Historic

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

President Biden’s Historic Pardons: Correcting Racial Disparities in Nonviolent Marijuana Convictions

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden demonstrated his use of presidential clemency power on Friday when he pardoned thousands of individuals convicted on federal land for nonviolent marijuana violations. Biden’s decision addressed the issue of racial disparities in drug prosecution and sentencing, a matter of great importance. Although criminal laws are meant to apply to all Americans equally, small amounts of cannabis possession or use have disproportionately affected Black individuals. Unequal enforcement can turn a colorblind law into an instrument of injustice. Clemency can help rectify these flaws in the criminal justice system. This marks … Read more

Landmark Verdict: Westchester Medical Center Ordered to Pay $120 Million in Historic Medical Malpractice Case

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White Plains, NY – In a groundbreaking medical malpractice case, a jury at the state Supreme Court awarded a staggering $120 million verdict against Westchester Medical Center. This historic judgment is hailed as the largest ever in the county. The verdict follows a devastating stroke suffered by William Lee, a resident of Elmsford, in November 2018. According to Attorney Ben Rubinowitz, the hospital’s failure to promptly diagnose and treat Lee resulted in severe brain damage. As a consequence, Lee’s life has been forever altered, as he is now confined to a residential brain injury center. … Read more

Judge’s Striking Admission Reveals City’s Efforts to Keep Water Flowing Amidst Historic Drought

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Wichita Falls, Texas – City Manager Darron Leiker’s surprising admission and the city’s valiant efforts to combat a historic drought from 2010 to 2015 have potentially played a crucial role in a judge’s recommendation to reject the city’s application to construct Lake Ringgold. On December 21, Administrative Law Judge Christiaan Siano advised the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to deny Wichita Falls’ request for building the reservoir in Clay County. In his assessment, Siano referenced an email Leiker sent to City Council members in January 2019, wherein he acknowledged that the proposed Lake Ringgold’s … Read more