School in New York and a former attorney general. “But it’s hard to make it a sustainable success since there are so many lenders and ads.”
This article outlines the various measures that states are taking to protect people who resort to subprime financing. Some states have passed measures to tighten restrictions on subprime lending. Others have formed task forces involving both lenders and consumer representatives to rework problem loans, or are tightening the underwriting standards on adjustable-rate mortgages.
With ‘Kid Nation’ set to premier on CBS on September 19th, AG Gary King of New Mexico wants to know whether producers lawfully avoided obtaining work permits for children, and shut out inspection. The investigation will also look at issues of truancy. Soon after investigation began, the attorney general's office received correspondence from CBS lawyers explaining the children are not "employees" and therefore did not need work permits.
This week the Attorney General of New Jersey, Anne Milgram, ordered all law enforcement authorities to notify U.S. immigration officials whenever an illegal immigrant is arrested for an indictable offense or drunk driving. The order follows the August 4 killings of three college students in which one suspect is an illegal immigrant from Peru.
Following an executive order issued by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, Attorney General Mark Dann issued a rule which states that calling an illegal slot machine a "skill-based amusement machine" is an unfair and deceptive act or practice under the state's Consumer Sales Practices Act. In addition to curbing illegal gambling, the rule provides a definition of what makes a machine skill-based, eliminating the existing ambiguity in state law.
In the aftermath of the predatory lending scandal, various legal claims are quickly developing. Lawsuits have already been filed by shareholders in bankrupt mortgage lending companies, mortgage borrowers and investors in mortgage-backed securities, warehouse lenders, and investors in credit rating agencies. Even though the Federal Reserve System pumped $38 billion dollars into the banking sector this month, it appears that will not be enough to curtail the litigation barrage.
After serving nearly 12 years as attorney general, AG Hardy Myers has announced that he will not run for reelection. Myers, who is 68, says his “decision is not the result of any waning of my desire to serve the people of Oregon as attorney general.”
An Arkansas “natario” was sued by Attorney General Dustin McDaniel for charging for immigration assistance, visas, tax assistance, identification and power of attorney letters. The suit argues “natarios” and “natarios publicos” are not attorneys and cannot give legal advice. In Latin America, “notaries” refers to members of the legal community who have specialized training in various areas of the law. There is no equivalent in the United States.
Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers is suing four California companies for preying on some of the state’s most vulnerable residents. AG Myers accused the companies of advertising free English-language courses while charging inflated shipping fees and requiring additional money for products the customers never ordered. Additionally, the suit accuses the companies of pretending to be debt collectors and lawyers in efforts to receive the money from the victims.
The Maryland Attorney General's Securities Division issued a cease-and-desist order alleging that POS Dream Home LLC operated an unregistered investment program disguised as a mortgage payment plan. The order also applies to Metropolitan Grapevine LLC, CEO Andrew H. Williams and agent Laveda Whitfield. The order requires the companies and their agents to stop operating the investment program.
In a recent opinion, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers ruled that the children of illegal immigrants are eligible for in-state tuition at state colleges and universities if they are citizens and their parents can prove they’ve been living in state for the past year. Although the state bars illegal immigrants from receiving any public benefits, AG Suthers noted in-state tuition is a benefit for the students, not their parents, and therefore, the citizen-children of illegal immigrants ought to be treated the same as other students when applying for the reduced rate.
After failing to carry through on its contracts, Accurate Heating and Cooling, an East Haven oil company, is being sued by Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. The lawsuit says that beginning in April 2005, Accurate and owner Joseph Reynolds signed consumers to yearlong prepaid home heating oil delivery and service contracts but never followed through. The allegations are also the subject of a criminal action filed in September 2006.
A Marion, IN Superior Court judge has dismissed a case because the arresting officer was never sworn in the new Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and now months of Indianapolis police arrests are in jeopardy. Following the merger of the old Indianapolis Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s office at the start of the year, controversy has arisen over whether the merger required Indianapolis police officers and Marion County sheriff’s deputies to take an oath of office. The implications are grave, as 20,000 cases (including murder investigations) could be thrown out over a misreading of the law. AG Steve Carter recognizes the significance of the case, and plans to lead the appeal.
Responding to his critics, West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw defended his office’s dispersal of the OxyContin settlement money. AG McGraw noted most of the money has been awarded to programs which combat substance abuse, the most recent example being a $10,000 check presented to the Charleston Black Ministerial Alliance for its Jabez Project, a youth substance abuse prevention and intervention project. Following a subsequent erroneous report accusing Jabez of misusing the award, AG McGraw issued a statement refuting the allegations.
Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper outlined his top priorities, emphasizing efforts to prevent immigrant healthcare fraud through TennCare and MedicAid. AG Cooper noted that since Governor Phil Bredesen passed several healthcare reforms in 2005, state healthcare expenses have dropped by $1.6 billion and he also cited the $3.5 million his office recovered in TennCare funds paid to fraudulent health care providers.
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced approximately $7 million in duplicate claim payments have been recovered from two managed care organizations as part of a series of joint audits and investigations. The settlement is the first of a series expected in the coming months and AG Cuomo estimated the total amount returned to the programs could be over $30 million. The programs involved are Medicaid, which provides health care for the poor, and Family Health Plus, a state health insurance program for low-income citizens who don’t qualify for Medicaid.
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox with the American Association for Retired Persons reached another settlement over telephone rates, this time lowering and freezing the rates of Verizon’s Call Plan 100 and Value Pak 100 plan until July 1, 2009. The rates were lowered by 80 cents a month, creating annual savings of $250,000. AG Cox reached a similar settlement with AT&T in March.
