News on Legal Newsline

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the case of Bryant v. Stein, aiming to protect access to mifepristone in North Carolina. The brief was submitted to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and urges the court to uphold a district court's decision that prevents North Carolina from imposing restrictions on mifepristone that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has deemed unnecessary for patient safety.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul has issued a warning to iDentidad Advertising Development LLC, also known as iDentidad Telecom, regarding its involvement in transmitting suspected illegal robocall traffic. This action is part of a coordinated effort by a bipartisan group of 51 attorneys general across the United States.

Nebraska trial judges have elected new presidents for their associations during the annual meetings held in late October. The newly appointed presidents began their terms on October 11, 2024, and will serve until October 2025.

Stacey Kramer, a resident of St. Clair Shores, is set to face trial in Macomb County's 16th Circuit Court on charges related to alleged double voting during the August 2024 Primary Election. Kramer, aged 56, is accused of both voting absentee and in-person, leading to two counts: Voting Absentee and In-Person, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and Offering to Vote More than Once, with a maximum penalty of four years.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb, has led a coalition of 19 state attorneys general in filing an amicus brief. This brief urges a federal court to reject the insurance industry's challenge to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Discriminatory Effects Rule. The rule is designed to ensure that housing practices, which may seem neutral but are discriminatory in effect, do not disproportionately impact certain populations.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit has played a crucial role in solving a homicide case from 2014 in Texarkana. This collaboration with the Texarkana Police Department resulted in the arrest of Cameron Cheatham, aged 27, for the murder of Xavier Rollins.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul has filed a brief as part of a coalition of 18 attorneys general, opposing North Carolina's restrictions on the abortion medication mifepristone. The amicus brief was submitted in the case Bryant v. Stein to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, urging them to uphold a district court decision that prohibits North Carolina from imposing additional restrictions on mifepristone beyond those set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Attorney General Keith Ellison has issued a warning to iDentidad Advertising Development LLC, also known as iDentidad Telecom, regarding the transmission of suspected illegal robocall traffic. This action is part of his involvement with the bipartisan Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force.

The North Dakota Supreme Court has issued an opinion in the case of Disciplinary Board v. Daniel, resulting in the disbarment of an attorney. The case, filed under docket number 20240182, was resolved on October 18, 2024.

Attorney General Todd Rokita has initiated legal action against an Indianapolis-based home improvement contractor, alleging fraudulent practices. The lawsuit claims that Hank Eversole, operating under the names All Services Construction and Nationwide Construction, engaged in misconduct by accepting deposits from consumers, beginning work on projects, and then abandoning them without issuing refunds. This left homeowners with incomplete repairs requiring additional financial outlay to rectify.

Chief Justice Elizabeth T. Clement of the Michigan Supreme Court, alongside fellow justices and task force members, will present a report from the Child Protective Legal Representation Task Force in a virtual news conference.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, alongside the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and a coalition of 51 bipartisan attorneys general, has issued a warning to iDentidad Advertising Development LLC, also known as iDentidad Telecom. The telecom company is accused of transmitting illegal robocall traffic, including calls that impersonated government officials and imitated a hotline used by the Illinois Attorney General’s office.

The Supreme Court of Ohio has sent a lawsuit back to the Franklin County Common Pleas Court to determine if it can be resolved under state law. This decision reverses earlier court rulings that dismissed Epcon Communities Franchising's attempt to recover part of a $2.5 million fine from Wilcox Development Group, related to alleged violations of the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA).

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill's Cyber Crime Unit has apprehended a Pineville resident on charges related to child pornography. Michael Paul Renbarger, 40, residing on Susek Drive in Pineville, was arrested on October 17, 2024.

Rea S. Hederman Jr., executive director of the Economic Research Center and vice president of policy at The Buckeye Institute, provided insights on the latest jobs report from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. According to Hederman, "Ohio’s unemployment rate held steady in September at 4.5 percent, and at the same time, the labor force participation rate ticked up to 62.4 percent, indicating that more people are looking for work." This is in contrast with national figures where "the national unemployment rate declined to 4.1 percent, and the national labor force...

Attorney General Kris Mayes has issued a warning to iDentidad Advertising Development LLC, also known as iDentidad Telecom, for allegedly transmitting illegal robocall traffic. The company has been urged to cease this activity immediately.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, alongside a coalition of 17 other attorneys general, has submitted an amicus brief in the case of Bryant v. Stein. This action supports a district court's decision that North Carolina cannot impose additional restrictions on mifepristone access beyond those set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The coalition argues that such barriers could increase medical risks for patients.

A Washington man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for federal civil rights and firearms offenses. Mikey Diamond Starrett, also known as Michael Jason Layes, was involved in four attacks on Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Halls in western Washington. In addition to the prison term, Starrett was ordered to pay $714,608.70 in restitution.

A member of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost's team has been elected to a prominent national position in the fight against health-care fraud. Ben Karrasch, who leads Yost’s Health Care Fraud Section, will serve as president of the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units for the next year. This organization focuses on interstate cooperation among over 50 units dedicated to addressing Medicaid fraud and protecting vulnerable populations from abuse.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has joined a coalition of 22 states urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a Tennessee law that prohibits certain medical interventions for treating gender dysphoria in children, including puberty blockers and hormones. The coalition filed an amicus brief in the case of U.S. v. Skrmetti, emphasizing the importance of state roles in regulating medicine, healthcare, and child welfare.