Federal Civil Enforcement

DOJ launches corporate whistleblower awards program

The Justice Department on Thursday unveiled a corporate whistleblower pilot program targeting foreign corruption and financial fraud that authorities said could yield billions of dollars in forfeitures each year. Tipsters who are first to provide information of corporate wrongdoing could be eligible for up to 30% of the first $100 million in company forfeitures.

Aug 2, 2024 9:45 AM CDT

SCOTUS blocks EPA’s ‘downwind’ air-quality initiative

The Supreme Court dealt a blow to the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation of air quality on Thursday, putting on hold a major initiative to improve public health by reducing smog-forming pollution from power plants and factories that blows across state lines.

Jun 27, 2024 11:40 AM CDT

Texas AG Ken Paxton makes deal to avoid felony securities trial

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), a conservative firebrand acquitted last year in a historic impeachment trial, has reached an agreement with prosecutors to avoid trial on long-standing state felony securities fraud charges.

Mar 26, 2024 3:00 PM CDT

Federal initiative recovers over $836M in stolen COVID-19 relief funds, DOJ says

From May through July, the U.S. Department of Justice led enforcement actions against 718 individuals for offenses involving more than $836 million in alleged COVID-19 fraud.

Aug 25, 2023 11:42 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: SCOTUS approval rating plummets; Trumps lose deposition appeal

SCOTUS approval rating drops 10 percentage points Only 44% of the public approves of the way that the U.S. Supreme Court is handling its job, according to a Marquette University Law School poll. The survey was conducted soon after the leak of a draft opinion overturning the right to abortion.…

May 27, 2022 1:44 PM CDT

Threats of sham lawsuit against well-known singer constitute a crime, 9th Circuit says

Threats of baseless litigation can amount to extortion under the Hobbs Act, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at San Francisco ruled Tuesday.

Apr 16, 2021 11:56 AM CDT

Supreme Court rules disgorgement, with limits, is allowed in SEC civil actions

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-1 Monday that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission may seek disgorgement—with some limits—in civil enforcement cases.

Jun 22, 2020 12:32 PM CDT

How to become a federal criminal: It’s easier than you may think

In this episode of the Modern Law Library, lawyer Mike Chase talks with the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles about crimes like impersonating a mailman, importing pregnant polar bears, selling mail-order dentures, and letting your falcon be filmed for a movie.

Jun 20, 2019 4:12 PM CDT

SCOTUS says investment banker can be liable for false email drafted by boss

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that an investment banking director can be liable for emailing alleged false statements to prospective investors, even though he sent the emails at the direction of his boss, who had written the content. The Supreme Court ruled 6-2 that Francis Lorenzo could be held…

Mar 27, 2019 11:40 AM CDT