U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ annual financial disclosure statement was accompanied by a unique letter from his personal attorney, Elliot Berke. The letter was issued in defence of the luxury travel, trips, and property deals that the justice received from Republican mega-donor Harlan Crow. Berke’s letter, released separately on Thursday, described attacks on Thomas…
Donald Trump, Ex-president of the United States, has waived his right to an in-person arraignment in Georgia state charges, opting to plead not guilty to the allegations of conspiring to overturn the 2020 presidential election results – as reported by Bloomberg Law. The former president, on Thursday, lodged his plea through a brief court filing,…
In a recent development that may impact future interactions between artists and institutions, the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has ruled that the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990 (VARA) does not criminalize the covering of an artist’s mural, provided no damage is imposed upon the artwork. The preceding verdict was announced…
In a recent ruling, a District Court found that a plaintiff’s claim of negligent hiring, retention, training, and supervision against ridesharing company Uber failed as a matter of law, due to shortcomings in the plaintiff’s pleadings. According to the court, the plaintiff failed to provide specific factual allegations indicating that Uber had prior notice of…
The United Nations Human Rights Office revealed in a recent report that organized crime groups in Southeast Asia have coerced hundreds of thousands of individuals into participating in online criminal activity. This involves executing fraudulent investment strategies and aiding illegal gambling operations. The exact scale of internet-based fraud in Southeast Asia remains challenging to quantify,…
UK Justice Secretary Alex Chalk recently announced new legislation set to be enacted in the UK, which will require criminals to attend their sentencing hearings in court. This move could result in offenders experiencing longer sentences. This decision has been publicly supported by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who remarked that “Criminals shouldn’t be allowed to…
Over the past decade, the landscape for recreational cannabis has seen a stark transformation, with many states opting for decriminalization or outright legalization. As these changes have unfolded, however, cannabis businesses find themselves continuing to grapple with protecting their brands. The root of the problem? Federal trademark protection remains elusive for those in the cannabis…
Former US President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 13 state criminal charges in relation to alleged election interference in Georgia during the 2020 US presidential election. Trump opted out of his scheduled arraignment on September 6, preferring instead to file his not guilty plea with an Atlanta, Georgia court. On the day of…
With recent significant amendments to Rule 10b5-1 plan requirements, legal professionals find themselves navigating a transformed landscape, a shift sparked by the Justice Department’s announcement of its first criminal prosecution challenging a Rule 10b5-1 plan earlier this year. The increased attention regulators are now giving to the use of such plans has certainly put insiders…
A former Massachusetts prosecutor, Anne Kaczmarek, has been disbarred due to her failure to disclose exculpatory evidence in a drug theft case. This serious lapse has cast widespread doubts over the integrity of the criminal justice system. Kaczmarek’s derelict behavior could potentially have an impact on thousands of defendants who were previously convicted on drug…
A federal court in Washington DC has held Rudy Giuliani, former lawyer to ex-President Donald Trump, liable for defaming Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss during the 2020 US presidential election. Amid the turbulent aftermath of the election results, which confirmed President Joe Biden’s majority victory in Georgia, Giuliani reportedly initiated what the…
In a coordinated, nationwide effort to combat coronavirus relief fraud, the Department of Justice (DOJ) conducted a recent enforcement action that culminated in 718 enforcement actions. The hefty undertaking ushered in federal criminal charges against 371 defendants, tallying to alleged fraudulent dealings involving upwards of $836 million in COVID-19 relief funds, as noted by legal…
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was deemed accountable for propagating false allegations regarding voter fraud, particularly associated with two Georgian election officials of 2020 by a federal judge last Wednesday. This legal finding was entered as judgment against Giuliani, who was aligned with then-president Donald Trump during that period. Apart from facing defamation…
On August 4, John Eastman, previously counsel for the president, attempted to invoke his Fifth Amendment rights in a bid to postpone attorney discipline proceedings, which were being brought against him in California. Eastman’s argument was that he would be unable to defend himself without potentially incriminating himself in a possible criminal prosecution in Fulton…
In a recent series of events, we’ve seen significant developments concerning Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency coin mixing service. Previously unheard of in the world of cryptocurrency, two concurrent events – a civil case verdict and subsequent criminal charges – are serving as a stark reminder of the reach of legal authorities in this arena. On…
The Justice Department’s decision to discontinue a firearms charge against an Iranian American, who has suspected links to foreign terrorism, draws attention to profound repercussions from the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on gun rights expansion last year. In a 22-minute hearing in Sherman, Texas, conditions were set for the defendant’s barely anticipated release after half…
In a significant move, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has settled criminal antitrust charges with Teva Pharmaceuticals and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals that amount to a hefty $305 million. This case presented by the Antitrust Division of the DOJ indicates a continued trend of aggressive prosecution. However, the Antitrust Division’s record in criminal cases has received critical…
Legal professionals across the golden state and beyond need to pay careful attention to recent amendments by the California Civil Rights Council. This relates to regulations interpreting California’s 2018 Fair Chance Act, which will fully come into effect on October 1, 2023. A detailed examination can be found at JD Supra. The amendments to the…
In the ongoing drama that is the criminal case against former U.S. President Donald Trump, yesterday saw a flurry of orders appearing on the docket. It seems pertinent at this point to clarify that the focus here is on the D.C. criminal case revolving around conspiracy and obstruction allegations, not related cases in New York,…
United Nations experts have condemned the recent decision by the Russian Constitutional Court to dismiss challenges against laws criminalizing any public act seeking to discredit the Russian Armed Forces. These new laws, enacted amidst the persisting Russia-Ukraine War, have enabled Russian authorities to arrest over 20,000 people voicing opposition to Russia’s military efforts. The Constitutional…
The Switzerland Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has formally charged former Algerian defense minister, Khaled Nezzar, with war crimes and crimes against humanity. These crimes were allegedly committed during the Algerian Civil War, according to an indictment submitted to the country’s Federal Criminal Court (FCC). More specifically, it is suggested that Nezzar violated armed…
Legal developments continue to unfold in the case surrounding two former clients of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP. The international law firm has reportedly told a New York federal judge that two ex-advisers from IHT Wealth Management, who are now under the spotlight in a five-million-dollar criminal fraud case, have failed to demonstrate their inability…
In a compelling intersection of law, crime, and politics, the defence attorneys that Donald Trump recently employed to represent him in his ongoing Georgia RICO prosecution, Steve Sadow and Drew Findling, have a previous notable client – a man that managed to pilfer millions from billionaires from within a maximum security prison. Subsequently caught, this…
A newly introduced bill in California would extend the state courts’ ability to hold criminal proceedings remotely until the end of 2024, granting judiciary leaders, lawyers, and labor groups an additional year to reach a more comprehensive agreement. This proposal emerges in the wake of unfruitful discussions surrounding this contentious issue, which concluded without resolution…
On Monday, the Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation, charged Robert Shonov, a former US consulate contract employee in Moscow with high treason — a charge that carries a potential sentence of 12 to 20 years in prison. This charge is prompted by Article 275 of Russia’s Criminal Code, which prohibits the disclosure…