News from April 2024
Homeservices of America to pay $250M to settle real estate commission antitrust lawsuits
Attorneys could stand to rake in more than $80 million in fees from the new deal, meaning plaintiffs' lawyers could be in line for more than $300 million in fees from multiple settlements worth more than $940 million so far, with potentially more on the way.
4th Circuit says W.Va., N.C. refusal to pay for transgender surgeries is discriminatory
RICHMOND, Virginia – A federal appeals court has ruled West Virginia and North Carolina’s refusal to cover some health care for transgender people with government-sponsored insurance is discriminatory.
Attorney General Moody Challenges Biden's Title IX Regulations, Protecting Women's Rights
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Attorney General Ashley Moody has taken a stand against the Biden administration's newly announced Title IX rule, which seeks to redefine "sex" to include "gender identity" and "sexual orientation." In a statement, Attorney General Moody expressed her concerns, saying, “Biden’s new Title IX rules shred protections for women—that so many fought for over decades."The coalition, including Attorney General Moody, raised issues about the new rule's implications, particularly regarding facilities like bathrooms and locker rooms. They stated, “... the rule...
Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim Delivers Remarks at One-Year Anniversary of the Launch of the TIMBER Working Group
Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim delivered remarks at the Department of Justice on April 29, 2024, marking the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Timber Interdiction Membership Board and Enforcement Resources Working Group.Kim expressed gratitude towards the members of the TIMBER Working Group, non-member interagency partners, NGOs, and his staff from the Environment and Natural Resources Division for their contributions and support. He highlighted the importance of combating timber trafficking and deforestation, emphasizing the significant impact these crimes...
The Justice Department Advocates for Lower Prices and More Competition in Incarcerated People's Communication Services
The Justice Department's Antitrust Division has voiced its support for enhanced competition and reduced prices in incarcerated people's communications services (IPCS). Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter emphasized the importance of affordable communication, stating, "Telephone services are a lifeline between incarcerated people and the outside world." He commended the FCC for its efforts to make rates fairer and more just over the past decade and encouraged further improvements in this area.In a comment submitted to the FCC, the Justice Department highlighted the...
Two Former Missouri Health Care Charity Executives Sentenced for Roles in Multimillion-Dollar Bribery and Embezzlement Scheme
Two former executives of a Springfield, Missouri-based charity were sentenced for their roles in a multimillion-dollar public corruption scheme that involved embezzlement and bribes paid to multiple elected public officials in the State of Arkansas."Bontiea and Tom Goss were the former chief operating officer and chief financial officer, respectively, at Preferred Family Healthcare Inc.," the court documents stated.Bontiea Bernedette Goss, 65, was sentenced to three years in prison, and her husband, Tommy “Tom” Ray Goss, 68, was sentenced to six years in prison. They...
America First Legal Partners With State of Texas to Sue Biden Administration Over Title IX Rules
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, America First Legal joined Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in filing a critical lawsuit against President Biden’s Secretary of Education and others to stop the Biden Administration’s newly promulgated Title IX rules from wreaking havoc on women, children, and schools across the country.Title IX is a federal statute that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any educational program that receives federal money, including K-12 schools, colleges, and universities. The new rule contorts these protections for women by forcing schools to...
New York fights appeal of ghost gun makers
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Letitia James is hoping to block the appeal of the makers of "ghost guns" after a federal judge ruled they are probably firearms and should be regulated as such.
Former NBA ref fired over COVID vaccine wins $3 million
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - An NBA referee fired for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine has won nearly $3 million after filing a lawsuit.
DraftKings faces class action over promotions to new users
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - A gambler unhappy with "risk-free" bets earned for signing up to DraftKings has filed a class action lawsuit.
Lawsuit filed after bus hits moped, kills driver
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - A wrongful death lawsuit in Massachusetts state court seeks compensation for the estate of a man killed while driving a moped in Chelsea.
COVID could be occupational disease, as split Nebraska SC rules for nurse
LINCOLN, Neb. (Legal Newsline) - The Nebraska Supreme Court overturned the denial of a woman’s claim for workers compensation over a COVID-19 infection early in the pandemic, although dissenters including the court’s chief justice said the opinion misinterpreted the law and may not have any legal effect.
Former Maryland Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Fraudulent Activities
A Minnesota woman, Kymberly Starr, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for preparing false tax returns on behalf of her clients. Starr, who owned and operated The Tax Lady in Maryland, inflated her clients' tax refunds by submitting false tax returns to the IRS, resulting in approximately $400,000 of tax loss.Furthermore, Starr obtained over $83,000 in COVID-19-related Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans through fabricated IRS forms and filed a false claim for unemployment insurance with the Maryland Department of Labor, receiving over $55,000.U.S. District...
Richmond Felon Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a Firearm
A Richmond man, Walter Lavelle Allen, has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm. The sentencing comes after Allen, a previously convicted felon, was found with a loaded 9mm semiautomatic pistol in his possession.According to court documents, Richmond Police observed Allen displaying the firearm in an Instagram story before finding him asleep in a parked vehicle with the weapon under his leg. Allen's previous conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine prohibited him from legally owning a firearm or...
Disruptive Technology Protection Network Summit Strengthens US, Japan, and ROK Collaboration
The Departments of Justice and Commerce, in collaboration with Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), held the first high-level trilateral summit in Washington, D.C. to launch the Disruptive Technology Protection Network. The summit aimed to strengthen collaboration on technology protection measures and enhance connections between the enforcement agencies of the three countries.Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division emphasized the global importance of preventing sensitive technology from falling into the wrong...
Law firm must defend claim it botched case over non-compete agreement
DOVER, Del. (Legal Newsline) - A law firm that was fired midway through litigation over an insurance broker’s non-compete agreement must defend itself against claims the case could have been won absent the malpractice of the attorneys, the Delaware Supreme Court ruled.
Supreme Court wrong, California right: Worker with no claim can sue on behalf of others
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - Stating a U.S. Supreme Court decision “is not binding on California courts,” an appeals court restored a worker’s lawsuit under the state private attorneys general law on behalf of hundreds of fellow employees although she didn’t file an individual claim for herself.
Nuclear power company sues New York over discharge rules
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Holtec International says the State of New York has usurped the exclusive power of the federal government to regulate discharges at nuclear power plants.
Maryland Payroll Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Crimes and Embezzlement
Maryland Payroll Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Crimes and EmbezzlementA Maryland woman, Michelle Leach-Bard, pleaded guilty to failing to pay employment taxes to the IRS and embezzling from an employee benefit plan. Leach-Bard, the owner and sole corporate officer of iProcess Online Inc., was responsible for withholding taxes from employees' wages but failed to pay them to the IRS as required. This resulted in a tax loss of $2,663,264.12.Additionally, Leach-Bard did not pay approximately $207,180.41 in wages withheld from employees' paychecks to the 401(k) Plan,...
Panel: Democratizing info on judges for law clerkship database raises 'ethical concerns'
In spite of growing participation among state and federal judges in Legal Accountability Project's LAP Pledge, the Committee on Codes of Conduct of the Judicial Conference advised 10th Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Judge Jerome Holmes that distributing post clerkship surveys to current and former clerks, and other facets of the pledge, "gives rise to ethical concerns."