Georgia AG Thurbert Baker has put himself in the tenuous and seemingly contradictory position of arguing to the state Supreme Court that Georgia’s sex offender law cannot be applied retroactively while holding in an unrelated federal case that the law’s retroactive provisions are legal. In one case, AG Baker is attempting to uphold a 10-year sentence imposed on Genarlow Wilson for having unforced oral sex, when he was 17 years old, with a 15-year-old girl. Meanwhile, for the past year, Baker has held that the Legislature had the authority to enact a law retroactively barring any registered sex offender from living, working or loitering within 1,000 feet of a school bus stop or church.
California, Texas and other Attorneys General warn consumers about their tires (August 3, 2007)
AG’s across the country are warning consumers that tires made by Westlake, YKS and Compass (manufactured by the Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Company in China) may have insufficient or missing gum strips and could lead to tread separation. More than 250,000 SUV and light truck tires are affected. Related articles:
For Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch, a recent murder case is especially painful. AG Lynch’s scheduler, Margaret Botelho, is the sister of Gabriel and Caesar Medeiros, the former of whom was killed and the latter injured by gunfire in an early morning home invasion turned triple shooting on June 28. Botelho is one of two executive secretaries who work closely with the attorney general, coordinating his duties as the state’s top law enforcement official.
Speaking during a discussion sponsored by the conservative Federalist Society in Washington, D.C., Virginia's Attorney General, Bob McDonnell stated that some of his fellow state attorneys general are an "extension of activist judges" and have been pursuing actions for political gain. McDonnell cited cases such as the tobacco settlement as the tipping point for AG activism.
Minnesota based Lifetime Fitness Inc., was sued by Texas AG Greg Abbott for exposing its customers to identity theft. According to documents filed by AG Abbott, the fitness chain violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the 2005 Identity Theft Enforcement and Protection Act by discarding customer records in easily accessible trash cans behind the stores that contain sensitive personal information such as Social Security and credit card account numbers. The company also has been accused of violating the Texas Health Spa Act by operating 11 unregistered health spas in the state.
In congressional testimony, Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal demanded federal action on his three-year-old petition to require the Food and Drug Administration to put stronger warning labels on the prescription painkiller OxyContin and urged tougher criminal sanctions to prevent future tragedy. While manufacturer Purdue Pharma has made hundreds of millions of dollars in profits, over 300 people have died from overdosing on the controversial prescription drug. AG Blumenthal also wrote a letter to the FDA expressing similar concerns.
Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann announced that his office has filed nearly 60 enforcement action cases against environmental law violators during his first six months in office. AG Dann said the number of legal actions exceeds that of any previous attorney general during his or her initial months on the job. Among the 60 cases are 6 complaints of air pollution, 9 for water pollution, 11 on hazardous waste and improperly operated landfills, 5 against illegal tire dumps, 3 regarding illegal asbestos removal, and nearly a dozen on leaking underground storage tanks. For the entire list of defendants and a summary of the allegations facing them, click here.
Aggregate Industries NE Inc., the largest asphalt and concrete supply company in New England, agreed to plead guilty and pay $50 million to settle its criminal and civil liabilities resulting from allegations that it conducted a fraudulent concrete scheme. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said the company mixed leftover, recycled concrete that was more than 90 minutes old into concrete used for the Big Dig. This mix did not meet Big Dig requirements, and Aggregate masked its fraud by falsifying concrete batch slips delivered to inspectors. In May, AIG Insurance, the Workers’ Compensation carrier for the project, paid $58.5 million to settle allegations that it failed to turn over 15 years of surplus funds to the state.
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and State Healthcare Advocate Kevin P. Lembo wrote a letter to Senator Christopher J. Dodd arguing that a U.S. Senate bill, the Mental Health Parity Act, will undermine existing state laws that better protect consumers. Although the federal bill would expand mental health benefits in some states, it would preempt strong existing mental health legislation in others. Blumenthal and Lembo, along with officials from at least eight other states, contend that federal mental health parity legislation should not set a national ceiling on coverage, as the current proposal would, but rather a floor that individual states could build upon in their traditional role as regulators of health insurance.
To address the growing home foreclosure crisis in Illinois, Attorney General Lisa Madigan convened the Illinois Homeownership Preservation Summit today. Over 100 participants from the mortgage lending industry, consumer advocacy groups, and government agencies met in Chicago to attend to the mounting problem. At the conference, Madigan urged participants to start a dialogue that would generate real solutions for distressed homeowners in the months to come. Foreclosures in the state jumped 55 percent in 2006, totaling 72,455, and are projected to rise much higher in 2007.
In a recent speech, Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann argued that federal regulators have not been active enough protecting consumers and investors, and advocated a larger role for his office in cases of consumer and investor fraud. Dann’s entire speech can be read here.
Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison will not pursue half of the charges filed by his predecessor, Phill Kline, against Dr. George Tiller, a physician who performs late-term abortions. Morrison, an abortion rights Democrat, accused Kline, an anti-abortion Republican, of acting unethically while prosecuting Tiller and cited significant flaws in the case.
Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden was elected as President of the National Association of Attorneys Generals (NAAG) this week. Wasden’s presidential initiative will be “Providing Effective Energy Counsel to State Government; An Attorney General’s Perspective.” To view the new President’s Inaugural Remarks, Click Here.
Wachovia, National City Bank, and Regions Financial Corp. have added their names to the list of lenders who have agreed to abide by the Code of Conduct set into motion by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s office. With the addition of Wachovia, Cuomo now has signatures from the six largest lenders in the nation. Cuomo and attorneys general from thirty-one other states sent a letter to U.S. Senate leaders recommending passage of The Student Loan Sunshine Act, which would require schools to adopt a Code of Conduct.
Attorney General sues S. Florida loan modification firm (April 3, 2009)
Attorney General Bill McCollum has filed a lawsuit against a South Florida loan modification firm and its affiliated companies, alleging they violated Florida law by charging up-front fees for foreclosure rescue services that they did not fulfill.
