Judge throws out LA deal for digitizing billboards AP (November 05, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - A judge overturned a settlement allowing major outdoor advertising companies to convert more than 800 billboards in Los Angeles into digital displays, but declined to revoke permits already granted for about 100 conversions.
Judge won't bar new federal tobacco marketing regs AP (November 05, 2009) RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A federal judge ruled Thursday that tobacco companies hoping to block new restrictions on their marketing have little chance of succeeding.
Court rules Tyson Foods to pay $250K in labor suit AP (November 05, 2009) BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - A federal court has ruled that Tyson Foods Inc. violated federal labor standards for not paying production line employees for the time it takes them to put on and remove protective and sanitary gear.
NY joins the antitrust effort against Intel AP (November 04, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - New York's attorney general hit Intel Corp. with an antitrust lawsuit Wednesday, claiming the company used "illegal threats and collusion" to dominate the market for computer microprocessors.
JPMorgan settlement with SEC worth over $700M AP (November 04, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - JPMorgan Chase & Co. has agreed to a settlement worth more than $700 million over federal regulators' charges that it made unlawful payments to friends of public officials to win municipal bond business in Jefferson County, Ala.
Court worries about stifling prosecutors AP (November 04, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed worried that allowing people to sue prosecutors who fabricate evidence to win convictions might chill other prosecutions - even if those prosecutors are doing their jobs correctly and honestly.
NY prosecutors ask billionaire's bail stay high AP (November 04, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Federal prosecutors in New York say a billionaire hedge fund manager charged in a $25 million insider trading case must remain held under a $100 million bail because he has the money and the incentive to flee.
Judge orders redaction of polygamist documents AP (November 03, 2009) ELDORADO, Texas (AP) - A Texas judge ordered Tuesday that a document showing a member of a polygamist sect had at least four wives who were pregnant or nursing at the same time should be excluded from his trial on charges of child sexual abuse.
Omnicare will settle kickback cases for $98M AP (November 03, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Omnicare Inc., which dispenses drugs to nursing homes and long-term care facilities, will pay $98 million to settle allegations it paid kickbacks to nursing homes to gain their business, and also received kickbacks for buying and recommending drugs.
Parties settle lawsuit in fatal Wyo. raft accident AP (November 03, 2009) CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Grand Teton Lodge Co. has settled a lawsuit over a 2006 rafting accident on the Snake River that killed three people.
Fla. sues online travel companies over hotel taxes AP (November 03, 2009) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The state of Florida is suing online travel reservation companies over hotel taxes, the latest in a string of lawsuits nationwide claiming the sites owe local authorities millions of dollars.
LA Clippers owner agrees to pay $2.725 million AP (November 03, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Los Angeles Clippers owner and real estate mogul Donald Sterling has agreed to pay a record $2.725 million to settle allegations by the government that he refused to rent apartments to Hispanics, blacks and to families with children, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.
Raided SC poultry plant mends hiring, avoids trial AP (November 03, 2009) COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A South Carolina poultry plant raided by immigration agents last year has agreed to change its hiring practices to avoid federal charges of knowingly employing illegal immigrants, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.
Court won't stop release of church documents AP (November 02, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court turned away another appeal to stop the release of documents generated for sexual abuse lawsuits against priests in a Roman Catholic diocese in Connecticut.
Appeals court: Detained Canadian cannot sue the US AP (November 02, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - A Canadian engineer cannot sue the United States after being mistaken for a terrorist when he was changing planes in New York a year after the 2001 terrorist attacks, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.
Polanski lawyer submits new bail offer to Swiss AP (November 02, 2009) PARIS (AP) - A French lawyer for Roman Polanski says he has submitted a new bail offer to a Swiss court to try to free the filmmaker from jail.
Whistleblower recounts money problems at Petters AP (November 02, 2009) ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The longtime aide of a businessman accused of operating a $3.65 billion Ponzi scheme is testifying that he was struggling to find new money and hold off nervous investors.
Court to decide if two-person Labor Board legal AP (November 02, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court said Monday it will decide whether two people can do the work of five when it comes to resolving labor-management disputes in the workplace.
Feds taking action against reverse mortgage lender AP (October 30, 2009) HONOLULU (AP) - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is taking action against a reverse mortgage lender in Hawaii.
Mo. benefits manager gets prison for embezzlement AP (October 30, 2009) ST. LOUIS (AP) - A former benefits manager for a union local in St. Louis County has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for embezzling $341,000 from the union's benefit plans.
15 states sue Amgen alleging kickback scheme AP (October 30, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Biotechnology behemoth Amgen Inc. is being sued by 15 states alleging the company gave kickbacks to medical providers to help boost sales of the anemia drug Aranesp.
