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WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed Republican officials in Virginia to revive a plan aimed at removing noncitizen voters from the rolls ahead of next week’s election. Virginia has same-day voter registration, meaning that any eligible voter who was removed from the rolls should still be able to vote. The Justice Department said that while states can review its voter rolls, it cannot do so right before an election. States are barred from systematically removing people from voters rolls within 90 days of an election under the National Voter Registration Act. In court papers, the groups said that "the record makes clear that citizens are being removed from the voter rolls."

Persons: WASHINGTON —, commonsense, Glenn Youngkin, Biden, Ryan Snow, Virginia, Patricia Giles, Donald Trump, Trump, Kris Kobach Organizations: Republican, Justice Department, Department of Motor Vehicles, Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Lawyers, Committee, Civil Locations: Virginia, U.S, Kansas

☆ Supreme Court allows Virginia to purge suspected noncitizens from voter registration rolls
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( John Fritze | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, framed the effort in Virginia as a commonsense way of ensuring noncitizens don’t vote. At issue are about 1,600 voter registrations that Virginia said came from self-identified noncitizens but that a US District Court said hadn’t been fully vetted for citizenship status. Noncitizens are not allowed to vote in federal elections; none of the lower court rulings had changed that fact. But documented cases of noncitizens voting are extremely rare. Those opposed to the program relied on a 1993 law, the National Voter Registration Act, which bars states from making “systematic” changes to voting rolls with 90 days of a federal election.

Persons: Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Donald Trump, noncitizens, Biden, Trump, Virginia, hadn’t, Glenn Youngkin, “, ”, Patricia Tolliver Giles, noncitizen, –, Giles ’, “ Purcell, weren’t, it’s, CNN’s Tierney Sneed Organizations: CNN, Liberal, noncitizens, Virginia Gov, Republican, Department of Motor Vehicles, Youngkin, Biden, Democratic Locations: Virginia, Georgia

A federal judge on Friday granted a Department of Justice request to block Virginia from systematically removing alleged noncitizens from the voter rolls this close to an election. "All of the eligible voters who were wrongfully purged from the voter rolls will now be able to cast their ballots," Snow said. The Justice Department said in a previous filing that 43 people removed from rolls in Prince William County were likely U.S. citizens. States are barred from systematically removing people from voters rolls within 90 days of an election under the National Voter Registration Act. A lawyer for the state of Virginia, Charles Cooper, defended the program in court Thursday, arguing, “There are going to be hundreds of noncitizens back on these rolls.

Persons: Patricia Giles, “, ” Giles, Ryan Snow, Snow, Prince William County, Judge Giles, Glenn Youngkin, ”, Charles Cooper Organizations: Justice, U.S, ’, Civil, Justice Department, Gov, Appeals, Supreme, Republican, Department of Motor Vehicles Locations: Virginia, Prince William

☆ Judge to gag Diddy lawyers and feds after courtroom argument about 'racist prosecution'
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-10 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

A judge said he'd impose a gag order on the lawyers in Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex-trafficking case. AdvertisementThe judge overseeing Sean "Diddy" Combs' criminal sex-trafficking case said he plans to impose a gag order on its lawyers after a heated courtroom argument over a defense attorney's remarks that the prosecution is "racist." Advertisement"Our investigation is very much ongoing, and there is a possibility that there could be a superseding indictment that could affect the length of the trial," Johnson said. Ahead of trial, Combs has been incarcerated in the Metropolitan Detention Center, a notorious federal jail in Brooklyn. Advertisement"That material is important for our case," Johnson said.