AG Accuses Home Loan Rescue Company of Fraud (Feb 11, 2009)
The Florida Attorney General's Office has filed an injunction against Financial Management Advisors, who are accused of preying on homeowners in danger of foreclosure. The injunction is the first under a new law that bars the use of upfront payments by companies offering to rescue people from home foreclosure.
Attorney General reaches settlement with mortgage companies (January 11, 2009)
Colorado Attorney General John Suthers has made agreements with two mortgage companies accused of misleading buyers with low teaser rates.
Attorney General: Blagojevich harming Illinois (January 9, 2009)
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan harshly criticized embattled Governor Rod Blagojevich for refusing to resign even as the state's legislature voted overwhelmingly to impeach him. Madigan had previously attempted to invoke a Supreme Court rule to remove Blagojevich from office.
Attorney General Madigan Offers Service for Vets (November 12, 2008)
In observance of Veterans Day, Attorney General Lisa Madigan reminded veterans about the services her office provides, with a particular emphasis on services for military families struggling to avoid the mortgage crisis.
Tennessee says computer seller misled buyers (October 28, 2008)
The office of Tennessee Attorney General Robert Cooper has sued computer sales company BlueHippo for allegedly targeting low-income households with misleading financing plans, in addition to operating within Tennessee without a license.
Minnesota AG settles case against annuity sellers (October 22, 2008)
Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson has settled her case with Aviva USA Corp. and AmerUs Life Insurance Co. People who purchased long-term annuities when they were older than 65 can apply to pull their money out of those funds without penalty and with interest.
State-Federal Probe Investigating Credit-Default Swaps (October 21, 2008)
In an unusual move, the state attorney general [of New York] and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan yesterday announced a joint investigation into credit-default swaps, those unregulated insurance-like contracts that have played a major role in the nation's financial crisis.
Attorney general targets underage drinking in New Mexico (October 20, 2008)
Attorney General Gary King proposes to ban the sale of caffeinated alcoholic drinks in New Mexico to help prevent and reduce underage drinking.
US, New York Probing Credit-Default Swap Market (October 20, 2008)
Federal prosecutors and New York's attorney general said Monday they had taken the unusual step of joining forces to probe the multitrillion-dollar credit-default swap market, an unregulated area of finance blamed for helping to fuel the credit crisis.
Pa. Attorney General Moves to Shut Down Dog Kennel (October 14, 2008)
Pennsylvania's attorney general has asked a court to shut down one of the state's largest dog sellers for allegedly violating a consumer-fraud settlement over the sale of sick puppies.
SC Attorney General: More Water Wars Ahead (October 14, 2008)
Attorney General Henry McMaster predicted future water wars in the Southeast and said Tuesday a lawsuit South Carolina brought against North Carolina will set a precedent for settling the disputes.
Michigan Attorney General Charges ACORN Worker With Forgery (October 14, 2008)
Michigan Atty. Gen. Mike Cox on Tuesday charged a former ACORN worker with forgery in connection with voter registration applications he submitted in the city of Jackson.
Attorney General, Lawmakers Discuss Gas Price Gouging (October 13, 2008)
Attorney General Jim Hood told lawmakers today he favors giving his office the authority to declare a "market disruption" to protect consumers when natural disasters interrupt the flow of fuel and the demand for hotel rooms skyrockets.
Texas AG, Abbott Reach $28 Million Settlement Over Price Reporting (September 10, 2008)
The state attorney general in Texas has reached a $28 million civil settlement with Abbott Laboratories (ABT) over charges leveled more than four years ago regarding alleged false reporting of drug prices.
Iowa Files Child Labor Charges Against Meat Plant (September 10, 2008)
The owner and managers of the nation's largest kosher meatpacking plant were charged Tuesday with more than 9,000 misdemeanors alleging they hired minors and had children younger than 16 handle dangerous equipment such as circular saws and meat grinders. The complaint filed by the Iowa attorney general's office said the violations involved 32 illegal-immigrant children under age 18, including seven who were younger than 16.
Lead Paint Cleanup Plans Announced (August 18, 2008)
Cleanup work on 600 lead-contaminated properties in Rhode Island will soon be going out to bid. Attorney General Patrick Lynch announced today that the Healthy Kids Collaborative (HKC) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a lead safe remediation program that will bring homes targeted communities to the current federal and state standards for lead safety.
Western attorneys general honor Utah's chief deputy (August 16, 2008)
Chief Deputy Attorney General Ray Hintze has been honored by the Conference of Western Attorneys General for his legal work on Western issues. Hintze received the 2008 Jim Jones Public Service Award earlier this month for his handling of high-profile issues affecting the region.
Md. cancer statistics altered (July 29, 2008)
A state contractor tampered with Maryland's cancer registry, a database used by researchers to track the disease's impact, counting hundreds of patients as having cancer when they did not. The company, Macro International Inc., found in an internal investigation that data were deliberately altered between August 2004 and December of that year. The case has been referred to the criminal division of Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler's office, which is looking into the matter.
Blumenthal: Rell Proposal Illegal (July 15, 2008)
State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said Monday it would be illegal for Connecticut officials to suddenly change new pollution regulations and require rebates for electricity consumers.
Attorney General to Take Over Case Against Developer (July 9, 2008)
The state Department of Consumer Protection has referred the case against Bowden Development LLC to the state attorney general's office for expedited legal action on complaints alleging overcharging and faulty installation of modular homes. Complaints against the company have surpassed the reimbursement amounts available in the state's New Home Guaranty Fund, which provides for compensation of up to $30,000 per contract for homeowners who can prove faulty or incomplete work by homebuilders and contractors. DCP commissioner Jerry Farrell Jr. said the hearings would be suspended in favor of court action under the direction of Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.
Rite Aid to pay up to $650,000 to settle NJ suit (June 23, 2008)
Rite Aid Corp. has agreed to pay New Jersey up to $650,000 to settle a lawsuit with Attorney General Anne Milgram charging that dozens of its stores in the state sold expired infant formula, baby food, and over-the-counter medications.
