State to get $1.8 million in settlements

CARSON CITY -- In the midst of the state's fiscal crisis there emerged a bit of good news Wednesday: Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto said her office has collected about $1.8 million in settlements from recent legal actions.

The money is coming to the state as a result of the recovery of settlements and fees from deceptive trade and antitrust actions. It will go to the cash-strapped general fund.

The settlements have come to the office over the past few months.

"I am pleased to report my office's collection of the fees and settlements that will benefit the general fund at this critical time," Cortez Masto said. "I recognize that there is more work to be done, but I believe such funds will benefit the state."

The cases include resolutions of cases involving AOL over complaints about customer service; the drug company Warner Chilcott over generic drug issues; the Guidant Corp. regarding defective implantable cardioverter defibrillators; Barr Pharmaceuticals over generic drug issues; Caremark over the cost of drugs; and Merck regarding the deceptive promotion of Vioxx.