Persons: he'd, Sean, Diddy, Combs, they're, —, Arun Subramanian, Marc Agnifilo's, Emily Johnson, Johnson, Agnifilo, baselessly, Damian Williams, Subramanian, he'll, Cassandra Ventura, Ventura, Alexandra Shapiro, Sam Bankman, Anthony Ricco, Anna Estevao, Gloria Allred, Thalia Graves, Allred, Emily Anne Johnson, haven't Organizations: feds, Service, TMZ, Southern, of, Prosecutors, Metropolitan Detention Locations: Manhattan, of New York, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Combs ' Manhattan, Miami, Florida

☆ Federal judge overturns $4.7 billion jury verdict in ‘Sunday Ticket’ lawsuit, ruling for NFL
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES — A federal judge has overturned a jury’s $4.7 billion verdict in the class-action lawsuit filed by “Sunday Ticket” subscribers against the NFL and has granted judgment to the NFL. U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez ruled Thursday that the testimony of two witnesses for the subscribers had flawed methodologies and should have been excluded. The jury on June 27 awarded $4.7 billion in damages to residential and commercial subscribers after it ruled the NFL violated antitrust laws in distributing out-of-market Sunday afternoon games on a premium subscription service. The lawsuit covered 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses in the United States who paid for the package on DirecTV of out-of-market games from the 2011 through 2022 seasons. Since damages can be tripled under federal antitrust laws, the NFL could have been liable for $14,121,779,833.92.

Persons: Philip Gutierrez, Daniel, Rascher, John, Zona, ” Gutierrez, Beverly Reid O’Connell, ” Organizations: ANGELES, NFL, U.S, DirecTV, District, Circuit Locations: United States, U.S

☆ The NFL just got a $4.7 billion win — for now
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Lian Kit Wee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewThe NFL landed a significant, albeit likely temporary, legal victory as a federal judge overturned a $4.7 billion verdict against the league. Gutierrez wrote that the evidence did not support the $4.7 billion in damages awarded in June. The jury initially awarded $4.7 billion in damages, which could have been tripled to $14 billion under federal antitrust laws. The judge wrote that two key witnesses' testimony should be excluded. Daniel Rascher and John Zona's testimonies were supposed to show that subscribers would have paid less if the NFL hadn't made a deal with DirecTV, the judge wrote.

Persons: —, Philip S, Gutierrez, Daniel Rascher, John Zona's, NFL hadn't Organizations: Service, NFL, Business, DirecTV

☆ Judge throws out the $4.7 billion NFL ‘Sunday Ticket’ verdict
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —A California judge threw out a jury verdict ordering the NFL to pay more than $4.7 billion for anti-trust violations surrounding its “Sunday Ticket” package, which lets fans watch games outside of their home markets but required them to buy access to a bundle of games to do so. The league, America’s most popular source of television programming, vowed to appeal the verdict in June. In a statement, the NFL said it was “grateful” for the ruling. In a court filing Thursday, US District Judge Philip Gutierrez brought up issue with the expert witnesses in the trial. “The Court agrees that Dr. Rascher’s and Dr. Zona’s testimonies based on their flawed methodologies should be excluded.

Persons: ”, “, Philip Gutierrez, Rascher’s, ’ …, ’, CNN’s Chris Isidore Organizations: New, New York CNN, NFL Locations: New York, California

☆ Federal judge says New Jersey’s ban on AR-15 rifles is unconstitutional
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Trenton, New Jersey AP —New Jersey’s ban on the AR-15 rifle is unconstitutional, but the state’s cap on magazines over 10 rounds passes constitutional muster, a federal judge said Tuesday. “Bans on so-called ‘assault weapons’ are immoral and unconstitutional. He added: “We look forward to pressing our arguments on appeal.”Several challenges to state assault weapons bans have cited the Bruen decision. A gun rights group has challenged Connecticut’s landmark 2013 gun control law, passed after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, that bans assault weapons, including certain AR-15-style rifles and large capacity magazines. The state’s assault weapons ban dates to 1990 and includes various other weapons, but Sheridan focused on the Colt AR-15, citing the plaintiffs’ concentration on that weapon in their court filings, and the law specifying that make of the rifle.