Cuomo Targets CVS, Rite Aid for Selling Expired Products (June 12, 2008)
Following a three-month statewide investigation, the Office of the New York State Attorney General has announced it will begin litigation against CVS and Rite Aid for selling expired products, including over-the-counter medications.
Case With Walgreens A Drop in the Budget Hole (June 8, 2008)
Last week, attorneys general from several states, including Illinois, announced a settlement with Walgreens that will direct about $1.34 million into Illinois coffers. The settlement stems from a series of Medicaid fraud investigations led by Madigan's office and U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. The investigations accused several pharmaceutical giants of systematic Medicaid fraud. In the Walgreens case, the company allegedly altered prescriptions of Medicaid patients to sop up more money from state and federal government.
10 States Ask Calif. Court To Delay Gay Marriage (May 29, 2008)
The attorneys general of 10 states are urging the California Supreme Court to delay finalizing its ruling to legalize same-sex marriage. The states involved are Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Carolina, South Dakota and Utah.
Wisconsin attorney general defends record (May 17, 2008)
Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen says his office is not bringing "activist, liberal lawsuits" like he claimed his Democratic predecessor did. Van Hollen says he is focused on enforcing current laws and not pursuing a personal or political agenda. Even so he says he is focused on fighting voter fraud, deporting illegal immigrants and protecting gun owners' rights, all tenets of the Republican Party.
Texas AG office to prosecute polygamist sect cases (May 6, 2008)
In the largest custody battle in U.S. history, State District Judge Barbara Walther has approved a request to bring in the Texas Attorney General's office to prosecute any future criminal charges in the case.
Company Swindled Homeowners, Attorney General Says (May 5, 2008)
Attorney General Roy Cooper filed suit against Alphin Marketing Group, Inc., also known as Alphin Group for targeting distressed homeowners with false offers to help save them from foreclosure. Cooper is seeking to permanently bar them from offering foreclosure assistance and debt adjusting services in North Carolina, and is asking the court to cancel the company’s contracts with consumers and pay refunds.
Nixon announces plan to make college more affordable (April 28, 2008)
Attorney General Jay Nixon annouces a higher education plan that he says would provide a way for middle-class Missouri students to earn a four-year degree tuition-free. Students who complete a two-year associate's degree at a Missouri community college or technical school under the state's existing A+ Schools Program, and meet criteria, would be eligible to seek a Missouri Promise scholarship to cover college or university costs.
Attorney General is right on satellite radio (April 14, 2008)
In a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B.Van Hollen argues that the proposed merger of the Sirius and XM networks would harm consumers and undermine the ideological and cultural discourse that is vital to democracy.
S.C. Attorney General: Abolish Parole (April 3, 2008)
A bill to abolish parole in South Carolina would give the public more confidence in the justice system, save money and wouldn't cause a big increase in the number of inmates, state Attorney General Henry McMaster told a House subcommittee Wednesday afternoon.
State attorney general targets 3 mortgage companies (March 27, 2008)
Three South Florida companies were accused Wednesday of running a mortgage Foreclosure rescue operation that defrauded more than two dozen homeowners of more than $1 million in home equity, according to a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Bill McCollum. rescue operation that defrauded more than two dozen homeowners of more than $1 million in home equity, according to a lawsuit filed by Attorney General.
Attorney General Launches Identity Theft Unit (March 1, 2008)
Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter has created an Identity Theft Unit to assist identity theft victims and to provide additional resources to local law enforcement authorities. The Unit will also advocate educational efforts which will be assisted by J. Michelle Sybesma, an identity theft survivor and creator of GetIDSmart.com, a website designed to educate the public on protecting personal information from thieves.
Eight attorneys general sign letter against SC power plant permit (January 29, 2008)
Eight attorneys general (California, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont) have signed a letter asking South Carolina environmental officials to deny a permit for a coal-fired power plant. South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster says he has no problem with the letter but doesn't know if his office will be involved in the case.
Attorney General calls for regulation of "carbon offset" claims (January 28, 2008)
Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell announced today that he and nine other state attorneys general have written a letter to the Federal Trade Commission to ask that the FTC develop guidelines for businesses that sell carbon emission offset credits.
New KS Attorney General Named (January 22, 2008)
Governor Sebelius announced Douglas County District Judge Stephen Six as the new Kansas Attorney General. Six will be sworn in on January 31st, the same day former Attorney General Paul Morrison will leave the office.
NY Probes Study-Abroad Business Deals (January 22, 2008)
Study-abroad programs at 15 colleges and universities, including Harvard and Columbia, are being scrutinized by the New York attorney general's office to ensure that business deals are not cheating students. The office alleges that they have found indications of financial relationships between some study-abroad providers and schools.
Teamsters Hail IRS Decision to Fine FedEx $319 Million (December 21, 2007)
The decision of the IRS to fine FedEx for its illegal independent contractor model follows a penalty exceeding $190,000 levied by the Attorney General of Massachusetts earlier in the week citing that FedEx Ground intentionally misclassified pickup and delivery drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. The fine confirms a fact long asserted by the Teamsters Union.
Attorney General to announce $1.2 million in lead cleanup grants (December 18, 2007)
Attorney General of Rhode Island Patrick Lynch is expected to announce $1.2 million in grants to combat lead paint poisoning. It's the first money distributed from a $9 million donation made by DuPont more than two years ago to escape a public nuisance lawsuit brought by the state.
Conn. Attorney General: Tobacco Firm To Suspend Ad Campaign (December 17, 2007)
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and attorneys general in at least eight other states threatened sue R.J. Reynolds two weeks ago over advertising featured in Rolling Stone in November editions. The illustrated advertisement purported to advertise an indie music festival: "The Farm: Free Range Music," which is sponsored by Camel.
