News from July 2024
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers Announces Four New Successful Settlements in Delta 8 Litigation Campaign
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers reached four new settlements in his successful statewide litigation campaign against shops selling dangerous synthetic THC products.
Massive penalty hits troubled Pa. nursing home chain
PITTSBURGH (Legal Newsline) - It's a worst-case scenario for a now-bankrupt Pennsylvania health care company accused by the Department of Labor of not fairly paying its employees.
Argument tossed in challenge to Utah's social media law
SALT LAKE CITY (Legal Newsline) - A key claim in the challenge to a Utah law designed to protect minors on social media has been thrown out.
Attorney General Clark Sues Pharmacy Benefit Managers for Illegally Driving Up Prescription Drug Costs
Attorney General Charity Clark filed a lawsuit against pharmacy benefit managers Evernorth (owner of Express Scripts) and CVS as well as nearly two dozen affiliated entities for unfairly and deceptively driving up prescription drug prices in Vermont.
Coalition urges FEMA recognition for extreme heat & wildfire smoke as major disasters
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a coalition of 14 attorneys general in petitioning the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to update its regulations to recognize extreme heat and wildfire smoke events as eligible for major disaster declarations under the Stafford Act. The petition also seeks to clarify that wildfire smoke events are eligible for Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) funding.
OVW holds pre-application session for tribal financial assistance program
OVW conducted a live web-based pre-application information session for its Fiscal Year 2024 Grants to Tribal Governments Victim Service Providers for Financial Assistance to Victims of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Special Initiative solicitation. During the presentation, OVW staff reviewed this initiative’s requirements, discussed the solicitation, and allowed for a brief question-and-answer period.
Judicial referee Dan Gast receives 2024 runner-up ICWA Champion Award
During the 23rd Annual ND Indian Child Welfare and Wellness Conference, hosted by the Native American Training Institute, Judicial Referee Dan Gast was honored as the runner-up for the 2024 ICWA Champion Award. The ND ICWA Champion Award recognizes individuals who exceed expectations in serving Native American children and families.
Attorney General settles with service center over deceptive parking ticket practices
HARRISBURG — Attorney General Michelle Henry has reached a settlement with Walk’s Service Center Inc. and its owner, Bradley Karch, over the State College-based company’s private ticketing practices.
Attorney General's office releases report on Kyle Lockett's death
New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) released a report today on the death of Kyle Lockett, who died on November 3, 2022, following an encounter with members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in the Bronx. The investigation included a review of security camera footage, interviews with involved officers, and comprehensive legal analysis. OSI concluded that a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officers' actions against Mr. Lockett were justified under New York law.
Pardon attorney visits FCI Thomson to discuss clemency process
On July 23, Pardon Attorney Elizabeth Oyer and members of her team visited Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Thomson, a low-security Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) facility for male inmates with an adjacent minimum-security satellite camp, located in Thomson, Illinois. The Pardon Attorney and her team hosted a series of educational sessions about the federal clemency process and answered questions from FBOP staff and incarcerated individuals.
Attorney General files civil rights complaint against Bath couple for alleged harassment
Attorney General Aaron M. Frey has filed a civil complaint under the Maine Civil Rights Act in Sagadahoc County Superior Court against Andrew Pinkham, 44, and Ranada Pinkham, 43, of Bath. The complaint alleges that the Pinkhams targeted their neighbors, a Black family originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, with racist and xenophobic harassment. The Attorney General is requesting that the court bar the Pinkhams from contacting their neighbors.
AG Ferguson's inaugural AI Task Force meeting invites public comment
The public is invited to participate in the first meeting of Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force on Friday, July 26, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Myrtle Beach man arrested on child sexual abuse material charges
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Binhaur Chan, 47, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., on three charges connected to the sexual exploitation of a minor. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the South Carolina Attorney General's Office made the arrest. Investigators with the Horry County Sheriff's Office, Conway Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations, all members of the state's ICAC Task Force, assisted with this investigation.
Ohio man sentenced for threats against clinic and money laundering
An Ohio man was sentenced today for threatening to destroy a reproductive health services facility in Columbus, Ohio, and for conspiring to commit money laundering.
Derby resident sentenced to probation for possession of child sexual abuse material
Jeffrey Newbegin, 67, of Derby, Vermont, was sentenced today in Vermont Superior Court, Orleans Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one felony count of possession of child sexual abuse materials. The Attorney General’s Office announced the sentencing.
Rock Hill man faces charges for possession of child sexual abuse material
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Alan Don Ayers, 60, of Rock Hill, S.C., on five charges connected to the sexual exploitation of minors. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the York County Sheriff's Office made the arrest. Investigators with the Attorney General's Office and Homeland Security Investigations, both members of the state's ICAC Task Force, assisted with the investigation.
AG Moody warns Floridians about summer vacation rental scams
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is continuing the 2024 Summer Scams Series: Sunny Days and Shady Deals to inform Floridians about common summertime scams. In this installment, Attorney General Moody is warning Floridians about vacation rental scams. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2023 Internet Crime Complaint Center Report, real estate scams, including schemes involving short-term rentals, resulted in nearly $150 million in losses nationwide.
AG Nessel praises judge's decision on FTC's noncompete ban
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel commended Judge Kelley Hodge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for rejecting a challenge to block the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) ban on noncompete agreements. Nessel, who previously joined a multistate coalition supporting the FTC rule, praised the decision in April to implement a nationwide ban on noncompete agreements.
AFL files civil rights complaint against CrowdStrike over alleged discrimination
America First Legal (AFL) has filed a federal civil rights complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (CrowdStrike). The complaint alleges that CrowdStrike engages in discriminatory practices by limiting, segregating, and classifying white and male employees for training and promotions under its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Attorney General James secures $100K from Cameo over misleading product endorsement videos
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a bipartisan, 30-state settlement with Baron App Inc., the owner of Cameo, for failing to ensure consumers knew that videos promoting products were paid endorsements. Under the settlement agreement, Cameo must pay $100,000 in penalties, including $25,000 to New York state, and implement programs to ensure all paid advertisements are properly labeled.