Government

Lawsuit by Ethics Experts Claims Trump’s Overseas Interests Violate Constitution

A lawsuit was filed in federal court Monday by a team of ethics experts and legal scholars alleging that President Donald Trump’s overseas businesses violate the Constitution’s emoluments clause, which prohibits presidents from taking money from foreign governments. NPR reports that the group says it’s asking the court “to stop Trump from violating the Constitution by …


Lawsuit Could Throw Colorado Elections System Into Chaos

A suit before the Colorado Court of Appeals today sought to reclaim revenue the state now uses to pay for its elections — leaving its future funding in question. The case, filed by the National Federation of Independent Business , claims that businesses carry an unfair burden of the cost of funding the state’s elections, including costs carried by counties. Attorneys for NFIB point out that …


Taxi Drivers Get Green Light to Sue Uber for $300 Million

Taxi drivers have won permission to take their fight against Uber to court. A judge has authorized a $300 million class-action lawsuit against the phone-based ride-hailing service. Lawyer Carl-Olivier Rouleau said taxi drivers operating under government regulation have lost money as a direct result of Uber’s actions.


JPMorgan Pays $55M to Settle Mortgage Discrimination Lawsuit

JPMorgan Chase agreed to a settlement with the U.S. government over allegations that it discriminated against “thousands” of black, Hispanic mortgage borrowers from 2006 through 2009. The bank’s independent brokers charged minority borrowers higher mortgage interest rates and fees during that period, compared to “similarly situated white borrowers,” according to a government lawsuit filed Wednesday in a New York federal court. JPMorgan is expected to settle the lawsuit for $55 million without admitting any liability. “We’ve agreed to …


Paxton Files One Last Lawsuit Against Obama Administration

Attorney General Ken Paxton took one last swipe at the Obama administration Tuesday, joining a throng of states suing the federal government for alleged overreach into the coal industry. Texas joined 12 states in a lawsuit seeking a review and injunction of the “Stream Protection Rule” which the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation and Enforcement describes as a method to protect streams and wildlife. The suit, Paxton’s 21st against the Obama administration, accused the federal agency of adopting a “one-size-fits-all rule” which affects coal mining without input from states and imposes on state’s sovereign rights. …


Trump’s Secretary of State Nominee May Have to Testify in a Landmark Climate Lawsuit the Day Before Inauguration

Rex Tillerson testifies during a confirmation hearing. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
The day before Trump’s inauguration, his pick for Secretary of State will likely be getting questioned under oath. Lawyers for a landmark climate lawsuit , which claims the US government failed to protect future generations from the dangers of global warming, are scheduled to depose Rex Tillerson on January 19.



Wikipedia’s NSA Lawsuit Heads to Federal Appeals Court

The publishers of Wikipedia and several civil rights groups will head to a federal appeals court Thursday to challenge a National Security Agency surveillance program that mines Americans’ internet communications. A key hurdle for the groups will be to provide convincing evidence that their emails and other communications are among those collected in bulk by the NSA. A lower court previously …


Quicken Lawsuit to Move to Detroit

A government lawsuit against Detroit-based Quicken Loans Inc . will move to the mortgage lender’s hometown, a federal judge ruled Monday, after finding that the Washington, D.C., connection to Quicken’s practices was too “insubstantial” to keep the case there.