News Releases

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that Ohio has joined with 42 other states and the federal government in reaching an agreement with Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. to settle civil and criminal allegations that Merck marketed its drug Vioxx for uses not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), misrepresented the cardiovascular safety issues relating to the drug, and otherwise made false and misleading representations about Vioxx.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced his support for legislation which would create a statewide Blue Alert system in Ohio to assist in cases where law enforcement have been injured or killed in the line of duty. Attorney General DeWine was joined at a news conference announcing the legislation by bill sponsor, State Senator Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville), and State Senator Tom Patton (R-Strongsville), whose son was a Cleveland Heights Police Officer who died in the line of duty in 2010.

Former Delaware County Commissioner Todd Hanks pled guilty today in Delaware County Municipal Court to Ethics Law violations. Bradford Tammaro, of the Ohio Organized Crime Investigation Commission, and Paul Nick, Executive Director of the Ohio Ethics Commission, were appointed as Special Prosecutors in the case.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today unveiled a bold new "Crimes Against Children Initiative," a comprehensive plan to protect Ohio's children from sexual predators.

A hearing examiner today issued a recommendation that the medical license of Dr. James E. Lundeen Sr. be permanently revoked. The hearing examiner found that Lundeen was overprescribing medication to patients at his offices in Portsmouth and Plymouth. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's Office has been involved in the investigation and represented the Ohio State Medical Board at the license hearing.

Attorney General Mike DeWine and 34 other Attorneys General, along with the San Francisco City Attorney, have filed comments responding to the Federal Trade Commission's proposed settlement with Phusion Projects, LLC regarding its deceptive marketing of the flavored malt beverage "Four Loko" in super-sized 12 percent alcohol/23.5-ounce cans.

Attorney General Mike DeWine today praised the indictments and arrests made in the case of the death of 14-year-old Makayla Norman, who had cerebral palsy and was under medical care. Her death was ruled a homicide by the Montgomery County Coroner's Office.

On November 16, 2011, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine testified before committees of the Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Senate on companion bills calling for the adoption of tougher laws dealing with cyber fraud that would give the Attorney General's Office authority to investigate cyber fraud crimes and prepare cases for local prosecution.

On November 16, 2011 Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced the filing of a lawsuit against Cleveland-based retailer Northeast Electronics, Inc. for multiple violations of Ohio consumer law.
 

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Ohio EPA Director Scott Nally today announced an agreement has been reached with Heartland Petroleum to temporarily shutdown its Columbus petroleum product refinery until previously court ordered emissions control systems can be installed. A Journal Entry and Order was filed today in Franklin County Environmental Court by Judge Harland Hale ordering the shutdown.