2 Attorneys General Probe Countrywide (December 15, 2007)
In an attempt to understand why people who do not seem to be able to afford loans have been granted loans, attorneys general in California and Illinois are investigating the lending practices of Countrywide Financial Corp., the nation's largest mortgage lender. The Illinois attorney general launched a probe into the lender's business practices and may expand the investigation to examine how homeowners were approved for mortgages with payments they were unable to afford.
Attorney General Unveils School Safety Kit (December 12, 2007)
In Texas, Attorney General Greg Abbott has unveiled a new initiative to help schools be better prepared and safer in emergencies- particularly in case of a shooting. The AG’s safety kit includes a DVD, CD, and accompanying website. The DVD explains what should be done if a shooter comes on campus, as well as the laws with which schools must comply in such situations. The web page, called “Teen Page,” follows suit, encouraging kids to make “good choices” such as reporting suspicious activity at school.
Death Row Reps May Get Bigger Paycheck (December 9, 2007)
In response to the growing number of Death Row inmates having difficulty finding attorneys for post-conviction reviews, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has proposed increasing the maximum dollar amount attorneys can receive in such cases. General Shurtleff hopes this will increase incentive, as attorneys report monetary losses equaling tens of thousands of dollars in many death row cases. The proposal, which would increase the maximum pay from $37,500 to $60,000, has drawn sharp criticism from the Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers for other provisions included in it.
Alaska A.G. Sues Mercer Over Pension Plan Losses (December 7, 2009)
Mercer L.L.C., had served as an actuary of Alaska’s Public Employees’ Retirement System and Teachers’ Retirement System pension plans from the 1970s though 2006. Alaska’s Attorney General, Talis Coldberg, is now suing Mercer for $1.8 billion in lost funds, alleging “fundamental errors in methodology and even in basic calculations, and fail[ure] to assign competent, experienced personnel to work for the plans” during its tenure.
States Sue R.J. Reynolds Over Camel Ads (December 4, 2007)
Attorneys general in at least nine states are suing R.J. Reynolds for Camel ads in Rolling Stone Magazine. The ads, which are coupled with illustrations in a multi-page spread, violates the 1998 tobacco industry settlement, say the AGs. One of the states involved, Pennsylvania, is seeking $100 per magazine distributed within the state, as well as $100 per hit on the related R.J. Reynolds Web site, http://www.thefarmrocks.com, which has been shut down. The other states currently committed to the suit include California, New York, Connecticut, Illinois, Ohio, Maryland, Washington, and Maine.
Attorney General Sues Ferrellgas (December 4, 2007)
Arkansas AG Dustin McDaniel has filed suit against Ferrellgas for violations of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA). The Attorney General contends Ferrellgas violated the DTPA by altering existing agreements between it and its Arkansas customers. He further states that Ferrellgas has attempted to collect new fees based on a new agreement to which customers have not consented, and forced those who did not pay to go without heat.
State Attorney General Opposes New Licenses for Indian Point (December 3, 2007)
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has filed papers with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission listing 32 reasons why new licenses should be refused to Indian Point nuclear power plant’s two reactors. They include susceptibility to terrorist attack, that the area around them cannot be safely evacuated and that their aging structures increase the chance of a radioactive leak. The AG was joined at a press conference about the issue. The plant has responded saying that the reactors are safe and they keep energy prices down.
Twelve States Sue EPA for Data on Toxins (November 28, 2007)
Twelve states sued the Bush administration Wednesday to force greater disclosure of data on toxic chemicals that companies store, use and release into the environment. According to Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal, new EPA regulations allow “polluters [to] release 10 times more toxins like lead and mercury without telling anyone.” AGs Andrew Cuomo (NY), Richard Blumenthal (CT), and ten others, are behind the lawsuit. The additional states include California, New Jersey, Arizona, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Vermont.
Attorney General Wants Poultry Waste Banned from Illinois River Watershed (November 19, 2007)
Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson has asked a federal judge to prohibit any further land application of poultry waste in the Illinois River Watershed. According to the state's motion, "the fecal bacterial levels in runoff from fields where poultry waste has been applied are similar to raw sewage.” Edmondson said the state is seeking the injunction now so the court will have time to rule on the issue before the winter and spring waste disposal seasons begin.
Attorney General Talks about Mortgage Crisis (November 12, 2007)
Texas AG Greg Abbott has been doing outreach to Texans, offering advice on how to prevent home foreclosures before it is too late. Attorney General Abbott and the Association of Community Organizations for Reforms Now (ACORN) are encouraging homeowners to be pro-active and seek help as soon as difficulties emerge. AG Abbott has also called on mortgage lenders to help reduce foreclosures by working with borrowers to find affordable payment options before it's too late. "The sooner homeowners seek help, the more options that will be available to them.”
Attorney General Investigates Texas State Trooper Association (November 6, 2007)
Texas AG Greg Abbott has launched an investigation into the State Troopers Association following a revealing exposé on NBC 5. General Abbott is investigating the claim that $3 million out of the $3.7 million raised each year gets spent on fundraising, leaving donors feeling conned. "It's obviously a great concern to us when consumers in Texas are duped out of their money for purposes of lining the pockets of the people that raise the money rather than going to the officers or their families."
State Targets Unsolicited Faxes (October 29, 2007)
The State of Indiana AG Steve Carter is suing several companies for sending unsolicited faxes, in violation of state law. Eight companies are named in the suit and five others have already paid penalties of $13,250.
Attorney General Accuses Company of Mortgage Scam (October 24, 2007)
Texas AG Greg Abbott is suing Houston-based Southern Residential LLC for violating the Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Abbott accuses the company of collecting up to one month’s mortgage payment from consumers and then cutting all contact with them. Because of Abbott’s allegations, District Judge Grant Dorfman of Harris County has temporarily frozen the company’s assets and ordered it to stop accepting fees from consumers.
