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Atlanta business owner: Lawsuits are ‘causing auto and commercial rates to explode’
Chris Hellgeth, owner of the Atlanta-based fuel-hauling company Vi-Mac, has called for "tort reform" to prevent lawsuits from "causing auto and commercial rates to explode." Hellgeth made this statement in an April 16 post on X.
Lawyer in hot water over insurance claims deserved a hearing, Fifth Circuit rules
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - A lawyer who worked at a Houston law firm that has run afoul of the law will get a second chance to show he shouldn't have been suspended for nine months.
Tennessee SC blocks companies from using defense in negligent training, supervision claims
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - Trader Joe's has lost a court decision in Tennessee that will have implications for other corporations fighting personal injury lawsuits.
Privacy class action firms jockey for control of 23andMe data breach claims; Edelson calls for new approach
Data privacy class action firm Edelson P.C. is seeking to control 40 class actions, potentially worth huge money, against 23andMe for allegedly allowing genetic info to be stolen in a data breach. In a new filing, Edelson is asking courts to reconsider how they decide which lawyers should lead
AGs urge federal court to review EPA’s new tailpipe emissions rules
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is leading a group of 25 states calling on a federal appeals court to review the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new rule on car tailpipes.
Forge Industrial Staffing: the DOL’s demand for client information is a ‘raw exercise of the government’s coercive power’
Forge Industrial Staffing has expressed strong opposition to the Department of Labor's (DOL) investigation into its hiring practices, describing it as "a raw exercise of the government's coercive power." The company is contesting a magistrate judge's recommendation that it should surrender its clients' information to the DOL. This statement was part of Forge's court filing on March 18.
Justice Department Launches Updated Voting Rights and Elections Website
The Justice Department has unveiled an updated voting and elections website, www.justice.gov/voting, aimed at providing essential information for voters and election officials at the state and local levels. The update includes the publication of new informational guides on voting rights and the revision of existing guides to ensure that all eligible voters can participate in the electoral process without facing discrimination or intimidation.Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the importance of voting, stating, "The right to vote is the cornerstone of our...
Justice Department Seizes Four Web Domains Used to Create Over 40,000 Spoofed Websites and Store the Personal Information of More Than a Million Victims
The Justice Department has seized four web domains used in a cybercrime scheme that involved creating over 40,000 spoofed websites and storing the personal information of more than a million victims. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, “Together with our international partners, the Justice Department has disrupted another cybercrime scheme originating from Russia that enabled criminals to steal from over a million victims in the United States and around the world.”The domains were seized as part of an investigation into a spoofing service operated through the...
Washington hospitals could be liable for malpractice by contractor physicians
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) - Hospitals may be liable for the actions of contractor physicians working in their emergency rooms, the Washington Supreme Court ruled, reversing the dismissal of a case involving a woman who died after an ER doc allegedly failed to diagnose flesh-eating bacteria in her shoulder.
Morrisey leads multistate coalition in urging Congress to scrap DEI bills
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is leading a coalition of 19 states asking Congressional leadership to reject two Democrat-sponsored bills that would codify diversity, equity and inclusion – commonly known as DEI – into law.
Office of School Safety Provides Behavioral and Threat Assessment Management Training Ahead of 25th Anniversary of Columbine Shooting
The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of School Safety (OSS) is conducting a Behavioral and Threat Assessment Management (BTAM) training in Appleton, Wis. as part of preparations ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting.Attorney General Josh Kaul highlighted the importance of such trainings, stating, "It has been 25 years since the Columbine tragedy, and, sadly, violence in schools hasn’t gone away. The need to be vigilant about school safety has only become clearer... we must take a proactive approach to keeping kids safe in school."...
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...
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.
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...
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...
The Buckeye Institute Proposes Solutions to Address Classroom Space Demand
Columbus, OH – In a new policy memo, The Buckeye Institute has put forth recommendations to tackle the increasing need for classroom space in private and charter schools in Ohio. Greg R. Lawson, a research fellow at The Buckeye Institute, suggests specific actions in the memo, such as authorizing the state treasurer to implement financial programs for non-district schools.Lawson, in the policy memo, emphasized the importance of implementing programs to support non-district schools, stating, "authorize the state treasurer to make linked deposit programs and a loan...
U.S. Army Financial Counselor Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Gold Star Families
A New Jersey financial counselor with the U.S. Army and a major in the U.S. Army Reserves, known as Caz Craffy, has pleaded guilty to defrauding Gold Star families and related crimes. Craffy, 41, of Colts Neck, admitted to the charges before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner in Trenton, New Jersey.Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized that those who exploit and defraud the families of fallen American servicemembers will face the consequences of their actions. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey highlighted Craffy's abuse of his...