John O'Brien News
Courts submit budget cuts to Gov. Manchin
Davis CHARLESTON - The West Virginia courts system will continue to reduce its budget by $2 million, Supreme Court Chief Justice Robin Davis said Wednesday.
Eighth Circuit says no to W.Va. class action
Murphy ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) - A three-judge panel of federal appellate judges will not allow a class action against Bayer Corp. to proceed in a state court in West Virginia.
McGraw objects to Honda class action settlement
McGraw RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw is one of 25 AGs who are objecting to a proposed class action settlement with Honda that would allow attorneys to pocket $3 million while providing small refunds and DVDs on saving gas to consumers.
Hellhole report sparks debate
Heath CHARLESTON -- As usual, West Virginia's place in the annual "Judicial Hellholes" report released Tuesday by the American Tort Reform Foundation was met with widely differing reactions.
W.Va. drops a spot, still the No. 2 'Judicial Hellhole'
WASHINGTON -- The American Tort Reform Foundation was less critical of West Virginia's legal system this year, but still ranked it as the No. 2 Judicial Hellhole in the country in its annual report released Tuesday.
South Florida is top 'Judicial Hellhole'
ATRF President Sherman Joyce WASHINGTON -- South Florida is again the country's most plaintiffs-friendly jurisdiction, according to the American Tort Reform Foundation's annual "Judicial Hellholes" report, released Tuesday.
Wal-Mart, others claim McGraw's lawsuit is a class action
McGraw CHARLESTON -- West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw and a group of prescription drug retailers are debating how the federal law regarding class action lawsuits pertains to actions brought by state attorneys general.
Caperton asks W.Va. SC to reconsider $50M ruling
Blankenship CHARLESTON -- Faced with his third disappointing decision from the state Supreme Court, Harman Mining owner Hugh Caperton is asking the court to reconsider its latest.
Workman files stinging dissent in $50M case
Workman CHARLESTON -- The lone dissenter in the controversial $50 million case heard three times by the state Supreme Court has harsh words for the majority.
Drug stores: McGraw's 'hunch' is off
McGraw CHARLESTON -- Prescription drug store chains sued by state Attorney General Darrell McGraw are alleging that his lawsuit is based on nothing more than "an erroneous hunch."
Appeals Board: McGraw wasn't representing West Virginians
McGraw CHARLESTON -- In penalizing the State of West Virginia $2.7 million, a federal appeals board also recently wrote that state Attorney General Darrell McGraw was not representing individual citizens when he sued OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma.
Workman: Former justice's e-mails should be released
Workman CHARLESTON - State Supreme Court Justice Margaret Workman has filed her dissent in a public records case, arguing that 13 e-mails written by former Justice Spike Maynard should have been released to the public.
McGraw's OxyContin case causes $2.7M Medicaid hole
McGraw WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The federal government has taken more than $2.7 million from the State of West Virginia's Medicaid program because of a settlement engineered by state Attorney General Darrell McGraw.
Massey victorious as controversial $50M case comes to end in W.Va.
Blankenship CHARLESTON -- For a third time, the West Virginia Supreme Court has overturned a $50 million verdict in a case that called into question when a justice should recuse himself or herself.
Obama pick confirmed for 4th Circuit
Obama RICHMOND - President Barack Obama's pick for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Wis. SC: Contributions shouldn't spark judicial recusal
Benjamin MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin Supreme Court has decided not to force judicial recusal standards on its justices in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision.
Former Ariz. chief justice lauds merit selection process
McGregor WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- The State of Arizona's process for selecting its judges was hailed as the nation's finest by the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform at its summit, and former Chief Justice Ruth McGregor agreed.
Blogging attorneys warn drug companies in W.Va.
Herrmann CHARLESTON - A state Supreme Court decision ignoring 47 other jurisdictions is at the center of a new blog post by a pair of attorneys who say prescription drug companies should think twice about doing business in West Virginia.
N.Y. settlement could affect West Virginians
Cuomo CHARLESTON - A group of settlements reached by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo will provide $665,000 to consumers nationwide.
FOIA problem likely over soon in AG King's CMS case
King MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - Alabama Attorney General Troy King's dispute with the federal Medicaid agency over a Freedom of Information Act request may soon be resolved.