LEGAL NEWSLINE

DENVER (Legal Newsline) - A waiver prohibiting lawsuits over most types of skiing accidents doesn’t apply in the case of a teenager who was left paraplegic after falling 30 feet from a chair lift at Crested Butte, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled, opening a potentially expensive new avenue for trial lawyers to sue ski resorts.

Attorney General Raúl Torrez, in collaboration with key community stakeholders, presented a set of legislative priorities they urge Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to place on the agenda at the upcoming special session.

Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that a Westerly woman has been found guilty by a Washington County Superior Court jury of abusing two children in April 2021.

On May 22, 2024, The Buckeye Institute, in collaboration with Mountain States Legal Foundation, submitted an amicus brief in the case of Smith & Wesson v. Mexico. The brief urges the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case and assert that Mexican officials cannot hold American companies accountable for drug cartel crimes within their borders.

Boulder, CO—The 20th Judicial District is organizing a Fresh Start Warrant Forgiveness Event on Saturday, June 1, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Boulder County Justice Center (1777 Sixth Street, Boulder). The event aims to assist individuals in clearing their outstanding warrants without fear of arrest.

Attorney General Todd Rokita and his team continue to secure significant penalties from illegal robocallers, amassing court wins and settlements that extend beyond Indiana. Last week, Rokita’s office led 49 bipartisan attorneys general from the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force against Avid Telecom, a company responsible for sending 24 billion problematic calls over four years. Despite numerous warnings, Avid Telecom continued transmitting these calls.

Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, along with Topher Hamblett, Executive Director of Save The Bay, Senator Victoria Gu, Representative Terri Cortvriend, and other advocates, have called for the passage of a bill to reform the Coastal Resource Management Council (CRMC). The proposed legislation aims to transform CRMC into a Department of Coastal Resources under the executive branch. This change would replace the current structure of politically-appointed board members with a state department staffed by experts in coastal issues.

On May 22, 2024, Attorney General Josh Stein emphasized the importance of public safety in North Carolina. “Keeping people safe is job one for the state,” said Stein. “I will continue to fight to protect children and families, including advocating for more law enforcement resources. Law enforcement go straight into danger to protect us all – we must put our money where our mouths are and do more to support them. That includes more resources for solving cases, fighting against fentanyl, and recruiting and retaining law enforcement officers.”

The Attorney General’s Office announced that Christopher Newhall, 38, of St. George, Vermont, was arraigned today on three felony counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, two felony counts of use of a child in a sexual performance, and two misdemeanor counts of voyeurism. The charges brought against Mr. Newhall are the result of a criminal investigation conducted by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), Homeland Security Investigations, Burlington Police Department, and Vermont State Police.

The Yankton County Drug & DUI Court team has announced a graduation ceremony to honor participants who have successfully completed the program. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. CDT in Courtroom A of the Yankton County Courthouse and Safety Center at 410 Walnut St., Yankton.

A Chinese citizen linked to a major gift-card counterfeiting operation targeting Coshocton-area consumers has been sentenced to four to six years in prison for engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today.

Two alleged members of a transnational money laundering organization were arrested on criminal charges related to their involvement in laundering millions of dollars in illegal drug proceeds for Mexican drug trafficking organizations, including the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels.

On Thursday, June 13, the Iowa Court of Appeals will hold a special ceremony to mark the retirement of Chief Judge Thomas Bower. The public ceremony is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in the supreme court courtroom on the fourth floor of the Iowa Judicial Branch Building, located at 1111 E. Court Ave., Des Moines. Overflow seating will be available. Chief Judge Bower will officially retire on July 1, 2024.

PIERRE, S.D.—South Dakota is developing a new statewide office to improve how legal representation is provided to those who cannot afford an attorney and have a right to counsel under state or federal law. During its first meeting on May 16, 2024, the Commission on Indigent Legal Services approved posting a job announcement to hire a chief defender to lead the new Office of Indigent Legal Services. This person will direct a team of public defense professionals to provide statewide indigent representation services in appeals of criminal, habeas corpus, and abuse or neglect of...

TOPEKA—The 31st Judicial District Nominating Commission has selected Zelda Schlotterbeck to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in Woodson County.

A Richmond man was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison for possession of a machinegun. According to court documents, on September 9, 2022, a Hanover County deputy sheriff performed a traffic stop on a car in which Jarec Dominique Brown, 23, was a passenger. At the time, Brown possessed a backpack at his feet. The deputy lawfully searched the backpack and recovered a 9mm firearm equipped with a machinegun conversion device (MCD), rendering the firearm capable of fully automatic fire. Brown was also in possession of three ammunition magazines and 66 rounds of ammunition....

Richard Irish, 57, of South Royalton, Vermont, was sentenced today in Vermont Superior Court, Windsor Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one count of felony possession of child sexual abuse material. Judge Heather Gray presided over the court and sentenced Irish to 10 years of probation with conditions that restrict his access to the internet and contact with minors. If Irish violates the terms of his probation, he may face up to five years in jail. Additionally, he is required to register as a sex offender until 10 years have elapsed after the completion of his...

Attorney General William Tong has issued a statement criticizing a petition filed by 19 Republican state attorneys general with the U.S. Supreme Court. The petition seeks to block cases brought by Connecticut and four other states, which aim to hold ExxonMobil accountable for alleged deception regarding climate change.

OVW conducted a live web-based pre-application information session for its Fiscal Year 2024 Electronic Service Protection Order Court Pilot (ESPOC) Program solicitation. During the presentation, OVW staff reviewed this program’s requirements, discussed the solicitation, and allowed for a brief question-and-answer period.

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) announced today that Wisconsin ranked second in the nation for the most prescription medications collected during the spring 2024 Drug Take Back event. The state collected 55,122 lbs. of unwanted medications this spring.