Latest News
Minnesota law on hazardous materials on trains challenged by railroad group
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - The State of Minnesota has overstepped its authority by placing extra charges on trains carrying hazardous materials, the Association of American Railroads says in a new lawsuit.
Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Miami-Dade County, Florida, Tax Return Preparer
The Justice Department has taken legal action against Dieuseul Jean-Louis, also known as DJL Multiservices, by filing a civil injunction suit to prevent him from preparing federal tax returns for others. The complaint, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, accuses Jean-Louis of engaging in fraudulent activities related to tax preparation from 2019 to 2023.According to the complaint, Jean-Louis intentionally misrepresented customers' tax liabilities and exaggerated their refunds through various deceptive methods. This included falsifying...
Judge OKs pact between Labaton, Robbins Geller to lead suit against Boeing
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Legal Newsline) - Sure, a Virginia judge has ruled in approving a partnership between two class action law firms trying to sue Boeing over a drop in its stock value.
U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar and His Wife Charged with Bribery, Unlawful Foreign Influence, and Money Laundering Schemes
Houston, TX - An indictment unsealed in the Southern District of Texas has charged U.S. Congressman Enrique Roberto “Henry” Cuellar and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, with involvement in bribery, unlawful foreign influence, and money laundering schemes. The couple, residents of Laredo, Texas, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Palermo in Houston.According to court documents, the Cuellars allegedly accepted about $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities, an oil and gas company owned by the Government of Azerbaijan and a bank in Mexico City. These funds were...
New York AG free to ask social media about threats to Jews, Muslims despite injunction
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Letitia James is free to send voluntary interrogatories to social media companies, even though a federal judge has ordered an injunction against the state's Hateful Conduct Law.
Readout of Annual Principals Meeting of the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland joined international and national partners at the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group (FELEG) Annual Principals Meeting this week. The meeting focused on discussions surrounding technology, innovation, encryption, and their impacts on global safety.ICE Acting Director Lechleitner highlighted the importance of FELEG partnerships in enhancing law enforcement investigations on a global scale and increasing cooperation between partner nations. He stated, “FELEG partnerships enhance law enforcement investigations on the national and...
Biden Administration Disbands "Homeland Intelligence Experts Group" Following Lawsuit Victory
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, America First Legal (AFL) achieved victory in its lawsuit on behalf of former Ambassador Ric Grenell against the Biden Administration’s so-called “Homeland Intelligence Experts Group.” Conceding defeat, the Biden Administration has agreed to disband this illegal Group and provide its records to AFL.DHS formed the “Homeland Intelligence Experts Group” in September 2023 to “provide advice and perspectives on intelligence and national security efforts.” However, it was not intended to provide unbiased, expert advice to advance the Department of...
J&J's $6.5B talc settlement comes as plaintiff lawyers fear losing their experts
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - An offshoot of Johnson & Johnson is paying nearly $6.5 billion to settle almost all lawsuits alleging its talcum powder contained asbestos and caused certain cancers - two months before the company could question the findings of highly paid experts who drove tens of thousands of lawsuits.
Physician Sentenced to 7 Years for Unlawfully Distributing Opioids
An Ohio physician, Thomas Romano, 74, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for unlawfully distributing opioids from his clinic. The sentence comes after Romano was found guilty of 24 counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.The court documents revealed that Romano's pain management clinic in Martin’s Ferry, Ohio, was a hub where individuals traveled long distances to obtain prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances. The prescriptions issued by Romano greatly...
OVW Commemorates Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
OVW, the Office on Violence Against Women, recently commemorated Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, highlighting the theme of "Building Connected Communities." The agency emphasized the importance of collaboration and community support in preventing sexual assault and aiding survivors. According to OVW, creating strong, connected communities is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals.Speaking about the impact of sexual assault, OVW expressed a commitment to addressing systemic barriers and providing support to survivors. They...
Kerrygold butter-maker to face PFAS class action after motion rejected
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - A class action lawsuit over the alleged presence of chemicals known as PFAS in Kerrygold butter products will get to proceed.
California: Lawyers get $518K in fees for winning client $70K
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - Lawyers who won their client $70,000 in an employment dispute can collect half a million dollars in fees, but no additional interest, a California appeals court ruled
Lawsuit questions how StubHub estimates estimated fees
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - Class action lawyers say they've tested StubHub's method for figuring out "estimated" fees on tickets and discovered the company shows the same discrepancy every time.
N.Y. law firm accused of coaching workers during OSHA seminars to sue over fabricated injuries
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York personal injury lawyers are caught in a lawsuit alleging they conspired with health care providers to exaggerate claims in pursuit of "windfall" recoveries in the tort system.
Colorado groups challenge new climate rules
DENVER (Legal Newsline) - A group representing Colorado apartment building owners is challenging new regulations requiring them to decrease their energy consumption.
Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding COVID-19 Relief Programs and Commercial Equipment Lenders
A Maryland man, Andra Shirone Thompson, has pleaded guilty to charges of defrauding Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act loan programs and commercial equipment financing companies. Thompson admitted to his involvement in a scheme that involved submitting fraudulent applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for companies he controlled, resulting in a fraudulent gain of $716,375.Furthermore, Thompson was part of a conspiracy that defrauded equipment financing companies by submitting false...
America First Legal Issues Warning to Northwestern University Over Alleged Violation of Federal Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, America First Legal (AFL) has issued a legal demand letter to Northwestern University President Michael Schill concerning allegations of violating federal laws in order to appease pro-Hamas protestors on campus.The letter from AFL addresses the recent "Agreement on Deering Meadow" entered into by Northwestern University, which AFL claims violates multiple federal laws, including Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as 8 U.S.C. §§ 1324b.According to AFL, the agreement aims to support Palestinian faculty and students,...
Hahn Air Lines Agrees to Pay $26.8M for Alleged Failure to Remit Travel Fees
Hahn Air Lines GmbH, a privately owned company based in Germany, and its Minneapolis-based subsidiary Hahn Air USA Inc. (collectively Hahn Air) have agreed to pay $26.8 million to resolve allegations that Hahn Air violated the False Claims Act by knowingly failing to remit to the United States certain travel fees that Hahn Air collected from commercial airline passengers flying into or within the United States.According to Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, "Companies that benefit from air travel...
Sixty-Two Members of Violent Gang Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms Violations in Puerto Rico
Sixty-two alleged gang members from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, have been charged with drug trafficking and firearms violations following a federal grand jury indictment. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland expressed gratitude to various law enforcement agencies for their efforts in the operation, stating, "The residents of public housing projects deserve better than to be terrorized by violent drug trafficking gangs." ATF Director Steven Dettelbach emphasized the commitment of law enforcement to protect innocent residents from gun violence and drug dealing in public housing...
West Virginia joins 21-state coalition suing ATF over gun sell rule
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey’s office has joined a coalition of 21 states in a lawsuit opposing an ATF rule that was intended to close a loophole regarding private gun sales.