City

Early Arrival: City Files Lawsuit Against Immigration Legal Service Provider

New York City’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection has filed a lawsuit against a number of immigration legal aid providers for “allegedly using a multi-part scheme to deceive immigrants.” DCWP accused Angel G. Buitron of Buitron Offices & Associates of posing as a renowned lawyer with an expertise in complex immigration cases despite not having a license to practice law anywhere. Buitron allegedly charged immigrants up to $30,000 for legal help and then had Susana T. Abarca, of the Law Office of Susana Abarca, PLLC, appear in immigration court for him, often without the immigrant client’s knowledge.


Lawsuit Raises Doubts About Colorado Springs’ Commitment to Comply With Access Laws

The Gazette reported in 2015 that the city and El Paso County had fallen well short of the spirit and the letter of the ADA, leaving buildings and pathways inaccessible to the then-estimated 66,000 people with disabilities in the county. Many of those shortcomings fell into an unquantified backlog of noncompliance. More than two years later, many of those shortcomings remain unquantified.


Metro Officer Fired Over Facebook Comment Files Lawsuit Against City

A former Metro police officer who was fired over a social media post is now suing the city of Nashville. Anthony Venable was fired for a comment he posted on Facebook in reference to a deadly officer-involved shooting in Minnesota. In July 2016, Philando Castile was shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop.


New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board Facing Lawsuit Over Floods

The New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board’s woes are headed to court. A group of activists, joined by an historic Treme church and two frustrated residents, sued Monday (Oct. 16) to attempt to force the public agency to divulge any future drainage problems in real time. The lawsuit accuses the utility of failing to properly notify customers about the condition of its drainage pumps and power …


Federal Judge Denies Injunction, Class-Action Status on Sweeps Suit

A federal judge ruled Oct. 4 that sweeps of homeless people and their belongings may continue as a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the city of Seattle’s rules regarding the practice moves through the court. Judge Ricardo Martinez denied motions filed by attorneys representing the plaintiffs — four homeless individuals impacted by sweeps, the Real Change Homeless Empowerment …


Big Rivers Lawsuit Nears End; City’s Utility Could Receive Millions

City Commissioners agreed to settle a lawsuit with Big Rivers Electric, pushing the city a step closer to the end of a long-standing dispute with the electric company. Henderson Municipal Power and Light could receive $6.25 million to settle the lawsuit, which stems from a 2009 spat over whether the city had the rights to sell excess energy it bought from Big Rivers. Henderson City Commission and Mayor Steve Austin unanimously approved a resolution to accept the settlement at a September meeting. The deal isn’t final, yet.  Henderson Municipal Power & Light General Manager Chris Heimgartner said …


Bernie Sanders Campaign Pays National City

National City has received a payout from the Bernie Sanders Campaign after a lawsuit was filed in August, Mayor Ron Morrison told NBC 7. The costs are from a rally at Kimball Park, shortly before California’s presidential primary in May 2016. Monday, Morrison said they treated the debt just like any other owed to the city.


Iowa City Joins Lawsuit Against Justice Department Over Immigration Enforcement

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Sunday the city would sue the administration of President Donald Trump in the wake of threats to withhold millions of dollars in federal grants from so-called sanctuary cities. Iowa City has signed onto a lawsuit against the U.S. Justice Department in a fight over federal grant funding for cities that limit local law enforcement’s role in immigration enforcement. The suit, brought by the city of Chicago, is seeking an injunction barring …


Former Principal Sues Martinsville, Claiming Reverse Discrimination

A former Martinsville High School principal is suing the city, city council and the city’s school board, claiming reverse discrimination as a result of a demotion last year. Angela Weinerth and her attorney Glen F. Koontz, filed the lawsuit Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Danville, seeking a jury trial and at least $8 million in punitive damages, $105,000 in back pay and …


Family of Man Killed by Little Rock Police Files Lawsuit

The family of a man shot and killed by a Little Rock police officer last year filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Thursday, claiming his death could have been prevented and questioning the way the police department handled its investigation of the shooting. Attorneys for the family of 46-year-old Roy Lee Richards filed a lawsuit against the officer, the city and the …