National Roundup

Ohio 5 health care plans join Medicaid lawsuit in Ohio COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A Franklin County judge has allowed five more health care plans to join a lawsuit challenging Ohio's preliminary Medicaid contract awards. Aetna Better Health of Ohio is suing the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services because state officials had tentatively picked the company for a Medicaid contract in April, then revoked the decision after a state review of applications. The Columbus Dispatch reports Common Pleas Judge Richard Sheward on Monday allowed winning bidders to intervene in the case, and he's expected to approve similar requests from two other health care plans that didn't win contracts. The judge has temporarily blocked the state from moving forward on Medicaid contracts. He has scheduled a July 23 hearing on Aetna's request for a permanent injunction. Colorado Lawsuit filed over Colorado medical marijuana rule DENVER (AP) -- Two Colorado Springs medical-marijuana dispensary owners have filed a lawsuit asking the state Department of Revenue to clarify rules on approval needed to begin growing plants for patients. Michael Kopta and Alvida Hillery are facing criminal prosecution after state officials alleged they were over their plant limits. According to the Denver Post, a spokeswoman with the Department of Revenue's Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division did not return messages for comment. Under Colorado law, dispensaries can grow six plants for every patient who qualifies. Illinois Retired judge sues over new health care charges SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- A retired judge is suing over a new law that will begin charging some state retires for health insurance. Gordon Maag is a retired appellate judge who lost when he ran as a Democrat against Republican Lloyd Karmeier for a seat on the Illinois Supreme Court from the 5th Judicial District in southern Illinois in 2004. The State Journal-Register reports that Maag wants the law declared unconstitutional. He's also asking that his lawsuit be declared a class-action on behalf of all retirees. Last month, Gov. Pat Quinn signed the law, which will eliminate reduced or even free health insurance for more than 80,000 retired government employees. Quinn said retirees deserve quality health care but the change was needed to make the system more cost-efficient for Illinois taxpayers. Wisconsin Federal judge dismisses Sandusky lawsuit MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A federal lawsuit filed by a man alleging that former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky sexually abused him during a Wisconsin Badgers home football game in 2002 has been dismissed by a judge who called the allegations frivolous and malicious. U.S. District Judge William Conley says in the order dated Friday that the allegations appear to come from Jonathan Lee Riches, who the judge says as "vexed the court system with thousands of frivolous lawsuits before his recent release from federal prison." The Wisconsin lawsuit was filed by someone claiming to be Jonathan Bollinger, cousin of former Badgers quarterback Brooks Bollinger. Conley ordered Riches to show by the end of the month why he should not be held in contempt of court. Massachusetts Feds: Bid to remove Bulger trial judge 'frivolous' BOSTON (AP) -- Former mobster James "Whitey" Bulger's request to remove the judge at his upcoming trial is "frivolous and unsubstantiated" and should be dismissed, federal prosecutors said Monday in a court filing. Their motion also calls "absurd" a related claim by Bulger's attorney that the one-time FBI informant shouldn't be prosecuted on charges he participated in 19 murders because the government promised him immunity for past and future crimes. Bulger's attorney J.W. Carney Jr. filed a motion last month to remove Judge Richard Stearns because he was a top federal prosecutor during a period when Bulger is accused of having committed crimes with impunity. The defense motion argued that the judge would do what he could to shield his former colleagues and could not be impartial. Carney said he might call the judge as a witness. Carney had said he would file a motion to dismiss the charges against Bulger, who's 82, because "a representative of the federal government" gave Bulger blanket immunity during the 1970s. A former Bulger cohort, who also was an FBI informant, used a similar defense, which was rejected by the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The cohort is serving a life sentence. Missouri Judge says Busch civil case stays in Cape Girardeau ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A judge has ruled that a wrongful death lawsuit against August Busch IV in the death of his former girlfriend will remain in a southeast Missouri court. Busch, the former chief executive of Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc., is being sued by the minor son of his girlfriend, Adrienne Martin, who died of a drug overdose at Busch's home in 2010. Busch has never been charged with any crime in her death. The lawsuit was originally filed in St. Louis County but then transferred to Cape Girardeau, home of the child's father, Dr. Kevin Martin, according to The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Kevin Martin's lawyer, John Heisserer, said the case should be moved out of the St. Louis area because of the potential for bias in favor of Busch. But Adrienne Martin's parents, Christine Trampler and Larry Eby, sought to have the case returned to St. Louis County, saying it was more convenient for most witnesses. Judge William Syler on Monday said the case would remain in Cape Girardeau. Maurice Graham, Busch's lawyer, also had argued against the move back to St. Louis. He said the venue decision had been made and should stand. Kevin Martin had agreed to settle the case for $1.5 million, but the settlement offer was stalled last year when Adrienne Martin's parents sought to join the lawsuit. Syler denied their request to intervene, but an appeals court overturned his decision. Busch was the last of a long line of Busch family members to run the beer company. Against his wishes, the maker of Budweiser, Bud Light and other beers was sold to Belgian brewer InBev in 2008. Busch's net worth isn't known, but he earned about $100 million from the sale and then began earning $120,000 a month as a consultant to InBev. Published: Wed, Jul 11, 2012