Persons: Peter Sheridan’s, Sheridan’s, Sheridan, ”, Sandy, “, Brandon Combs, Matt Platkin, Phil Murphy, Murphy, ” Murphy Organizations: Trenton , New Jersey AP, District of Columbia, Elementary, Firearms Policy Coalition, New, Sandy, National Association for Gun Rights, Democratic Gov Locations: Trenton , New Jersey, Jersey’s, New York, Los Angeles, Newtown , Connecticut, United States, New Jersey

☆ CrowdStrike's terms and conditions say most customers would just get a refund due to the massive outage, cybersecurity lawyer says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But, according to the cybersecurity company's terms and conditions, CrowdStrike doesn't have to shell out anything more than a simple refund. The terms for CrowdStrike's Falcon security software — which is used by companies and government agencies around the world — limit liability to "fees paid." AdvertisementThat means CrowdStrike users who signed the standard terms and conditions can't expect to get more than a refund from the company, Waller said. Related storiesBigger companies using CrowdStrike's software — like some of the airlines or hospital chains affected — may have negotiated different terms and conditions contracts with the cybersecurity company. According to Waller, most cyber insurance companies have policies that cover "contingent business interruption" or "dependent business interruption."

Persons: —, Elizabeth Burgin Waller, Woods, Waller, CrowdStrike didn't, I've, CrowdStrike, We've, SolarWinds, Paul Engelmayer Organizations: Service, CrowdStrike's Falcon, Business, CrowdStrike, Woods Rogers, CrowdStrike's, SEC, Securities and Exchange Commission Locations: Manhattan, Russian

☆ Hollywood trainer Tracy Anderson's famous 'method' is 'uncopyrightable,' a judge ruled
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Katie Warren | Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewIn a blow to celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson, a federal judge ruled this week that the fitness pioneer's famous exercise "method" is "uncopyrightable." The high-profile fitness guru said in the lawsuit that Roup copied her signature workout, the "Tracy Anderson Method" or "TA Method" — a dance-based workout routine. The order added, "And because the TA Method is uncopyrightable, the Court need not reach the issues of whether the TA Method could be considered choreography and if TAMB [Tracy Anderson Mind and Body] actually owns the copyrights." "We are pleased with the Court's ruling unequivocally rejecting Tracy Anderson's copyright claim, finding that the TA Method is not copyrightable, full stop," Bach said. AdvertisementAnother former trainer said that while she was still working at Tracy Anderson, she was reprimanded by management for merely liking former instructors' Instagram posts.

Persons: —, Tracy Anderson, Philip Gutierrez, Anderson, Megan Roup, Roup, Gutierrez, Anderson's, Gina Durham, Durham, Nathaniel Bach, Tracy, Bach, Megan, Samuel Eric Anderson Roup, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lopez, Victoria Beckham Organizations: Service, Central District of, Business, Roup, Pop Locations: Central District, Central District of California

☆ Supreme Court lets West Point continue considering race as part of admissions
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Devan Cole | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Washington CNN —The Supreme Court said Friday that the United States Military Academy at West Point can continue considering race as a factor in its admissions process while a legal challenge to the practice plays out. Last week, SFFA asked the high court to step in on an emergency basis to block West Point from considering race in its admissions process as the litigation unfolds. “For now, the only question is what should happen as this case proceeds – who should bear the burden of the status quo,” attorneys for SFFA told the Supreme Court. “Every year this case languishes in discovery, trial, or appeals, West Point will label and sort thousands more applicants based on their skin color – including the class of 2028, which West Point will start choosing in earnest once the application deadline closes on January 31. Or should West Point bear the burden of temporarily complying with the Constitution’s command of racial equality?” they added in part.

