Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general in supporting the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) rule aimed at preventing illegal gun trafficking. The rule requires private gun sellers to obtain a license and conduct background checks on potential buyers. This multistate coalition filed an amicus brief in Texas v. ATF, arguing that the ATF’s rule is essential for public safety and preventing dangerous individuals from obtaining guns illegally.
Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a lawsuit against MV Realty PBC, LLC, its Minnesota branch MV Realty of Minnesota, LLC, and their officer Amanda Zachman. The lawsuit alleges that the company violated Minnesota consumer protection laws by selling contracts with oppressive terms to homeowners while concealing these terms in verbal sales pitches. These contracts were named "Homeowner Benefit Agreements" (HBAs).
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a petition requesting the Hennepin County District Court to supervise the dissolution of Rainbow Health Minnesota. The nonprofit recently disclosed its insolvency and intention to dissolve.
A Benton County district court has sentenced Michael Carpenter to life in prison for the October 2022 murder of his co-worker, Nicole Hammond. A jury convicted Carpenter of first-degree premeditated murder and second-degree intentional murder on August 2, 2024, after a two-week trial. The statutory sentence for first-degree premeditated murder is life without the possibility of release.
September 19, 2024 (SAINT PAUL) — Attorney General Keith Ellison has issued a warning to Minnesotans regarding the rise in mortgage assistance scams, following an increase in reports to his Office’s Consumer Action Division. This alert is part of the Attorney General’s monthly Scam Stopper series aimed at protecting Minnesota consumers from common scams.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced today that Shamsia Hopes, a nonprofit organization based in Shakopee, has agreed to dissolve following an investigation revealing governance failures and misuse of assets by its founder and president, Mekfira Hussein. The agreement does not prevent further claims against Ms. Hussein or other individuals.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced a settlement securing refunds for dozens of clients, primarily Somali and Ethiopian, who retained immigration legal services from Daniel Patrick Brown and DPB Legal, PLLC. Between 2021 and 2023, DPB Legal accepted 100 clients seeking asylum in the U.S. but provided incorrect information regarding their eligibility for work authorization permits.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison today released his Office’s inaugural “Working for Workers” report, which will be issued annually around the Labor Day holiday. The first edition of this report highlights the work of the Wage Theft Division in the Attorney General’s Office, established by Ellison in 2019.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a lawsuit against William Shocinski, Jr. and several businesses he owns, including Meraki Metal Art LLC, VO Metal Center MN LLC, VO Metal Art LLC, and VO Metal Art MN LLC (collectively known as Shocinski Metals). The lawsuit accuses Shocinski of failing to deliver nearly $900,000 worth of products that consumers purchased and alleges multiple violations of Minnesota's consumer protection laws.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has issued a consumer alert regarding the recent bankruptcy filing of flooring retailer Lumber Liquidators. On August 11, 2024, Lumber Liquidators filed for bankruptcy restructuring in Delaware federal district court. As part of its restructuring plan, the company plans to close three of its seven stores in Minnesota, specifically those located in Chanhassen (2973 Water Tower Place), Rochester (5139 Highway 52N), and St. Cloud (3320 Division Street West). The four other Minnesota locations—in Blaine, Burnsville, Duluth, and...
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced a settlement with professional fundraiser Ride to The Chip, LLC (RTTC) and its founders Tyrone Creer and Alice Arenson. In an Assurance of Discontinuance, Attorney General Ellison alleges that RTTC improperly withheld a portion of the funds raised for its charitable partner, the Magnus Veterans Foundation (MVF). The Assurance also claims that RTTC misleadingly stated that 100% of the funds raised would go to charity while some were used for profit and failed to provide legally required disclosures about its for-profit status....
Attorney General Keith Ellison has issued a letter to over 5,000 tobacco distributors and retailers in Minnesota, urging them to cease the distribution, marketing, and sale of unauthorized flavored tobacco products. These products include flavored e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches that have not received authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced today that he has joined the U.S. Department of Justice and a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington in filing a civil antitrust lawsuit against RealPage Inc. The lawsuit alleges that RealPage's pricing algorithm unlawfully decreases competition among landlords in apartment pricing and monopolizes the market for commercial revenue-management software used to price apartments.
The Conviction Review Unit (CRU) of the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office has recommended vacating the 2009 Hennepin County first-degree murder conviction of Edgar Barrientos and dismissing the charges. This recommendation follows a three-year investigation culminating in a 180-page report by the CRU.
The National Conference of State Legislatures has awarded the 2024 Notable Document Award to the Office of Attorney General Keith Ellison for its "Report on Emerging Technology and Its Effects on Youth Well-Being." The award, decided by a panel of experienced legislative librarians, acknowledges documents that explore topics relevant to legislators and legislative staff and present substantive material in an exceptional format.
Free insulin is now arriving at clinics across Minnesota, thanks to a settlement Attorney General Keith Ellison negotiated with Eli Lilly. The agreement ensures that all Minnesotans, regardless of insurance status, can purchase Eli Lilly’s insulin products for $35 per month for the next five years. Additionally, the settlement requires Eli Lilly to provide free insulin sufficient to meet the needs of up to 15 Minnesota clinics. Six more clinics are yet to be selected for this program.
After a two-week jury trial, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office has secured the conviction of Michael Jordan Carpenter on all charges, including 1st degree premeditated murder and 2nd degree intentional murder, following the October 2022 killing of Nicole Hammond.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced a settlement with All In Minnesota (AIM), a youth soccer charity based in Vadnais Heights, over violations of state charities laws. AIM was founded by the organization’s former president, Mark Bigelbach, in 2017.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced today that his office has reached a settlement with Dwell Equities, LLC (Dwell) over the company’s failure to comply with legal requirements for foreclosure rescue services. In the settlement, Dwell agreed to pay almost $240,000 and cease engaging in their foreclosure rescue services.
