LEGAL NEWSLINE

The Supreme Court of Ohio has upheld a state utility regulator’s finding that AEP Ohio is not recovering through its distribution rates the costs it incurs to provide generation service. The high court rejected an appeal by a competing electricity generator against the Public Utility Commission of Ohio's (PUCO) decision to approve AEP's rate plan, as the competitor did not demonstrate that the PUCO acted unreasonably.

Attorney General William Tong announced a $186,731 civil judgment against Newtown registered nurse Jeannie V. Pasacreta following an illegal scheme to bill the Connecticut Medicaid program for psychotherapy and medical services she never provided.

Attorney General Raoul reaches $1.5 million settlement with temporary staffing company over use of no-poach and wage-fixing agreements

Three real estate investors have pleaded guilty to engaging in an extensive, multi-year conspiracy to fraudulently obtain a $74 million loan and a $45 million loan and fraudulently acquire multifamily properties.

On August 1, 2024, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco announced the launch of a new corporate whistleblower awards program. This initiative aims to enhance the Justice Department's efforts to hold corporate wrongdoers accountable.

The attorneys general for Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington have filed a lawsuit in federal district court against Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. The New York-based pharmaceutical company is accused of inflating the costs that the states’ Medicaid programs have paid for the eye medication Eylea. The complaint alleges that this scheme led to tens of thousands of false claims being submitted to Medicaid and resulted in millions of dollars in losses for the states.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody has activated Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline following a state of emergency declaration for areas preparing for Invest 97L. State price gouging laws are now in effect for the counties covered by the state of emergency: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa,...

Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer delivered remarks at the first public Strike Force on Unfair and Illegal Pricing meeting on August 1, 2024. In his address, Mizer highlighted the Department of Justice's (DOJ) efforts to combat unfair and illegal pricing practices across various industries.

Attorney General Todd Rokita and State Comptroller Elise Nieshalla have called on Indiana University (IU) to demonstrate compliance with a state law that prohibits the Kinsey Institute from using taxpayer funds.

The Maine Justice Foundation (MJF), which administers the Access to Justice Tax Credit Program, has announced recipients for 2024.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced several senior staff promotions, appointing Ralph Molina as Deputy First Assistant Attorney General, Joseph Mazzara as Special Counsel to the Attorney General and to the First Assistant Attorney General, Ryan Baasch as Associate Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation, and Amy Hilton as Chief of the Healthcare Program Enforcement Division.

Attorney General Liz Murrill’s Cyber Crime Unit has arrested a Lake Charles man on charges related to pornography involving juveniles.

New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) released its report on the death of Benjamin Rivers, who died on August 3, 2023, following an encounter with members of the Niagara Falls Police Department (NFPD) in Niagara Falls. The investigation included a review of body-worn camera footage, interviews with involved officers and civilian witnesses, and comprehensive legal analysis. OSI concluded that a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officers’ actions against Mr. Rivers were justified under...

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced today that the California Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating and will independently review an officer-involved shooting (OIS) that occurred on July 31, 2024, in Rosemead, California. The incident, which resulted in the death of one individual, took place around 9:00 p.m. and involved the San Gabriel Police Department.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi has issued permanent injunctions against Thomas Walt Dallas, Jason Todd Mardis, and Capital Preservation Services LLC. The court's decision bars them from making statements about tax benefits for compensation and includes other relief measures. The defendants consented to the entry of the injunctions.

Attorney General Ashley Moody is leading a coalition of 19 other attorneys general in opposing the Biden-Harris administration’s assertion that state laws preventing de-banking constitute a “national security threat.” The coalition argues that this claim is an attempt to create confusion about state laws to further what they describe as extreme activist agendas.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach has issued a warning to residents about potential scams by transient contractors following recent storm damage in several counties. The affected areas include Barton, Cloud, Dickinson, Douglas, Geary, Gove, Graham, Johnson, Leavenworth, Lincoln, Marion, Marshall, Miami, Morris, Osage, Phillips, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Rooks, Russell, Saline, Shawnee, Wabaunsee and Wyandotte.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has notified the Biden Administration of Texas’s intent to sue the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the listing of the dunes sagebrush lizard under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke announced the findings of a statewide civil rights investigation into the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) on August 1, 2024. The investigation, conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, examined five juvenile justice facilities in Texas.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri delivered remarks on August 1, 2024, announcing the launch of the Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program. This initiative aims to enhance the Department of Justice's enforcement efforts and encourage corporate accountability.