Prosecutors: Madoff accountant to enter plea AP (October 30, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff's longtime auditor is expected to plead guilty next week in a cooperation deal, federal prosecutors told a judge Friday.
Ohio agency rules against former AG aide AP (October 30, 2009) COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation has ruled that a former top aide to fallen Attorney General Marc Dann committed attempted fraud.
Biker claims LA doc deliberately caused crash AP (October 30, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - A Los Angeles doctor accused of deliberately injuring two bicyclists by slamming on his car brakes is being sued by a rider who crashed through the rear window.
Massey settles age discrimination suit for $8.75M AP (October 30, 2009) CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - More than 200 miners who were not rehired after Massey Energy bought a bankrupt West Virginia mine have settled an age discrimination lawsuit against the Richmond, Va.-based coal producer for $8.75 million.
OSHA fines BP a record $87M for Texas refinery fix AP (October 30, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - The Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Friday imposed a record $87 million fine against oil giant BP PLC for failing to correct safety hazards after a 2005 explosion killed 15 workers at its Texas City refinery.
Ga. man who sought out Miley Cyrus gets plea deal AP (October 30, 2009) SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) - A 53-year-old man pleaded guilty Friday to resisting police outside the set of a Miley Cyrus movie on the Georgia coast after prosecutors dropped charges that he tried to stalk the teen pop star.
School sued for punishing teens over MySpace pix AP (October 30, 2009) INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Two sophomore girls have sued their Indiana school district after they were punished for posting sexually suggestive photos on MySpace during their summer vacation.
'Big Brother 9' winner held on federal drug charge AP (October 30, 2009) BOSTON (AP) - The winner of the CBS reality TV show "Big Brother 9" has been ordered held without bail on a federal drug charge.
Witness: Nanny says drugs provided by defendants AP (October 29, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - A nanny who worked for Anna Nicole Smith told an investigator the Playboy model's boyfriend and psychiatrist persuaded her to take drugs that left her sleeping for as long as three days, the investigator testified Thursday.
Calif. lawmakers support Polanski extradition AP (October 29, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - Fifteen California legislators have signed a letter supporting the extradition of Roman Polanski to Los Angeles to face his decades-old child sex conviction.
Va. university charges 2 students for reporting AP (October 27, 2009) HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) - Two university journalists face trespassing and disorderly conduct charges after entering a dorm to interview students.
Appeals panel dismisses Fla. Christian frat case AP (October 27, 2009) ATLANTA (AP) - A federal court has dismissed an appeal by a Christian fraternity that tried to force the University of Florida to recognize it as an official organization.
Balloon mom may have admitted hoax to protect kids AP (October 27, 2009) DENVER (AP) - Friends say the mother of the little boy at the center of the Colorado balloon case is devoted - even subservient - to her inventor husband and her kids, so why would she allegedly tell sheriff's deputies that the whole thing was a hoax?
Police: RI motorist drove with man in windshield AP (October 27, 2009) PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A motorist driving past a fender-bender struck three men standing on the side of a highway and drove more than a mile with one of them lodged in his windshield, police said.
2 NYC men accused of offering weapons to Hezbollah AP (October 27, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Two New York City men have been charged with trying to provide weapons, ammunition and vehicles to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Fed court: No drug money case against Fla. lawyer AP (October 27, 2009) ATLANTA (AP) - In a first of its kind ruling, a federal appeals panel has sided with a prominent Miami defense lawyer who was accused of a crime for giving advice to attorneys for an accused Medellin cocaine cartel kingpin.
Jury selection resumes in polygamist sect trial AP (October 27, 2009) ELDORADO, Texas (AP) - Jury selection has resumed in the first criminal trial stemming from the raid of a polygamist group's ranch in Texas last year.
Judge limits runaway convert's phone, Internet use AP (October 27, 2009) COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - An Ohio judge on Tuesday ordered the state to supervise the telephone and Internet use of a teenage girl who says she ran away to Florida because she feared her father would harm or kill her for converting from Islam to Christianity.
ACORN, former official due in court in Nevada case AP (October 27, 2009) LAS VEGAS (AP) - Lawyers for the political advocacy group ACORN and a former supervisor say they'll plead not guilty to charges that they illegally paid canvassers to register Nevada voters during last year's presidential campaign.
Jackson doctor says he can't pay child support AP (October 23, 2009) LAS VEGAS (AP) - The doctor being investigated in Michael Jackson's death told a court he can't afford to pay $13,000 in child support and other debts because he was forced to close his medical practice after physical threats against him and his staff, according to court documents obtained Friday.
Criminal charges dismissed against Kanye West AP (October 23, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - A court commissioner on Friday dismissed criminal charges against Kanye West and his road manager stemming from their scuffle with photographers last year.
Agents detail prescription record in Smith hearing AP (October 23, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - Investigators are testifying about prescription and travel records of two defendants in a drug case involving Anna Nicole Smith.
