News from 2024
Government receives record-breaking number of FOIA requests in fiscal year 2023
The Office of Information Policy (OIP) has released its Summary of Annual FOIA Reports for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. This summary provides an overview of FOIA activities across the government during the previous fiscal year, examining key statistics in FOIA administration and identifying trends in FOIA processing. Each summary serves as a resource for both agencies and the public to gain an understanding of overall FOIA administration.
Justice Department reviews progress on protecting reproductive rights
On Thursday, June 6, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer convened the Justice Department’s Reproductive Rights Task Force (RRTF) to discuss ongoing efforts to protect reproductive freedoms under federal law. The RRTF, chaired by Acting Associate Attorney General Mizer, was established in July 2022 following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
Lauderdale County man convicted on multiple counts of child pornography possession
Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the conviction of a Lauderdale County man on multiple counts of possession of child pornography. Kevin Prather, 52, of Rogersville, pleaded guilty yesterday in Lauderdale County Circuit Court to five counts of possession of obscene material depicting a person under the age of 17.
Caregiver convicted in freezing death of elderly woman
LANSING – Colleen Kelly O’Connor, 58, of East Lansing, was convicted by a Clinton County jury today of Vulnerable Adult Abuse—Second Degree related to the death by exposure of an 82-year-old woman on December 23, 2022, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. The charge is a four-year felony.
Justice Department launches initiative to improve accessibility
The Justice Department has announced the launch of Access DOJ, a new initiative led by the Office for Access to Justice (ATJ). This initiative aims to enhance access to Justice Department programs and services through human-centered design.
CityMD settles over $12M for alleged false COVID-19 claims
City Medical of the Upper East Side, PLLC, Summit Medical Group, P.A., Summit Health Management, LLC, and Village Practice Management Company, LLC, collectively known as CityMD, have agreed to pay $12,037,109 to settle allegations of violating the False Claims Act. The accusations involve submitting false claims for COVID-19 testing payments to a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) program intended for uninsured patients.
Court restricts Monument Inc.'s handling of consumer health data
The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced today that a federal court in Washington, D.C., has entered a settlement prohibiting alcohol addiction treatment company Monument Inc. from misrepresenting its data privacy practices and disclosing its customers’ health information to third parties for advertising purposes. The settlement also mandates the company to implement measures to safeguard its customers’ personal information. Additionally, the court imposed a $2.5 million civil penalty judgment against Monument, which is suspended due to the...
Attorney General Mayes addresses investigation into Apache County Attorney
Earlier today, Attorney General Mayes sent a letter to the Apache County Board of Supervisors concerning an ongoing investigation into alleged conduct by Apache County Attorney Michael Whiting. The warrant issued earlier this week remains sealed by the court, and the Attorney General’s Office has no additional comments to make at this time.
TN and MS AGs Lead Multi-State Suit to Protect Healthcare Providers and States’ Residents from Department of Health and Human Services’ Unlawful ‘Rule’
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch today announced a multi-state lawsuit challenging a new rule recently promulgated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that redefines the Affordable Care Act’s prohibition against discrimination on the basis of “sex” to include “gender identity.”
Nebraska Attorney General's Office Issues Consumer Alert Regarding Scam Text Messages for SunPass Toll Roads
The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office is issuing a Consumer Alert involving a text scam concerning toll roads that is circulating in Nebraska.
Accomplished Litigator Seth Kruglak Joins McGuireWoods as Partner in New York
Seth Kruglak has joined McGuireWoods’ litigation practice as a partner in New York, bringing two decades of experience representing corporate clients and individuals in high-stakes disputes and complex investigations.
Fox Rothschild Assists New Jersey Cannabis Cultivator and Manufacturer in Securing $7 Million in Funding
A multidisciplinary team of Fox Rothschild attorneys assisted legal cannabis startup Mollitiam NJ in securing $1.6 million in seed and bridge equity funding and $5.4 million in debt to establish a new cultivation and processing factory in Plainfield, New Jersey.
Capito introduces resolution to block Biden plan to shutter power plants
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito is leading 43 other Senators in introducing a formal challenge to the Biden administration’s regulations intended to shut down American power plants through a Congressional Review Act joint resolution of disapproval.
Attorney General Platkin Announces the Retirement of New Jersey Racing Commission Executive Director Judith A. Nason
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced the retirement of Judith A. Nason from the New Jersey Racing Commission (NJRC).
New Mexico Department of Justice Wins in Significant Decision as Court Denies Meta’s Motion to Dismiss
New Mexico Department of Justice is applauding a significant legal victory as Judge Bryan Biedscheid has denied Meta’s motion to dismiss the case brought by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, which focuses on the platform’s role in enabling child sexual exploitation
Wis. cop blamed for fatal shooting of suicidal man
GREEN BAY, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - The fatal shooting of a 33-year-old Army veteran who had a gun to his head was not justified, a lawsuit against Appleton, Wis., says.
Adult children can sue for loss of parents - who are still alive
HONOLULU (Legal Newsline) - Adding a new path for collecting damages in personal injury lawsuits, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled children, including adult children, can sue for the loss of consortium of a parent who is severely injured but still alive.
'Poorly reasoned' and 'self-serving': Industry groups attack FTC's ban of noncompete clauses
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - The Federal Trade Commission's conclusion that noncompete agreements harms employees was no surprise, industry groups are telling the Philadelphia federal judge who has a chance to block the FTC's new rule banning them.
Texas AG defends state's right in border litigation against Biden administration
Attorney General Ken Paxton released a statement following the argument before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit regarding Texas's lawsuit against the federal government over concertina wire at the border.
Attorney General Paxton reiterates duty to redact personal info on ballots
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has issued a legal ruling in response to a request for records under the Public Information Act, emphasizing that governmental entities must redact any personally identifiable information on voters’ ballots when such requests are made.