Persons: SFFA, Biden, “, midstream, Elizabeth Prelogar, Prelogar, ”, Philip M, Halpern, it’s, ’, Court’s, John Roberts, Richard Bennett, CNN’s Jamiel Lynch Organizations: Washington CNN, United States Military Academy, Fair, Harvard, University of North, US Naval Academy, Supreme, “, Army, West, Naval Academy Locations: University of North Carolina, “, New York, West, Maryland

Terry Jon Martin, 76, stole the slippers in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum in the late actor’s hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. But a person who deals in stolen goods, known as a fence, informed him the rubies were glass, Martin said. But old habits die hard, and the thought of a ‘final score’ kept him up at night,” DeKrey wrote. Hollywood memorabilia collector Michael Shaw had loaned one pair to the museum when Martin stole them. The Judy Garland Museum, located in the house where she lived, says it has the world’s largest collection of Garland and Wizard of Oz memorabilia.

Persons: —, Judy Garland, Oz, he's, Terry Jon Martin, Martin wasn’t, Dane DeKrey, Martin, DeKrey, ”, Terry, ’, ” DeKrey, “, Patrick Schiltz, Terry ”, Dorothy, Michael Shaw, Garland, Frances Gumm Organizations: Judy Garland Museum, FBI, U.S, District, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Smithsonian Museum of Locations: MINNEAPOLIS, Grand Rapids , Minnesota, Duluth, Grand Rapids, Minneapolis, Kansas, Oz, Hollywood, Los Angeles

☆ British-Nigerian man pleads guilty in New York to bank hacking crimes
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A hooded man holds a laptop computer as blue screen with an exclamation mark is projected on him in this illustration picture taken on May 13, 2017. Idris Dayo Mustapha, 33, pleaded guilty to access device fraud, conspiracy to commit computer intrusion and securities fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud at a hearing before U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen in Brooklyn. Mustapha, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, had been arrested in the United Kingdom in August 2021, and was extradited to the United States in August. The case is U.S. v. Mustapha, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Cynthia OstermanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Idris Dayo Mustapha, Pamela Chen, Mustapha, Jonathan Stempel, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: U.S . National Security Agency, Nigerian, U.S, Prosecutors, Court, Eastern District of, Thomson Locations: British, New York, Brooklyn, Mustapha, Lagos, Nigeria, United Kingdom, United States, U.S, Eastern District, Eastern District of New York

DETROIT (AP) — The former owner of a Michigan dam is on the hook for roughly $120 million sought by the state for environmental damage when the structure failed after days of rain in 2020, a judge said. But it's not known how the state will ever collect: Lee Mueller has filed for bankruptcy protection in Nevada. After three days of rain, the Edenville Dam collapsed in May 2020, releasing a torrent that overtopped the downstream Sanford Dam and flooded the city of Midland, located about 128 miles (206.00 kilometers) northwest of Detroit. Wixom Lake, a reservoir behind the Edenville Dam, disappeared. The state insists that the Edenville Dam collapsed as a result of poor maintenance and a lack of critical repairs.

Persons: it's, Lee Mueller, ”, Troy Fox, Paul Maloney, Mueller, Phil Roos, Ed White Organizations: DETROIT, District, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Locations: Michigan, Nevada, Sanford, Midland, Detroit, Wixom Lake

The conservative majority Supreme Court's ruling came in response to lawsuits by the same group now suing over West Point's policies in federal court in White Plains, New York. The group, Students for Fair Admissions, was founded by affirmative action opponent Edward Blum. The Supreme Court's ruling invalidating race-conscious admissions policies used by Harvard University and the University of North Carolina did not address race in admissions at military academies, which Chief Justice John Roberts said had "potentially distinct interests." Although Black people make up 20.2% of the Army's active duty enlisted personnel, only 11% are officers, the Justice Department said. White people by contrast constitute 51.7% of the Army active duty enlisted corps and 68% of its officers, the Justice Department said.

