News from 2024
America First Legal Sues HHS Secretary and National Archives for Illegal Deletion of Records
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, America First Legal (AFL) filed a lawsuit against Secretary Xavier Becerra, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Archivist of the United States Colleen Shogan, and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for unlawfully destroying federal records from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).The lawsuit stems from an investigation conducted by AFL which revealed that the CDC had been illegally deleting former employees' emails in violation of the Federal Records Act. AFL had previously requested an...
Governor Noem appoints two judges to Seventh Judicial Circuit Court
Governor Kristi Noem has appointed Scott Roetzel and Eric Kelderman to serve as judges on the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court. Governor Noem expressed her confidence in their ability to uphold the law, stating, “Law and order is an integral part of the American justice system. I am confident that Scott Roetzel and Eric Kelderman will defend our Constitution and uphold our laws as Seventh Judicial Circuit Court judges.”
Lawyers expect $730K for working no-money class action settlement
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Lawyers who negotiated a no-money class action settlement want more than $700,000 for their efforts.
Regal fights new kind of fees class action under New York law
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Regal Cinemas, in response to a class action lawsuit over booking fees, says online customers are given the total price of tickets before they ever finalized their payments.
Lawsuit: COVID test-maker struggled after pandemic ended
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Investors are suing a company whose business of respiratory infection tests spiked during the COVID pandemic after less-than-thrilling financial results.
Flight attendants claim American tricked them into early retirement
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - Former flight attendants for American Airlines say it fooled them into retiring early.
Justice Department Launches Carjacking Task Forces in Targeted Areas Across the Country
The Justice Department has announced the establishment of 11 carjacking task forces in various U.S. Attorneys' Offices across the country to combat the rising public safety threat posed by carjackings. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "The Justice Department has no higher priority than keeping our communities safe." She highlighted the success of existing task forces in cities like Chicago, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Tampa, where carjacking rates have shown a significant decline.The newly formed task...
Louisiana Attorney General warns against roofing scams after Slidell tornado
Following the EF2 tornado that struck parts of Slidell last Wednesday, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has issued a warning to residents about potential roofing scams. She emphasized the importance of vigilance when hiring contractors for storm damage repairs.
FTC's 'gerrymandered' market claims at heart of Meta lawsuit
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust lawsuits against Amazon and Facebook owner Meta share one essential – and both companies say, legally shaky – claim: That they monopolized their “relevant markets.”
2024 Human Trafficking Summit Speaker Proposals and Reservations Now Available
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody today announced that 2024 Human Trafficking Summit reservations and speaker proposals are now available. Every year, the Summit brings together community leaders and stakeholders dedicated to the fight against trafficking. By participating in the Summit, speakers can share knowledge on the latest developments in the fight to end human trafficking to concerned citizens. Anyone interested in serving as a speaker at this year’s event should apply by April 30."Every year, our Human Trafficking Summit brings together local, state...
AGs, pro-life groups file briefs with 4th Circuit supporting W.Va. near-total abortion ban
RICHMOND, Virginia – Attorneys General from 23 states as well as several pro-life groups have filed amicus briefs asking a federal appeals court to uphold West Virginia’s near-total ban on abortion.
Coalition challenges EPA's environmental justice practices as racially discriminatory
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has joined a coalition of 23 states urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to amend its regulations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The coalition argues that these regulations, which consider "disparate impacts" as part of race-conscious "environmental justice" initiatives, are unconstitutional.
Leader of Multimillion-Dollar Clinic Scam Resentenced for Health Care and Tax Fraud Conspiracy
Aleksandr Pikus, the New York man at the center of a multimillion-dollar health care kickback and tax avoidance conspiracy, has been resentenced to nine years in prison and ordered to pay $39 million in restitution. The scheme orchestrated by Pikus involved referring Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries to health care providers in exchange for illegal kickbacks. As a result, the health care providers submitted millions of dollars in false and fraudulent claims to the Medicare and Medicaid programs."Pikus failed to report that cash income to the IRS, instead using sham...
Sorrento man arrested for juvenile pornography and animal abuse
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill's Cyber Crime Unit has apprehended a Sorrento resident, Jayden McConnell, on charges related to juvenile pornography and sexual abuse of an animal. The arrest took place on April 16.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Addresses Senate Subcommittee on Justice Department's Funding Request
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland recently delivered an opening statement before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, discussing the Justice Department’s funding request for Fiscal Year 2025. Garland expressed gratitude for the opportunity to address the Subcommittee, stating, "Thank you, Chair Shaheen, Ranking Member Moran, and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee, for the opportunity to discuss the Justice Department’s funding request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025."Reflecting on the challenges faced during his...
Florida Man Charged with Sex Trafficking and Assaulting Minor in New York
An indictment was unsealed in Brooklyn, New York, today charging a Florida man with sex trafficking multiple women and coercion and enticement of a minor."Joel David Forney, 41, of Kissimmee, was charged with sex trafficking; interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution; and coercion and enticement of a minor." Forney allegedly trafficked women to work in commercial sex in New York, including at an open-air sex trafficking market along a stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue in Brooklyn known as the Penn Track."According to the indictment, for years, Forney preyed...
Sorrento man arrested on juvenile pornography and animal abuse charges
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill's Cyber Crime Unit has taken a Sorrento man into custody on charges related to pornography involving juveniles and the sexual abuse of an animal. Jayden McConnell, 20, was arrested on April 16 for allegedly violating Louisiana laws concerning these offenses.
Attorney General Miyares Urges Biden Administration to Address Missing Migrant Children Crisis
Attorney General Jason Miyares of Virginia has taken a firm stance on the issue of missing migrant children, calling on the Biden administration to address the crisis promptly. In a letter addressed to Health and Human Services Secretary Becerra, Attorney General Miyares expressed his concerns regarding the welfare and safety of unaccompanied minors."The federal government has lost track of 85,000 migrant children. This is unacceptable. Local law enforcement cannot protect and ensure the well-being of children they don’t know exist," stated Attorney General Miyares.The...
The Buckeye Institute Calls on SCOTUS to Protect Private Property Rights
Columbus, OH – The Buckeye Institute has taken a stand in the case of Gonzales v. Inslee, as it filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to safeguard the private property rights of landlords. David C. Tryon, director of litigation at The Buckeye Institute, emphasized the importance of the takings clause in the U.S. Constitution, stating, "The takings clause—which says the government cannot take private property ‘without just compensation’—is a bedrock principle of the U.S. Constitution."Tryon further highlighted the significance of the case, noting, “And this...
A Global Perspective on Corporate Governance on April 19, 2024
Kathy Jaffari will speak on the panel “A Global Perspective on Corporate Governance” at the Global Capital Markets & the U.S. Securities Laws 2024 hosted by the Practising Law Institute.