News from August 2024
Attorney General announces arrest in Medicaid fraud case
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced the arrest of a Covington man for unlawfully obtaining over $17,000 in Medicaid benefits.
Statewide Grand Jury indicts Saheed Lawanson for sexual assault charges
An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former Houston County assistant district attorney convicted on ethics charges
Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that former Houston County Assistant District Attorney Mark Johnson was found guilty on ethics charges after a Houston County jury returned six guilty verdicts Thursday afternoon. As a result of his six felony convictions, Johnson has been taken into custody.
Washington AG files antitrust suit against real estate software firm
Attorney General Ferguson files antitrust lawsuit asserting RealPage helps landlords conspire to inflate rental prices in Washington
Oregon joins federal lawsuit alleging price-fixing cartel by RealPage
Today, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum joined the US Department of Justice (USDOJ) in an antitrust enforcement action against RealPage Inc., filed in US District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.
Florida worker pleads guilty to acting as agent for China's government
Ping Li, 59, of Wesley Chapel, Florida, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to act as an agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) without notification to the Attorney General.
Former Northland Mall security guards acquitted in McKenzie Cochran's death
LANSING – Today, former private security guards John Seiberling, Gaven King, and Aaron Maree were found not guilty by an Oakland County jury of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2014 death of McKenzie Cochran at Northland Mall, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced.
Attorney General Josh Stein sues RealPage over alleged rent inflation practices
Attorney General Josh Stein has filed a lawsuit against RealPage, alleging the company engaged in illegal practices to raise rents. “Few things are as important as our homes – but too many North Carolinians struggle to afford their apartment,” Stein stated. “Rents are already too high. I will not tolerate any company scheming to block healthy competition among landlords. It raises rent, and it’s illegal.”
Nebraska sets deadline for chief justice applicants
LINCOLN -- According to Supreme Court Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman, the Judicial Nominating Commission for Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court will hold a public hearing in the Supreme Court Courtroom in the State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska, beginning at 10:00 a.m. on October 4, 2024. At the hearing, the Commission will receive information on the qualifications of candidates to fill the vacancy in the office of Chief Justice due to the retirement of Chief Justice Michael G. Heavican effective October 31, 2024.
Tennessee joins lawsuit against RealPage over alleged rental price manipulation
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has announced that the state is joining the United States Department of Justice and seven other states in a lawsuit against RealPage, alleging violations of federal antitrust law.
Ellison joins DOJ in suing RealPage over alleged antitrust violations
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.
Second former Memphis police officer pleads guilty in Tyre Nichols case
A former Memphis, Tennessee, Police Department (MPD) officer facing federal civil rights charges for the tragic killing of Tyre Nichols pleaded guilty in federal court today.
Justice Department sues RealPage over alleged anticompetitive pricing practices
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland delivered remarks on August 23, 2024, regarding the Justice Department's lawsuit against RealPage for an alleged algorithmic pricing scheme that impacts millions of Americans.
Justice Department sues California towing company over alleged illegal auctioning of servicemember's vehicle
The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Tony’s Auto Center Inc., operating as Tony’s Auto Center in Chula Vista, California. The suit alleges that the company illegally auctioned off a deployed U.S. Navy Lieutenant's vehicle, violating the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The SCRA mandates that towing companies must secure a court order before auctioning vehicles owned by servicemembers.
Justice Department files lawsuit against RealPage over alleged algorithmic pricing scheme
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco delivered remarks on August 23, 2024, regarding the Justice Department's lawsuit against RealPage for an alleged algorithmic pricing scheme. This scheme is said to harm millions of Americans by undermining competition in the rental housing market.
Oregon DOJ reaches plea deal with nurse for elder abuse
The Oregon Department of Justice announced today that Phyllis Dodds, a Registered Nurse employed at Pacifica Senior Living in Klamath Falls, Oregon, has pleaded guilty to felony Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree. As part of the plea agreement, Dodds will surrender her Oregon RN license, serve three years of supervised probation, perform 150 hours of community service, and is prohibited from working as a paid caregiver.
Ohio Attorney General plans appeal on abortion waiting period ruling
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge David Young issued a ruling today enjoining Ohio’s laws requiring informed consent and a 24-hour waiting period for abortions.
Ohio AG sues home warranty firm for alleged deceptive practices
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a lawsuit against First Premier Home Warranty and its owner, alleging deceptive business practices that have adversely affected Ohio consumers.
Hartsville man arrested for distributing child sexual abuse material
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Ganson Eugene Gainer, 50, of Hartsville, S.C., on one charge connected to the sexual exploitation of a minor. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Attorney General's Office made the arrest. Investigators with the Hartsville Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Secret Service, all members of the state's ICAC Task Force, assisted with this investigation.
Iowa man charged with distributing monkey torture videos
An indictment was unsealed today charging an individual with involvement in online groups dedicated to creating and distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys.