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☆ Alex Jones and his allies are desperately trying to stop the sale of Infowars to The Onion
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Hadas Gold | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has sued a court-appointed bankruptcy trustee and the families of some of the Sandy Hook victims in an attempt to stop the sale of his media empire Infowars to the satirical news outlet The Onion. The one other competing bid, at $3.5 million, came from First United American Companies, which is affiliated with Jones and operates his lucrative online nutritional supplements store. Jones’ lawsuit comes after First United American Companies also filed an emergency motion to stop the sale. First United American Companies said that it was not made aware of the winning bid amount and did not have the opportunity to increase its offer. Federal bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez, who is overseeing the case, harshly questioned an attorney for the trustee about the auction rules.

Persons: Alex Jones, Sandy Hook, Jones, Christopher Murray, ”, Infowars, ” Jones, Murray, ” Murray, Christopher Lopez, “, ” Lopez, Tetrahedron, Lopez Organizations: New, New York CNN, Court, Southern, Southern District of, Global, First United American Companies, First United, Companies, United, Federal Locations: New York, Southern District, Southern District of Texas, Connecticut

☆ Behind The Onion's bid for Alex Jones's Infowars — which is now on hold as a judge reviews it
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementThe Onion's bid for Infowars came together with help from Sandy Hook families. On the surface, The Onion's announcement that it had purchased Alex Jones's Infowars at auction on Thursday may have sounded like a bizarre joke. But behind the scenes, the bid came together through strategic coordination — with the support of Sandy Hook families and a nonprofit that is backed by Michael Bloomberg. "The sale is currently underway, pending standard processes," Collins told Variety Friday in a statement. Advertisement"They've long loved The Onion," Collins told Yahoo, nodding to a headline the outlet publishes verbatim every time there's a mass shooting.

Persons: Infowars, Sandy Hook, Ben Collins, Alex Jones's Infowars, Michael Bloomberg, Collins, Alex Jones, Jones — who'd, Christopher Lopez, weren't, Lopez, Variety, John Feinblatt, who've, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Elon Musk's X, Jones Organizations: Yahoo, NBC, First United, Companies, Southern, of Texas's, Bloomberg News, Safety, ABC News, Bloomberg, Business, Variety, Free Speech Systems Locations: Texas

The Onion, the satirical news company that repeatedly spoofed conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, has won the bankruptcy auction for control over his media empire — most notably Infowars, the far-right, conspiracy-minded website that served as Jones’ primary online platform. The Onion plans to shutter Jones’ Infowars and rebuild the website featuring well-known internet humor writers and content creators, according to a person with knowledge of the sale. About an hour and a half after the announcement of the sale, Infowars' website was shut down. Details of Wednesday’s auction, including how much was offered for Free Speech Systems, the parent company of Infowars, and related assets, were not immediately known. “All you leftists celebrating the end of Alex Jones and Infowars, you’re fools,” he said.

Persons: Alex Jones, Jones, “, ” Jones, Infowars, Sandy, Sandy Hook, Chris Mattei, divesting Jones, John Feinblatt, Ben Collins, Collins, Christopher Murray, ”, Jeff Lawson, InfoWars Organizations: U.S, First United American Companies, Free Speech Systems, Sandy Hook Elementary, Gun Safety, NBC News, Onion News, ThreeSixty, Bankruptcy, Southern, Southern District of, Global, Onion staff, O Media, Speech Systems Locations: Connecticut, Texas, Winnebago, Austin , Texas, Southern District, Southern District of Texas, Sandy Hook, Newtown , Connecticut, “

Bidders interested in acquiring the media company founded by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones will battle it out at a bankruptcy auction Wednesday, potentially silencing his Infowars broadcasting platform for good. "All you leftists celebrating the end of Alex Jones and Infowars, you're fools," he said. Jay Westbrook, a University of Texas bankruptcy law professor, said the ultimate goal would be to earn a "maximum return for the victims." Jones, 50, founded Infowars, which operates under Free Speech Systems, in 1999. "Despite the judgment, Alex Jones still has a First Amendment right to speak his mind and continue to speak about anything he wants," he said.

