Cayuga Nation’s $15 Million Racketeering Lawsuit Against Local Smoke Shop Set for Jury Trial

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A federal racketeering lawsuit involving the Cayuga Nation and a local smoke shop, Pipekeepers, is set to go to trial in Syracuse this coming September. The case, presided over by Judge Brenda K. Sannes of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, hinges on allegations that the smoke shop, operated by Dusty Parker and owned by Paul Meyer, has negatively impacted the nation’s business to the tune of $15 million. The lawsuit, initiated in February 2022, claims that Pipekeepers, located on Route 90 in Montezuma, has been conducting … Read more

Groundbreaking Jury System Research Wins Prestigious Civil Justice Scholarship Award for Law Professor Valerie P. Hans and Team

Cornell University law professor Valerie P. Hans, along with two distinguished colleagues, received the prestigious 2025 Civil Justice Scholarship Award from the National Civil Justice Institute. This recognition is awarded for influential scholarly work in the realm of civil justice. Hans is honored alongside Professor Richard Jolly of Southwestern Law School and attorney Robert Peck from the Center for Constitutional Law. The trio’s winning article, “Democratic Renewal and the Civil Jury,” published in the Georgia Law Review, examines the pivotal role of the civil jury in enhancing civic engagement and upholding democratic values in contemporary … Read more

Jury Clears Hospital in the Controversial Death of Woman After Jail Cell Incident

OMAHA, Neb. — A Nebraska jury recently concluded that CHI Health was not at fault in the death of 47-year-old Aundrea Milnes, who died in a jail cell after receiving treatment at CHI Health-Creighton University Medical Center in November 2022. The case, which centered around the hospital’s discharge of Milnes following her complaint of severe abdominal pain, has sparked discussion about patient care and legal responsibilities. Milnes visited the hospital during the early morning of Nov. 3, 2022, where she was examined by medical professionals who diagnosed her with menstrual cramps and subsequently discharged her. … Read more

Berlinale Announces Star-Studded Jury for 75th Film Festival, Introduces New Competitions and Prizes

Berlin, Germany – The Berlin International Film Festival, also known as the Berlinale, has announced its jury lineup for its 75th edition, set to take place from February 13 to February 23. The festival, celebrated for its diverse and global cinematic selections, will feature prominent figures from the film industry across its various competition juries. Morocco/France-based director Nabil Ayouch, German costume designer Bina Daigeler, Chinese actor Fan Bingbing, Argentine director Rodrigo Moreno, U.S. film critic and author Amy Nicholson, and German director, actor, and screenwriter Maria Schrader will evaluate the main competition entries. They join … Read more