 //sli.reutersmedia.net/imp?s=126591700&li=&e=gjjtuyu768@gmail.com&p=33963217&stpe=pixel” width=”2″ height=”6″ border=”0″ /> |
//sli.reutersmedia.net/imp?s=126591701&li=&e=gjjtuyu768@gmail.com&p=33963217&stpe=pixel” width=”2″ height=”6″ border=”0″ /> |
//sli.reutersmedia.net/imp?s=126591702&li=&e=gjjtuyu768@gmail.com&p=33963217&stpe=pixel” width=”2″ height=”6″ border=”0″ /> |
//sli.reutersmedia.net/imp?s=126591703&li=&e=gjjtuyu768@gmail.com&p=33963217&stpe=pixel” width=”2″ height=”6″ border=”0″ /> |
//sli.reutersmedia.net/imp?s=126591704&li=&e=gjjtuyu768@gmail.com&p=33963217&stpe=pixel” width=”2″ height=”6″ border=”0″ /> |
|
|
|
| //sli.reutersmedia.net/imp?s=874768&li=&e=gjjtuyu768@gmail.com&p=33963217&stpe=static” border=”0″ style=”max-height:12px;” /> |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
REUTERS/REUTERS/Mike Segar
|
The top enforcer of criminal malfeasance on Wall Street is calling on whistleblowers to come forward and report wrongdoing under a new program aimed at uncovering illegal activity, Luc Cohen reports.
Damian Williams, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, told reporters that his office would enter into non-prosecution agreements under the program with individuals involved in non-violent criminal conduct who voluntarily report offenses and cooperate with investigators.
Currently, cooperating witnesses with criminal culpability themselves often enter guilty pleas in the hopes of receiving a lenient sentence. The new policy provides an alternative under which prosecutors would agree not to bring charges in exchange for meaningful cooperation.
“That, in turn, will help us bring more misconduct to light,” said Williams, who has brought high-profile financial fraud and public corruption cases since becoming the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York in 2021, including the successful prosecution of former cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Fried.
|
|
|
|
- The U.S. legal industry has already seen a flurry of new law firm mergers in 2024, as Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton became the latest to announce a combination with a smaller firm. Kilpatrick Townsend said it will add more than 55 lawyers in Chicago from HMB Legal Counsel, effective March 1.
- President Joe Biden announced his first six new judicial nominees of 2024, including Amir Ali, a civil rights lawyer tapped to become the first Muslim American federal judge to serve on the district court bench in the nation’s capital. He was among six diverse nominees who, if confirmed, would serve as district court judges in D.C., California, Illinois, Michigan, Rhode Island and Virginia.
- A federal judge in Los Angeles set a May 21 trial date for disbarred California attorney Tom Girardi after she ruled last week that he is competent to stand trial, a spokesperson for U.S. prosecutors said. Girardi had requested a February 2025 trial date, while federal prosecutors wanted the trial to start in March or April of this year.
- Lawyers for alleged sex trafficking victims want one judge assigned to oversee more than 50 lawsuits accusing hotel chains such as Red Roof Inns and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts of profiting from the abuse. A judiciary panel in 2020 spurned a prior request for consolidation.
|
That’s the amount that German software company SAP agreed to pay to resolve investigations into bribery schemes in seven countries. The Justice Department said SAP entered a three-year deferred prosecution agreement to resolve criminal charges that it conspired to bribe government officials in Indonesia and South Africa to win business. SAP also reached a related civil settlement with the SEC to resolve charges over similar alleged bribery schemes in other countries. The company said it welcomed the settlements.
|
Two decisions in the span of just a few days prove the vagaries of a controversial doctrine that shields high-ranking corporate executives from being deposed in civil suits. Alison Frankel has an analysis of the state of play for the so-called apex doctrine, which treats C-suiters as a special class of witnesses. Elon Musk aside, Frankel says, courts appear to be increasingly skeptical of that premise.
