News published on Legal Newsline in April 2024

CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is co-leading a six-state group suing the federal Department of Education over what they call its “dangerous overhaul” of Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act.

Changpeng Zhao, commonly known as CZ, the co-founder and former CEO of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, expressed regret over his failure to implement sufficient anti-money laundering controls during the early stages of Binance. He is currently facing a criminal charge for this oversight. CZ shared these sentiments in a court document filed on April 23, ahead of his sentencing scheduled for April 30.

A total of 161 individuals submitted letters of support for Changpeng Zhao, the co-founder and former CEO of Binance, in anticipation of his April 30 sentencing for violating the Bank Secrecy Act. These letters were included in an April 23 filing in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

A former Oregon Department of Human Services caregiver, Zakary Glover, 30, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison and five years of supervised release for sexually assaulting a woman with developmental disabilities who was under his care.Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division condemned Glover's actions, stating, “This defendant engaged in deplorable acts of sexual misconduct and targeted a victim with severe developmental disabilities who was entrusted to his care and could not defend herself."U.S. Attorney Natalie...

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is currently looking into an officer-involved shooting that took place in the Town of Grand Chute, Wis. on the evening of Friday, April 12, 2024.According to the report, Outagamie County Sheriff’s Sergeant Ellis Brooks discharged his firearm, striking William Jae Kil Nelson, 22, who was observed with a knife at the scene. The incident unfolded after deputies responded to a vehicle crash on W. Prospect Avenue in the Town of Grand Chute. Outagamie County Sheriff’s Deputy Noah Yeck attempted...

The Justice Department has reached a settlement agreement with Sunrise Senior Living Management Inc., the operator of Sunrise at Fox Hill in Bethesda, Maryland, to address allegations of employment discrimination. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke emphasized the department's commitment to upholding the law regarding discrimination based on citizenship, immigration status, or national origin, stating, "The Justice Department will continue to hold employers accountable for unlawfully discriminating against workers because of citizenship, immigration status or national...

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has successfully defended against a legal challenge from environmental groups concerning the state's oil and gas permitting decisions. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the Sierra Club's case, which contested Louisiana's approval of permits for an LNG export facility along the Calcasieu Ship Channel.

Treatment courts in South Dakota are set to host special events throughout May in observance of National Treatment Court Month. These courts aim to provide an alternative to the traditional justice system by helping individuals with substance use and mental health disorders transition into healthier, more stable lives.

A California businessman from Beverly Hills, Haim Jerry Kohen, has pleaded guilty to evading over $1 million in federal and state taxes. Kohen, who owned a business dealing in used clothing, admitted to underreporting or not reporting income on his tax returns for more than a decade. His evasion tactics included diverting cash payments from customers and not reporting rental income from properties he owned.According to court documents, Kohen diverted cash payments received from a significant customer, keeping the money for himself instead of depositing it into his...

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, alongside six other states, has initiated legal action against the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) over its recent modifications to Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and is being co-led by Kentucky and West Virginia.

Attorney General Todd Rokita has initiated legal action against the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) over recent changes to Title IX regulations. The lawsuit, which includes five other states—Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia—challenges the new rule that allows transgender individuals access to facilities corresponding with their gender identity.

An indictment was unsealed yesterday charging Roger Ver, an early investor in bitcoins, with mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns. Ver, formerly of Santa Clara, California, owned MemoryDealers.com Inc. and Agilestar.com Inc., two companies that sold computer and networking equipment. He also avidly promoted bitcoins, earning him the moniker "Bitcoin Jesus."Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California announced the charges. The...

Attorney General Ashley Moody has taken action to address the rising issue of jury duty scams in Florida. In response to reports of scams targeting Floridians, Moody has released a new resource called Scams at a Glance: Sham or Summons. The resource aims to educate individuals on how to recognize and avoid falling victim to these fraudulent schemes.In a statement, Attorney General Ashley Moody expressed concern over the increase in jury duty scams, stating, “There has been a recent uptick in reports of jury duty scams, and I have heard personally from many Floridians who...

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has successfully defended the state's decision to permit an LNG export facility along the Calcasieu Ship Channel. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a challenge from the Sierra Club, which questioned the legality of these permits.

Attorney General Jason Miyares has taken a firm stance against the recent actions of the Department of Education, joining a six-state coalition to challenge the overhaul of Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act. Miyares expressed his concerns stating, “The Biden Administration's unlawful rule would jeopardize half a century of landmark protections for women, forcing the Administration’s social agenda onto the states by holding federal funding hostage."Miyares emphasized, "We cannot roll back Title IX in the name of false equity." Title IX has been instrumental in...

Attorney General Kris Mayes has taken action in the case of Planned Parenthood v. Hazelrigg by filing a motion with the Arizona Supreme Court.

PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - A Pennsylvania tree service company with a history of using noncompete agreements for its employees is suing the Federal Trade Commission over its new rule banning them.

ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - A Lebanese bank that paid $580 million for the assets of Lebanese Canadian Bank also bought New York jurisdiction over lawsuits claiming LCB financed terrorism, the state’s highest court ruled.

CARSON CITY, Nev. (Legal Newsline) - A Nevada statute banning the sale of unfinished gun parts that can be assembled into untraceable “ghost guns” is constitutional, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled, even as the U.S. Supreme Court considers a similar ban at the federal level.

TAMPA, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A Florida urology practice faces litigation claiming one of its employees dropped a patient while trying to return him to his wheelchair and broke his hip.