Persons: Eduardo Munoz, Biden, Edward Blum, SFFA, Blum, Philip Halpern, Donald Trump, John Roberts, West, Nate Raymond, Gerry Doyle Organizations: United States Military Academy, REUTERS, Wednesday, U.S . Military Academy, West, U.S . Department of Justice, U.S, Fair, Constitution's, Department, Army, Republican, U.S . Naval Academy, Harvard University, University of North, Justice Department, Thomson Locations: West Point , New York, U.S, U.S ., West, White Plains , New York, University of North Carolina, Boston

Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Deitch said in court that Waithe's scheme victimized at least 50 women. Waithe worked at Northeastern from October 2018 to February 2019, when the university fired him, and had previously coached at Penn State University, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Tennessee and Concordia University Chicago. Prosecutors said Waithe sent the women nude or semi-nude photos he had stolen and requested they send additional ones so he could conduct "reverse image searches." But, with the help of a hacker, Waithe stole nude pictures of one of the Northeastern athletes stored on her Snapchat account and cyberstalked her, Deitch said. While some ignored his emails, at least 17 women responded, sending him 350 nude or semi-nude photos, according to the indictment.U.S.

Persons: Steve Waithe, Adam Deitch, Deitch, Waithe, Prosecutors, Patti Saris, Jane Peachy, Nate Raymond, Will Dunham, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: BOSTON, Northeastern University, U.S, Northeastern, Penn State University , Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Tennessee, Concordia University Chicago, Prosecutors, Thomson Locations: Boston, Waithe, Northeastern, U.S

☆ US Supreme Court rejects ex-cop Chauvin's appeal in George Floyd murder
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( John Kruzel | Companies Need To Integrate Climate Reporting Across Functions To Comply With California S New Law | Henry Engler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The justices turned away Chauvin's appeal that he filed after a Minnesota appellate court upheld his 2021 murder conviction and rejected his request for a new trial. His attorney also said one juror may have concealed possible bias by failing to disclose during the jury selection process that he had attended "an anti-police 'George Floyd' rally." Attorneys for Minnesota did not respond to Chauvin's petition asking the Supreme Court to hear his appeal. The Minnesota Court of Appeals in April rebuffed Chauvin's appeal, upholding his conviction and rejecting his request for a new trial. Minnesota's top court in July denied Chauvin's request to review the case, prompting his appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Persons: George Floyd Square, George Floyd, Derek Chauvin, Chauvin, Floyd, William Mohrman, Peter Cahill, Mohrman, Chauvin's, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: George, U.S, Supreme, Constitution's, Minnesota, Appeals, Thomson Locations: Minneapolis, Minneapolis , Minnesota, U.S, WASHINGTON, Minnesota, United States, Hennepin County

☆ An ex-Goldman Sachs banker who passed secrets to his squash buddy just got jailed for 3 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Brijesh Goel, a former investment banker at Goldman Sachs, was jailed for three years. US District Judge P. Kevin Castel told Goel he "lied again and again and again" on the stand. AdvertisementAdvertisementA former Goldman Sachs investment banker who was found guilty of insider trading and obstruction of justice was jailed for three years by a New York judge. AdvertisementAdvertisement"You took the stand right in this chair and you lied again and again and again," the judge told Goel. "I apologize to Goldman Sachs, to my colleagues, everyone who felt betrayed by my actions."

Persons: Brijesh Goel, Goldman Sachs, P, Kevin Castel, Goel, —, Akshay Niranjan, Niranjan, Goel texted Akshay, he'd, Akshay, Damian William Organizations: US, Service, Goldman, Barclays, Securities Exchange Commission, Southern, of, Bloomberg Locations: New York, of New York

☆ US Marshals had to clear a courtroom and rush the judge out after a Capitol rioter started brawling with security trying to handcuff him: reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

US marshals cleared a courtroom after a Capitol rioter started a brawl with federal agents, reports say. Vitali GossJankowski let out "guttural screams" while resisting agents, CBS News' Scott MacFarlane reported. AdvertisementAdvertisementA convicted Capitol rioter got into a fight with federal agents and security officials at a court appearance on Monday, prompting US marshals to clear the courtroom and rush the judge out, according to reporters who were in the courtroom. But things devolved when GossJankowski refused to surrender to agents and resisted their efforts to handcuff him, CBS News' Scott MacFarlane reported. US marshals quickly ordered the courtroom to be cleared as GossJankowski made "guttural screams" while trying to fight off the agents, MacFarlane wrote.

Persons: Vitali GossJankowski, Scott MacFarlane, GossJankowski, —, Capitol rioter, Paul Friedman, handcuff, MacFarlane, WUSA's Jordan Fischer, CSOs Organizations: Capitol, CBS, Service, feds, U.S, Marshals, FBI

☆ Colo. judge rejects Trump's bid to toss lawsuit aimed at keeping him off 2024 ballot
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Summer Concepcion | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The decision comes just days before a trial on Trump's eligibility for the ballot is expected to begin. In a 24-page ruling, Colorado District Judge Sarah Wallace pushed back on Trump's argument that Congress, not courts, should handle questions related to his ballot eligibility. She also sided against Trump's claim that state election officials lack the power to enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. Wallace's ruling Wednesday comes after Chief U.S. District Judge Philip A. Brimmer denied Trump's request to move the Colorado ballot case to federal court. In a four-page order, Brimmer sent the lawsuit back to the same state court in Denver County where it was filed on behalf of the group of voters.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Sarah Wallace, Wallace, Philip A, Brimmer, George W, Bush, Jena Griswold Organizations: U.S, Republican, Wednesday, Capitol, NBC, United States Congress, Chief U.S Locations: Cedar Rapids , Iowa, U.S, Colorado, Denver, Washington, Denver County, Jena

The shoes from the film were stolen in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum in the actress' hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and recovered in 2018 by the FBI. Political Cartoons View All 1209 ImagesGarland wore several pairs of ruby slippers during filming of the classic 1939 musical, but only four authentic pairs are known to remain. The plea agreement was “fulsomely negotiated” between DeKrey and federal prosecutor Matt Greenley and would lay out the “factual basis” for his client's guilty plea, DeKrey said. The ruby slippers were key props in the 1939 movie. The Judy Garland Museum, which opened in 1975 in the house where she lived, says it has the world’s largest collection of Garland and Wizard of Oz memorabilia.

Persons: Judy Garland, Oz ”, Terry Jon Martin, Martin, Dane DeKrey, Terry, ” DeKrey, Garland, “ fulsomely, Matt Greenley, DeKrey, Patrick Schiltz, Schiltz, Michael Shaw, Dorothy, Frances Gumm Organizations: Judy Garland Museum, FBI, District, Twin, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Smithsonian Museum of Locations: MINNEAPOLIS, Grand Rapids , Minnesota, Grand Rapids, Minneapolis, DeKrey, Minnesota, Duluth, Twin Cities, Hollywood, Arizona, Kansas, sequins, Los Angeles

Jay-Z speaks after being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. October 30, 2021. REUTERS/Gaelen Morse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Warner Music Group Corp FollowSept 25 (Reuters) - Rapper Jay-Z, producer Timbaland and R&B singer Ginuwine convinced a Manhattan federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit from soul musician Ernie Hines, who alleged that they unlawfully sampled one of his songs from 1969. A representative for Warner Music (WMG.O), which is a defendant in the case, declined to comment. Hines first sued over the songs in 2019, arguing they copied part of the introduction to his song. Oetken agreed that Hines' song "borrows from a heavily used work that is in the public domain" and "adds only material that is not original enough to be copyrightable."

