Heat

As 2025 Looms, Litigation Finance Faces Regulatory Heat and Major Investment Shake-ups

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As the new year unfolds, the litigation finance industry, now valued at approximately $15.2 billion, prepares to navigate an evolving landscape of regulatory scrutiny and investment quandaries. This niche sector, which funds plaintiffs in legal battles in exchange for a share of potential settlements or awards, has turned heads not just for its bold financial layouts, but also for the increasing attention it’s drawing from governing bodies and courts across the United States. Litigation finance continues to come under the microscope, particularly with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce advocating for stricter regulations. These entities argue … Read more

Multnomah County Sues Major Energy Companies for $1.5 Billion Over Catastrophic Heat Dome Damages

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Portland, Oregon – Multnomah County recently filed a lawsuit against major fossil fuel producers, seeking to pin responsibility for the extreme heat wave of 2021, infamously known as the Pacific Northwest Heat Dome, that devastated the region. The legal action, instituted on June 22, 2023, in an Oregon state court, targets industry giants including Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron, and BP, among others. The lawsuit accuses these corporations of significantly contributing to climate change through their historic greenhouse gas emissions. This, the county posits, played a critical role in exacerbating the heat dome event that clamped … Read more

Closing Arguments Heat Up in NYC Subway Chokehold Death Trial of Marine Veteran

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New York – Closing arguments unfolded on Monday in the high-profile trial of Daniel Penny, a Marine veteran who is accused of fatally choking Jordan Neely, a street performer known for his Michael Jackson impersonations, on a New York subway last year. Penny faces charges of second-degree manslaughter and negligent homicide, levied by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The incident, which occurred on a northbound F-train, has catalyzed a mixture of national attention and local uproar, centered around issues of safety, mental health, and vigilante justice. Neely, who was frequently seen performing in places like … Read more

Kentucky Sheriff Claims ‘Heat of Passion’ in Unplanned Shooting of District Judge

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Whitesburg, KY — A shocking incident in Letcher County has captured national attention as Shawn “Mickey” Stines, the local sheriff, stands accused of the fatal shooting of District Judge Kevin Mullins. The ordeal, which unfolded in the judge’s chambers on September 19, was described by defense attorney Jeremy Bartley as impulsive and driven by “extreme emotional disturbance.” Stines, 43, who ascended from the role of court bailiff to sheriff in 2018, apparently fired multiple times at Mullins, 54, who was seated at his desk, as highlighted in a silent video clip presented during a preliminary … Read more