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Philip Morris Takes Case to Supreme Court
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2010/02/19 10:01
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| pCigarette maker Philip Morris, a unit of Altria Group Inc., asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a landmark ruling that found the tobacco industry violated federal racketeering laws for deceiving the public about the dangers of smoking. /ppThe U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit last year affirmed most remedies that a trial judge imposed against tobacco companies in 2006, which included restrictions on tobacco marketing and a requirement that the industry make corrective public statements about the health effects and addictiveness of smoking. /ppThe appeals court ruled unanimously that there was ample evidence to conclude that the tobacco industry intended to deceive the public about the dangers of smoking. The court also said the government had adequately proved that the tobacco industry was likely to commit future violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, unless restrictions were imposed. /ppPhilip Morris, whose top brand is Marlboro, said the government is perverting the understanding of the racketeering law. /ppAbsent further review, the government will henceforth be free to pervert RICO into a device for evading the legislative process, penalizing and chilling public debate on scientific matters, and constraining constitutionally protected speech through vague and sweeping injunctions, Philip Morris said in its appeal. /ppOther companies targeted by the government include Camel-cigarette maker R.J. Reynolds, a unit of Reynolds American Inc., and Lorillard Inc. They are expected to file appeals to the Supreme Court./p |
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Prop 8 Attorneys Already Looking To Supreme Court
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2010/02/07 18:29
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| pLawyers in the Proposition 8 trial are keeping an eye on Washington as they draft papers for the federal judge in San Francisco. /ppThe two sides in the legal battle over California's ban on same sex marriage have two more weeks to tell Judge Vaughn Walker exactly how they'd like him to rule and why. As it is expected the federal lawsuit challenging the 2008 ballot initiative to ultimately be decided by the US Supreme court, attorneys are trying to ensure that they've built a case that will satisfy the nation's highest legal authority two years down the line. /ppThe way to get those judges' support, said Boies, is to build as strong a case as possible at the lower level. That's why one of his clients, plaintiff Jeff Zarrillo, feels it's so important to win this trial./p |
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Weight Watchers takes rival to court over ad
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2010/01/19 09:24
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pWeight Watchers International is suing rival weight-loss company Jenny Craig over ads it says are misleading and deceptive./ppWeight Watchers, based in New York, says in the suit that Jenny Craig is running ads that refer to a study comparing Weight Watchers current weight-loss program and Jenny Craig's pre-packaged meals system./ppBut Weight Watchers says no such study has been done and the claims in the ads are not supported by fact or science./ppThe lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court in New York City. It asks for an injunction and damages along with a ban of the ads.
/p |
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Ex-radio host pleads guilty in swindle
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2010/01/14 08:09
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| pFormer radio talk show host Gregg T. Rennie pleaded guilty in US District Court in Boston to charges related to a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme, and now faces up to up to 20 years in prison on each of 13 counts of securities fraud and one count of wire fraud./ppProsecutors said the 44-year-old Quincy resident stole at least $3.2 million from victims, including elderly retirees, a church congregation saving for a new building, and listeners of his radio show, “Your Money.’’/ppRennie told investors he could offer a guaranteed rate of return in risk-free federal housing certificates and annuities. But instead of investing the money, he used it to fund his expenses, prosecutors said. To conceal the fraud, Rennie made periodic payments to some victims, showed them prospectuses, and sent victims bogus invoices./p |
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Michael Jackson Cause of Death Updated
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2010/01/12 09:39
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pLos Angeles authorities have officially changed the death certificate belonging to late King of Pop, Michael Jackson to reflect an exact cause of death./ppUpdated due to the completion of a lengthy investigation, Jackson's cause of death has now been labeled a murder due to 'acute Propofol intoxication' via an 'intravenous injection from another'./ppJackson's original death certificate was filed July 7./ppWhile the official cause of death has been revealed, embattled Dr. Conrad Murray remains a free man./ppSources say the Jackson family, specifically Joe Jackson, still believe more than one person is responsible for the entertainer's death./ppJoe won't give up on getting justice for his son and a lawsuit is his focus, a source told Daily Mail./pp
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Guilty pleas in June standoff, shootout in ND
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2009/12/28 10:14
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| Four people involved in a June standoff in North Dakota that followed an Alabama prison break have pleaded guilty to charges including attempted murder, robbery and reckless endangerment.pJoshua Southwick, Angela Mink and her brother, Ashton Mink, entered pleas Tuesday./ppProsecutors say Ashton Mink's wife, Jacquelin, pleaded guilty last week./ppAuthorities say Angela and Jacquelin Mink helped the men escape from an Alabama prison in May. Southwick was serving time for murder and burglary; Mink for attempted murder./ppThe four are believed to have eluded authorities in at least seven states until a June 5 video store robbery in North Dakota. They fled, holed up in a nearby ranch outbuilding and were arrested after shootouts with law enforcement./p |
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Not guilty plea for first-round pick DE James
Headline Topics |
2009/11/16 09:50
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| pA not guilty plea has been entered for former Vikings first-round draft pick Erasmus James, who is charged with disorderly conduct in a Madison bar fight./ppJames was arrested last weekend after police says he lost his temper when a bartender refused to serve him after closing time. Police say James punched a friend in the face./ppThe 27-year-old James stood silently Thursday in Dane County Circuit Court and a not guilty plea was entered for him on the misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge./ppJames also is charged with felony battery. A hearing on that charge is scheduled for Nov. 30./ppAs conditions of his release, James isn't allowed to return to the bar or consume alcohol. James' attorney, Steve Mays, declined to comment./ppA former Wisconsin standout at defensive end, James played three injury-plagued seasons for the Vikings after being picked 18th overall in 2005. He was traded to Washington last year and played in five games before being cut in December./p |
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