News published on Legal Newsline in July 2024

PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - A high-ranking U.S. Department of Labor attorney in Pennsylvania was actually exiled to D.C. as he was simultaneously disparaging opposing counsel as "Washington lawyers" in a $22 million case in Philadelphia.

Attorney General Tim Griffin announced the arrest of Alexander Page Garner, 21, of North Little Rock on two counts of distributing, possessing, or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child.

A federal grand jury in the Central District of California has indicted a prominent activist short seller on multiple counts of securities fraud, accusing him of orchestrating a market manipulation scheme that generated at least $16 million in profits.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke delivered remarks at the National Urban League’s Annual Conference on July 26, 2024. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of perseverance in the fight for equal justice for Black Americans and highlighted the intertwined history of American democracy with both defeats and victories.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced an $86 million multistate settlement in principle with opioid manufacturer Indivior for its role in exacerbating opioid addictions across New York and the nation. Indivior produced buprenorphine-based products intended to treat opioid use disorder, but these products have been misused, further fueling addiction.

The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will virtually cohost the first public meeting of the Strike Force on Unfair and Illegal Pricing (Strike Force) on Thursday, Aug. 1, to discuss enforcement actions aimed at lowering prices for Americans.

Attorney General Todd Rokita is warning Hoosiers to be vigilant against scammers soliciting donations for fake charitable causes. Following the legitimate fundraising efforts to support families affected by the July 13 attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, scammers have initiated copycat campaigns to deceive donors.

A federal grand jury issued a superseding indictment yesterday charging former correctional officer Darrell Wayne Smith with 15 counts of sexual abuse, including a civil rights violation, against five female victims who were inmates under his custody and control at Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin (FCI Dublin).

Three individuals have been sentenced for participating in an international scheme involving the sale of tens of thousands of pirated business telephone system software licenses with a retail value of over $88 million.

Attorney General Josh Stein today announced an $86 million multistate settlement in principle with opioid manufacturer Indivior for its role in the opioid crisis. North Carolina state and local governments are expected to receive approximately $2.5 million from this settlement. In total, Attorney General Stein has secured nearly $1.5 billion in opioid settlement funds for North Carolina.

Gordon Hoberg, 94, of Napoleon, ND, passed away on July 3, 2024, at SMP Health Ave Maria in Jamestown.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has spearheaded a 15-state coalition in filing a brief in support of former President Donald Trump's appeal against a court order mandating him to pay approximately $355 million for allegedly making false real estate statements.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that the Circuit Court of Shelby County has granted a preliminary injunction against Legend Windows, LLC and individuals associated with the business, including Jody Ray Whitworth, Bobby Ray Whitworth, and Robin Simmons Willard.

The United States has filed a complaint against Murphy Medical Center, Inc., doing business as Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital, and Chattanooga-Hamilton County Hospital Authority, doing business as Erlanger Health System and Erlanger Medical Center (collectively, Erlanger), in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. The government alleges that Erlanger, a health care system located in Tennessee and North Carolina, violated the Stark Law and thereby submitted false claims to the Medicare program.

On the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Attorney General Merrick B. Garland signed a final rule under Title II of the ADA to improve access to medical diagnostic equipment (MDE) for people with disabilities. MDE includes equipment such as medical examination tables, weight scales, dental chairs, x-ray machines, and mammography machines. Accessible MDE is essential for people with disabilities to have equal access to medical care.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland delivered remarks on the arrests of alleged leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, Ismael Zambada Garcia (El Mayo) and Joaquin Guzman Lopez.

An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued an information bulletin today to city attorneys and county counsel, reminding them of new state law requirements regarding inspections of apartments and other multi-family properties. Authored by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas) and signed into law in 2023, Assembly Bill 548 (AB 548) mandates local enforcement agencies to develop policies and procedures by January 1, 2025. These policies are to ensure that all relevant portions of a building are inspected when substandard conditions or violations of State Housing Law are...

Earlier this week, former Kent County investment advisor Jaime Westenbarger, 46, now residing in Nashville, TN, was sentenced to 30 to 240 months of incarceration by Judge Scott A. Noto in the 17th Circuit Court in Kent County. This sentencing follows one count of Embezzlement $100,000 or More. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that Westenbarger received a concurrent sentence of 30 to 180 months for one count of Embezzlement $50,000 or More But Less Than $100,000.

Attorney General Raoul announces $86 million national settlement in principle with Indivior for role in opioid crisis