Lawsuits filed in NY over Tavern on the Green name AP (October 23, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - New York City's famed Tavern on the Green restaurant is at the center of a legal battle over who owns its name.
US files Polanski extradition request in sex case AP (October 23, 2009) GENEVA (AP) - The United States has asked Switzerland to hand over Roman Polanski to authorities in California, where he could serve up to two years in prison for having sex in 1977 with a 13-year-old girl, Swiss authorities said Friday.
Some ex-workers object to Kodak settlement offer AP (October 23, 2009) ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) - A group of former Eastman Kodak Co. workers objected Friday to a proposed $21.4 million deal to settle two lawsuits by black employees who maintain they were paid and promoted less than white counterparts.
State Department employee accused of taking bribes AP (October 20, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal authorities have arrested a State Department employee suspected of taking tens of thousands of dollars in bribes and kickbacks on contracts for Iraq reconstruction work.
Justice says scientist tried to share US secrets AP (October 20, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - A scientist who allegedly tried to sell classified secrets to Israel had worked on the U.S. government's Star Wars missile shield program, and the Justice Department declared Tuesday that he had tried to share some of the nation's most guarded secrets.
Calif. man pleads guilty in Swiss bank case AP (October 20, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - A California man on Tuesday formally pleaded guilty to failing to report more than $1 million he transferred to a Swiss bank account.
'Big Brother 9' champ accused of selling oxycodone AP (October 20, 2009) BOSTON (AP) - The ninth-season winner of the reality TV show "Big Brother" told a federal agent that he used his $500,000 prize to buy thousands of oxycodone pills and resell them, authorities said.
Man accused in death of 'Housewives' regular free AP (October 20, 2009) ATLANTA (AP) - A strip club worker accused of beating to death the ex-fiance of a "Real Housewives of Atlanta" cast member has been freed on bond.
Feds worried about Blagojevich TV appearance AP (October 20, 2009) CHICAGO (AP) - Prosecutors said Monday they are worried about what ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich might say on Donald Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice" TV show that could taint the jury pool for his federal corruption trial.
Psychiatrist details Anna Nicole's drug addiction AP (October 20, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - A psychiatrist who treated Anna Nicole Smith for drug dependency during her pregnancy said she tried to set up a program to wean her off prescription painkillers but found the celebrity model uncooperative and hostile during her stay in the hospital.
Jury set to decide Travolta extortion case AP (October 20, 2009) NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) - Lawyers for an ambulance driver and a former politician accused of trying to extort millions from John Travolta urged jurors Tuesday to clear their clients, accusing the actor's attorneys of setting them up.
Imams settle lawsuit over removal from 2006 flight AP (October 20, 2009) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Six imams taken off a 2006 US Airways flight after passengers reported what they considered suspicious behavior have settled their discrimination lawsuit, saying they considered it acknowledgment that their removal was a mistake.
Justice blocks names in gay rights ballot measure AP (October 19, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy has temporarily blocked Washington state officials from releasing the names of people who signed a ballot measure on gay rights.
NYC judge tosses suit against Biden's son, brother AP (October 19, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - A judge has thrown out a lawsuit against Vice President Joe Biden's youngest son and brother over their 2006 purchase of a hedge fund firm, saying an investor failed to be specific enough in claiming that they underhandedly shoehorned him out of the deal.
Judge refuses to block Chris Rock film AP (October 19, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - A federal judge has refused to halt the release of the Chris Rock film "Good Hair."
IBM puts executive on leave after charges AP (October 19, 2009) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - IBM Corp. put a top executive on leave Monday after he was charged in an insider trading scandal for allegedly leaking secrets about IBM's earnings and financial dealings with corporate partners.
Scientist who worked for gov't accused of spying AP (October 19, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - A scientist credited with helping discover evidence of water on the moon was arrested Monday on charges of attempting to pass along classified information to an FBI agent posing as an Israeli intelligence officer.
Flyer advocate says Delta obtained hacked e-mails AP (October 13, 2009) ATLANTA (AP) - A passenger rights advocate accused Delta Air Lines Inc. in a federal lawsuit Tuesday of conspiring with a Virginia company to obtain hacked e-mails from her computer to help them derail her efforts to protect air travelers from lengthy tarmac delays and other inconveniences.
Defendants in Anna Nicole Smith case face hearing AP (October 12, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - Two doctors and the lawyer-boyfriend of Anna Nicole Smith are due in court to hear what government witnesses have to say about their alleged roles in supplying drugs that killed the celebrity model.
Carly Simon sues Starbucks over album deal AP (October 12, 2009) SEATTLE (AP) - Singer Carly Simon is suing Starbucks Corp., saying the coffee company's now-defunct music venture didn't adequately promote her 2008 album, dooming the record before it was even released.