HARTFORD, Conn. — The father of a victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre has won a defamation lawsuit against the authors of a book that claimed the shooting never happened — the latest victory for victims' relatives who have been taking a more aggressive stance against conspiracy theorists....
In Opioid Lawsuits, One State Opts to Stay on the Sidelines
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson has fought prescription opioid abuse through public education campaigns, worked with lawmakers to tighten up prescribing practices and even demanded documents from the maker of OxyContin. He has said the overdose crisis is ravaging families. What Peterson has not done is pursued...
Walters: How Budget 'Trailer Bills' Are Misused
In the jargon of the Capitol, “trailer bills” are measures that accompany the annual state budget – in theory making the changes of law necessary to implement the budget’s fiscal policies. In practice, they serve another, much different function – to sneakily do things that might otherwise be difficult to...
Nunes Sues McClatchy Newspapers: Fox News Report
Fox News reported Monday that Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) has filed a $150 million lawsuit in a Virginia state court against McClatchy newspapers, which owns and operates The Fresno Bee. Nunes' lawsuit comes on the heels of a $250 million defamation lawsuit filed last month against Twitter and one of its...
Clovis Sues to Keep Control of Cannabis Deliveries
A coalition of 25 local governments — including the city of Clovis — has filed a lawsuit against the California Bureau of Cannabis Control. They hope to strike down regulations allowing delivery of commercial cannabis statewide. Attorneys for the coalition say the lawsuit was filed late Thursday in Fresno County...
Raging Waters: River Conservancy Board Sued Over Access Vote
It was only a matter of time before the San Joaquin River Conservancy Board faced a lawsuit about where to build an access point to the river. That time was 30 days. In December 2017, the board voted to build at Spano Park, at the end of Palm Avenue at...
Key Facts in the Federal Cases Against Michael Avenatti
NEW YORK — Key facts in the federal case against celebrity attorney Michael Avenatti: Who Is Michael Avenatti? Avenatti, 48, became a household name last year through his representation of Stormy Daniels, the porn actress who claims she had an affair with President Donald Trump years before he took office....
Iowa Sues to Shut Down National Puppy Laundering Ring
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Attorney General's Office is suing to shut down what it describes as a national puppy-laundering ring that sells dogs from illegal breeding operations at inflated prices while pretending the animals are rescues. The lawsuit filed Monday seeks an injunction to dissolve breeder J.A.K.'s Puppies, and nonprofits...
Rand Paul Awarded More Than $580K After Neighbor’s Attack
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul was awarded more than $580,000 in damages and medical expenses on Wednesday in his lawsuit against the neighbor who tackled him and broke several of his ribs in a dispute over lawn maintenance. A jury in Bowling Green, Kentucky, deliberated less than two hours before delivering...
Raiders Want to Talk About Playing in Oakland in 2019
OAKLAND — The Coliseum Authority will meet Friday to get an update on the possibility of whether the Raiders could stay in Oakland another year. Authority executive director Scott McKibben said he will update the board in closed session on where things stand between the Raiders and the Coliseum following...