Verdict . News

4d ago•4 min read

•Nine Gray's Landing residents sued ICE and DHS over tear gas drifting into their homes during protests

Portland Residents Sue Federal Government Over ICE Facility Tear Gas

Nine residents of an affordable housing complex near Portland's ICE facility are seeking a federal court order to stop agents from using tear gas during protests. The residents claim chemical munitions deployed against demonstrators regularly drift into their homes, causing health problems and forcing some to sleep in gas masks.

•Residents report severe health impacts including wearing gas masks to sleep and repeated doctor visits

•Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke admits she may be the unnamed legislator who received $35,000 in cash from lobbyist Tobi Solidum during a January 2022 dinner

4d ago•4 min read

federal court

Hawaii AG Opens Criminal Probe as Lt. Governor Luke Linked to Bribery Case

Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez announced Friday that a criminal investigation into public corruption is underway as Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke publicly acknowledged she may be the unnamed legislator who received $35,000 in cash from a lobbyist during a dinner secretly recorded by an FBI informant.

•Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez announces criminal investigation into public corruption with multiple subpoenas already issued

•FBI Special Agent Hugh Raymond Evans led investigation based on testimony from 11 witnesses alleging election law violations

DOJ Unseals FBI Search Warrant for Fulton County 2020 Election Ballots

The Justice Department unsealed FBI search warrant documents Tuesday revealing a federal criminal investigation into potential election law violations in Fulton County's handling of 2020 presidential election ballots. The documents show 11 witnesses provided testimony supporting probable cause for the ballot seizure.

•Investigation focuses on potential intentional acts violating federal criminal law, not administrative errors

•Bankman-Fried claims newly discovered evidence proves FTX had sufficient assets to repay all customer deposits

Manhattan federal court

Bankman-Fried Seeks New Trial in FTX Case, Claims Solvency Evidence

Convicted cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Fried has requested a new federal trial, claiming newly discovered evidence shows FTX was solvent and could have repaid all customers despite prosecutors' allegations of an $8 billion fraud. His mother filed the self-represented motion in Manhattan federal court.

•He argues the company faced a liquidity crisis from a bank run, not actual insolvency as prosecutors claimed

•Trump administration withdrew from $1 billion Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement protecting endangered salmon

Judge Signals Intent for Dam Changes in Revived Columbia Salmon Fight

A federal judge indicated Friday he may order interim changes to Columbia and Snake River dam operations to protect endangered salmon after the Trump administration withdrew from a Biden-era $1 billion conservation agreement. The decades-old lawsuit has been revived by conservation groups, tribes, and states.

•Federal judge signals intent to order interim dam operation changes on Columbia and Snake Rivers

•Judge found 'enormous gap' between advocates' evidence of violations and Justice Department's single declaration defending practices

Judge Blasts DOJ Over 'Enormous Gap' in Immigration Detainee Defense

U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel criticized the Justice Department's defense of immigration detention practices in Minnesota, citing an 'enormous gap' between evidence from advocates claiming constitutional violations and federal officials' statements. The judge gave both sides six days to resolve disputes over detainee access to legal counsel.

•Class action alleges immigration agents pressure detainees to waive rights and restrict attorney access at Minneapolis facility

federal court in Northern California

News Group Sues ICE for Access to Immigration Raid Footage

The Center for Investigative Reporting has filed a federal lawsuit against ICE and CBP after the agencies failed to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests for video footage of immigration raids in Los Angeles and Chicago. The news organization seeks court intervention to force disclosure of videos it says are public records.

•Center for Investigative Reporting sued ICE and CBP in federal court for withholding video footage of immigration raids

•Agencies failed to meet FOIA deadlines for requests seeking footage from Chicago and Los Angeles operations

•12-year-old girl killed by jet ski while paddleboarding in De Anza Cove area of Mission Bay in 2023

San Diego Superior Court

California Seeks Dismissal in Mission Bay Jet Ski Death Lawsuit

The State of California is asking a San Diego court to dismiss claims against it in a lawsuit filed by parents whose 12-year-old daughter was killed by a jet ski while paddleboarding in Mission Bay in 2023. The state argues it transferred control of the area to San Diego in 1945 and bears no responsibility.

•California claims it transferred control to San Diego in 1945 and has no liability for accidents

•Puig convicted on two federal charges: obstruction of justice and making false statements to federal investigators

Ex-Dodger Yasiel Puig Convicted of Lying to Feds in Sports Gambling Probe

Former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was convicted Friday on federal charges of lying to investigators probing an illegal sports gambling operation in Southern California. The jury found the ex-All-Star guilty of obstruction of justice and making false statements during the 2022 investigation of unlicensed bookmaker Wayne Nix.

•Lost over $1.5 million betting on sports through illegal bookmaker Wayne Nix's operation during five-month period in 2019