Christin Nielsen News
Investors sue Starbucks over alleged securities fraud
A class action lawsuit against Starbucks has been filed in Washington by investors who accuse the coffee chain of making "false and misleading" statements about its financial health.
Appointment of MN climate activist shows administration not really interested in bringing down price of gas, critic says
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The Biden Administration has quietly tapped a University of Minnesota (UMN) law professor with controversial ties to the Office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison for a key litigation role at the Department of Energy.
UCLA ordered to release records showing coordination between law enforcement and 'climate denialism'
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - A California court has ordered the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) to release records showing academics “going after climate denialism” in coordination with state and local prosecutors.
GOP contenders say they'd eliminate Bloomberg-funded assistants in Minnesota AG's office
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - The Minnesota Attorney General race is heating up after all three Republican candidates announced they would immediately fire two Special Assistants Attorneys General (SAAGs) currently serving under Democrat Attorney General Keith Ellison.
While Minnesota lawmakers advance ban on outside funding of AG hires, Ellison posts job opening for Bloomberg-funded climate advocate
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's office is seeking to replace one of two Special Assistant Attorney Generals (SAAGs), a spokesman from the AG's office confirmed Monday.
Washington AG silent on Democrat's idea for 'attribution science' climate change lawsuit
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) - An op/ed recently written by a Democratic lawmaker in Washington State is raising questions about the state's possible plans to file a major lawsuit targeting Big Oil.
Fight for transparency in AG's climate litigation awaits hearing at Minn. Supreme Court
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - A nonprofit government watchdog organization has filed an amicus brief against Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison for his refusal to release records pertaining to communications between his office and other states.
In fight for UCLA records showing academics 'going after climate denialism,' Enron's interest in green industry revealed
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - A government watchdog group has filed a trial brief and declarations in Los Angeles Superior Court to investigate the involvement of law faculty from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the climate litigation industry.
Minnesota professor played key role in developing state AG's climate suit; New lawsuit seeks answers
MARSHALL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - A government watchdog organization has filed suit against Minnesota Attorney General Ellison for failing to release public records that could reveal why his office issued an official email account to a University of Minnesota law professor.
Climate litigation is 'quietly midwifed' by activists fighting for 'sympathetic' state courts, amicus brief argues
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Climate plaintiffs are fighting to keep litigation out of federal courts because they hope to find "sympathetic" state judges to rule in their favor, says a new amicus brief filed by government watchdog group Energy Policy Advocates (EPA).
Evidence of coordination in climate litigation is eroding AG arguments for keeping cases in state court, watchdog says
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A nonprofit government watchdog group is sounding the alarm after mounting evidence suggests that the attorneys general in Minnesota and Washington D.C engaged in a covertly coordinated effort to carry out similar climate change lawsuits.
Lack of transparency in DOI ethics waiver query is concerning, GOP congressman says
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) is voicing concern after emails obtained by Freedom of Information (FOIA) litigation suggest that a "backdoor workaround" approach was used to approve an ethics waiver for Interior Department senior counselor Elizabeth Klein, whose recent work history includes controversial climate activism efforts.
Attacks on WinRed show Dems are terrified of GOP's online fundraising progress, RSLC says
Republican fundraising platform WinRed has filed a lawsuit alleging politically motivated harassment after it was targeted by four Democratic state attorneys general who sent letters to the company inquiring into its business practices.
AG Ellison wants review of 'common interest doctrine' decision to keep trove of documents under wraps
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a petition with the Minnesota Supreme Court for review of a June 1 Court of Appeals decision, which stated that the AG could not conceal communications between his office and other states' attorneys general.
House Republicans mount pressure on Klein to disclose conflict resolution efforts
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Climate activist turned Biden administration official Elizabeth Klein is facing heightened scrutiny over possible conflicts of interest stemming from her affiliation with the controversial State Energy & Environmental Impact Center (SEEIC), a Bloomberg-funded organization at New York University's School of Law.
Freedom Foundation: Court loss for Minnesota AG is a win for accountability, transparency and 'all Minnesotans'
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - Critics frustrated by Attorney General Ellison’s lack of transparency involving his lawsuit against Big Oil are lauding a recent Minnesota Court of Appeals decision requiring the AG to release concealed communications between his office and other states' attorneys general.
MN appeals court says AG must hand over outside communications in climate litigation
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled on Tuesday that Attorney General Keith Ellison cannot conceal documents related to his office's communications with attorneys general in other states.
'Hiding tracks' in climate change litigation is necessary so it can look 'academic,' critic says
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - A new report released by Government Accountability Office & Oversight reveals the existence of an extensive, coordinated campaign to promote climate change litigation between Attorney General Ellison's office, University of Minnesota faculty, activist organizations, and affluent donors.
Minnesota GOP lawmakers want insight into origins of AG Ellison's Big Oil lawsuit
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - Republican lawmakers are considering launching an investigation to review the origins of Minnesota Attorney General Ellison's climate change lawsuit against Big Oil.
AG Ellison exceeded authority by hiring privately funded lawyers to sue Big Oil, critic says
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is facing mounting criticism for his use of privately funded attorneys to pursue a climate change lawsuit against Big Oil.