Ruling

Illinois Tax Sale System Faces Legal Reckoning as Supreme Court Ruling Sparks Calls for Reform

by

Illinois homeowners are facing significant challenges amid a legal upheaval that has emerged after a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling deemed certain practices surrounding property tax sales unconstitutional. The ruling, which took effect in 2023, has cast a spotlight on a system that has allowed private investors to claim equity from homeowners who fall behind on their property taxes, raising concerns about the financial ramifications for counties. For many years, county treasurers across Illinois could collect unpaid property taxes by selling the debts to private entities. Homeowners who failed to pay back these debts could … Read more

Judicial Ruling Strips County Clerk from Election Race in Valencia County

by

LOS LUNAS, N.M. — A state district judge has ruled that Valencia County Clerk Tina R. Lujan will not appear on the ballot for the upcoming elections. The decision came after questions arose regarding Lujan’s eligibility due to alleged misconduct related to her handling of the 2020 election. The ruling was prompted by a suit filed earlier this month, asserting that Lujan had failed to comply with key election laws. Judge Mary E. Cardenas found sufficient grounds to exclude Lujan from the ballot, citing the violation of her district’s policies and New Mexico election regulations. … Read more

Federal Appeals Court Affirms $83.3 Million Defamation Ruling Against Trump in E. Jean Carroll Case

by

New York — A federal appeals court upheld a jury’s decision on Monday, mandating that former President Donald Trump pay $83.3 million to writer E. Jean Carroll for defaming her after she publicly accused him of sexual assault. The ruling by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Trump’s appeal, which claimed the financial penalty was excessively high and argued for a new trial based on recent Supreme Court interpretations regarding presidential immunity. The court deemed Trump’s actions as “extraordinary and unprecedented,” concluding that they warranted such a substantial award. The ruling indicated that … Read more

Federal Court Upholds $83.3 Million Defamation Ruling Against Trump in E. Jean Carroll Case

by

NEW YORK — A federal appeals court has upheld an $83.3 million jury verdict against former President Donald Trump for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. The court ruled on Monday that Trump’s actions regarding Carroll’s accusations of a decades-old rape in a Manhattan department store constituted defamation. This ruling comes after a jury also found Trump liable for sexual abuse related to the same incident. In its unanimous decision, a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit dismissed Trump’s assertion that a Supreme Court decision regarding presidential immunity should shield … Read more