|
“The First Amendment prevents DeSantis from identifying a reform prosecutor and then suspending him to garner political benefit.“
|
—11th Circuit Judge Jill Pryor, writing for a three-judge panel that reinstated a lawsuit from ousted elected state prosecutor Andrew Warren accusing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis of retaliation. Warren, who had been the top Tampa-area state prosecutor, argued his positions on transgender rights and abortion access were protected speech. Lawyers for DeSantis said he had the power to suspend Warren for alleged neglect of office. Warren said the trial court has the power to reinstate him.
|
|
|
|
- Closing arguments are expected in the civil fraud trial in New York accusing Donald Trump of lying about his net worth to dupe lenders. The lawsuit by the New York attorney general seeks to fine Trump at least $250 million and sharply curtail his ability to do business in New York, home to several of his iconic properties. Trump has denied wrongdoing and called the case a “scam.” Trump won’t be allowed to personally deliver a closing argument in his civil fraud trial, our colleague Jack Queen reports.
- Hunter Biden is expected to plead not guilty in Los Angeles federal court to tax charges stemming from business dealings that have also prompted an impeachment probe of his father. He stands criminally accused of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019, while spending millions of dollars on drugs, escorts, exotic cars and other high-ticket items, and he faces up to 17 years in prison if convicted. Hunter Biden’s lawyer Abbe Lowell has said his client has paid his back taxes and is being persecuted because of his famous last name.
|
Court calendars are subject to last-minute docket changes.
|
- A U.S. consumer group accused Starbucks in a lawsuit in D.C. Superior Court of falsely advertising its tea and coffee as “ethically” sourced while obtaining it from farms plagued by human rights abuses in Kenya, Brazil and Guatemala. Starbucks said it was “actively engaged with farms to ensure they adhere to our standards.”
- U.S. District Judge Nelson Roman in White Plains, New York, ruled that Danone must face a lawsuit challenging its “carbon neutral” claim on bottles of Evian spring water.
- A Brooklyn federal judge certified a class of debit card users accusing American Express of antitrust violations in its merchant contracts. An expert for the plaintiffs estimated damages at more than $314 million for the debit-card class.
- Estee Lauder and several of its cosmetics brands defeated a proposed class action claiming its virtual try-on tool violates Illinois’ biometric privacy law. U.S. District Judge Lindsay Jenkins in Chicago said the plaintiffs provided no proof that the company could connect facial scans to customers’ identities.
- Beverage maker Health-Ade was hit with a proposed class action alleging several of its kombucha products contain toxic “forever chemicals.” Health-Ade did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
|
|
|
- Jenner added Los Angeles-based partner Carolyn Small to the firm’s investigations, compliance and defense practice. She was previously at the U.S. attorney’s office in the Central District of California. (Jenner)
- Husch Blackwell added D.C.-based cross-border transactional partner Lana Yaghi, who was most recently at Miller Canfield. (Husch Blackwell)
- Labor and employment law firm Littler hired partner Lisa Shevlin in Portland, Oregon, from Lewis Brisbois. (Littler)
- Sanford Heisler Sharp brought on Thiru Vignarajah as managing partner in its Baltimore office. He most recently was the CEO of Capital Plus Financial. (Sanford Heisler Sharp)
- Moses Singer hired securities litigation partner Isaac Greaney in New York. Greaney previously was at Sidley. (Moses Singer)
- Seeger Weiss picked up Benjamin Barnett as a Philadelphia-based partner focused on civil and criminal litigation. He previously was at Dechert, where he was co-chair of the innovation task force. (Seeger Weiss)
- Hinshaw & Culbertson brought on a six-lawyer insurance and litigation team in Los Angeles and San Francisco, including partners Min Kang, R. Wardell Loveland and Rebecca Martino. The group previously was at Coddington, Hicks & Danforth. (Hinshaw)
- Greenspoon Marder added Miami-based litigation partner Jeffrey Gilbert, who focuses on business and financial disputes. He previously was at Saul Ewing. (Greenspoon Marder)
|
|
|
|
