February 12, 2012

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Missouri consumers can seek a piece of $500 million LCD settlement

December 30, 2011 By

The Attorney General’s Office has reached a settlement with five companies it says were collaborating to hike prices on some popular electronic products.

Attorney General Chris Koster is the national co-chair of the antitrust committee of the National Association of Attorneys General.

Chris Koster’s office worked with counterparts in seven states and the U.S. Justice Department to file a suit in August 2010 against seven companies. He says two years of investigation went into that suit that lead to the settlement that so far totals over $500 million dollars.

The settlement has been filed in federal court in San Francisco and must be approved by the court. Litigation continues with two companies, Display Co., Ltd., AU Optronics Corporation.

The companies who have agreed to settle the suit are Chimei Innolux Corp., Chi Mei Optoelectronics USA, Inc., Chi Mei Optoelectronics Japan Co., Ltd, HannStar Display Corporation, Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Displays, Ltd., Hitachi Electronic Devices, USA, Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Samsung Electronics America, Inc., Samsung Semiconductor, Inc., Sharp Corporation, and Sharp Electronics Corporation.

Products that use LCD screens include computer monitors, notebook computers and televisions.

Consumers from Missouri and the seven other states that filed suit who bought products from those companies between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2006 can file a claim to the settlement money. Those who would like to be notified when that process begins are urged to e-mail the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, or write to it at P.O. Box 899, Jefferson City, Missouri, 65102 to provide an address. More information on how to file a claim will be available at the Attorney General’s website.

Koster says, “Now I recognize that a lot of people have lost their reciepts or never kept those reciepts, and we’re trying to work out a system with the court that recognizes that serial numbers and model numbers are going to have to suffice.”

No distribution will occur until the court approves the settlement and litigation is completed against the remaining two companies.

Filed Under: Business, Crime & Courts, Featured, News Tagged With: , , , , , ,

AG Koster pondering healthcare lawsuit (AUDIO)

February 18, 2011 By

Attorney General Chris Koster says he is taking seriously the legislature’s call for him to join the lawsuit against the federal health care law.

The House earlier this year approved HR 39, a resolution asking that the Attorney General either file an independent lawsuit or join the lawsuit filed by 20 other states against federal health care legislation. The main thrust of the lawsuits questions the legality of requiring Americans to buy health insurance. The resolution approved by the House also calls on Governor Nixon to urge the Attorney General to join the lawsuit and asks Missouri’s congressional delegation to vote to repeal the health care law.

Koster has told Missourinet affiliate KWIX that he expects to make a decision in the next few weeks about whether Missouri should join the legal challenge of the health care law. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Legislature, Politics & Government Tagged With:

AG reaches agreement with PSF on barn odor issue (AUDIO)

September 1, 2010 By

A huge hog producer in northern Missouri has been given two more years to resolve its odor problem. The Attorney General has reached an agreement with Premium Standard Farms to conclude a case dating back to 1999.

A July 31st deadline passed with Premium Standard Farms failing to install the odor-control equipment required by a 2004 agreement. Attorney General Chris Koster believes PSF will comply this time, because penalties will be assessed if it fails to do so.

“Now, no company is going to eat those kinds of penalties when the other option is simply to apply the modern technology to the barn as required,” Koster tells the Missourinet. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Agriculture, Politics & Government Tagged With:

Symposium over, review underway, Lake proposals coming (AUDIO)

August 25, 2010 By

A close examination of water quality at the Lake of the Ozarks has been completed. Now, the Attorney General’s office is pouring over testimony given during a two-day symposium.

Two days of testimony were given during a two-day symposium held at Tan-Tar-A resort at the Lake of the Ozarks. That testimony makes up about one thousand pages of transcripts. Some of the testimony was quite technical. It’s now being digested at the Attorney General’s office by experts in water quality regulations. The writing of a white paper to be delivered to the legislature is underway. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation, Politics & Government Tagged With:

Nixon awaits findings from Lake of Ozarks symposium (AUDIO)

August 18, 2010 By

A two-day symposium on water quality at the Lake of the Ozarks is over. Governor Nixon says any proposals he might push during next year’s legislative session will depend on what recommendations arise from that conference.

One question posed to the governor: is water quality at the Lake of the Ozarks truly a problem…or only perceived as a problem?

“I think there’s a little bit of both,” Nixon told reporters gathered at the conference. “I think that the number of people here and the stress on this eco-system is very real. On the other hand, we have now done a complete base-line survey. We have dealt with each of the 400 permittees and we have found some challenges there. Obviously, we you have over 100 that some sort of violation, that’s a challenge.”

Nixon says it’s unlikely any solutions will require more money from the legislature. He says local jurisdictions typically fund any infrastructure necessary. The Lake poses a problem, Nixon says, because of its size, spanning so many different counties. The legislature might be asked to help arrange a regional governmental structure to address any problems at the lake.

Nixon says no one is seeking to levy fines and mete out punishment.

“What we try to do is get solutions,” Nixon said. “We’re not trying, in essence, to put a trophy on the wall. What we’re trying to do is improve water quality and get systems that are going to continue to improve and protect that water quality.”

The attorney general, who sponsored the symposium, says he hopes to develop proposals as a result of the symposium for the legislature to consider.

AUDIO: Brent Martin reports [1:20 MP3]

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation, Politics & Government Tagged With: ,
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