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S.C. lawmakers put citizen-only voting amendment on November ballot
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina voters will decide in November on a constitutional amendment that would allow only American citizens to vote in all state elections.
Attorney General Garland recognizes Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has acknowledged Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day by emphasizing the importance of addressing the crisis affecting American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Garland announced intensified efforts aimed at tackling the issues of missing or murdered Indigenous persons (MMIP), human trafficking, and other significant public safety challenges.Garland highlighted the disproportionate impact of the fentanyl crisis on Native Americans, exacerbating levels of violence and addiction within already vulnerable communities....
West Virginia Ambulance Services Business Owner Convicted of Tax Crimes
A federal jury in Beckley, West Virginia, convicted Christopher Jason Smyth for failing to pay taxes withheld from employees' wages at his ambulance service and for obstructing the IRS.According to evidence presented at trial, Smyth operated Stat EMS LLC in Pineville, West Virginia, from 2012 through part of 2017. Smyth caused Stat EMS to be founded in the name of a nominee owner but continued to operate the business in the same manner as before.Smyth was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare, and income taxes from employees' wages and paying them to the...
Justice Department Strengthens Efforts, Builds Partnerships to Address the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the importance of addressing the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) by stating, “There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured.”FBI Director Christopher Wray affirmed the FBI's commitment to addressing the violence affecting Tribal communities, stating, “We will continue to prioritize our support of victims and will steadfastly pursue investigations into the...
Justice Department Sues Texas Department of Criminal Justice for Religious Discrimination
The Justice Department has taken legal action against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) for religious discrimination. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, accuses TDCJ of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by denying an employee's religious accommodation request.Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division emphasized, "Employers cannot require employees to forfeit their religious beliefs or improperly question the sincerity of those beliefs." She...
Opioid Manufacturer Endo Health Solutions Inc. Ordered to Pay $1.536B In Criminal Fines and Forfeiture for Distributing Misbranded Opioid Medication
Endo Health Solutions Inc. (EHSI) faced a significant legal outcome today as they were ordered to pay $1.536 billion in criminal fines and forfeiture for their involvement in distributing misbranded opioid medication. This marks the second-largest set of criminal financial penalties ever imposed on a pharmaceutical company for violations of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.EHSI pleaded guilty to introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce, acknowledging their deceptive marketing tactics related to the opioid medication Opana ER. The company marketed the...
BTC-e Operator Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy
A Russian national, Alexander Vinnik, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with his involvement in operating the cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e from 2011 to 2017. Vinnik, who was one of the operators of BTC-e, oversaw a platform that processed over $9 billion in transactions and catered to more than one million users globally, including a significant number of customers in the United States.Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco highlighted the significance of this case, stating, “Today’s result shows how the Justice Department, working...
Minnesota law on hazardous materials on trains challenged by railroad group
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - The State of Minnesota has overstepped its authority by placing extra charges on trains carrying hazardous materials, the Association of American Railroads says in a new lawsuit.
Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Miami-Dade County, Florida, Tax Return Preparer
The Justice Department has taken legal action against Dieuseul Jean-Louis, also known as DJL Multiservices, by filing a civil injunction suit to prevent him from preparing federal tax returns for others. The complaint, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, accuses Jean-Louis of engaging in fraudulent activities related to tax preparation from 2019 to 2023.According to the complaint, Jean-Louis intentionally misrepresented customers' tax liabilities and exaggerated their refunds through various deceptive methods. This included falsifying...
Judge OKs pact between Labaton, Robbins Geller to lead suit against Boeing
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Legal Newsline) - Sure, a Virginia judge has ruled in approving a partnership between two class action law firms trying to sue Boeing over a drop in its stock value.
U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar and His Wife Charged with Bribery, Unlawful Foreign Influence, and Money Laundering Schemes
Houston, TX - An indictment unsealed in the Southern District of Texas has charged U.S. Congressman Enrique Roberto “Henry” Cuellar and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, with involvement in bribery, unlawful foreign influence, and money laundering schemes. The couple, residents of Laredo, Texas, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Palermo in Houston.According to court documents, the Cuellars allegedly accepted about $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities, an oil and gas company owned by the Government of Azerbaijan and a bank in Mexico City. These funds were...
New York AG free to ask social media about threats to Jews, Muslims despite injunction
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Letitia James is free to send voluntary interrogatories to social media companies, even though a federal judge has ordered an injunction against the state's Hateful Conduct Law.
Readout of Annual Principals Meeting of the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland joined international and national partners at the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group (FELEG) Annual Principals Meeting this week. The meeting focused on discussions surrounding technology, innovation, encryption, and their impacts on global safety.ICE Acting Director Lechleitner highlighted the importance of FELEG partnerships in enhancing law enforcement investigations on a global scale and increasing cooperation between partner nations. He stated, “FELEG partnerships enhance law enforcement investigations on the national and...
Biden Administration Disbands "Homeland Intelligence Experts Group" Following Lawsuit Victory
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, America First Legal (AFL) achieved victory in its lawsuit on behalf of former Ambassador Ric Grenell against the Biden Administration’s so-called “Homeland Intelligence Experts Group.” Conceding defeat, the Biden Administration has agreed to disband this illegal Group and provide its records to AFL.DHS formed the “Homeland Intelligence Experts Group” in September 2023 to “provide advice and perspectives on intelligence and national security efforts.” However, it was not intended to provide unbiased, expert advice to advance the Department of...
J&J's $6.5B talc settlement comes as plaintiff lawyers fear losing their experts
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - An offshoot of Johnson & Johnson is paying nearly $6.5 billion to settle almost all lawsuits alleging its talcum powder contained asbestos and caused certain cancers - two months before the company could question the findings of highly paid experts who drove tens of thousands of lawsuits.
OVW Commemorates Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
OVW, the Office on Violence Against Women, recently commemorated Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, highlighting the theme of "Building Connected Communities." The agency emphasized the importance of collaboration and community support in preventing sexual assault and aiding survivors. According to OVW, creating strong, connected communities is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals.Speaking about the impact of sexual assault, OVW expressed a commitment to addressing systemic barriers and providing support to survivors. They...
Kerrygold butter-maker to face PFAS class action after motion rejected
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - A class action lawsuit over the alleged presence of chemicals known as PFAS in Kerrygold butter products will get to proceed.
California: Lawyers get $518K in fees for winning client $70K
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - Lawyers who won their client $70,000 in an employment dispute can collect half a million dollars in fees, but no additional interest, a California appeals court ruled
Lawsuit questions how StubHub estimates estimated fees
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - Class action lawyers say they've tested StubHub's method for figuring out "estimated" fees on tickets and discovered the company shows the same discrepancy every time.
N.Y. law firm accused of coaching workers during OSHA seminars to sue over fabricated injuries
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York personal injury lawyers are caught in a lawsuit alleging they conspired with health care providers to exaggerate claims in pursuit of "windfall" recoveries in the tort system.