Foreclosure Prevention and Legal Assistance to Homeowners Programs to Benefit

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced that Maine has received the state portion of settlement funds from the landmark $25 billion joint federal-state agreement over foreclosure abuses, fraud and unacceptable nationwide mortgage servicing practices.

The state received a direct payment of $6.9 million for continued funding of state foreclosure prevention programs, legal assistance to homeowners in foreclosure, and compensation to the state?s general fund.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced that Ryan J. Byther, age 36, of Scarborough, was sentenced yesterday for stealing $50,000 from the American Legion Post 56 of York. York County Superior Court Justice O?Neil sentenced Byther to five years of incarceration with all but six months suspended; three years of probation; and restitution in the amount of $50,000.

After a two day trial last February, a jury returned a guilty verdict on a one-count indictment that charged Byther with Class B Theft by Deception.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced today that Maine has received payment of more than $1.1 million in a nationwide settlement with pharmaceutical manufacturer Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (Merck) involving allegations of off-label marketing and failure to disclose potential adverse health effects of the painkiller Vioxx.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced today that Maine reached a settlement with Skechers USA, Inc., the makers of Shape-Ups, Tone-Ups and the Skechers Resistance Runner athletic shoes, to resolve allegations that the company made unsubstantiated health claims about its rocker-bottom products.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced that David M. Stain, 46, of Lewiston, pled guilty to two counts of Class C theft and was sentenced yesterday for stealing Food Stamps and Public Assistance Benefits in the amount of $11,001.

Case resolves company?s wrongful marketing of prescription drug Depakote

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General Schneider and the attorneys general of 44 other states and the District of Columbia today announced a $100 million settlement with Abbott Laboratories over allegations of illegal off-label marketing of its Depakote drug.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider, 650 students from schools throughout Maine and the Portland Sea Dogs will celebrate ?Diversity Day? at Hadlock Field tonight. The students are members of civil rights teams working with the Maine Civil Rights Team Project to increase school safety and reduce the incidence of bias-motivated harassment and violence.

NASCAR Driver Kasey Kahne Featured in New Public Service Announcements to Encourage Young Drivers to Leave the Risky Driving to the Professionals

AUGUSTA ? Sixty percent of young adult drivers ages 16 to 24 said they have texted while driving, according to a national survey released by the Ad Council.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced that a complaint was filed on April 24, 2012 in Androscoggin County Superior Court under the Maine Civil Rights Act against Ronald Champagne, age 50, of Turner.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider joined state workers and retirees today in collecting prescription drugs as part of this week?s National Prescription Drug Take Back effort. Attorney General Schneider asked capital area state employees to ?lead the way? in safely disposing of unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Collection sites, attended by Capitol Police and Maine Drug Enforcement Administration officers, were available at the Eastside Wellness Center and outside the west entrance to the Statehouse.