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News

Cayuga Nation’s $15 Million Racketeering Lawsuit Against Local Smoke Shop Set for Jury Trial

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A federal racketeering lawsuit involving the Cayuga Nation and a local smoke shop, Pipekeepers, is set to go to trial in Syracuse this coming September. The case, presided over by Judge Brenda K. Sannes of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, hinges on allegations that the smoke shop, operated by Dusty Parker and owned by Paul Meyer, has negatively impacted the nation’s business to the tune of $15 million. The lawsuit, initiated in February 2022, claims that Pipekeepers, located on Route 90 in Montezuma, has been conducting … Read more

Virginia Mothers Lead Charge for Tougher Road Safety Laws After Tragic Losses

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RICHMOND, Va. — After enduring the tragedies of losing their children in automobile accidents, two Virginia mothers are channeling their grief into advocacy, pressing for comprehensive changes in state driving regulations. Together with Virginia lawmakers, they are campaigning for legislation aimed at imposing sterner penalties for unlicensed youthful drivers, widening driver education in schools, and mandating seatbelt usage for all vehicle occupants. Driven by her son Christopher’s fatal crash in 2020, Christy King has become a vocal supporter of legislative change, advocating this week before a House Transportation subcommittee. Specifically, her efforts are behind House … Read more

Groundbreaking Jury System Research Wins Prestigious Civil Justice Scholarship Award for Law Professor Valerie P. Hans and Team

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Cornell University law professor Valerie P. Hans, along with two distinguished colleagues, received the prestigious 2025 Civil Justice Scholarship Award from the National Civil Justice Institute. This recognition is awarded for influential scholarly work in the realm of civil justice. Hans is honored alongside Professor Richard Jolly of Southwestern Law School and attorney Robert Peck from the Center for Constitutional Law. The trio’s winning article, “Democratic Renewal and the Civil Jury,” published in the Georgia Law Review, examines the pivotal role of the civil jury in enhancing civic engagement and upholding democratic values in contemporary … Read more

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Request Court Sanctions Against Opposing Counsel Amid Legal Showdown with Co-star

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New York – In a potent escalation of a high-profile legal feud, actors Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are now pursuing court sanctions against the attorney representing their adversary, Justin Baldoni. They accuse the lawyer, Bryan Freedman, of making inappropriate media statements that they contend could prejudice legal proceedings. Additionally, they are seeking to bar him from questioning Lively in a related sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit. The legal team for Lively and Reynolds made these moves just hours after requesting a federal judge dismiss a massive $400 million lawsuit Baldoni filed against the couple, … Read more