News from April 2024
Tennessee SC blocks companies from using defense in negligent training, supervision claims
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - Trader Joe's has lost a court decision in Tennessee that will have implications for other corporations fighting personal injury lawsuits.
Arizona Mexican Mafia indicted for pandemic unemployment fraud
The Arizona Attorney General, Kris Mayes, has announced that a State Grand Jury has returned a 50-count indictment against members and associates of the Arizona Mexican Mafia.
Former Arkansas Sheriff’s Deputies Plead Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Violations for Assaulting Arrested Man
Two former Crawford County, Arkansas, sheriff’s deputies, Levi White, 34, and Zackary King, 28, have pleaded guilty to federal civil rights offenses for using unlawful force on a man they arrested.“The defendants swore an oath to uphold the law, then violated that oath and abused their power by assaulting a person who was pinned to the ground and not resisting,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.“The videos from this incident are a shocking display of the violent deprivation of civil rights committed by...
Shell faces charges over alleged environmental law violations during pipeline construction
Attorney General Michelle Henry has announced charges against Shell Falcon Pipeline LP for alleged violations of Pennsylvania’s Clean Streams Law. The charges relate to the construction of a 45-mile pipeline in western Pennsylvania.
Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer Addresses Reentry Simulation Event
Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer recently delivered remarks at the Access to Justice's Reentry Simulation event, expressing his gratitude to the organizers and participants for their involvement in the initiative. Mizer highlighted the importance of the simulation in shedding light on the challenges faced by individuals reintegrating into society post-incarceration.Mizer acknowledged the collaborative efforts of various agencies and organizations, including the Office for Access to Justice and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, in supporting reentry...
The Buckeye Institute Calls on SCOTUS to Protect Citizens from Unconstitutional Forfeiture Laws
On Friday, The Buckeye Institute took a stand against unconstitutional forfeiture laws by filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Sanchez v. United States. The institute's senior litigator, Jay R. Carson, highlighted the concerning nature of these laws, stating, "The result of forfeiture laws is a system where revenue generation—not crime prevention—is the primary driver of law enforcement decisions."Carson referenced the infamous words of Willie Sutton to emphasize the influence of financial incentives on human behavior, stating, "When asked why he robbed...
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Reflects on the 29th Anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland took a moment to reflect on the 29th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing that occurred on April 19, 1995. Garland expressed his sentiments in a statement released by the Justice Department.Garland acknowledged the solemn occasion by stating, "Twenty-nine years after the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, we continue to remember the 168 people, including 19 children, who were stolen from their loved ones, as well as the hundreds who were injured and forever changed."Recalling his personal experience during the...
Holland & Knight Advises Blue Delta Capital Partners on Investment in Herrick Technology Laboratories
Holland & Knight advised Blue Delta Capital Partners in connection with its $25 million investment in Herrick Technology Laboratories (HTL), a leading provider of high-performance signals intelligence, electronic warfare (SIGINT/EW) and communications products and systems to the U.S. Department of Defense.
Burrillville man charged with ghost gun and large capacity magazine possession
Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that a Burrillville man has been charged in Kent County Superior Court with possession of a ghost gun and large capacity magazines following his arrest on May 19, 2023, by Warwick Police.
Citing Constitutional Concerns, Yost Urges DOJ to Scrap ‘Red Flag’ Gun-Confiscation Program
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and 18 other state attorneys general are opposing a new federal program that promotes aggressive enforcement of “red flag” gun-confiscation laws.
Greenberg Traurig is a Finalist for 23 ‘Women in Business Law’ Awards
Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP is a finalist for 23 Euromoney Legal Media Group’s 2024 “Women in Business Law Awards”: 12 individual women attorney awards, seven firmwide awards, and four jurisdiction-specific firm awards.
Attorney General James and Pine Barrens Commission Announce Agreement With Landscaping Supplier for Illegally Destroying Protected Land on Long Island
New York Attorney General Letitia James and the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission (Pine Barrens Commission) Executive Director Judith Jakobsen today announceda settlement with Stephen Affatato and his company Affa Organics, Inc. (Affa Organics), a landscaping supply business, for illegally removing trees and vegetation from the Pine Barrens, protected land on Long Island.
Greenberg Traurig’s Seth J. Entin to Speak at U.S. and Europe Tax Practice Trends Conference
Seth J. Entin, shareholder in global law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A.’s Tax Practice, will speak at the 24th Annual U.S. and Europe Tax Trends Conference taking place April 10-12 in Munich, Germany.
Allin Named to 2024 Southwest Super Lawyers Rising Stars
Taylor Allin (Partner-Phoenix, AZ) has been named to the Southwest Super Lawyers® Rising Stars™ list for a fourth year.
Privacy class action firms jockey for control of 23andMe data breach claims; Edelson calls for new approach
Data privacy class action firm Edelson P.C. is seeking to control 40 class actions, potentially worth huge money, against 23andMe for allegedly allowing genetic info to be stolen in a data breach. In a new filing, Edelson is asking courts to reconsider how they decide which lawyers should lead
Team of 5 Tax Controversy Attorneys Joins Bradley in Its Atlanta Office
Bradley is pleased to welcome partners Jeff S. Luechtefeld, John Nail, and Sean R. Gannon, as well as senior attorney Gabriella Cole and associate Jessica R. Stephan, in Atlanta as members of the firm’s Tax Practice Group. All were previously with Chamberlain Hrdlicka White Williams & Aughtry.
AGs urge federal court to review EPA’s new tailpipe emissions rules
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is leading a group of 25 states calling on a federal appeals court to review the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new rule on car tailpipes.
Forge Industrial Staffing: the DOL’s demand for client information is a ‘raw exercise of the government’s coercive power’
Forge Industrial Staffing has expressed strong opposition to the Department of Labor's (DOL) investigation into its hiring practices, describing it as "a raw exercise of the government's coercive power." The company is contesting a magistrate judge's recommendation that it should surrender its clients' information to the DOL. This statement was part of Forge's court filing on March 18.
Justice Department Launches Updated Voting Rights and Elections Website
The Justice Department has unveiled an updated voting and elections website, www.justice.gov/voting, aimed at providing essential information for voters and election officials at the state and local levels. The update includes the publication of new informational guides on voting rights and the revision of existing guides to ensure that all eligible voters can participate in the electoral process without facing discrimination or intimidation.Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the importance of voting, stating, "The right to vote is the cornerstone of our...
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke’s Statement on Voter Intimidation
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, Civil Rights Division, explains how to report voter intimidation. In a brief statement released recently, Clarke highlighted the importance of addressing voter intimidation and provided guidance on the necessary steps to take when encountering such actions. The message serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to safeguard voting rights and ensure fair and accessible elections.For individuals who witness or experience voter intimidation, Clarke's instructions offer a clear pathway for reporting such incidents. By outlining the...