Attorney John Eastman failed in his attempt to invoke Fifth Amendment protection, denying him from testifying about the memos he wrote stating the vice president could dismiss electoral votes and declare Donald Trump the winner of the 2020 presidential election. This decision came on Tuesday when State Bar Court Judge Yvette D. Roland discarded the…
On Monday, Seoul became the gathering point for 50,000 educators, who took to the streets to demand the protection of their rights and advocate for legal reform concerning parental pressure. In recent times, the country has experienced an alarming trend with a growing number of educators succumbing to suicide owing to increased professional pressure, a…
In a recent dispute highlighted by Law.com, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. contended that its homeowner and auto insurance policies do not cover individuals alleged to have assisted in abductions. This marks a significant episode in the broader discussion regarding the coverage and limitations of insurance policies. Nationwide’s argument has emerged in the midst of a…
The executives of Lundin Oil, now known as Orrön Energy, Ian Lundin and Alex Schneiter, began their criminal trial for alleged war crimes in Sudan on Tuesday. The allegations mark the start of a landmark trial that spotlights corporate accountability for alleged war crimes. Dating back to the company’s operations in Sudan from 1999 to…
In a recent development, the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division (DOJ) effectuated a unique judgment in an antitrust criminal case involving Teva Pharmaceuticals and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals. Known traditionally for penalties such as fines and probation, this exceptional resolution entailed deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs), as well as an unprecedented addition to the remedies sphere: divestitures….
In an unusual case that underlines the intricacies of legal discipline, a lawyer from North Carolina is facing a disciplinary commission after apparently substituting a litigant for her criminal client during an arraignment. Nicolle T. Phair asserted that she employed the tactic as part of a strategy she thought was acceptable. According to details provided…
The University of Tennessee College of Law recently received a significant financial boost in the form of a $2 million gift from local litigation firm, Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers. The Chattanooga-based firm, with a focus on personal injury and criminal defense, is deeply tied to the university, boasting four UT Law alumni amongst its staff….
In a display of international collaboration, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced a multinational operation on August 29, involving the U.S., France, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Romania, and Latvia, aimed at disrupting the infrastructure of Qakbot malware. The statement came from none other than Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, who emphasized the united…
In a recent development that underlines the mounting tensions between Russia and the rest of the globe, the Russian Investigative Committee has initiated an investigation into US-based journalist, Masha Gessen. An announcement from the SHOT Telegram Channel stated that the investigation started last week, with the charges being that Gessen had purportedly ‘discredited’ the Russian…
As geopolitical tension rises and the US continues to expand its sanctions, the national agencies are intensifying their resources and attention on the investigation of possible sanctions violations. The primary focus of these investigations covers dealings associated with Russia, China, and Iran. For this reason, companies must understand the investigative procedures undertaken by both the…
Ihor Kolomoisky, a prominent Ukraine tycoon, has been arrested and charged with fraud and money laundering related to his oil and gas holdings. The arrest is part of an on-going anti-corruption crackdown spearheaded by Ukraine’s main security agency, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Local news reports from Ukraine indicate that the Shevchenkivskyi District Court…
A court in Gomel, a southeastern city in Belarus, sentenced journalist Larysa Schchyrakova to 3.5 years in prison and a fine of 3,700 rubles (US$1465) on charges of violating Article 369 and parts 1 and 2 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code. These charges relate to the public insult of a government official in…
The recent decision by the Russian Ministry of Justice has sparked an international debate, as it has designated Dmitry Muratov, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist, as a ‘foreign agent’. The ministry justified this classification by stating that Muratov “used foreign platforms to disseminate opinions aimed at forming a negative attitude towards the foreign and domestic…
In July 2023’s issue of McDermott’s Healthcare Regulatory Check-Up, significant regulatory activity is highlighted. Specifically, there are several recounted instances of criminal and civil enforcement actions falling under the purview of the False Claims Act (FCA) and the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS). The FCA is a federal law that imposes liability on persons or companies who…
Armenian state news agency Armenpress reported last Friday that the country’s parliament will consider ratifying the Rome Statute. The Rome Statute, the treaty that formed the International Criminal Court (ICC), was signed by Armenia in October 1999, but it has yet to be ratified. In 2004, Armenia’s Constitutional Court ruled that the Rome Statute did…
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has contended in a recently filed motion that the state is capable of prosecuting individuals who aid others in obtaining abortion services outside the state. Further, he asked the court to dismiss a lawsuit initiated by an abortion assistance fund claiming that such prosecutions are unconstitutional. The lawsuit is scheduled…
Four Finnish citizens have been charged with training to commit terrorist crimes by the Deputy Prosecutor General of Finland. According to the prosecutor’s statement, the individuals held racist beliefs and were understood to be preparing for an armed conflict between ethnic groups. The charges levied against them include manufacturing firearms and narcotics and training personnel…
During a recent court hearing, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows testified extensively in an attempt to have the RICO charges against him in Georgia transferred to federal court. The presiding Judge, Steve Jones, requested additional briefing from the parties in what seems to be a complex issue for the defense. The key…
Southwest Airlines Co. was denied a further stay of a Texas federal judge’s order requiring three of its in-house lawyers to attend religious liberty training. This follows the airlines’ failure to comply with a pro-life employee’s award in a discrimination lawsuit. Judge Brantley Starr ordered that by Sept. 26, Southwest’s lawyers must attend religious liberty…
In a remarkable development, the Biden Administration embarked on an official cannabis policy review process in October 2022. This action stands as the most significant undertaken by the White House in a long time, including pardoning all individuals convicted of simple cannabis possession under federal law. The process is now transitioning to a review of…
The proliferating and concerning trend of ransomware attacks shows no signs of abating, as it becomes evident that they are advancing in both scope and sophistication. A recent incident resulted in data deletion for a majority of a cloud provider’s customers, demonstrating the increasing intensity of these cyberattacks. Reportedly, not only was the sheer number…
Earlier this week, Judge Tanya Chutkan dismissed a group of potential amici in Donald Trump’s ongoing DC criminal case. Among the applicants was an entity claiming to be the “Galaxy Bar Association”, raising questions about their existence and intentions. The group does not appear to have an online presence, however, various recent court filings suggest…
On Wednesday, New York Attorney General Letita James made a request to a New York court to declare that former US President Donald Trump had inflated the value of various assets costing between $812 million and $2.2 million each year since 2011. The petition is part of James’ larger financial fraud civil case against Trump,…
In a major development, the federal government formally acknowledged the medical use and low potential of abuse for cannabis on August 30, 2023. This was affirmed by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), recommending that cannabis be rescheduled to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) following a comprehensive review of…
In a historic move on August 30, 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommended that cannabis be rescheduled to Schedule III. As this has potentially major implications for legal professionals in corporate sectors and law firms, it warrants further examination. A brief Q&A can help to provide clarity on what has…