News from March 2024
Attorney General Liz Murrill’s Cyber Crime Unit Arrests Gonzales Man For 247 Counts Of Possession Of Child Pornography
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s Cyber Crime Unit arrested Phoenix Goodwin (W/M, DOB 9/19/1993) of Gonzales on March 7, 2024.
Ga. attorney disciplined by Supreme Court for a second time surrenders law license
ATLANTA, Ga. (Legal Newsline) — The Georgia Supreme Court accepted the voluntary surrender of a Georgia attorney's law license after he was accused of communicating with a person represented by another attorney without permission.
IL Supreme Court: Hockey club that rents ice arena can be sued under IL human rights law for 'banishing' teen diagnosed with depression
The Illinois Supreme Court says the teen's mental health diagnoses mean she could be protected by the IL Human Rights Act's anti-discrimination provisions protecting access to "places of public accommodation." Objectors contended such reasoning could open broad range of private organizations to lawsuits, violating First Amendment
International Arbitration of Crypto-Related Disputes on March 12, 2024
International arbitration partner Juliya Arbisman has been invited to present in a panel session on “International Arbitration of Crypto-Related Disputes” as part of California International Arbitration Week.
Sheppard Mullin Recognized in 2024 JD Supra Readers’ Choice Awards
Seven Sheppard Mullin attorneys have been recognized as 2024 JD Supra Top Authors: Townsend Bourne (Government Contracting), A.J. Dhaliwal (Finance & Banking), Dominick DiSabatino (Life Sciences), Ann O’Brien (Antitrust & Trade Regulation), Moorari Shah (Finance & Banking), Liisa Thomas (Data Privacy) and Jonathan Wang (International Law).
Colorado Super Lawyers Recognizes Shook Partner
Shook Partner Eric Hobbs has been named in the Colorado Super Lawyers for 2024.
Holland & Knight Represents EmVenio Research in Acquisition by PCM Trials
Holland & Knight advised EmVenio Research, the largest provider of community-based clinical trial sites served with mobile research units, in its acquisition by PCM Trials.
Three Polsinelli Attorneys Accepted into Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Development Programs
Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli is pleased to announce that three of its attorneys will be part of the 2024 Fellows and Pathfinder Programs of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), an organization challenging the legal profession to prepare future generations of diverse talent for the highest positions of leadership.
Kansas court rules driver's licenses must list sex at birth
The District Court of Shawnee County has issued a temporary injunction and memorandum decision in the case of State of Kansas ex rel. Kris Kobach v. David Harper, et al. The court ruled that Kansas driver's licenses must list sex at birth and only sex at birth.
Attorney General Moody Takes Legal Action Against Charity Misusing Funds Meant for Cancer Patients
Attorney General Ashley Moody has taken legal action against Cancer Recovery Foundation International, Inc. and its founder Gregory B. Anderson for misusing funds meant for cancer patients. The charity, which also operated under the name Women’s Cancer Fund, claimed to provide financial support directly to cancer patients and families in need. However, a civil investigation revealed that only a small fraction of the donated funds actually went towards supporting patients.In response to the situation, Attorney General Moody stated, “The defendants in this case exploited...
Attorney General Moody Releases 2024 Open Government Manual in Recognition of National Sunshine Week
Attorney General Ashley Moody has released the 2024 Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual to kick off National Sunshine Week. The manual, compiled and written by the Florida Attorney General’s Office, is aimed at assisting the public and governmental agencies in understanding the requirements of and exemptions to the state’s open government laws."In recognition of National Sunshine Week, we are publishing the 2024 Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual online for free. This manual is available for all to download and reference in order to better understand Florida’s open records...
Attorney General Miyares Leads Coalition Defending Montana’s TikTok Law
Attorney General Jason Miyares, alongside 18 other states, has filed an amicus brief in support of Montana’s legislation aimed at requiring TikTok to separate from its parent company ByteDance. The legislation, which mirrors federal legislation that recently passed unanimously out of a House Committee, seeks to protect the data and privacy of Montanans.Speaking on the matter, Attorney General Miyares emphasized the importance of protecting citizens from foreign threats, stating, “Montana has the authority and responsibility to protect its citizens from foreign threats to...
Second Circuit Drug Court to honor graduates in Sioux Falls
The Second Circuit Drug Court is set to hold a graduation ceremony on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. CDT in Sioux Falls. The event will take place at the Minnehaha County Administration Building.
The Buckeye Institute Investigates Discriminatory Legal Programs
The Buckeye Institute has taken action against race-based programs in the legal field that may be in violation of federal law. In a recent move, the institute sent letters to various bar associations and law firms, as well as public records requests to Ohio’s public law schools, seeking information on such programs.David C. Tryon, director of litigation at The Buckeye Institute, emphasized the importance of adhering to federal law in these matters, stating, “While the sentiments of these programs may be laudable, they violate federal law and are unconstitutional....
America First Legal Sues Biden’s DOJ for Hiding Documents on Government Collusion with the Extremist SPLC in Targeting Concerned Parents
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, America First Legal (AFL) sued the Department of Justice (DOJ) to enforce immediate compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). In August, AFL filed a FOIA request with the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ regarding the Southern Poverty Law Center’s (SPLC) annual “Year in Hate and Extremism.” The report targeted what they call the “anti-government movement,” which included national parents’ rights organizations like Moms for Liberty and Parents Defending Education. These groups stand up for parental rights in the classroom and against...
Attorney General Miyares and FTC Take Legal Action Against Sham Cancer Charity
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, alongside the Federal Trade Commission and nine other states, has filed a lawsuit against the Cancer Recovery Foundation International, also known as Women’s Cancer Fund, and its operator, Gregory B. Anderson. The complaint alleges that the sham charity deceived donors by claiming to support women battling cancer and their families financially, while in reality, only a small fraction of the donations went towards this cause.Miyares expressed his disappointment in the situation, stating, "Virginians are generous people....
Justice Department Fiscal Year 2025 Funding Request Aims to Keep America Safe and Uphold Civil Rights
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the importance of the Justice Department's mission, stating, “The dedicated men and women of the Justice Department work every day to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe, and protect civil rights.”The budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2025 includes significant investments to enhance law enforcement capabilities and combat various threats. This includes over $20.6 billion to expand the capacity of the Department’s law enforcement and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, with specific allocations for agencies such as the FBI, DEA,...
CFPB takes on 'risky' loans but won't tell industry what that means
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A federal agency tasked with regulating lenders refuses to actually explain its rules, causing uncertainty that can choke consumers' access to credit.
Connecticut court dodges decision on whether blog is 'news media'
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - The Connecticut Supreme Court has delayed, for now, a decision on whether the state’s media shield law protects a blogger who published anonymous comments that a Hartford police officer considers defamatory.
Eight months of using skin-lightening agent caused death, lawsuit alleges
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - A wrongful death lawsuit blames a Massachusetts store at which a man bought skin-whitening treatment that caused chemical burns.