Attorney General Speaks at Rockland District High School about Alcohol (October 24, 2007)
Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe addressed the students of Rockland District High School in an assembly speech Wednesday morning about underage drinking. Rowe showed a video on the pervasiveness of underage drinking and then talked about the disparity between the fun experiences depicted in alcohol advertisements and tragedies that actually occur because of excessive alcohol consumption.
McAfee, Inc. Honors Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott for Fight Against Cybercrime (October 16, 2007)
McAfee, Inc. presented the inaugural McAfee(R) Cybercrime Fighter Award to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. The award recognizing General Abbott for his fight to protect Texas children from online predators was presented during the McAfee Strategic Executive Security Summit in Dallas. Some of Abbott’s efforts include creating the state's first Cyber Crimes Unit, repeatedly pressing social networking sites to implement definitive safety measures to protect young users, and conducting Cyber Safety Town Halls for parents and educators across Texas, to name a few.
Texas Attorney General asks Lenders to Prevent Foreclosure (October 12, 2007)
In anticipation of $600-billion worth of subprime adjustable-rate mortgages hitting rate resets in Texas next year, Texas AG Greg Abbott has appealed to three of the state’s largest lenders. In his statement to Countrywide Mortgage, Houston-based Litton Loan Servicing and Dallas-based EMC Mortgage Corp, Abbott offered five concrete suggestions for preventing foreclosures.
Connecticut Plans to Sue Broker (October 8, 2007)
The World’s largest reinsurance broker, Guy Carpenter and Co. LLC of Marsh and McLennan Cos., is being sued by Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal. The AG accuses Guy Carpenter and Co. of conspiring with more than twenty reinsurers to fix prices, eliminate competition and substantially increase profits in the reinsurance market, violating Connecticut’s antitrust and unfair trade practices acts. The lawsuit seeks damages, restitution and civil penalties for injuries suffered by Connecticut consumers.
Attorney General to Propose Ethics Reform (October 2, 2007)
Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel expects to include ethics reform proposals in his legislative package for the 2009 regular session. His proposals, though currently undecided, are said to resemble those proposed this year by House Speaker Benny Petrus that passed the House but failed in the senate. The reforms will likely address lobbyist regulations and campaign contributions.
Minnesota Sues Sprint (September 27, 2007)
In a new lawsuit filed by Minnesota AG Lori Swanson, Sprint Nextel Corp. is accused of improperly subjecting disgruntled subscribers to hundreds of dollars in early-termination fees and violating her state’s consumer protection laws. The 21-page Minnesota lawsuit details new complaints of 15 Sprint customers.
Attorney General Urges Schools to Start Anonymous Tip Lines (September 26, 2007)
Texas AG Greg Abbott is encouraging schools to create confidential telephone tip lines, write emergency plans and practice them annually to improve school safety. According to Charles Wiley, chief of Houston Independent School District's police department, his district has had success with TipLine, as 335 calls have led to solved cases. The Attorney General's Office also plans to provide Texas schools with training manuals and videos, and has created a website for teenagers to help them make good choices.
Attorney General says Mower Violated Environmental Law (September 25, 2007)
Minnesota AG Lori Swanson has offered her opinion that Mower County violated the state's Environmental Policy Act when it made two decisions related to a proposed feedlot. Her statement lends support to a lawsuit pending in Mower District Court brought by a group of 18 county citizens. The suit alleges that feedlot officer Lowell Franzen illegally approved his own feedlot proposal, misrepresented his plan and sold it this spring for a large profit.
AGs Lead Investigation of Facebook (September 25, 2007)
AG Cuomo has joined several attorneys general, including Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Roy Cooper of North Carolina, who are leading an investigation of social networking sites and how well they protect users from sexual predators. New York has filed a subpoena following Facebook’s non-response to numerous complaints made by investigators (posed as 12-14 yr olds) who received solicitations for sex on the site.
U.S. Sues Illinois Over Immigration Law (September 25, 2007)
The U.S. attorney's office for central Illinois has filed suit against the state over an immigration law. The law prohibits companies from participating in a federal program that verifies whether workers are legally authorized to work in the United States until the database is more accurate. The lawsuit claims the 750 Illinois employers participating in the program would essentially be excluded because of the law. The office of Illinois AG Lisa Madigan is still reviewing the federal complaint.
[Illinois] Attorney General Expecting 2nd Child in March(September 24, 2007)
Congratulations to Illinois AG Lisa Madigan who is expecting her second child in March. As with her first child, a six-week maternity leave will be in place when her child is born, however daily communication with her staff has been promised during that time.
OSU law students, Ohio attorney general sue over credit card application promo(September 20, 2007)
With the help of third-year law students at Ohio State University, Ohio AG Marc Dann has filed lawsuits alleging that Citibank, a marketing firm and two restaurants used deceptive tactics to market credit cards to college students. The participating students are part of the Civil Law Clinic led by professors Greg Travalio and Elizabeth Cooke.
It's a Boy for Attorney General Kelly Ayotte(September 18, 2007)
New Hampshire AG Kelly Ayotte, the first female AG of her state, gave birth to her second child, Jacob Bradley Daley, on Monday night. Congratulations!
UnitedHealth tries to block probe(September 13, 2007)
Attorney General Lori Swanson of Minnesota has launched an investigation against United Health, to look at alleged backdating of stock options. United Health has filed a motion to block the investigation.
Focusing on the job, not the credit(September 9, 2007)
Since taking office in January, AG Doug Gansler of Maryland has impressed other state officials by trying to be more of a team player. The article outlines Gansler’s style of leadership and notes that he has targeted gang activity, environmental violations and corporate corruption.
