Capitol Police Officers File Civil Suit Against President-Elect, Campaign for Provoking Jan. 6 Violence

WASHINGTON — Following the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, by a mob intent on disrupting the certification of President Joe Biden’s electoral win, eight Capitol Police officers are bringing a civil lawsuit against the then-president-elect and his campaign for their alleged roles in inciting the violence. Represented by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the officers claim they were assaulted, exposed to tear gas, and subjected to racial slurs by rioters who had been rallied by accusations of a stolen election. The legal action points directly to the rhetoric … Read more

Court Rules in Favor of UVM in Suit Brought by Students for Justice in Palestine

Burlington, VT — A lawsuit filed by the Students for Justice in Palestine against the University of Vermont has been dismissed, a federal judge ruled this week. The lawsuit alleged the university had failed to adequately address antisemitic harassment directed at members of the student group, but the court found insufficient grounds to proceed with the claims. The case, which has been closely followed by legal experts and advocates for campus free speech, highlights the growing tension surrounding the intersection of free speech and campus safety. UVM had been accused of violating civil rights statutes … Read more

$1 Million Settlement Reached in Wrongful Death Suit Following 2022 Officer-Involved Shooting of Robert Langley

Williamsburg County, SC – A judge recently approved a $1 million settlement concluding a wrongful death lawsuit stemming from an officer-involved shooting in February 2022 that resulted in the death of 46-year-old Robert Langley. The incident, which led to the lawsuit, occurred after former Hemingway police officer Cassandra Dollard attempted to pull over Langley, leading to a high-speed pursuit that ended miles outside of her jurisdiction in Georgetown County. After Langley’s vehicle crashed, Dollard reportedly shot and killed him. Cassandra Dollard, 52, faces charges of voluntary manslaughter in Langley’s death, with the case still ongoing. … Read more

New Jersey Town Agrees to $1.9 Million Settlement Over Costly Property Fees in Landmark Class-Action Suit

In a legal action that is drawing attention across New Jersey, Franklin Township homeowners David and Aimee Cappolina have struck a preliminary $1.9 million settlement with their local government over a contentious property registration scheme. According to the lawsuit, the township’s “Vacant and Abandoned Property Registration Program” unfairly imposed hefty fees that could climb as high as $5,000 annually on properties classified as “vacant” or “abandoned.” This often occurred following mortgage delinquencies, burdening property owners with additional financial strains. Initiated in November 2021, the class-action lawsuit targets the fee program, arguing that it places an … Read more