Persons: Alex Jones, Jones, Sandy, Infowars, Roger Stone, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Christopher Murray, Sandy Hook, Jay Westbrook, Callie Kalny, Roy Gutterman Organizations: Free Speech Systems, Elementary, ThreeSixty, Associated Press, University of Texas, Center of Media Psychology, Northwestern University, Musk, U.S, Bankruptcy, Southern, Southern District of, Sandy Hook Elementary, Speech Systems, Syracuse University, Center, Free Locations: Winnebago, Austin , Texas, Infowars, Southern District, Southern District of Texas, Newtown , Connecticut, Connecticut, Texas

☆ CNBC Sport: A responsible look at women's sports exuberance
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-03 | by ( Alex Sherman | In Alex-Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +28 min

Media landscape shifts Most of the value in professional sports is propelled by media rights deals, and we're in an unusual sweet spot right now for sports. Still, gaining access to 11 teams' media rights is probably in the league's long-run best interest. You have the WNBA rights term worth $2.2 billion over 11 years with league expansion going from 12 to 15 teams. Media landscape shifts Most of the value in professional sports is propelled by media rights deals, and we're in an unusual sweet spot right now for sports. Still, gaining access to 11 teams' media rights is probably in the league's long-run best interest.

Persons: Alex Sherman, Jeff Zucker, Patrick Whitesell, Zucker, Scripps –, it's, Alex Michael, he's, Michael, they're, There's, Caitlin Clark, Michael said, weathers, AEW, I'm, Tony Khan —, he'd, Khan, US Networks Kathleen Finch, Max, hasn't, Finch, Rob Manfred, doesn't, CNBC's Lillian Rizzo, Craig Kilborn, Barrett, Jackson, Caitlin Clark's, You've, Soccer League's Nielsen, Tom Brady, Father, Brady, Jess Golden, Michael Jordan, Libs, Jim France, OneFootball, Lionel Messi, Jessica Pegula, CNBC's, Venu, Fubo, Venu …, Nike, Matthew Friend, John Donahoe, Elliott Hill, Sabrina Ionescu –, Jane Hali, Jessica Ramirez, AE1, Gabrielle Fonrouge, Ariel Atkins, DiDi Richards, Craig Hudson Organizations: CNBC, Endeavor, WNBA, NCAA, National Women's Soccer League, Amazon, CBS, ESPN, Scripps, NBA, Fox, NBC, Apple, Google, MLS, Clark, Warner Bros ., TNT, TBS, Warner Bros, Discovery, US Networks, Diamond Sports Group, U.S, Bankruptcy, Southern, Southern District of, Major League Baseball, Atlanta Braves, MLB, Holdings, UFC, WWE, WME Sports, ATP, Miami, NCAA Women's, Soccer, Angel City FC, NFL, Premier League, Netflix, Tech, CNBC Sport, Father Time, NASCAR, Motorsports, Major League Soccer, American, NHL, Buffalo Sabres, Bills, Disney, International Center for Law & Economics, Nike, New York Liberty, Air Force, Air Jordan, League Men's NCAA, Gonzaga, Pac, West Coast Conference, FloSports, Sports, Indiana Fever, Washington Mystics, Capital, Washington , D.C, Washington Post Locations: York City, Southern District, Southern District of Texas, OpenBet, U.S, Kobe, Washington ,

☆ J&J subsidiary files for bankruptcy to advance $8 billion talc settlement
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-20 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

J&J’s Red River Talc unit made its filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. J&J faces lawsuits from more than 62,000 claimants who alleged that its baby powder and other talc products were contaminated with asbestos and caused ovarian and other cancers. After being rebuffed twice by federal courts, New Brunswick New Jersey-based J&J is attempting again to end the litigation in a so-called “Texas two-step” bankruptcy. J&J said the Red River unit filed the bankruptcy case after it received support of about 83% of current claimants for the proposed bankruptcy plan. The goal is to use the proceeding to force all plaintiffs into one settlement, without requiring J&J itself to file for bankruptcy.

