LEGAL NEWSLINE

Dykema, a leading national law firm, is proud to share that Sherrie Farrell, Dykema’s Chief Diversity Officer, and Laura Baucus, Director of the firm’s Automotive Industry Group, each participated in the Diversity Lab’s “Moments to Movements Hackathon,” held on July 11, 2024, at NYU School of Law.

New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) today released its report on the death of Michael Dotel, who died on December 23, 2023 after an encounter with members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in the Bronx.

Attorney General John M. Formella announces the initiation of an enforcement action by the Civil Rights Unit against Lavaughn Barnett, alleging five violations of the New Hampshire Civil Rights Act.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued a permanent injunction today barring Texas tax return preparer Ruben Gonzalez and anyone acting with him or at his direction from preparing federal tax returns for others. Gonzalez consented to entry of the permanent injunction.

Attorney General Josh Stein has announced his support for maintaining federal laws that regulate the transport of firearms across state lines. “These laws exist to keep families safe and help law enforcement investigate crime,” said Attorney General Stein. “I’m defending these commonsense protections to help prevent gun violence and protect North Carolinians.”

A former Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, attorney pleaded guilty today to tax evasion for calendar year 2016 in connection with substantial legal fees he earned while associated with The Powell Law Group P.C., a Luzerne County-based law firm. Powell was released on an unsecured bond while awaiting his sentencing.

Michael Lee Tomasi, 37, of Rio Verde, Arizona, pleaded guilty yesterday to making threats against federal officials.

Attorney General Kris Mayes announced that the Maricopa County Superior Court has entered a $902,508 judgment against Matthew Willes and his companies—Valley Delivery LLC, My Home Services LLC, Next Day Delivery LLC, and Next Day Holdings LLC—for deceiving Arizonans by leaving fake “missed delivery” slips on consumers’ doors. These slips led consumers to contact the companies and unknowingly provide personal information and consent to receive telephone solicitations.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has issued a notice to the City of Dallas, urging it to rescind the State Fair of Texas's recent policy prohibiting citizens from lawfully carrying firearms on the premises during the annual event. The State Fair of Texas, which manages Fair Park under a twenty-five-year lease agreement with the city since 2002, announced this prohibition.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with a coalition of 22 attorneys general, has joined an amicus brief in the Second Circuit case United States v. Perez. The brief supports the federal Gun Control Act of 1968’s provision that prohibits anyone other than a licensed firearms dealer from transporting or receiving firearms from out of state. The coalition argues that 18 U.S. Code section 922(a)(3) is crucial for supporting states' efforts to reduce gun violence by ensuring residents purchase firearms from licensed in-state dealers through lawful, recorded transactions.

New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against Acima Digital, Acima Holdings, and Acima Solutions (collectively known as Acima) for allegedly deceiving over 100,000 New York consumers. The lawsuit claims that Acima violated New York’s rent-to-own law by “leasing” goods that could not be returned, charging more than the allowable amount on goods, and misleading consumers about the cost of financing provided by Acima. These actions reportedly led to contracts that more than doubled the price of items for consumers. The lawsuit aims to halt these deceptive...

Attorney General Henry Announces Conviction in Water Contamination Case Against Western PA Natural Gas Supplier

OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta, pursuant to Assembly Bill 1506 (AB 1506), released a report today on Daniel Valdivia’s death from an officer-involved shooting in Covina, California, on April 9, 2022. The incident involved officers from the Covina Police Department (CPD). This report is part of the California Department of Justice's (DOJ) ongoing efforts to provide transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices. It provides a detailed analysis of the incident and outlines DOJ's findings. After a thorough investigation, DOJ concluded that criminal...

The Justice Department’s Office for Access to Justice (ATJ) hosted this quarter’s convening with national public defense organizations on August 14, 2024. ATJ Director Rachel Rossi, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division, Administrator Liz Ryan of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Acting Assistant Attorney General Brent Cohen of the Office of Justice Programs, and Director Nancy La Vigne of the National Institute of Justice delivered remarks focused on youth defense.

The Juvenile Court in Williston, ND, has announced an opening for a full-time Juvenile Court Officer I. The position offers a monthly salary of $5,671 and is part of Unit 4 - Juvenile Court. Applications are being accepted from August 14, 2024, until September 4, 2024.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond has praised a recent ruling by the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of Oklahoma, a 25-state coalition, and other plaintiffs challenging a new Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) rule. The contested rule seeks to reclassify pistols equipped with stabilizing braces as National Firearms Act-regulated short-barreled rifles. The decision announced last week reverses a lower court’s denial of a preliminary injunction on the rule and sends the lawsuit back to district court.

Attorney General Josh Stein announced today that Valerie Ann Sinclair of Fayetteville pleaded guilty to 21 counts of obtaining property by false pretenses in Moore County Superior Court. Judge Regina M. Joe ordered Sinclair to surrender her clinical mental health counselor supervisor license and pay $71,046.04 in restitution to the North Carolina Medicaid program. She also sentenced Sinclair to 60 months of supervised probation and required Sinclair to immediately serve 90 days of confinement.

Attorney General Peter F. Neronha today announced the filing of a lawsuit against UPP Global, LLC (UPP Global), a parking management company operating in Providence, Newport, and East Greenwich, for alleged unfair and deceptive practices targeting Rhode Island consumers.

Applications are now being accepted for a full-time justice court judge position in Washington County, Utah. This role will replace Judge Doug Whitlock, who is set to retire in January.

The Justice Department has unsealed an indictment charging U.S.-Iranian national Jeffrey Chance Nader, 68, with crimes related to the illicit export of U.S.-manufactured aircraft components to Iran. Nader was arrested in California.