AT&T PAYS $51 MILLION IN SETTLEMENT WITH CALIFORNIA

    The California Attorney General's office filed suit accusing AT&T of disposing of hazardous electronic waste over a 9-year period of time.  The $51 million settlement was announced on the same day that the Attorney General filed suit.  The filing of the suit enables the parties to have the settlement approved by the Court and, on the one hand, gives the state an enforcement mechanism (compliance with a Court Order) while, on the other hand, probably protecting AT&T from private suits over the same violation (however, if someone were injured by the waste, the deal with the state probably would not protect against that type of suit.  To date, though, no one appears to have come forward claiming any injury).