Persons: Reuters —, Johnson, J, Dietrich Knauth, Leigh Jones, Will Dunham, Sandra Maler, Shounak Dasgupta Organizations: Reuters, Johnson, Bankruptcy, Southern, Southern District of, Supreme, Purdue Locations: U.S, Southern District, Southern District of Texas, New Brunswick New Jersey, Texas, Bengaluru

☆ Diamond Sports, Comcast reach a deal to return Bally regional sports to cable customers
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Bally Sports regional channels are returning to Comcast cable TV customers. Diamond Sports — the owner of Bally Sports-branded regional sports networks — reached a deal with Comcast on Monday that will see its networks go live for cable customers on Aug. 1. Pay TV companies such as Comcast have been bleeding customers in recent years as customers opt for cheaper streaming options. Comcast said last week it lost 419,000 domestic cable customers during the second quarter and now has roughly 13.2 million subscribers in total. Once a lucrative business, regional sports networks have been particularly squeezed by customers leaving the cable bundle.

Persons: Diamond, David Preschlack, expeditiously, Preschlack Organizations: Bally, MLB's Houston Astros, Minnesota Twins, Target, Bally Sports, Comcast, Diamond Sports, —, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association and National Hockey League, MLB, Detroit Tigers, Charter Communications, DirecTV, NHL, NBA, Bankruptcy, Southern, Southern District of, Diamond, Pay, CNBC Locations: Minneapolis , Minnesota, Xfinity, U.S, Southern District, Southern District of Texas, NBCUniversal

☆ Insider Today: Asia's superpower clash
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-09 | by ( Matt Turner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The latest to get in on the act: Tesla, which is selling a $450 bottle of mezcal on its website. The election result was a blow to Modi, who has governed India for a decade with an increasingly firm grip. India watchers expect the country's new government to move slower on some issues following the surprise election result. NvidiaGoing up against Nvidia is generally considered a pretty bad idea for startups in Silicon Valley. But Silicon Valley often thrives when true technologists keep hacking away at something they believe in, even if everyone else thinks it's dumb.

Persons: —, Narendra Modi, SAJJAD HUSSAIN, Modi, He'll, Jamie Dimon, Dominic Bugatto, Alyssa Powell, hawking, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, HWA CHENG, Chelsea Jia Organizations: Service, Business, Bharatiya Janata Party's, Bharatiya Janata Party, titans, UN Security Council, Southern, Southern District of, Goldman, BI, HWA, Getty Images, Nvidia Locations: India, New Delhi, China, Southern District, Southern District of Texas, Salt Lake City, Nashville, Atlanta, AFP, Silicon Valley

☆ The incredible oblivion of Judge Marvin Isgur
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Dakin Campbell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +45 min

On a mild Houston day in March 2021, Judge Marvin Isgur prepared to oversee the only case on his docket that morning. In October 2023, the Fifth Circuit Court rebuked Judge David Jones but said that his longtime colleague, Judge Marvin Isgur, had been "unaware" of Jones' inappropriate relationship. "But only Judge Isgur knows what he knew or didn't know about the relationship." Much of this work was in cases before either Judge Isgur or Judge Jones. Isgur can continue to hear the case, he ruled, writing in the December 2023 opinion that lawyers for the creditor "failed to demonstrate much other than that former Judge Jones and Judge Isgur are close friends."

