| Road Funding Scheme Under Attack
Transportation-funding legislation passed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly and signed into law by Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine is under fire on several fronts as opponents to various provisions have begun filing lawsuits.After several years of squabbling about whether additional money is needed for the state road and transit system and how to provide that money, a group of Republicans laid the groundwork for the transportation funding package and Kaine made adjustments that appeared to satisfy state lawmakers as well as local elected officials before it was enacted. However, as the law has been analyzed, opponents identified new concerns and some judges have refused to implement some provisions.Two specific areas of the legislation have been targeted: one that allows the assessment of abusive driver fees as high as $3,000 in addition to criminal fines, with the fees going to statewide transportation projects; and the other that allows regional authorities in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads to impose taxes to be used on regional transportation projects.Battles are being waged from multiple avenues.Last month, as promised, the Loudoun Board of Supervisors filed a brief in Arlington County Circuit Court challenging the constitutionality of the tax-raising authority of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.Last week, a Henrico General District Court judge rejected the constitutionality of the abusive driving fees.
Court: Cash advances violate law
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- A payday lending business violated Pennsylvania consumer law by providing loans of as much as $500 to people in return for 6 percent interest plus a $150 monthly fee, a state court ruled Tuesday. A Commonwealth Court panel agreed with the Banking Department's claim that fees charged by Advance America Cash Advance Centers exceeded limits of the state's Consumer Discount Company Act.
The Banking Department sued Advance America's parent company, NCAS of Delaware LLC, in September, three months after the company began offering the loan product.
The lawsuit called Advance America's $150 "monthly participation fee" an illegal and usurious sham.
The opinion issued Tuesday prevents Advance America from continuing to lend money or "collecting on lines of credit or loans currently outstanding in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania pursuant to the" violations of state law.
Student loan holders sue to block building plan
A lawsuit by student loan recipients seeks to block Gov. Matt Blunt's $350 million plan to finance college construction projects by taking money from the state's student loan authority.
The lawsuit against the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority claims the agency is violating both its state-mandated mission and its fiduciary duty to students by allowing its money to go to buildings instead of better deals for its borrowers.The lawsuit filed Thursday asks a Cole County judge to issue an injunction barring the loan agency and its board of directors from financing the building plan and to declare it illegal. A law authorizing the deal is set to take effect Aug. 28.The loan agency already has sold off hundreds of millions of dollars worth of loans made to non-Missourians in anticipation of transferring money to the state.
Deal ends library suit Ex-director fought firing
A former deputy director at Greenwich Library has won an undisclosed amount of money by settling a federal lawsuit that claims town employees violated her civil rights.
Greenwich paid 64-year-old Inga Boudreau $25,000 to settle the suit she brought against the town, Greenwich Library, the library's Board of Trustees and three library officials, according to Roland Geiger, the town's budget director. The suit charges those defendants with breach of contract, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
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Ice cream chain falls behind on rent
Low sales and a failure to pay more than $11,000 in rent and fees resulted in the closure of Cold Stone Creamery at Arrowhead Parkway, owners say.
A civil lawsuit was filed July 20 against Cold Stone, which was located at Arrowhead Parkway for about 18 months, said Samuel Assam, lawyer for Arrowhead Ridge I.
Cold Stone closed in February and paid rent until June 1, Assam said. No money after June 1 has been paid, and Arrowhead has been trying to regain control of the property before reletting it.
Owner Ed Reesman declined to comment, except to say the store has been closed and they have dealt with lawyers. They also operate a Cold Stone Creamery on Shirley Avenue. "We have no plans to close other stores," he said.
The ice cream chain has removed supplies from the property but has not returned keys, Assam said.
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