Federal

Federal Jury Awards $5.3 Billion Verdict in Antitrust Case Against National Association of Realtors and Real Estate Franchisors

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The National Association of Realtors and major real estate franchisors have been found guilty in an antitrust case that accused them of colluding to inflate real estate commissions. A federal jury issued a verdict in favor of approximately 500,000 Missouri homesellers seeking reimbursements for $1.78 billion in commissions paid to buyer brokers. The jury awarded $1,785,310,872 in damages, which will be trebled to $5.356 billion under the law. The case focused on whether there was a conspiracy among the defendants — NAR, Keller Williams, Realogy, RE/MAX, HomeServices of America, and its … Read more

Federal Jury Awards Circuitronix LLC Over $7.5 Million in Lawsuit Against Chinese Manufacturer

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MIAMI – In a surprising turn of events, a federal jury in Miami has awarded more than $7.5 million to Podhurst Orseck’s client, Circuitronix LLC, after allegations arose that the company had failed to pay over 400 invoices to Chinese-based manufacturer, Jiangmen Benlida Printed Circuit Co. This verdict comes after Circuitronix had initially been sued for $13.5 million by Benlida. Stephen Rosenthal, Matthew Weinshall, and Christina Martinez of Podhurst Orseck represented Circuitronix in the case, which was heard by U.S. District Judge Robert Scola of the Southern District of Florida. For Circuitronix and its legal … Read more

Environmental Groups Threaten Lawsuit Against Federal Body Over Tijuana Sewage Crisis: Citizens Seek Accountability for Clean Water Act Violations

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SAN DIEGO, CA – Local environmental groups in San Diego are considering legal action against the federal organization responsible for overseeing water treatment infrastructure that contributes to the ongoing sewage crisis in Tijuana. San Diego Coastkeeper and the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation have issued a joint notice of intent to sue the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act and the facility’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Permit. In their 24-page letter, the nonprofits state that they will proceed with the lawsuit if the IBWC fails to address these … Read more

Federal Judge Clears Path for First Execution by Nitrogen Hypoxia in Alabama

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MONTGOMERY, Alabama — A federal judge in Alabama has rejected an inmate’s request to halt his execution scheduled for later this month, potentially making him the first person to be put to death using the untested method of nitrogen hypoxia. Kenneth Eugene Smith, who was convicted of a murder-for-hire plot in 1988, had argued that the state’s current protocol for nitrogen hypoxia violated his constitutional rights due to the risk of a painful death. However, Judge R. Austin Huffaker Jr. ruled that Smith had not proven that the protocol would cause cruel and unusual punishment, … Read more