Missouri AG Reports Record Recoveries

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Record legal recoveries and settlements highlight the Missouri Attorney General Office's 2007 annual report, which shows the office generated $20.84 for every dollar appropriated to the office. It's the highest savings since the office began calculating the ratio of dollars saved to dollars received, in 2001.

The report, called "A Strong Voice for Missouri," cites these cases, among others:

the recovery of a record $9.3 million for consumers through mediation and another $8.95 million through court judgments;

the $175 million settlement with Ameren over the Taum Sauk reservoir collapse;

the successful defense of the state's school funding formula after a three-year legal challenge;

the recovery of $14 million from people and businesses that defrauded the Medicaid program;

$138 million generated for the state from the nation's tobacco companies through a 1998 agreement;

$853,000 recovered from inmates who can afford to pay for their upkeep.

"We've worked diligently to make government more effective and more efficient, and our annual report reflects many of those accomplishments in 2007 on behalf of the people of Missouri," Attorney General Jeremiah Nixon said in a statement.

Nixon is running for governor as a Democrat. He reported separately that that he has $2.7 million in campaign contributions in the bank, more than the combined amount of his two Republican rivals, Kenny Hulshof and Sarah Steelman. Nixon has collected $1.5 million since Jan. 1, an average of $15,000 a day.

Follow @@joeharris_stl

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit