Scientists sue NY state police for forcing them to ‘customize’ DNA test resultsThree scientists have filed a lawsuit against a New York State Police crime lab where they were employees, saying the administration retaliated against them after they discovered that staff were using outdated DNA evidence tests to get more convictions. Shannon Morris, Melissa Lee and Kevin Rafferty are seeking unspecified damages in federal court, AP reports.
‘Works of the devil’: Oregon occupier countersues US government for $666bnA protester involved in the armed occupation of a wildlife park in Oregon is suing the US government for more than $666 billion, saying FBI and state police officers were among those to cause her suffering “from works of the devil”.
Feeling sleepy? You may confess to a crime you didn’t commitDidn’t get your 40 winks last night? Better not get yourself arrested, or you may admit to a crime you didn’t commit. False confessions are surprisingly easy to extract from people simply by keeping them awake, according to a new study of sleep deprivation.
Why Prosecutors Don’t Target Thieving CEOsMassachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren issued a stinging broadside against federal prosecutors on Friday, charging U.S. courts with throwing the book at mixed-up teenagers, while letting wealthy corporate executives who commit much larger and sometimes deadly crimes off with essentially no chance of punishment. In a new report, Sen.
‘Anonymous’ video demands justice for killed rancher LaVoy, publication of FBI agents’ IDsA video which claims to be made by Anonymous is demanding justice for killed Oregon rancher Robert “LaVoy” Finicum and for the IDs of the FBI agents who shot the protester with his hands in the air to be published.
OHSU billed uninsured ER patient ‘unconscionable’ $31,000, says $7 million class-action lawsuitClaire Amos’ lawsuit claims that Oregon Health & Science University never told her how much treatment would cost when she arrived at the emergency room in April 2015. A week later she left, only to discover soon after that she was on the hook for $31,000.
Hidden drug safety data could be unlocked with new keyThere’s a hidden power buried in the fine print of a federal law. It could hold the key to accessing confidential data about the safety and efficacy of prescription drugs. But so far only one person has used it, and the threat of a lawsuit still hangs over his head.
US NGOs sued over $280bn tax-deductible aid sent to Israel – reportA lawsuit has reportedly been filed against the US Treasury Department, alleging that some 150 NGOs sent as much as $280 billion worth of tax-deductible donations to Israel in the past 20 years. According to a report by Al Jazeera, the donations were ” pass-throughs” to support the Israeli army and settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories which had been ruled illegal by the UN.
Capital One Files ‘Disturbing’ Number of Lawsuits Against Its CardholdersSeveral years ago, Capital One gave Oscar Parsons, 46, his first credit card. At the time, he didn’t need a loan. But he banked at a Capital One branch near his Bronx apartment, and when it was offered, he thought, “Why not?” Initially, he had little problem keeping up with the payments.
Judge allows USDA pesticide researcher’s whistleblower claim to move forwardA judge has allowed a suspended US Department of Agriculture scientist to pursue a complaint against the agency. He alleges that he was suspended due to research on the correlation between pesticides and the rapidly declining bee population.
Idaho woman fired for giving free lunch to hungry childA cafeteria worker at an Idaho middle school was fired for giving lunch to a 12-year-old student who said she was hungry and had no money for food. The worker said she tried to pay for the lunch, but the school rejected her attempt.
Papers, Please!The real test of whether the TSA is above the law isn’t whether TSA or DHS officials, flacks, or lobbyists claim that there are legal procedures which (hypothetically) permit judicial oversight of TSA actions.
Government uses 18th century law to force companies to unlock customers’ cellphonesLast month the government tried to use a 226-year-old law to compel Apple to hand over user data from suspected criminals’ devices. This is part of a larger law enforcement trend attempting to use the law in a similar manner, according to the ACLU.
Removing the gag: how one man took on the FBI for nearly 12 years and wonOn a snowy afternoon in February 2004, an FBI agent came to Nick Merrill’s door, bearing a letter that would change his life. At the time, Merrill was running a small internet service provider called Calyx, with offices just below Canal Street on Manhattan’s west side.
Bank Crimes Pay: Under the Thumb of the Global Financial MafiocracyOn Nov. 13, the United Kingdom’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announced it was charging 10 individual bankers, working for two separate banks, Deutsche Bank and Barclays, with fraud over their rigging of the Euribor rates. The latest announcement shines the spotlight once again on the scandals and criminal behavior that have come to define the world of global banking.
‘Speculative hearsay’: Federal judge rejects 2nd Texas request to block Syrian refugeesA Texas federal judge has denied the state’s request for a restraining order to block entry to Syrian refugees. The court ruled the evidence provided by Texas Attorney General was “largely speculative hearsay.” In his second request made on behalf of Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Attorney General Kenneth Paxton argued that “terrorists could have infiltrated” the refugee program and could commit acts of terrorism.
Get lost: Teens suing govt over climate change try to stop Exxon, BP from meddlingOil and gas lobbyist are trying to be named as co-defendants in a lawsuit filed by 21 teenagers against the US government. The teens claim their rights were violated when public resources were used for fossil fuel exploitation and they’re fighting back.