Maryland

BALTIMORE, MD (March 18, 2008) -- Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that the Ameridel Investment Corporation T/A Delta Property Management, located at 205 East 28th Street in Baltimore has been convicted in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City with illegally submitting a false lead certificate to the Maryland Department of the Environment. Judge Timothy J. Doory imposed a fine of $30,000 of which $20,000 was suspended, five years probation, and ordered the company to cooperate with the Maryland Department of the Environment’s Lead Program.

In addition, the company must pay the costs of bringing all properties owned or managed by the company or Gedeon Thomadis into full compliance with lead paint risk reduction requirements.    » read more »

BALTIMORE, MD (March 18, 2008) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler today filed suit against Abbott Laboratories and French drug company Fournier Industrie et Sante alleging that the firms violated state and federal antitrust laws by delaying the availability of cheaper, generic versions of TriCor, a cholesterol drug which last year accounted for over one billion dollars of Abbott’s sales.    » read more »

CVS/Caremark to Pay More Than $800,000 to Maryland’s Medicaid Program

BALTIMORE, MD (March 18, 2008) – Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler today announced a $36.7 million federal and multistate settlement with CVS/Caremark Corporation to resolve allegations of improper billing. The payment, of which Maryland’s Medicaid Program will receive $830,490, resolves claims that CVS violated state and federal statutes and regulations by switching dosage forms of ranitidine, an antacid medication commonly prescribed for Medicaid patients.    » read more »

March 15, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Staff Sgt.Collin J. Bowen, 38, of Millersville, Maryland, died March 14 at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, of wounds suffered Jan. 2 in Khowst Province, Afghanistan, when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment, Maryland Army National Guard, Towson, Md.

Source: DoD

Community Legacy Awards Will Enhance Maryland’s Quality of Life; Dundalk Renaissance Corporation to receive $215,000

BALTIMORE, MD (March 13, 2008) – Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley today announced funding that would stimulate reinvestment in and revitalize Maryland’s historic and Main Street communities. Standing at Veterans Park, in the heart of the Dundalk commercial center, Governor O’Malley announced $7 million in Community Legacy awards for 73 projects across the State.    » read more »

Bay bacterium discovery could turn waste products into Ethanol

COLLEGE PARK, MD (March 10, 2008) – Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley today joined a crowd of University of Maryland scientists and students in College Park to announce the discovery of a bacterium that could lead to the production of 75 billion gallons a year of carbon-neutral ethanol.    » read more »

BALTIMORE, MD (March 11, 2008) – Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler today announced the conviction of Tammy D. Smith and Anthony H. Smith, husband and wife, both of Huntshire Road in Randallstown on nine counts of felony Medicaid fraud and nine counts of felony theft. Each count of theft carries a maximum sentence of 15 years and each count of Medicaid fraud caries a maximum sentence of five years incarceration. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.    » read more »

Joins Over 200 Environmentalists in Lawyer’s Mall; Highlights Environmental Initiatives

ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 5, 2008) – Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley today joined over 200 environmentalists, advocates and community and business leaders from across the State today at a rally in support of legislation and actions that would combat global climate change, help protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay, and protect our environment.    » read more »

National Consumer Protection Week, March 2 - 8

BALTIMORE, MD (March 4, 2008) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler released the top five Maryland consumer complaints from 2007 to highlight the importance of financial literacy during National Consumer Protection Week. The Consumer Protection Division (CPD) was able to acquire more than $4 million for consumer reimbursements and received 15,661 complaints in 2007. The CPD works to mediate disputes between consumers and businesses such as car dealers, repair shops, landlords or debt collectors.    » read more »

Environmental Agenda “Most Forward Thinking in Last 20 Years”

ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 3, 2008) – Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley today outlined new initiatives to begin restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay, and the need for a strengthened critical area law. Standing on the beach in front of the Phillip Merrill Environmental Center in Annapolis, Governor O’Malley was joined by Kim Coble, Maryland Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Brad Heavner, State Director of Environment Maryland, among other business, community, and environmental leaders.    » read more »

Lawsuit Seeks to Ensure BGE Customers Receive the Credits Owed to Them Under Maryland Law

BALTIMORE, MD (February 29, 2008) – Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler and Governor Martin O’Malley today announced the State has filed suit in Baltimore City Circuit Court against Constellation Energy Group (Constellation) and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) and Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant (Calvert Cliffs).    » read more »

February 22, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

They died Feb. 20 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device in Baghdad on Feb. 19.

They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Killed were:

Sgt. Conrad Alvarez, 22, of Big Spring, Texas.

Cpl. Albert Bitton, 20, of Chicago, Illinois.    » read more »

ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 29, 2008) -- Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley today announced that the state has joined the states of Maine, New Jersey and Oklahoma to legally challenge federal regulations that, if implemented, could affect as many as 200,000 Medicaid beneficiaries in Maryland.

The regulations, promulgated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), will alter every case management service offered by the State. Approximately $66 million per year in federal Medicaid payments to the State are in jeopardy.    » read more »

BALTIMORE, MD (February 8, 2006) – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia today vacated two Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules that failed to follow the requirements of the Clean Air Act. Maryland, along with 18 states or state agencies and the City of Baltimore sued the EPA last year for illegally exempting power plants from Clean Air Act regulations that set strict standards for hazardous air pollutants, including mercury.    » read more »

February 10, 2008 -- ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced the endorsement of additional Maryland Republican Party leaders.

"Republican leaders from across Maryland are supporting John McCain for President," said Delegate Anthony O'Donnell, Minority Leader of the Maryland House of Delegates. "John McCain has the conservative record to lead our unified Party and defeat Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama in November."    » read more »