Arkansas Initiative on Adoption Limits Nixed(September 6, 2007)
Arkansas AG Dustin McDaniel has rejected a proposed voter-backed initiative aimed at barring unmarried couples from adopting or fostering children. A conservative group hoped to use the ban to keep gay couples from becoming foster parents. McDaniel rejected the proposal, citing it as inconsistent; however, the group will be allowed to redraft and resubmit it.
Kansas attorney general proposes code of conduct for student-loan lenders (September 5, 2007)
Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison is asking colleges in the state to follow a code of conduct when dealing with student-loan lenders.
Praise for Hardy Myers (August 30, 2007)
In an Op-Ed piece from The Statesman, the Attorney General of Oregon receives praise for his decades of service. Career highlights include a defense of Oregon’s Physician Assisted Suicide law, his participation in the landmark 1998 Tobacco Settlement, and his integrity as a public servant. The story follows Myers’ announcement that he will not run for a fourth term this year.
Gonzales never figured out his proper role (August 29, 2007)
In an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, James Tierney, Director of the National State Attorney General Program at Columbia Law School, discusses Gonzales’ tenure as Attorney General and his road resignation. “The attorney general never did his job - which was to enforce the law on behalf of the American people,” says Tierney. “He did not understand that one can be a loyal follower of the president and nonetheless an independent decision-maker.”
La. AG Out in Katrina Case Against Corps (August 29, 2007)
A federal appeals court ruled this week that Louisiana's attorney general can't sue the Army Corps of Engineers on behalf of Hurricane Katrina victims who don't have lawyers. The ruling came on the day of the deadline for flood victims to file suit.
California attorney general strikes deal on global warming case (August 21, 2007)
The settlement calls for San Bernardino County to account for the effects its land-use decisions will have on the emissions blamed for global warming. The county is the largest by geographic size in the lower 48 states and is expected to add 1 million residents by 2030, for a total population of 3 million. AG Brown believes the settlement will exemplify ways for local government to combat global warming.
Miller works on foreclosure mediation plan (August 22, 2007)
AG Miller is crafting a plan to bring home buyers and lenders together to discuss ways they can make loan repayments more affordable. If successful, Iowa's program could be used by other states as a model to fight foreclosures.
Ads for alcoholic energy drinks draw fire from AGs (August 21, 2007)
Joined by attorneys general from 29 other states, Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe is spearheading an effort to stop alcohol manufacturers from making misleading health-related statements when advertising alcoholic drinks that contain caffeine and other stimulants. In aletter to the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, the attorneys general warned against the marketing tactics of alcoholic energy drinks that mimic the nonalcoholic energy drinks that are very popular with youth. The letter also warned that alcoholic energy drinks pose serious health and safety risks by causing intoxicated people to falsely believe that they can continue to drink and function normally.
Delaware AG Beau Biden to Be Deployed to Iraq (August 16, 2007)
Beau Biden, a Judge Advocate General in the Delaware National Guard and the state’s attorney general, is part of the 261st Signal Brigade that has been told to prepare for duty in Iraq in 2008. Biden’s father, Joe Biden, is a Democratic presidential candidate.
Cuomo Still Concerned About Physician Rankings (August 16, 2007)
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo sent letters to units of insurers Aetna Inc. and Cigna Corp., expressing concerns about their physician-ranking systems. Last month, AG Cuomo sent a similar letter to UnitedHealth Group Inc. In all of the cases, Cuomo raised concerns about the claims databases used in the programs to rank physicians, which his office believes does not include all relevant clinical data and can be too small to generate reliable rankings.
Vermont to Review Police Agencies’ Use of Nonlethal Force Following Stunning Incidents (August 11, 2007)
After two controversial incidents last month in which Vermont police used Tasers to subdue non-violent protestors, Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell said his office will conduct a statewide review of police agencies’ use of nonlethal force. AG Sorrell said the investigation will generate a statewide standard for police to follow when using bean bags, Tasers and other nonlethal weapons.
Dann Sues Foreclosure Rescue Companies (August 9, 2007)
Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann sued six foreclosure rescue companies that prey on Ohioans in danger of losing their homes. The companies solicited money from consumers, ranging from $450 to $10,000, assuring that they could save clients’ homes from foreclosure. The lawsuits accuse the companies of violating the Consumer Sales Practices Act, and also demand practitioners of foreclosure rescue to comply with the Debt Adjuster Act, requiring companies to have insurance, limit consulting fees, undergo annual audits and keep separate trust accounts for clients.
For more information on the home foreclosure crisis, visit our Predatory Lending page, replete with articles and resources that better explain the role state attorneys general are playing on this important issue.
Coakley Addresses Home Foreclosure Crisis (August 8, 2007)
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley proposed amendments to current mortgage broker and mortgage lender regulations to address recent deceptive tactics used in the mortgage industry. The proposals prohibit lenders from making loans they don’t think borrowers can repay, require borrowers who get “no-documentation loans” to sign statements disclosing their incomes, ban lenders from arranging any loan not in a borrower’s best interests, and stop lenders from steering borrowers into loans more costly than the cheapest ones a person qualifies for. AG Coakley noted that similar federal regulations are necessary to address financial institutions regulated at the federal level.
Colorado Pastor Charged with Defrauding Followers, AIG (August 8, 2007)
A prominent pastor accused of misrepresenting life insurance documents to benefit from deaths in his congregation was charged with theft and forgery by Attorney General John Suthers. Prosecutors contend Acen Phillips forged the documents to direct money to church groups he controlled and even showed up at funerals to invite family members to file a claim. The criminal complaint mirrors allegations from a previous suit from AIG Life Insurance Co. Phillips could face as many as 81 years in prison and as much as $5 million in fines if convicted on all counts.
