Legal News Line News
Attorney General Bird Sues Biden-Harris Administration Over Rule that Jeopardizes Prison Funding for Public Safety
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird today sued the Biden-Harris Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) over a new rule that restricts how much money jails and prisons can charge inmates for phone calls, depriving the facilities of funding and resources that they depend on to reduce risks and solve crimes.
Consumer Alert Attorney General Moody Warns Floridians Affected Hurricane Helene About
Attorney General Ashley Moody is warning Floridians to be vigilant for price gouging, disaster scams and fraud in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Drummond issues letter of counsel regarding State Department of Education delay buying emergency inhalers for public schools
Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued a letter of counsel addressing the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s (OSDE) year-long delay in using state funds that the Legislature had appropriated for the purchase emergency asthma inhalers for public schools.
Attorney General James, Governor Hochul, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Williams, and Onondaga Nation Announce More Than 1,000 Acres in Central New York's Tully Valley Returned to Onondaga Nation
New York Attorney General Letitia James joined Governor Kathy Hochul, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams, and Onondaga Nation Tadodaho Sidney Hill to announce the finalized return of more than 1,000 acres of ancestral homelands in Central New York’s Tully Valley to the Onondaga Nation.
Attorneys general urge court action against TikTok over evidence preservation issues
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, along with a bipartisan group of 21 other attorneys general, has requested a Tennessee court to enforce orders compelling TikTok to comply with an ongoing multistate consumer protection investigation. The coalition seeks the preservation and production of evidence from TikTok.
School threats drive record spike in Safe2Tell reports
Safe2Tell, a program dedicated to preventing violence in schools, reported a significant 74% increase in reports for September 2024 compared to the same period last year. The monthly report revealed that 4,729 reports were filed, marking a new record and surpassing the previous high set in February 2024 by 47%.
Vermilion County woman pleads guilty to animal cruelty charges
Attorney General Kwame Raoul has announced a guilty plea and sentencing in an animal cruelty case involving a Vermilion County resident. Crystal Calbro, aged 44, from Danville, Illinois, was sentenced by Vermilion County Circuit Court Judge Karen E. Wall to 12 months of court supervision. As part of her sentence, Calbro is prohibited from owning horses, rabbits, and donkeys and must undergo a psychological evaluation. Additionally, she is required to pay a $2,200 fine and restitution amounting to $44,718 to the Vermilion County Department of Animal Regulation.
Tennessee AG defends law banning gender transition procedures for minors at Supreme Court
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has submitted a response brief to the United States Supreme Court, defending a state law that prohibits gender transition procedures for minors. The law, known as Senate Bill 1, was enacted by Tennessee lawmakers with the intention of protecting children from what they describe as "irreversible, unproven medical procedures."
Illinois Attorney General files lawsuit against TikTok over alleged harm to youth
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has initiated legal proceedings against TikTok, accusing the company of engaging in harmful business practices that target children and allegedly mislead the public about potential dangers associated with its platform. This action is part of a broader investigation announced by Raoul in March 2022, which seeks both injunctive relief and monetary penalties for TikTok's conduct.
Post-adjudication reparative program group announces October meeting details
The Post-Adjudication Reparative Program Working Group will convene a meeting on Thursday, October 10. The session is scheduled to take place from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and can be attended by the public through Microsoft Teams.
Coalition sues TikTok over claims harming children's mental health
New York Attorney General Letitia James and California Attorney General Rob Bonta have initiated legal action against TikTok, accusing the social media platform of misleading users about its safety and contributing to mental health issues among young people. The lawsuit is part of a broader effort by a coalition of 14 attorneys general from various states, each filing separate lawsuits that allege TikTok violated state laws by falsely claiming its platform is safe for minors.
Consent judgment reached over misuse allegations against Bob Dean Jr.'s nursing homes
Bob Dean Jr. and several companies he owned have agreed to an $8.2 million consent judgment to settle allegations of financial misconduct. The allegations claimed that they violated the National Housing Act of 1934 by misusing assets and income from four nursing homes in Louisiana before and after Hurricane Ida in August 2021. These nursing homes had loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).
Vermont AG sues TikTok over alleged exploitation of children through addictive features
Attorney General Charity Clark has filed a lawsuit against TikTok Inc., accusing the company of violating Vermont's Consumer Protection Act. The lawsuit, coordinated with 14 other attorneys general across the United States, claims that TikTok uses manipulative design features to engage young users excessively. This legal action follows a similar complaint against Meta Platforms, Inc.
States push for court order on TikTok compliance amid youth mental health probe
Attorney General William Tong has announced intensified efforts to compel TikTok's compliance with an ongoing multistate investigation into its impact on youth mental health. The investigation, which began in 2022, aims to determine if TikTok is breaching state consumer protection laws and contributing to the mental health crisis among children and teens.
Attorneys general sue TikTok over alleged exploitation of young users
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and New York Attorney General Letitia James have spearheaded a coalition of 14 attorneys general in filing lawsuits against TikTok, accusing the platform of violating state consumer protection laws. The legal actions, filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court, allege that TikTok exploits young users and misleads the public about its dangers. The lawsuits seek penalties and other forms of relief to address the alleged misconduct.
Oregon joins states suing TikTok over alleged harm to youth
Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has announced that the state is joining a coalition of 14 other state attorneys general in taking legal action against TikTok. The enforcement actions, which will be filed separately, allege that TikTok has violated consumer protection laws by exploiting and harming young users while misleading the public about the platform's dangers.
Washington courts release updated juror orientation video
The Washington Pattern Jury Instructions Committee (WPIC) has released a new Juror Orientation Video, the first update since 2005. This 21-minute video aims to educate prospective jurors about their role in the judicial process and the significance of jury service as a civic duty.
Dual citizen charged over alleged scheme violating US sanctions against Iran
Kambiz Eghbali, also known as Cameron Eghbali, was arrested in Los Angeles following an indictment that charges him and two Iranian nationals, Hamid Hajipour and Babak Bahizad, with violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The arrest occurred after the indictment was unsealed. Bahizad and Hajipour remain at large.
Oakland County doctor pleads guilty to multiple felony charges
Dr. Rainna Furnari Brazil, a 57-year-old physician from Sylvan Lake, has pled guilty to eight felony counts related to insurance fraud in the 6th Circuit Court in Oakland County. The charges are linked to a fraudulent disability insurance claim and subsequent receipt of payments while continuing her work as a physician. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the plea.
Officials address rise in school threat reports linked to social media
Pennsylvania officials have noted a rise in reports of school-based threats, largely attributed to social media-driven false alarms. Attorney General Michelle Henry, alongside Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin, and State Police Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris, emphasized the importance of discerning credible threats from hoaxes.