Judge

New York Judge Declines to Dismiss Case Against Tornado Cash Co-founder Amid Allegations of Aiding North Korean Hackers

by

NEW YORK — A federal judge in Manhattan has refused to dismiss charges against Roman Storm, co-founder of the cryptocurrency mixing service Tornado Cash, in a closely watched case that delves into the intersections of technology, privacy, and law. U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla ruled that the complexity of the case, particularly the defendant’s intentions regarding the usage of the service, warrants a full trial. Tornado Cash, beloved by many for its privacy features, allows its users to mix their Ethereum cryptocurrency with others in order to obscure the origin of the funds. However, … Read more

Utah Judge Tosses Lawsuit Against Local Paper, Cites New Anti-SLAPP Law in Defamation Case Dismissal

by

FILLMORE, Utah — A local judge recently dismissed a defamation lawsuit against the Millard County Chronicle Progress, concluding that the plaintiff, Wayne Aston, failed to adequately substantiate his allegations. Aston had claimed that the newspaper’s coverage of his business proposal in Fillmore was inaccurate and slanderous. However, during a hearing on September 4, the defense successfully argued that a newly enacted Utah law aimed at protecting freedom of expression justified the suit’s dismissal before trial. The legislation, passed in 2023, serves to eliminate unsubstantiated defamation claims early in the legal process, sparing the defendants costly … Read more

Federal Judge to Review University of Maryland Ban on Student Vigil Commemorating Gaza Lives

by

Greenbelt, MD – A federal court is set to evaluate the claims of a University of Maryland student group alleging First Amendment violations after their planned vigil to commemorate lives lost in Gaza was cancelled by the university. The hearing, scheduled for Monday, stems from a lawsuit filed by the University of Maryland Students for Justice in Palestine, which argues that the university unjustly prohibited their “interfaith vigil” initially approved for October 7. The event was intended to mark one year since the commencement of hostilities in Gaza following an attack by Hamas on Israel, … Read more

Judge Allows Defamation Suit to Proceed Against Netflix Series ‘Baby Reindeer,’ Citing Perceived Assertions of Fact in Portrayal

by

In a significant legal development, a judge has ruled that the Netflix show “Baby Reindeer,” despite claiming to weave fiction with facts, could be perceived by audiences as a depiction of actual events. This ruling paves the way for Fiona Harvey’s defamation case to proceed against both the series and its streaming service. The judgment, issued by Judge Gary Klausner, disputes the defense presented by Netflix which described the show as primarily fictional. The on-screen declaration at the series’ onset stating, “This is a true story,” plays a crucial role in the court’s decision, suggesting … Read more