Federal

Federal Appeals Court Halts California Gun Ban, Sparks Controversy Over Public Safety

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SACRAMENTO, California – A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked a California law that would have banned people from carrying guns in certain public places. On December 30, a district judge had put a temporary hold on the law, allowing it to go into effect on January 1. However, the U.S. Court of Appeals from the 9th Circuit dissolved that stay on Saturday, reinstating the district judge’s ruling blocking the law. The California law, signed by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom in September, prohibits carrying concealed guns in 26 locations, including public parks, playgrounds, churches, banks, … Read more

Federal Jury Awards $9.5 Million in Civil Rights Lawsuit Against Correction Officers After Inmate’s Death

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ALBANY, N.Y. – A federal court jury in Albany awarded $9.5 million to Tracy Yvonne Cooper after finding that correction officers at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora violated her son’s civil rights. The verdict came after hours of deliberation and followed Tracy Cooper’s claim that the guards used excessive force, resulting in the death of her son, Terry L. Cooper. Terry Cooper, a 25-year-old inmate, died during a confrontation with the baton-wielding guards at the maximum-security prison in 2016. The jury reached its decision only a few hours after hearing closing arguments in the case. … Read more

Federal Jury Awards $1.8 Billion to Home Sellers in Historic Lawsuit Against National Association of Realtors and Brokerages

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Kansas City, Missouri – A federal jury in Kansas City has ruled in favor of a class-action lawsuit, finding that the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and certain residential real estate brokerages engaged in a conspiracy to maintain artificially high commissions. The jury determined that the defendants colluded to enforce the “Mandatory Offer of Compensation Rule,” also known as cooperative compensation. This rule compelled sellers who wanted to list their properties on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) to offer compensation to the buyer’s agent. As a result, sellers were forced to pay inflated commissions, typically … Read more

Former Employee Files Third Federal Discrimination Lawsuit Against Eastpointe Community Schools and Superintendent for Racial Bias and Hostile Work Environment

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Eastpointe, MI – A former employee of Eastpointe Community Schools has filed a federal lawsuit against the district and Superintendent Christina Gibson, accusing them of racial discrimination and fostering a hostile work environment. The lawsuit, filed by former administrative assistant and grant specialist Leah Black, marks the third federal discrimination lawsuit against the district and superintendent in the past seven months. According to the complaint, Black, who is Black, was hired by the district in 2017 as an administrative assistant for Kelly Middle School. She alleges that she applied for or expressed interest in four … Read more