Persons: Marvin Isgur, David Jones, Jones, Elizabeth Freeman, Jackson Walker, Isgur, Michael Van Deelen, he'd, Freeman, Matthew Cavenaugh, Cavenaugh, Michael Van Deelen Van, Judge Jones, who'd, Steve Smith, Smith, Michael Lewis, Van Deelen, I'm, Van Deelen's, Tom Kirkendall, Gary Cruciani, Judge David Jones, Nancy Rapoport, University of Nevada Las Vegas William S, Kirkendall, " Jones, Trump, she's, Sarah, Porter Hedges, —, — Elizabeth Freeman, John Higgins, Whitney Ables, Josh Wolfshohl, Amy Lucas, Porter, Wesley Steen, Fifth Circuit —, that's, Liz, Bruce Markell, it's, Judge William Greendyke, Lynn LoPucki's, Patricia Tomasco, Christopher Lopez, Manges, Greendyke, Albert Alonzo, Alonzo, Jones Isgur, Susan Tran Adams, Matt Cavenaugh, Veronica Polnick, Genevieve Graham, cookout, Graham, Tran, Christina Morrison, David, I, Neiman Marcus, J.C, Penney, Freeman hadn't, hadn't, Jim Wilkinson, Ellis, Kirkland, Ellis —, Veronica Polnick —, Polnick —, Elizabeth, COVID, Jackson, Kirkland Ellis, they'd, — Greendyke, Wilkinson, Judge Isgur, Mike Warner, Eduardo Rodriguez, Rodriguez, Isgur's, Judge Lopez —, Lopez, Alfredo Perez, Weil, Perez, Richard Schmidt, Jack Newsham Organizations: Business, Southern District of, McDermott International, Southern, Houston, Fifth Circuit, Appeals, Department of Justice, Fifth, University of Nevada, Boyd School of Law, Circuit, University of Houston, American Bankruptcy Institute, Emory Law School, Emory, Facebook, Big Law, Reuters, Bloomberg, Northwestern's Pritzker School of Law, Enron, LinkedIn, Southern District of Texas, Judicial Conference, Texas, Chesapeake Energy, Big, Kirkland, Cavenaugh, UPS, Technologies, Candy Club, Omni, Norton Rose, GWG Holdings Inc, Brands, Southern District's, Southern District, US, Former Locations: Texas, Southern District, Southern District of Texas, Houston, New Orleans, United States, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Kirkendall, Galveston, Carolina, Porter, Harris, Nevada, Southern District of Texas , Delaware, New York, Delaware, Weil, Southern, disgorge, Sorrento, Corpus Christi, prefacing

☆ Judge Upholds Biden Program Giving Some Immigrants Short-Term Legal Status
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Miriam Jordan | More About Miriam Jordan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A federal judge on Friday allowed the Biden administration to keep in place a program that officials have used to give temporary legal status to some citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The decision is a notable victory for the White House, which has faced criticism on immigration policy and has used the temporary status program to discourage people from some of the region’s most troubled countries from illegally crossing the southern U.S. border. Texas and other Republican-led states had sued the Biden administration to block the program. But Judge Drew B. Tipton of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas sided with the administration, which considered the program vital to border management. The number of unlawful crossings by nationals from three of the countries in the program has declined, even as the overall number of migrant crossings has continued at historically high levels.

Persons: Biden, Drew B Organizations: White, Republican, Tipton, U.S, Southern, Southern District of Texas Locations: Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela, U.S, Texas, Southern District

☆ Texas man eavesdropping on wife’s phone calls faces criminal charges — and divorce — after $1.76 million insider trading plot
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —A Texas man is facing insider trading charges and jail time after he used information gleaned from eavesdropping on his wife’s work-from-home calls, netting him $1.76 million from an upcoming oil industry acquisition. Loudon purchased 46,450 shares of TravelCenters stock after learning of the impending merger, according to an SEC filing. When the share price popped 71% following the announcement, he sold all of his shares, raking in more than $1.76 million. The SEC’s complaint, filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas, charges Loudon with violating the antifraud components of federal securities laws. She reported the trading to her supervisor and was later terminated from the company, according to the filing.

Persons: New York CNN —, Tyler Loudon, “, Loudon, ”, Eric Werner, “ Mr, Peter Zeidenberg, Roth Organizations: New, New York CNN, The Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Fort, Court, Southern, Southern District of, US, Office, CNN Locations: New York, Texas, Houston, Fort Worth, Southern District, Southern District of Texas

☆ BP exec's husband guilty of insider trading $1.8 million, snooped on her calls
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The SEC said that Loudon's wife acknowledged occasionally discussing the acquisition with her husband in "normal" married-couple types of conversations. But over the next few months, Loudon, without telling his wife, accumulated 46,450 shares of TravelCenters, according to the U.S. attorney's office. But in March, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority requested from BP a list of people who were "in the know" about the TravelCenters acquisition before it happened. "Loudon's wife responded that they would." Loudon's wife reported her husband's insider trading to her BP supervisor but she was later fired from the company.

