Expense

Maine’s House Majority Leader Proposes Key Revisions to Legislative Expense Reimbursements

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PORTLAND, Maine — House Majority Leader Matt Moonen has proposed a bill aimed at updating the reimbursement system for Maine lawmakers. During a public hearing on the proposed legislation, he described the changes as straightforward adjustments to the reimbursement framework that governs legislative expenses. The bill, currently under review by the State and Local Government Committee, seeks to eliminate the existing rules that cap the reimbursements legislators can receive for meals and travel. Instead, fees would be determined by the Legislative Council, which would require a minimum of six votes in favor of any rate, … Read more

Boom in Mass Tort Advertising May Enrich Lawyers at Expense of Plaintiffs and Public Health

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Across televisions and internet screens, a flood of legal advertisements persistently beckons the public to join class-action lawsuits, promising compensation for harms allegedly caused by various products or services. These ads, often backed by significant investment from lawyers and outside financiers, are not only a common annoyance but pose deeper, more systemic issues. The burgeoning field of mass tort litigation has seen a dramatic rise in such advertising. Over recent years, spending on these ads has tripled, while the volume has increased fivefold since 2005. Notably, prominent personal injury firm Morgan & Morgan disclosed spending … Read more

Justice Department Claims New York’s Policies Benefit Undocumented Immigrants at the Expense of U.S. Citizens

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Washington, D.C. – The Justice Department has formally filed a complaint against the state of New York for what it alleges are unfair policies favoring non-citizens over U.S. citizens. The federal lawsuit claims that New York’s specific laws and practices unjustly prioritize undocumented immigrants in areas such as employment, health care, and housing, thereby discriminating against American citizens. The complaint specifically takes issue with several New York initiatives which allegedly provide enhanced services and opportunities to undocumented immigrants. Among the contested areas is the New York Liberty Defense Project, which offers legal services to immigrants … Read more

Broken Scales of Justice: How Mass Tort Litigation Has Morphed into a Goldmine for Trial Attorneys at the Expense of Genuine Grievances

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The United States is witnessing a profound transformation in its civil law landscape, largely characterized by an exponential increase in mass tort litigation. Observers and experts point to a surge in litigation that, while ostensibly designed to address grievances and deliver justice, has frequently become a profit-driven venture for many legal practitioners. This shift in the civil justice system’s dynamics is notably influenced by a certain segment of the legal profession, sometimes referred to as ‘bad actors’, whose practices have geared more towards monetization than mediation. This trend has sparked debates about the integrity of … Read more