LEGAL NEWSLINE

Attorney General Tim Griffin announced the arrest of Oscar Stilley, a resident of Crawford County, on charges of felony perjury related to voter registration. The arrest followed an investigation by the Election Integrity Unit in Griffin's office.

The Supreme Court of Ohio has removed Stow Municipal Court Judge Kim Hoover from office and suspended him from practicing law for 18 months, with six months stayed. This decision comes after it was found that Judge Hoover used illegal tactics to collect fines and fees.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a $7.7 million settlement with U.S. Healthworks (USHW), a chain of occupational and urgent care clinics, resolving allegations of corporate fraud. The allegations claimed that USHW withheld millions from the State of California in unclaimed property, violating the Unclaimed Property Law (UPL) and the California False Claims Act (CFCA). The settlement includes USHW handing over $1.5 million in unclaimed property to the State Controller’s Office.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement following the signing of Senate Bill 1061 (SB 1061) into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. Authored by Senator Monique Limón and cosponsored by various advocacy organizations, including the California Nurses Association and Health Access California, SB 1061 aims to protect consumers from having their credit damaged by medical debt.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul has charged two women from Milwaukee for their alleged involvement in a multi-county theft ring. The charges come from an investigation by Raoul’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force.

The Justice Department has initiated a civil antitrust lawsuit against Visa, accusing the company of monopolization and other unlawful practices in debit network markets. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that Visa has maintained its monopoly by stifling competition and preventing the development of new alternatives.

Attorney General William Tong has issued Formal Opinion 2024-002, which addresses the legislature’s budgeting process for 2024. The opinion provides guidance on legal questions related to the budget and aims to clarify aspects of the legislative procedure.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that Assembly Bill 3042 (AB 3042) has been signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. The bill, authored by Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen (D – Elk Grove), extends the sunset date on Proposition 69, also known as the “DNA Fingerprint, Unsolved Crime and Innocence Protection Act.” This extension will allow the Department of Justice (DOJ) to continue providing essential forensic DNA services with funding from criminal fines.

The Clerk of Court Office in Fargo, ND, has announced an opening for the position of Deputy Clerk of District Court. The role offers an annual salary ranging from $51,900 to $76,212 and is classified as a full-time regular job.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond is urging the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to deny requests to dismiss a lawsuit brought under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) by survivors and family members of those murdered during Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel.

Earlier today, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Visa, alleging violations of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the lawsuit, accusing Visa of monopolizing the debit transaction markets and inflicting significant harm on American consumers and businesses.

A federal grand jury in Miami has indicted Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of Hawaii, for attempting to kill former President Donald J. Trump at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15.

The Heather & Thistle Pipes and Drum Corps recently performed to welcome veterans at Hector International Airport. This event was part of the historic Veteran’s Honor Flights of Minnesota and the Dakotas, which departed for Washington D.C. on Sunday morning, September 22, 2024. Over 100 veterans traveled on these two flights to the nation's capital.

New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has released its report on the death of Azer Ben Zitun. Mr. Ben Zitun died on August 5, 2023, following an encounter with members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) on August 4, 2023. The investigation included a review of body-worn camera footage, interviews with involved officers, and comprehensive legal analysis.

Attorney General Chris Carr has filed an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit under the Anti-Terrorism Act by survivors of the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack and families of those killed by Hamas. The lawsuit aims to hold AJP Educational Foundation, Inc., also known as American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), and the National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) accountable for allegedly providing material support to Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization. AMP and NSJP have requested that the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia dismiss the...

New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has released its report on the death of Daniel Legler, who died on August 6, 2023, following an encounter with a New York State Police (NYSP) trooper in Monroe County. The investigation included a review of body-worn camera footage, interviews with the involved trooper and a witness, and comprehensive legal analysis. OSI concluded that it would not be possible to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the trooper’s actions were justified under New York law.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta released a report on the officer-involved shooting of Guillermo Huerta in Bakersfield, California, which occurred on March 18, 2023. The incident involved officers from the Bakersfield Police Department (BPD). This report is part of the California Department of Justice's (DOJ) efforts to provide transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices. The report offers a detailed analysis of the incident and outlines DOJ's findings. After a thorough investigation, DOJ concluded that criminal charges were not appropriate in this case.

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador, along with 20 other states, has formally notified the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) regarding potential violations of state consumer protection statutes. The concern arises from what the states claim are "evidence-free standards" on gender dysphoria care for minors.

The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Visa, alleging monopolistic practices in the debit card market. The announcement was made by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Doha Mekki, who detailed the department's concerns about Visa's dominance in processing debit transactions.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Christopher Michael McCoy, 45, of Summerville, S.C., on 13 charges connected to the sexual exploitation of a minor.