Persons: Tyler Loudon, Alamdar Hamdani, Loudon, Mr, Peter Zeidenberg, Loudon's, Roth, TravelCenters Organizations: BP, Southern District of Texas, Securities and Exchange Commission, CNBC, Authorities, TravelCenters, SEC, Roth IRA, Financial Industry, Authority Locations: Southend, United Kingdom, America, Houston, Southern District, Loudon, Rome, TravelCenters

☆ Elon Musk must testify in SEC probe of his Twitter takeover
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Lora Kolodny | In Lorakolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has to testify in a probe by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission concerning his 2022 acquisition of Twitter, a U.S. judge ordered in a court filing out Saturday. Musk closed his acquisition of Twitter in October 2022 in a deal worth roughly $44 billion, and has since rebranded it X. Musk, his attorney Alex Spiro and the SEC did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The settlement required Musk to have a "Twitter sitter" approve his tweets about his electric vehicle business before posting them. Attorneys for SpaceX argued in their suit that the very structure of the federal labor board violates the U.S. Constitution.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, Laurel Beeler, Alex Spiro, Tesla Organizations: SpaceX, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Twitter, CNBC, SEC, U.S, Supreme, National Labor Relations Board, NLRB, Southern, Southern District of, Attorneys, . Constitution, Starbucks Locations: Warsaw, Poland, U.S, Southern District, Southern District of Texas, Brownsville, .

☆ Wealth Assistants claims in a new lawsuit its accounts were frozen in the weeks before it shut down
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The complaint against Thread Bank lists five accounts that Wealth Assistants held with the bank, saying that CEO Ryan Carroll first noticed the accounts had been frozen on October 11. Carroll and Thread Bank did not return a request for comment from Business Insider on the suit. The timing detailed in the complaint aligns with Wealth Assistants' collapse. However, the lawsuit filed in early January describes Wealth Assistants as a "thriving business." Wealth Assistants filed a similar lawsuit against Bank of America in January 2023, claiming that accounts with more than $3.78 million in them had been closed without explanation.

Persons: Ryan Carroll, Carroll Organizations: Business, Bank, Court, Southern, Southern District of, Houston Division, Carroll, Thread Bank, Forbes , LA Wire, Bank of America Locations: Tennessee, Southern District, Southern District of Texas, Forbes ,, mstone@insider.com

Amazon will partner with Diamond Sports as part of a restructuring agreement as the largest owner of regional sports networks looks to emerge from bankruptcy. Diamond Sports has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the Southern District of Texas since it filed for protection last March. Under the terms of the restructuring agreement, Amazon will make a minority investment in Diamond and enter into a commercial arrangement to provide access to Diamond’s content via Prime Video. Customers will be able to access their local team's content on Prime Video channels where Diamond has rights. Under an agreement with creditors last year, Diamond Sports Group became a separate company from Sinclair.

Persons: Diamond, Sinclair, David Preschlack, ” Diamond, ___ Organizations: Amazon, Diamond Sports, Bally Sports, —, NBA, NHL, Southern District of, MLB, San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Padres, Diamondbacks, Diamond, New York Yankees, Brooklyn Nets, YES, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Walt Disney Co, Disney, Department of Justice, Diamond Sports Group, Sinclair, RSA, Major League Baseball Locations: Southern District, Southern District of Texas, Diamond’s

☆ SpaceX is trying to take down the NLRB after a group of employees wrote an open letter denouncing Elon Musk's embarrassing behavior
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Elon Musk's SpaceX has filed suit against the NLRB, arguing its proceedings are unconstitutional. The suit follows an NLRB accusation that SpaceX illegally fired employees who complained about Musk. SpaceX's suit could have wide-reaching impacts on federal agencies if successful, an expert told BI. Eight SpaceX employees were wrongfully terminated for their involvement in drafting and posting the letter, the NLRB alleged in its complaint against the billionaire's spacecraft manufacturing company. AdvertisementThe NLRB, in response to SpaceX's suit, has argued the case should be heard in California.

