Chris Rizo News
Leading Republican senator questions Kagan nomination
Cornyn (R-Texas) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)�U.S. Sen. John Cornyn on Tuesday questioned the experience of President Barack Obama's pick this week to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Obama expected to nominate Kagan to Supreme Court
Kagan WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-President Barack Obama later today is widely expected to announce his nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court.
BP pledges to forgo liability releases
Caldwell (D-La.) BATON ROUGE, La. (Legal Newsline)-The top U.S. lawyer for BP said Friday that the energy company will not seek to prevent lawsuits related to its oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the Louisiana attorney general announced.
Lawyers 'working around the clock' on cases against BP
Coon AUSTIN (Legal Newsline)-Litigation arising out of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico will undoubtedly provide trial lawyers with countless cases and stacks of money in attorney fees.
Gulf State AGs meet to talk strategy over BP oil spill
Abbott AUSTIN(Legal Newsline)-A group of five state attorneys general, including Texas AG Greg Abbott, have formed the bipartisan Gulf States Coalition to coordinate their legal efforts to the increasing oil spill spreading off their coastlines.
Trial lawyers have new leader
Lipsen WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-The U.S. trial lawyer lobby this week got a new leader, capping the American Association for Justice's year-long search for an administrator.
Referendum on Calif. greenhouse law appears headed for voters
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)-California voters will likely be asked in the November general election if the state's greenhouse gas law should be put on hold for rosier economic times, a postponement the Democratic frontrunner for attorney general, Kamala Harris, said Monday would be a colossal mistake.
Congressman seeks GAO probe of asbestos trusts
Smith WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, the leading Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, on Thursday asked the director of the Government Accountability Office to investigate the secrecy behind trusts created to pay asbestos-related claims against bankrupt companies.
AstraZeneca to pay $520 million over Seroquel marketing
Holder WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-AstraZeneca PLC, the U.K.'s second-largest drug maker, has agreed to pay $520 million to settle claims it improperly marketed its blockbuster anti-psychotic drug Seroquel, officials said Tuesday.
Obama to hold bipartisan meeting on Supreme Court vacancy
Obama (D) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-U.S. President Barack Obama next week is scheduled to meet with key leaders in the U.S. Senate to discuss the upcoming retirement of Associate Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, the White House said.
Breyer: Obamacare faces Supreme Court review
Breyer WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-Legal challenges to the national health care overhaul signed last month by President Barack Obama will be heard eventually by the U.S. Supreme Court, Associate Justice Stephen Breyer predicted Thursday.
Stevens to leave U.S. Supreme Court
Stevens WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens announced Friday he will retire from the bench this summer, after serving 34 years on the nation's highest court.
Yoo: Health care law a government 'intrusion'
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-The controversial insurance mandate outlined in the new national health care law marks the federal government's "greatest intrusion" into society, a former Bush administration Justice Department official said.
Trial lawyers' group claims victory
Tarricone WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-The leader of the nation's trial lawyer lobby, Anthony Tarricone, is taking a victory lap over the health care overhaul signed last week by U.S. President Barack Obama.
Calif. AG candidate takes aim at Texas oil companies
Kamala Harris (D) SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)-A leading Democratic candidate for California attorney general is calling on her rivals to publicly oppose two out-of-state oil companies' efforts to repeal California's landmark greenhouse law.
AG Caldwell back in the national spotlight
Caldwell (D) BATON ROUGE, La. (Legal Newsline)-Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell is back in the national spotlight for the second time this year, capturing headlines across the nation.
Texas AG asked about use of forfeiture funds
Abbott (R) AUSTIN (Legal Newsline)-Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has been asked to issue an opinion on whether a county attorney may use forfeiture funds to pay a private law firm for representation in a civil lawsuit.
Republican AGs plan to sue over health care bill
Jon Bruning (R-Neb.) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-A group of at least a dozen Republican state attorneys general plan to file a lawsuit Tuesday, challenging the constitutionality of the health care reform passed by Congress.
Louisiana courts, judges get failing marks
BATON ROUGE, La. (Legal Newsline)-Louisiana has the second most unfair courts in the nation, a survey released today of top corporate lawyers and business executives indicates.
Texas legal environment improves, survey shows
AUSTIN (Legal Newsline)-The legal climate in Texas has improved over the past seven years but Beaumont is still getting negative national attention, a survey released today of top corporate lawyers and business executives shows.