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Former Tennessee Corrections Officer Sentenced for Using Excessive Force Against Inmate and Writing False Report to Cover It Up
Former Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) tactical officer, Javian Griffin, 38, has been sentenced to 48 months in prison and three years of supervised release for using excessive force against an inmate and writing a false report to cover it up. Griffin pleaded guilty to the offense on Oct. 11, 2023.Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division stated, “The defendant pledged to protect and serve but instead he abused his authority as a corrections officer, violently punching a man in the head and breaking his jaw. The...
Court Permanently Bars Missouri CPA from Promoting Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust Tax Scheme
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri has issued a permanent injunction against Aric Elliot Schreiner and his company, Columbia CPA Group LLC, prohibiting them from engaging in any activities related to promoting tax schemes involving charitable remainder annuity trusts (CRATs). Additionally, Schreiner has been ordered to forfeit $400,000 in ill-gotten gains from the scheme. The court's decision comes after the United States sued Schreiner, Columbia CPA Group, and five other defendants to halt the promotion of the CRAT scheme.According to the United...
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Honors Deputy U.S. Marshal Tommy Weeks Jr. at Memorial Service
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland delivered heartfelt remarks at the memorial service of Deputy U.S. Marshal Tommy Weeks Jr., paying tribute to his life and legacy. Garland expressed his admiration for Mrs. Weeks' strength and resilience, highlighting her unwavering support for the U.S. Marshals Service and the Justice Department in the face of tragedy.Garland acknowledged the profound impact of Weeks' dedication to his family and his colleagues, describing him as a dependable, passionate, and humorous individual. He shared anecdotes that showcased Weeks' commitment to...
Five Federal Departments Reaffirm Commitment to Civil Rights Laws and Environmental Justice
Five federal departments have come together to reaffirm their shared commitment to uphold civil rights laws and advance environmental justice in communities across the United States. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, along with officials from the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Housing and Urban Development, jointly expressed their dedication to this important cause.Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s...
Florida Hospital System Agrees to Pay $1.5 Million to Resolve Alleged False Claims Act Violations
Baptist Health System Inc. (Baptist Health) in Florida has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle allegations of violating the False Claims Act by offering improper discounts to patients. The United States alleged that Baptist Health subsidiaries provided discounts without regard to financial need, potentially in exchange for referrals or purchases of services.In response to the settlement, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton stated, "The department will continue to rely on the False Claims Act to address the use of prohibited remuneration to induce...
Attorney General Miyares Announces $270 Million Multistate Settlement with Amneal Pharmaceuticals
Attorney General Jason Miyares of Virginia revealed that the state is set to receive about $3.1 million as part of a $270 million multistate settlement with Amneal Pharmaceuticals. The agreement, reached in principle, aims to address Amneal's involvement in the opioid crisis that has plagued the nation for years.According to a multistate coalition of attorneys general, Amneal Pharmaceuticals, a major manufacturer of opioids from 2006 to 2019, is accused of neglecting to monitor and report suspicious orders made by its customers, contravening federal regulations.Miyares...
Sheetz's refusal to hire some criminals makes it racist, EEOC says
BALTIMORE – The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sued Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain Sheetz, charging that the criminal background check in its hiring process has discriminated against job applicants of Black, American Indian/Alaska Native and/or multiracial origin.
Dental products company can't escape shareholder litigation over disappointing results
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge has largely rejected the motion to dismiss a stockholder class action lawsuit against Dentsply, the world's largest producer of professional dental products.
Pickle-eaters score $2 million settlement over preservative in Wahlburgers; Attorneys to ask for $750K
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - The maker of Wahlburgers dill spears and chips is getting itself out of a legal pickle with a $2 million settlement.
Fla. personal injury lawyer accused by client of not getting enough money
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A Florida woman says bad advice from her lawyer resulted in her getting a lot less than what she was owed for her workplace-injury claim.
Budget faces lawsuit claiming it falsely accuses customers of stealing cars
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - The automobile-rental company Budget faces a proposed class action lawsuit that claims it wrongly accuses customers of stealing its cars.
Ark. behavioral health facility blamed for sexual assault of resident
CONWAY, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - The parents of a girl allegedly sexually assaulted at an Arkansas behavioral health facility has filed a lawsuit against it.
School Incident in Mount Horeb, Wis. Under Investigation by DOJ
MOUNT HOREB, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is actively looking into the recent incident that took place in the Village of Mount Horeb, Wis. on May 1, 2024.According to the report, a citizen alerted authorities after observing an individual heading towards Mount Horeb Middle School carrying what seemed to be a long gun. Law enforcement officers responded to the scene and encountered the subject matching the description near the middle school. Despite commands to drop the weapon, the subject did not comply and...
S.C. lawmakers put citizen-only voting amendment on November ballot
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina voters will decide in November on a constitutional amendment that would allow only American citizens to vote in all state elections.
Attorney General Garland recognizes Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has acknowledged Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day by emphasizing the importance of addressing the crisis affecting American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Garland announced intensified efforts aimed at tackling the issues of missing or murdered Indigenous persons (MMIP), human trafficking, and other significant public safety challenges.Garland highlighted the disproportionate impact of the fentanyl crisis on Native Americans, exacerbating levels of violence and addiction within already vulnerable communities....
West Virginia Ambulance Services Business Owner Convicted of Tax Crimes
A federal jury in Beckley, West Virginia, convicted Christopher Jason Smyth for failing to pay taxes withheld from employees' wages at his ambulance service and for obstructing the IRS.According to evidence presented at trial, Smyth operated Stat EMS LLC in Pineville, West Virginia, from 2012 through part of 2017. Smyth caused Stat EMS to be founded in the name of a nominee owner but continued to operate the business in the same manner as before.Smyth was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare, and income taxes from employees' wages and paying them to the...
Justice Department Strengthens Efforts, Builds Partnerships to Address the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the importance of addressing the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) by stating, “There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured.”FBI Director Christopher Wray affirmed the FBI's commitment to addressing the violence affecting Tribal communities, stating, “We will continue to prioritize our support of victims and will steadfastly pursue investigations into the...
Justice Department Sues Texas Department of Criminal Justice for Religious Discrimination
The Justice Department has taken legal action against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) for religious discrimination. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, accuses TDCJ of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by denying an employee's religious accommodation request.Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division emphasized, "Employers cannot require employees to forfeit their religious beliefs or improperly question the sincerity of those beliefs." She...
Opioid Manufacturer Endo Health Solutions Inc. Ordered to Pay $1.536B In Criminal Fines and Forfeiture for Distributing Misbranded Opioid Medication
Endo Health Solutions Inc. (EHSI) faced a significant legal outcome today as they were ordered to pay $1.536 billion in criminal fines and forfeiture for their involvement in distributing misbranded opioid medication. This marks the second-largest set of criminal financial penalties ever imposed on a pharmaceutical company for violations of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.EHSI pleaded guilty to introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce, acknowledging their deceptive marketing tactics related to the opioid medication Opana ER. The company marketed the...
BTC-e Operator Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy
A Russian national, Alexander Vinnik, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with his involvement in operating the cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e from 2011 to 2017. Vinnik, who was one of the operators of BTC-e, oversaw a platform that processed over $9 billion in transactions and catered to more than one million users globally, including a significant number of customers in the United States.Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco highlighted the significance of this case, stating, “Today’s result shows how the Justice Department, working...