Persons: Elon, —, Musk, Musk's, SpaceX's, David Wimmer, Jerry Cutler, Cutler, Wimmer, they've Organizations: SpaceX, Service, National Labor Relations Board, Court, Southern, Southern District of Texas, Musk ., NLRB, Business Insider, Elon, Twitter, SpaceX Microsoft, CBS, United States, Supreme, Circuit, Columbia University, National Labor Relations Act, Federalist Society Locations: Brownsville, Southern District, Texas, California

The NBA and Diamond Sports Group, the largest owner of regional sports networks, have reached an agreement that will keep local broadcasts for 15 teams on Bally Sports through the end of this season. The agreement, which was contained in a court filing made Monday, is subject to court approval. While there will be a reduction in rights payments for some teams, the local rights for 15 franchises will revert back to those teams and the league at the end of this season. The agreement provides stability for fans, networks and NBA teams after Major League Baseball had to take over the broadcasts of San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks games last season after agreements could not be reached. The NBA teams that are currently on Bally are: Atlanta, Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Indiana, LA Clippers, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Orlando and San Antonio.

Persons: Diamond, ”, ___ Organizations: NBA, Diamond Sports Group, Bally Sports, Diamond Sports, Southern District of, Major League Baseball, San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Bally, LA Clippers, National Hockey League, NHL, Comcast, YES Network, New York Yankees, Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Cubs ’ Marquee Network, MLB Locations: Southern District, Southern District of Texas, Atlanta, Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit , Indiana, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee , Minnesota, New Orleans , Oklahoma City, Orlando, San Antonio

☆ Jordanian arrested in Houston spoke about ‘martyrdom,’ made statements that support ‘killing individuals of particular religious faith,’ judge’s order says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Alisha Ebrahimji | John Miller | Sabrina Shulman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Details, including the specific target, time or place for the gathering, were not immediately clear in the court documents. Abuayyash applied for asylum in the US after his nonimmigrant visa expired in 2019, according to the affidavit. He’s authorized to work in the US until August 2025, and is not allowed to “possess or use firearms or ammunition,” it states. Abuayyash was “plotting to attack a Jewish gathering,” a law enforcement source told CNN. This headline has been updated to attribute a quote to the judge’s order.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Sohaib Abuayyash, Abuayyash, He’s, Abuayyash “, Christina A, Bryan, Defendant, “, CNN’s Josh Campbell, Christopher Wray, ” Wray, Houston who’d, ” Christina Garza Organizations: CNN, Hamas, FBI, Court, Southern, Southern District of, United States, DHS, National Counterterrorism Center, Homeland Security, Governmental Affairs Locations: Houston, United States, Israel, Palestinian, Southern District, Southern District of Texas

☆ 6 troubling questions about the Corizon bankruptcy deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Dakin Campbell | Nicole Einbinder | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

The bankruptcy of prison health provider Corizon has faced pressure from senators and a federal regulator in recent weeks. Other troubling questions surrounding the bankruptcy involve payments to insiders, "dishonest" testimony, and a secret data breach. The other company, Tehum, was saddled with most of Corizon's liabilities and, in February, filed for bankruptcy. AdvertisementAdvertisementNine US senators have written to Corizon successor companies Tehum Care Services and YesCare demanding answers about Corizon's efforts to "manipulate bankruptcy law." AdvertisementAdvertisementLefkowitz repeatedly said under oath during a June creditor call that he didn't know who owned Geneva Consulting — the company Corizon paid $5.5 million.

