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Daily Archives: May 22, 2009

Court Ruling in the Matter of United States v. the Council for Tobacco Research-USA, et al

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United States v. the Council for Tobacco Research-USA, et al. Appellate Ruling, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, May 22, 2009

  • “Defendants in this action, cigarette manufacturers and trade organizations, appeal from the district court’s judgment finding them liable for conducting the affairs of their joint enterprise through a pattern of mail and wire fraud in a scheme to deceive American consumers. They also appeal from the district court’s remedial order, which imposes numerous negative and affirmative duties on Defendants. The government and intervenors cross-appeal from the district court’s denial of additional requested remedies. After considering all of the parties’ arguments, we affirm in large part the finding of liability, remanding only for dismissal of the trade organizations. We also largely affirm the remedial order, including the denial of additional remedies, but vacate the order with regard to four discrete issues, remanding for further proceedings as directed in this opinion.”

    • White House Fact Sheet: Reforms to Protect American Credit Card Consumers

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    Fact Sheet: “Today, President Obama signs the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009, marking a turning point for American consumers and ending the days of unfair rate hikes and hidden fees. Americans need a healthy flow of credit in our economy, but for too long credit card contracts and practices have… Continue Reading

    New GAO Reports: End-Stage Renal Disease, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Contractors

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    End-Stage Renal Disease: CMS Should Monitor Effect of Bundled Payment on Home Dialysis Utilization Rates, GAO-09-537, May 22, 2009 Federal Transit Administration: Progress and Challenges in Implementing and Evaluating the Job Access and Reverse Commute Program, GAO-09-496, May 21, 2009 Federal Contractors: Better Performance Information Needed to Support Agency Contract Award Decisions, GAO-09-374, April 23,… Continue Reading

    Treasury OIG: OTS Involvement With Backdated Capital Contributions by Thrifts

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    OIG-09-037 – Safety and Soundness: OTS Involvement With Backdated Capital Contributions by Thrifts, May 21, 2009 We reviewed the circumstances surrounding the backdating of capital contributions to prior periods at six thrifts and concluded that the backdating of these transactions was inappropriate for all six thrifts. For one thrift, the OTS Senior Deputy Director directed… Continue Reading

    DOD OIG: Afghanistan Security Forces Fund Phase III, Accountability for Weapons Distributed to Afghanistan National Army

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    D-2009-075 Afghanistan Security Forces Fund Phase III-Accountability for Weapons Distributed to the Afghanistan National Army, May 21, 2009 (Project No. D2007-D000LQ-0161.005) We identified material internal control weaknesses in accounting for weapons provided to the Afghanistan National Army (ANA). Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A( did not have a formal process in place to transfer weapons to… Continue Reading

    Economist: The world's best banks – A short list

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    As the dust starts to settle, which banks deserve the most plaudits?: “After months of indiscriminate fear, widespread losses and government hand-holding, the banking industry is gradually stabilising. Money markets are steadily calming. American banks that got a clean bill of health in this month’s stress tests are queuing up to repay government money. A… Continue Reading