Persons: Jay, Gaelen Morse, Timbaland, Ginuwine, Ernie Hines, Paul Oetken, Hines, Oetken, Blake Brittain, Sonali Paul Organizations: Hall of Fame, REUTERS, Warner Music Group, U.S, District, Warner Music, Thomson Locations: Cleveland , Ohio, U.S, Manhattan, Washington

The creators of the hit crime drama "Better Call Saul" on Monday won the dismissal of a defamation and trademark infringement lawsuit by Liberty Tax Service for depicting a shady fictional tax firm that appeared to resemble its own. Gardephe said Liberty Tax offered no "particularly compelling" allegations that viewers would be confused into thinking Sweet Liberty was one of its more than 2,500 offices. "Better Call Saul" starred Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman, a corrupt lawyer also known as Jimmy McGill. Peter Siachos, a lawyer for Liberty Tax, said his client will explore its legal options, including an appeal or refiling the lawsuit in a state court. Both said their use of Sweet Liberty was protected by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment.

Persons: Bob Odenkirk, Saul, Paul Gardephe, Gardephe, Liberty, Saul Goodman, Jimmy McGill, Goodman, Craig, Betsy Kettleman, Rosa Parks, Parks, Peter Siachos, Jonathan Stempel, Rami Ayyub Organizations: REUTERS, Monday, Liberty Tax Service, U.S, District, AMC Networks, Sony Pictures Television, Liberty Tax Services, Liberty Tax, Liberty, Court, Southern District of, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Manhattan, New Mexico, Virginia Beach , Virginia, Southern District, Southern District of New York, New York

U.S. Chief District Judge Peter Welte sentenced Marie Um, 42, to 23 years in prison and Vannek Um, 45, to four. The jury also found that nine overdoses, including four deaths, in New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota and Oregon “were reasonably foreseeable to her,” according to federal prosecutors in North Dakota. Vannek Um, sentenced Friday, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy in March. The two are among more than 30 people charged in North Dakota and Oregon in connection with “Operation Denial,” the investigation begun in North Dakota in January 2015 following the overdose death of Bailey Henke, 18, of Grand Forks. Political Cartoons View All 1148 ImagesThe Ums are the last to be sentenced; five fugitives remain, U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesman Terry Van Horn confirmed to The Associated Press.

Persons: Peter Welte, Marie Um, Vannek Um, Bailey Henke, Terry Van Horn, Jian Zhang Organizations: North Dakota ., Chief, Attorney’s, Associated Press, U.S . State Department, Authorities Locations: China, Canada, North Dakota, North Dakota . U.S, Montreal, New Jersey, North Carolina , North Dakota, Oregon, Grand Forks, U.S

☆ US judge throws out two soccer bribery convictions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 2 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge has thrown out the convictions of a former Fox executive and an Argentine sports marketing company for attempting to bribe soccer officials in exchange for lucrative broadcasting contracts. In a Friday night decision, U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen in Brooklyn said the March 9 convictions of Hernan Lopez and Full Play Group could not stand because the federal law governing honest services wire fraud did not cover foreign commercial bribery. The judge also voided Lopez's and Full Play's money laundering convictions, because they were predicated on the fraud convictions. David Sarratt, a lawyer for Lopez, said: "We are obviously pleased with Judge Chen's thorough and correct decision. At least 31 people and corporate entities pleaded guilty, and two soccer officials were convicted in a 2017 jury trial.

Persons: Hernan Lopez, Brendan McDermid, Pamela Chen, Joseph Percoco, Andrew Cuomo, Chen, Lopez's, Attorney Breon, David Sarratt, Lopez, Chen's, Carlos Ortiz, Ortiz, Prosecutors, Carlos Martinez, Alejandro Burzaco, Torneos, Jonathan Stempel, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Century Fox, Court, REUTERS, Fox, U.S, New, Attorney, Saturday, U.S . Department of Justice, FIFA, Fox International, South, CONMEBOL, Copa Libertadores, North, CONCACAF, Argentine, Thomson Locations: Brooklyn New York City, U.S, Argentine, Brooklyn, U.S ., South American, North American, New York

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