Federal

Federal Judge Delays Trial for Indiana Man Accused of Illegal Firearm Sales to Mexico Amid Plea Agreement Talks

by

NORTH VERNON, Ind. – A Jennings County man facing charges of selling firearms without a license and allegedly aiding in their transport to Mexico has secured a delay in his trial. David Joseph Mull’s trial, originally scheduled for February 26, has now been postponed to August 19, as confirmed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II. Mull’s attorney, Guy Relford, requested the delay in order to evaluate any potential plea agreement offered by federal prosecutors, who agreed to the postponement. Federal prosecutors had previously sought the forfeiture of over 1,000 guns, hundreds of rounds … Read more

Franklin Resident Sentenced to 40 Months in Prison for Violating Federal Firearms Law

by

Franklin, Pennsylvania – A Franklin resident has been sentenced to 40 months in prison for violating federal firearms law. Philip John Dechant, a 40-year-old convicted felon, was found guilty of owning multiple firearms around April 2020, in violation of the law that prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms or ammunition. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania reported that Dechant’s sentence was handed down on January 18. The investigation leading to his prosecution was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Under federal law, it is illegal … Read more

Mass Tort and Toxic Tort Legal Battles Soar in Federal Docket: Supreme Court and Appeals Courts Grapple with Groundbreaking Cases

by

RALEIGH, North Carolina – With an increasing number of mass tort and toxic tort claims being brought to court, television screens are bombarded with advertisements encouraging victims to seek compensation through large verdicts. As the first settlements for contaminated water at Camp Lejeune are reached and over 50% of the federal docket is filled with multi-district litigation primarily stemming from mass tort cases, various courts are having to grapple with the complexities of these legal battles. The U.S. Supreme Court, 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and the 1st District Illinois Appellate Court are among … Read more

Federal Judge Allows Punitive Damages in Lawsuit Against Trumbull County Commissioners and Sheriff’s Office

by

Warren, Ohio – Trumbull County commissioners and members of the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office may face individual liability for punitive damages in a lawsuit brought by Commissioner Niki Frenchko, according to U.S. District Judge Philip Calabrese’s recent order. The judge’s ruling stated that if the case goes to trial, a jury could find that Sheriff Paul Monroe, county Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa, former Commissioner Frank Fuda, and two sheriff’s office sergeants conspired to have Frenchko arrested during a commissioners meeting in July 2022. The lawsuit, filed on Frenchko’s behalf by attorneys David Betras and Matt Miller-Novak, … Read more