LEGAL NEWSLINE

LANSING – Yesterday, Nicholas Mui, 22, of Grand Haven, pled guilty to one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise in the 17th Circuit Court in Kent County for the systemic theft and sale of account access information tied to mPerks accounts, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. With his plea, Mui will forfeit his computer tower and approximately $630,000 in frozen cryptocurrency and cash.

Last week, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel successfully defended utility bill savings for Indiana Michigan Power Company (I&M) customers at the Michigan Supreme Court. The appeal followed a March 2021 application that I&M filed with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) seeking to recover millions of dollars incurred to purchase or produce electric power for its customers in Michigan. Part of these costs included money I&M paid an affiliate power generator. The Attorney General intervened and argued that I&M paid more than comparable market prices for the power...

A federal grand jury in Brooklyn, New York, has returned a four-count indictment against Michail Chkhikvishvili, a 21-year-old Georgian national. Chkhikvishvili, also known by various aliases including Mishka and Commander Butcher, is charged with soliciting hate crimes and acts of mass violence in New York City.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody and a coalition of state attorneys general have called on the United States Senate to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act) to ensure election integrity by preventing illegal voters from participating in U.S. elections. The coalition describes the bill as a "common-sense reform" with broad support among American voters.

The United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit has issued an opinion regarding a case from North Dakota. The court stated, "...reverse Darius’s continuing criminal enterprise conviction and remand for a new trial, remand to the district court on Baquan’s drug conspiracy conviction, but affirm the judgments in all other respects."

A report issued by the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) on March 19 found that the personal injury law firm Morgan & Morgan spent $14,758,223 on legal services advertisements in California last year. These ads drive litigation, which results in an extra "tax" for every Californian of almost $2,300 annually.

Following the attempted assassination of President Trump, which resulted in the death of Corey Comperatore and injuries to two other individuals, America First Legal (AFL) has initiated multiple investigations into the federal government's actions surrounding the incident on July 13, 2024.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—To initiate the 2024 Summer Scam Series: Sunny Days and Shady Deals edition, Attorney General Ashley Moody is alerting Floridians about prevalent online shopping scams. During the summer, many online retailers offer special sales with attractive deals and discounts. Scammers may establish imposter websites to mimic these retailers and target consumers with malware and phishing texts designed to steal sensitive information. Attorney General Moody’s "Scams at a Glance: E-Commerce Cons" resource provides information and tips to help Floridians safely navigate...

TOPEKA – (July 16, 2024) – Attorney General Kris Kobach has joined a coalition of 22 state attorneys general in a letter co-led by Iowa and Indiana, urging Congressional leaders to support and pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (“SAVE”) Act. This legislation aims to enhance the electoral process by enforcing legal voting requirements and preventing ineligible non-citizens from voting.

The Supreme Court of Ohio will soon deliberate on whether stray cats and dogs should receive the same protections as household pets under evolving animal cruelty laws. The case involves Alonzo Kyles, who was convicted of felony-level cruelty for pouring bleach and water on a stray kitten found in an apartment building’s basement.

HARRISBURG – Attorney General Michelle Henry announced a settlement of a lawsuit against the owners of Split Rock Resort in Lake Harmony, regarding alleged mistreatment of consumers who purchased timeshares.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that the California Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating and will independently review an officer-involved shooting (OIS) that occurred on July 10, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. The incident, which resulted in the death of one individual, took place around 2:45 p.m. and involved the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Office.

Attorney General Raúl Labrador has joined a coalition of 22 state attorneys general in urging Congressional leaders to support and pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. This legislation aims to strengthen the electoral process by ensuring that only eligible citizens can vote.

On behalf of the United States, I am thrilled to welcome you to this official High-Level Political Forum side event, “Turning the Tide: Scaling SDG 16 for the Future, Reinforcing Access to Justice, and Advancing Democracy.”

Earlier today, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and the attorneys general of 21 other states urged the U.S. Senate to join the U.S. House in supporting the Safeguard American Voter and Eligibility (SAVE) Act. The AGs highlighted the bipartisan nature of the SAVE Act, noting its passage on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, and strongly encouraged the Senate to pass the bill.

Jay D. Mondry, born to Leo and Marion Mondry on May 4, 1939, in Grand Forks, ND, passed away on July 10, 2024, in Park Rapids, MN.

Troutman Pepper Partner Brett Ashton Mason has been elected to serve as a member of The American Law Institute, the leading independent organization in the United States producing scholarly work to clarify, modernize, and otherwise improve the law.

Nevada Secretary of State Francisco V. Aguilar and Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford issued a joint statement after three Washoe County Commissioners failed to canvass the recount of two vote totals for the June Primary Election

Oklahoma City (July 16, 2024) – Oklahoma sheriffs can now pursue grant funding to bolster the services they provide to their counties, thanks to a new grant program administered by the Office of Attorney General Gentner Drummond.

Attorney General Kris Mayes today led a coalition of 14 attorneys general in petitioning the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to initiate rulemaking to update its regulations to recognize extreme heat and wildfire smoke events as eligible for major disaster declarations under the Stafford Act. The petition also seeks to clarify that wildfire smoke events are eligible for Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) funding.