Persons: Corizon, —, Christopher Lopez, David Jones, Elizabeth Freeman, YesCare, Jones, Tehum, Judge Jones, Freeman, Ian Cross, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Dick Durbin, Lopez, they're, Kevin Eckhardt, Hector Garcia Jr, Hector Garcia, Belen Lowery, Garcia's, Jeff Sholey, Isaac Lefkowitz, Lefkowitz, Sara Tirschwell, Jeffrey Scott King, Ayodeji, Michelle Rice, Jennifer Finger, Sholey, Edward Janger, Janger, he's, didn't, Geneva, Russell Perry, Baker, Hostetler, Tehum's, Tracey Grissom, Grissom, Julia Tutwiler, Roman, Sannikov, CISA, Tehum hadn't, What's, it's Organizations: Service, Tehum Care Services, Justice Department, Corizon, Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, Geneva Consulting, Tehum, University of Missouri Health Care, Brooklyn Law School, Geneva, Genesis Healthcare, Department, US, Court, Southern, Southern District of, Baker, FBI, Infrastructure Security Agency, of Health, Human, CISA, HHS, HIPAA, Women Locations: Houston, Texas, YesCare, Reorg, New Mexico, Corizon, Geneva, Southern District, Southern District of Texas, Alabama, Wetumpka , Alabama, Rivers, bitcoin, Tehum

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David R. Jones resigned from the Southern District of Texas bench on Sunday. Photo: reuters tv/ReutersJudge David R. Jones became the nation’s leading bankruptcy judge by making his court an attractive place for troubled businesses to face their creditors. His sudden departure over a previously undisclosed romantic relationship taints that legacy. Jones turned his Houston courtroom into the top landing spot for big bankruptcies over the past decade by appealing to corporate management teams and their high-priced advisers. He handled more major corporate bankruptcies than any other judge in recent years, including department stores JCPenney and Neiman Marcus and oil-and-gas driller Chesapeake Energy .

Persons: David R, Jones, Neiman Marcus Organizations: Southern, Southern District of, reuters, Reuters, JCPenney, Chesapeake Energy Locations: Southern District, Southern District of Texas, Houston

☆ Federal judge hits the brakes on Corizon bankruptcy deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Dakin Campbell | Nicole Einbinder | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A Texas judge has slowed down a bankruptcy deal involving Tehum, formerly Corizon, a leading prison health provider. The judge on the case, Christopher Lopez, raised other concerns, saying "the fundamental deal has to be reconsidered." A federal judge has declined to consider expedited approval of the plan's disclosures, saying far too many questions remained unanswered. "We're not going forward today," Judge Christopher Lopez said at a hearing on Tuesday in the Southern District of Texas bankruptcy court in Houston. The settlement deal would resolve hundreds of the malpractice suits for just $5,000 each — even those from families suing on behalf of loved ones who they say died due to Corizon's neglect.

Persons: David Jones, Christopher Lopez, —, We're, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Corizon, Lopez, it's, I've, Jason S, Lopez's, Jones, Elizabeth Freeman, Freeman, Ha Nguyen, Hector Garcia, Hector Garcia Jr Organizations: Tehum, US, Service, Southern District of, Houston, Justice Department Locations: Texas, Southern District, Southern District of Texas, Houston, YesCare, Corizon, New Mexico

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David Jones, who oversees more major Chapter 11 cases than any other U.S. judge, is seen in a screenshot from video shot during a virtual interview with Reuters done from Houston, Texas, U.S. December 11, 2020. Jones had already stepped back from overseeing large bankruptcy cases and began reassigning them to two other judges on the court. Until December 2022, Freeman had been a partner at Jackson Walker, a local law firm that filed many cases in Jones' Houston courthouse. Ethics experts have said the undisclosed relationship casts doubt on the integrity of Jones' court. "From the time we first learned of this allegation Ms. Freeman was instructed not to work or bill on any cases before Judge Jones.