County Commissioners Turn to AG to Protect Renowned Art Collection (August 6, 2007)
Montgomery County, PA commissioners are requesting Attorney General Tom Corbett use his “parens patriae” responsibility to protect the $3 billion Barnes Art Collection from a move to Philadelphia. The distinguished Barnes gallery contains one of the world’s great collections of French Impressionist paintings, and also includes extensive collections of old masters, sculpture, African Art, American painting and American Folk Art. The endowment left for the continuation of the foundation had been spent when a number of local nonprofits, led by the Pew Charitable Trust, the Lenfest Foundation and the Annenberg Foundation, agreed to cover the Foundation’s expenses if it arranged to move its collection to Philadelphia.
Related: The Charities Law Project of the State Attorneys General Program at Columbia Law School has recently been created to provide a resource to Attorneys General in fulfilling their charities enforcement responsibilities.
Blumenthal Wants Internet TV Regulated Like Cable (August 6, 2007)
Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal filed an emergency petition asking the Department of Public Utility Control to order AT&T to seek a cable license for its budding Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service. The petition states a recent U.S. District Court ruling classifies IPTV as cable television and, therefore, requires the company to obtain a state franchise for the service. AT&T, which already offers IPTV in select communities, had wanted to provide the service without state regulation and only in preferred areas.
Dann Issues Statement on Tort Reform Veto Decision (August 1, 2007)
After learning that the Ohio Supreme Court struck down Governor Ted Strickland’s veto of a bill that would prohibit law suits over lead paint on a technicality, AG Marc Dann issued a statement criticizing the decision. The legislation says paint manufacturers cannot be sued under the public nuisance laws many cities have used to try to force companies to help pay for the removal of lead-based paint in older homes. However, Governor Strickland vetoed the bill because he felt it unlawfully stripped consumers of the right to seek damages from the companies. In a heated dissent, Justice Paul Pfeifer accused the court majority of damaging the separation of powers in the state and rewriting the Ohio Constitution. The case is the latest in a developing series of victories for the paint industry, which has already won similar cases in New Jersey, Missouri and Wisconsin.
Abbott Files Lawsuit Against Security Company, Labor Union (July 24, 2007)
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott filed a lawsuit against a labor organization and an El Paso security company for unlawfully compelling workers to join a labor union. The lawsuit comes from a case involving an El Paso security guard who was fired last year for refusing to join a union or pay union fees. AG Abbott seeks to prevent the defendants from enforcing unlawful contractual provisions against employees who refuse to join a union or pay membership dues as a condition of employment.
Florida Attorney General Subpoenaing Calling Card Companies (July 23, 2007)
AG Bill McCollum is investigating marketing tactics in the prepaid calling card industry. Calling card marketing to individuals who don’t speak English and allegations that companies impose various fees, service charges and taxes immediately after the first call is made on a card are particularly important to AG McCollum.
McCollum Sues Panhandle Water System Company for Faking Water Test Results to Gain Sales (July 20, 2007)
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum filed a lawsuit against Avian Environmental Services that alleges the company made false reports during home water system inspections in order to sell their product. An investigation from McCollum’s office revealed the company purportedly used fabricated quotes from fraudulent experts in aggressive sales pitches and conducted phony tests that “detected” feces and chemicals in the existing water systems of consumers that were later invalidated. The Panhandle water system company faces potential fines of $10,000 per violation.
Humane Society to Pay Fine Following AG Investigation (July 18, 2007)
The Humane Society of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania recently reached an agreement with the Pennsylvania AG’s office to resolve allegations that it violated state charity, nonprofit and consumer protection laws from 2003 to 2006. The allegations against the Humane Society state the nonprofit organization violated the law by using terms in solicitation and promotional materials in a confusing and misleading manner, not disclosing certain fees, and failing to keep accurate books and records.
For more information on Attorneys General fulfilling their charities enforcement responsibilities, visit our Charities Law Project page.
Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon unveiled the Know MO website, a searchable database of consumer complaints. The database, accessible through AG Nixon’s website, is designed to help consumers make better informed decisions by notifying Missourians the date, number, and category of complaints against certain individuals or companies.
Oklahoma Attorney General Allows Counties to Hire Felons (July 3, 2007)
Attorney General Drew Edmondson issued an opinion that says counties can hire individuals with felony convictions on their record. Edmondson’s opinion extends to those still serving part of their sentence as long as the conviction did not occur while they were employed by the county.
Related Articles: Attornery General’s opinion would allow convicted felons to be employed by counties (Updated July 5, 2007)
Milgram Confirmed as New Jersey Attorney General, Realigns Office’s Priorities (Updated June 29, 2007; Originally Posted June 22, 2007)
Anne Milgram won unanimous confirmation as New Jersey’s new Attorney General. Milgram lists her top priorities as public corruption, gangs, consumer protection and homeland security. Milgram replaces Stuart Rabner, who recently won confirmation as chief justice of the state Supreme Court.
Kansas Attorney General Won’t Pursue Half of Predecessor’s Charges Against Abortion Doctor(June 27, 2007)
Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison will not pursue half of the charges filed by his predecessor, Phill Kline, against Dr. George Tiller, a physician who performs late-term abortions. Morrison, an abortion rights Democrat, accused Kline, an anti-abortion Republican, of acting unethically while prosecuting Tiller and cited significant flaws in the case.
New Mexico Attorney General Wants Explanation of State’s High Gas Prices(June 26, 2007)
New Mexico State Attorney General Gary King sent a letter to petroleum suppliers, distributors and retailers, asking them to explain why New Mexico’s gasoline prices are higher than the national average. King’s letter questions the role of refineries that supply the state and seeks a justification for disparities between gasoline and diesel practices.
Massachusetts Attorney General Office Trains Over 150 Attorneys to Provide Pro Bono Legal Services to Homeowners Facing Foreclosure (Press Release) (June 25, 2007)
In collaboration with several bar and advocacy groups, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office hosted a two-day training session for approx. 150 local attorneys to provide pro bono legal assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure. AG Coakley’s plan also includes a foreclosure hotline and emergency regulations to protect consumers.
