LEGAL NEWSLINE

Ten men from three states who attempted to buy sex were arrested this week during an undercover human trafficking operation in Steubenville, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Steubenville Police Chief Ken Anderson announced today.

Idaho has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Hecox v. Little following a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit against Idaho’s 2020 Fairness in Women’s Sports Act. Lindsay Hecox, a biological male, sued the State of Idaho after being prohibited from competing in women’s track and field events at Boise State University. With differing Circuit opinions on similar cases across the country, Idaho's filing urges the Supreme Court to grant certiorari to resolve these issues.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with a coalition of 18 attorneys general, has filed an amicus brief supporting the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Discriminatory Effects Rule. This rule was adopted by HUD to enforce the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA), which seeks to eliminate racial and other forms of prohibited discrimination in housing and related services. The insurance industry is currently challenging the Discriminatory Effects Rule, which holds insurers and other parties accountable for housing practices that may seem neutral but...

Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer delivered remarks at the United Nations' 2024 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development on July 11, 2024.

A Maryland man has been sentenced to more than three decades in prison for the fatal shooting of Charles “Jaimie” Kupidlowski in 2023. On June 17, Steven M. Smith of Centreville, MD, pleaded guilty in Kent County Superior Court to Murder 2nd Degree and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. Smith, 37, was immediately sentenced to 35 years in prison followed by descending levels of probation. The sentence follows an investigation into the 2023 murder of Charles Kupidlowski in Felton.

The Windham Superior Court in Brattleboro will commence renovations between August 5-12. These renovations are anticipated to last up to one year. The court will remain operational during this period, though there may be instances where hearings will need to either go fully remote or be relocated to a different courtroom.

The Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $241.5 million settlement with Marathon Oil Company for Clean Air Act violations at the company's oil and gas production operations on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. The settlement mandates that Marathon pay a civil penalty of $64.5 million, the largest ever for such violations at stationary sources like oil and gas tank systems. Marathon is also required to implement extensive compliance measures aimed at significantly reducing harmful emissions from over 200 facilities across...

Attorney General Moody’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Secures Half a Million Dollars for Florida Medicaid Program

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has joined a coalition of 24 state attorneys general in opposing the Biden administration’s recent regulatory changes concerning residential washing machines. The new rule aims to impose stricter energy efficiency standards, which critics argue will lead to increased costs for consumers and contribute to inflation.

Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that a Brighton, Illinois man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to the dissemination of child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission convened in Sevierville to evaluate eight candidates for a circuit court judge vacancy in the 4th Judicial District, encompassing Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson, and Sevier counties.

The Judicial Nominating Board is seeking applicants for three new Superior Judge positions created during the recent legislative session and enacted into law effective July 1, 2024. The Chief Superior Judge will assign one judge to the Northeastern area of the North Region of the Superior Court, with primary assignments to the Washington, Lamoille, Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans units. The successful candidates for the second and third positions will be assigned to the Northwest area of the North Region of the Superior Court, with primary assignments to the Chittenden,...

A Long Island fisherman was sentenced to 30 months in prison and two years of supervised release for his involvement in a fisheries fraud conspiracy linked to his tenure as captain of the trawler New Age from 2014 to 2017. Christopher Winkler, from Montauk, was convicted by a jury in October 2023 on charges including one count of federal criminal conspiracy, two counts of mail fraud, and two counts of obstruction of justice.

Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the arrest of a Montgomery County man on a charge of human trafficking in the first degree for commercial sex acts involving a juvenile. Terrell Bailey, 27, of Montgomery, was arrested today by Special Agents of the Attorney General’s Office with assistance from the United States Marshals Service and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail.

The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has initiated an investigation into the death of a civilian following an encounter with members of the Buffalo Police Department (BPD) on July 10, 2024.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced that his office has filed felony charges against Andrew Hall, 42, for allegedly defrauding consumers through his business, Trophy Contracting. Hall faces two counts of Deceptive Business Practices for activities in the City of St. Louis.

The Eddy County Clerk of Court office will be closing at 10:30 am on Monday, July 15, 2024. If assistance is needed, please contact the Wells County Clerk of Court office at 701-547-3122.

Attorney General Russell Coleman released the following statement regarding the passing of David Hocker, of Owensboro.

Holland & Knight advised Savara Inc. (Nasdaq: SVRA), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on rare respiratory diseases, in connection with a $100 million underwritten common stock offering.

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the arrests and indictments of Daler Yuldashev and Damir Yuldashev, their company DYD Universe, Inc. (DYD), and Nigina Iskandarova for their roles in a scheme that stole over $2.3 million from Medicaid and paid illegal kickbacks to Medicaid recipients. Daler and Damir Yuldashev operated DYD.