Persons: David Jones, Randy Crane, Jones, Elizabeth Freeman, Freeman, Jackson Walker, Judge Jones, Shubhendu Deshmukh, Bill Berkrot, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Staff, U.S . Chief U.S, District, Southern, Southern District of Texas, Circuit, McDermott International, Tehum Care Services, U.S . Trustee, Department of, Thomson Locations: Houston , Texas, U.S, Houston, Southern District, New Orleans, Jones ' Houston, Debtwire, Bengaluru

☆ Top US bankruptcy judge resigns following revelation of undisclosed romantic relationship
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Nicole Einbinder | Dakin Campbell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Insider recently revealed that prominent bankruptcy judge David Jones was in a romantic relationship with a bankruptcy attorney. Both Jones and the attorney had involvement with the bankruptcy case of the prison healthcare company Corizon. Jones oversaw the settlement talks in Tehum's bankruptcy; Freeman represented YesCare — and signed off on Jones' appointment as mediator in May. "Judge Jones did not disclose his relationship with Ms. Freeman to the parties, to their counsel or to the bankruptcy judge who appointed Judge Jones," the misconduct complaint says. Already, the disclosure of Jones' relationship has encouraged the US Trustee to intervene.

Persons: David Jones, Jones, —, –, Elizabeth Freeman, Jackson Walker, Freeman, Corizon, Tehum, YesCare —, Michael Van Deelen, Priscilla Richman, Richman, Judge Jones, Christopher Lopez, " Jones Organizations: Fifth, Service, Southern, Southern District of Texas, Corizon Health, Tehum Care Services, Wall Street Journal, Appeals, Circuit, Fifth Circuit, Bloomberg Locations: Southern District, Texas, Corizon, Tehum's

☆ Prominent bankruptcy judge David Jones recused from cases, under investigation after exposure of undisclosed romantic relationship
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Nicole Einbinder | Dakin Campbell | Esther Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Last week, Insider revealed that prominent bankruptcy judge David Jones was in a romantic relationship with a bankruptcy attorney. The Office of the US Trustee, the bankruptcy regulator, has filed an objection in the Corizon bankruptcy case, citing Jones' "admissions." The Office of the US Trustee intervenesToday the Office of the US Trustee, the federal regulator that oversees bankruptcy cases, took the unusual step of intervening in the bankruptcy case. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe office filed multiple objections to the proposed settlement plan overseen by Judge Jones, including concerns about Jones' role as mediator. The bankruptcy plan breaks creditors down into several classes.

Persons: David Jones, Jones, —, Elizabeth Freeman, Freeman, Corizon, Tehum, Michael Van Deelen, didn't, he'd, Harris, Marvin Isgur, Christopher Lopez, Lopez, Judge Jones, Hector Garcia Jr, Hector Garcia, they're, Lila Hassan Organizations: Fifth Circuit, Service, Southern, Southern District of, Court, Fifth, Tehum Care, Wall Street Journal, Houston, Corizon Locations: Southern District, Southern District of Texas, Texas, YesCare, New Mexico

☆ Lawsuit alleges undisclosed relationship involving federal judge that could cloud Corizon bankruptcy deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Dakin Campbell | Nicole Einbinder | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A civil complaint alleges that federal bankruptcy judge David Jones, who mediated the Tehum bankruptcy, is in a romantic relationship with Elizabeth Freeman, who represented YesCare in the bankruptcy. Van Deelen's case was ultimately "removed" to Jones' bankruptcy court, according to Van Deelen's complaint. The document alleges that, while working the McDermott case, Freeman was Jones' "live-in girlfriend" in a home worth more than a million dollars. According to the complaint, the letter detailed the "corruption involving Judge David R. Jones" and his romantic relationship with Freeman. Judge Marvin Isgur, another bankruptcy judge in the court, later denied it.

Persons: Tehum, —, Corizon, David Jones, Elizabeth Freeman, Isaac Lefkowitz, Freeman, Jones, Michael Van Deelen, Christopher Lopez, Van Deelen's, Michael Van Deelen Frank Ozment, Tracy Grissom, Ozment, YesCare, Deelen's, McDermott, Van Deelen, Jackson Walker, Liz Freeman, Defendant Jones, Matt Cavenaugh, didn't, David R, Marvin Isgur Organizations: Service, Southern, Southern District of, YesCare Corp, US, McDermott International Locations: Texas, YesCare, Tehum, Southern District, Southern District of Texas, Alabama, Houston, Coldspring

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