The unresolved issue of the 40 vacant judgeships in Massachusetts state courts continues to be a cause for concern among attorneys in the region. These lingering vacancies pose significant problems such as litigation delays, resulting in rising tension particularly in time-sensitive matters. Notably, this issue has been felt most acutely in criminal cases, product liability…
Thailand’s Central Criminal Court of Corruption and Misconduct acquitted four forestry officials who were charged with the murder of Indigenous rights activist Pholachi Rakchongcharoen on Thursday, as reported by the JURIST News. The four officials, including former chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park, Chaiwat Limlikitaksorn, were indicted with murder in August 2022 over suspicions that…
Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of Uzbekistan’s former president, Islam Karimov, has been indicted on multiple corruption charges by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) of Switzerland. She now faces charges of money laundering, bribery, and active involvement in a criminal network. Karimova’s suspected illicit activities were initially reported in 2012, which led to a…
Former Justice Department lawyer Jeff Clark has been redirected to face RICO charges in Fulton County next year, countering his propositions for the federal court. He’s in the lineup with co-defendants Donald Trump and 16 others. US District Judge Steve Jones held that the case was beyond his jurisdiction, turning down Clark’s claim that his…
As of October 1, 2023, significant changes are taking effect in how employers can utilize information regarding criminal history in employment decisions, under new adjustments made to the Fair Employment and Housing Act. The legislation, modifying California Code of Regulations Title 2, Section 11017.1, will serve to systematize the processes by which organizations deal with…
In a significant development for the legal and business landscape, an extension has been proposed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to the period to report beneficial ownership under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). As reported by JDSupra, this new rule, referred to as the “Proposed Rule”, was issued…
News transpired this morning when Boies Schiller & Flexner revealed that Judge Shira Scheindlin is quitting Stroock & Stroock & Lavan to join their legal cadre as of counsel. With seven years of exceptional legal services under her belt at Stroock, Judge Scheindlin’s departure embodies the latest high-profile exit from the said firm. Stroock &…
The Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) is set to offer a three-and-a-half-day Healthcare Basic Compliance Academy geared toward enhancing the skills of compliance professionals in the healthcare industry. The classroom-style learning program will run from January 22nd to 25th in Kissimmee, Florida. The Academy hopes to attract participants who already have some level of knowledge…
US District Judge Tanya Chutkan has denied the motion filed by former US President Donald Trump for her recusal from his pending criminal case on allegations of bias. Mr. Trump, who had requested the judge’s removal earlier this month, based his claim on comments she had made during the sentencing of two rioters from the…
In the rapidly evolving world of corporate law, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division has published its fourth version of the ‘Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs (ECCP). Although this revised version has now been in circulation for over six months, the insights brought forth remain as relevant as ever for in-house counsel and chief…
The increasing divide on the causation standard of the False Claims Act (FCA) cases predicated on the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) now awaits a defining decision by the First Circuit that could potentially prompt Supreme Court intervention. The court’s ruling, certain to capture the attention of the legal fraternity, appears primed to widen the split between…
Any legal professional who has advised a client in litigation proceedings understands that winning a court case doesn’t necessarily correlate to a tangible cash recovery. Collection of judgment often presents its own unique challenges, even after all avenues of appeal have been exhausted. The enthusiasm a client harbors in pursuing what they view as a…
Attorneys General (AGs) across the United States are persistently advocating for cannabis banking reform, highlighting the need for measures that encourage public safety and health in lawful cannabis markets. This movement gained increased attention on Wednesday as a bipartisan collection of 22 state AGs addressed a letter to Congress, earnestly urging the swift passage of…
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, state entities have been rendered responsible for protections concerning abortion. The resultant scenario encompasses a variegated patchwork of laws across the United States, with states treading diverse legislative pathways. While some have focused on fortifying their protections to bolster abortion access, others…
Many industries may need to reassess their reliance on background checks in regard to their employment practices. Brent Douglas, a partner at the law firm Hahn Loesser, explained that the use of such checks has dramatically decreased due to the rise in “ban the box” laws. These are legislations that prevent employers from requiring job…
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has held Turkey accountable for violations of fair trial rights. The judgment, released on Tuesday, pertains to criminal convictions based on the use of the encrypted messaging application ByLock. ByLock drew the attention of Turkish authorities following the failed coup attempt in 2016coup attempt. The government alleged that…
In a recent development that has raised eyebrows in the legal community, the jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) over Total Return Swaps (TRS) on Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and custom baskets has come into question. This civil action against Archegos Capital Management LP, along with its CFO, is part of a larger…
In a major development within the legal profession, Metropolitan Police have initiated an investigation in wake of an unfolding scandal at Axiom Ince. Precise details surrounding the nature of the case have been kept under wraps, as the issue is now under active investigation. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which oversees regulation of solicitors and law…
Following a months-long blockade that escalated into violent attacks by Azerbaijani forces, the government of the predominantly ethnically Armenian region of Nagorno-Karabakh announced it would disband, effective immediately. “The Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh ceases to exist,” stated the separatist republic, which is referred to as Artsakh in Armenian, via its official information channel on Telegram. The…
In a twist of events, a man from Los Angeles has been reported to have sent hundreds of threatening emails to New Jersey judges and other officials. This action did not go unnoticed, and the man, Jonathan Lipman, was indicted on Monday in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The…
A federal judge in Texas ruled on Tuesday that the state’s ban on drag performances was unconstitutional, blocking it from going into effect. District Judge David Hittner determined in his preliminary injunction against the ban that it infringes on the First Amendment and chills free speech. This decision follows a temporary restraining order on August…
Issues of criminal conduct within condominium associations are of considerable difficulty. A recent incident in Florida revealed how quite complex these issues can be, where a unit owner was arrested and charged for contaminating the environment of a neighboring unit with poisonous chemicals. Over several instances, it was proven that the individual in question had…
In a case that has gripped the attention of legal professionals across the globe, a federal jury made a pivotal decision on September 22, 2023. Two promoters, CPA Jack Fisher and attorney James Sinnott, found themselves in a decidedly uncomfortable position when they were convicted in the first criminal trial over allegedly abusive syndicated conservation…
California Governor Gavin Newsom made a considerable move pertaining to gun control on Tuesday when he signed more than 20 bills into law related to firearms. The laws encompass a multitude of areas including an increase in taxes, requirements for gun dealers, waiting periods, criminal penalties, and a prohibition on certain individuals from owning firearms….
In recent legal events, an interesting issue of discovery has unravelled around the topic of expunged criminal records and their influence in an overlapping civil lawsuit. The primary matter of discussion is based around In re Expungement Petition of Francis A., 2023 WL 5948060, a previously unreported case handled by the Appellate Court of Maryland…