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Saturday, July 30, 2016

THE RELEASE OF JOHN W. HINCKLEY JR


THE RELEASE OF JOHN W. HINCKLEY JR.

 John W. Hinckley Jr., who tried to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981, will be allowed to live permanently with his elderly mother in Williamsburg, Va., leaving the psychiatric hospital where he has been imprisoned for several decades, a federal judge ruled on Wednesday.


 John Hinckley at a hearing on April 15, 1987 (Hinckley seated at defense table). A hospital request that Hinckley be allowed an unescorted Easter visit with his family. A psychiatrist testified that Hinckley was no longer obsessed with Jodie Foster or saw himself as a hero for shooting president Reagan. The hospital rapidly withdrew its request, however, after a psychiatrist reported that Hinckley was pen pals with serial killer Ted Bundy, then on death row. Hinckley also was reportedly romantically involved with  woman who killed her sleeping baby with a shotgun. At the Easter visit hearing, Hinckley was represented by attorney Vincent Fuller. Federal District Judge Barrington D. Parker presided as Hinckley’s loyal parents looked on. Artwork by Aggie Kenny




Insider trading by ex-banker's father becomes focus in U.S. trial

Insider trading by ex-banker's father becomes focus in U.S. trial
Artwork by Aggie Kenny

NEW YORK, July 27 (Reuters) - The relationship between a former Wall Street investment banker charged for insider trading and his father, who traded on information about mergers he learned from him, took center stage at the start of the son's trial on Wednesday.

US v. Sean Stewart, Attorney  Sarah Eddy McCallum questions witness, Special Agent Callahan as defendant Sean Stewart (seated 2nd from right), looks on. The presiding judge is Hon. Laura Taylor Swain. 7/28/16
Assistant U.S. attorney Sarah McCallum, focused her presentation on showing that Stewart knew and intended that his father would trade on the confidential information. Stewart lied to JPMorgan, Cucinella said, when presented with a list of individuals who suspiciously bought stock in 2011. The list included Stewart's father, but he did not fess up to recognizing any names on the list.
Newman is unlikely to come up directly during the trial and its holding applies more to those trading on inside information than those accused of providing it. The Second Circuit ruled that to sustain a conviction prosecutors must prove that defendants charged with trading on inside information knew the insiders received a "consequential" personal benefit for disclosing the information.
Even so its impact looms large in the background. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected this fall to consider the benefit-to-the-tipper issue in United States v. Salman, an insider-trading case from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.



Friday, July 29, 2016

Iron Gate Security patent lawsuit against Lowes

Iron Gate Security, Inc. v. Lowe's Companies, Inc. Artwork by Aggie Kenny
L-R Attorneys Michael A. Oakes & Shawn Patrick Regan, representing Lowes Company Inc. Alexander Solo seated foreground, Jonathan Andrew David arguing for Iron Gate Security, Inc.  
Courtroom Deputy,Joseph Pecorino, Hon. Katherine B. Forest, Stenographer, Sonya Ketter.


 Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (“Lowe’s”)’s motion to dismiss plaintiff Iron Gate Security, Inc. (“Iron Gate”)’s Complaint. Iron Gate commenced the action on November 11, 2015, alleging direct infringement, induced infringement, contributory infringement, and willful infringement, by Lowe’s, of U.S. Patent No. 6,288,641.
The case originally handled by Judge Shira Schiendlin has now been assigned to Judge Katherine Forrest.

http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/new-york/nysdce/1:2015cv08814/449766/29/

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Mark Wilson sketches the 2016 Democratic National Convention


Mark Wilson sketches the 2016 Democratic National Convention

Click on the link for regular updates!



Governor Andrew Cuomo arrives at the New York
NY Gov Andrew Cuomo with Bernie Sanders

At breakfast on Wednesday, the featured speaker was
US Senator Chuck Schumer ( NY)


Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY 10th District) meets the
Jerry Nadler ( NY) United States House Representative







Whitlesblower lawsuit: Kirk Swanson v Battery Park City Authority

Kirk A. Swanson vs Battery Park City Authority

Former vice president of the Battery Park City Authority Kirk Swanson's federal whistle-blower lawsuit, claiming he was fired for exposing corruption in the awarding of contracts. The case's first court hearing was  before Hon. J. Paul Oetken, U.S.D.J.
Swanson, a former VP and chief contracts officer at the state agency, alleges he “discovered that high-level BPCA employees were making false statements in an effort to bypass the BPCA’s contract approval process.”
Plaintiff's atty Jason L. Solotaroff standing, Atty for defendants Battery Park City Authority, et an., Christopher D'Angelo seated. This was the first time that the case was brought before the judge. The next court appearance is scheduled for December 2, 10:00 AM.

http://nypost.com/2015/09/30/whistleblower-claims-he-was-fired-for-doing-his-job/

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

HSBC officials snared in currency-rigging probe

HSBC Bankers Are First Individuals Charged in U.S. Currency Case


Federal agents surprised an HSBC Holdings Plc executive as he prepared to fly out of New York’s Kennedy airport around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, arresting him for an alleged front-running scheme involving a $3.5 billion currency transaction in 2011.

Mark Johnson, HSBC’s global head of foreign exchange cash trading in London, was held in a Brooklyn jail overnight and appeared  in court Wednesday. Thomas Franck of CNBC seated far left. Click on image to see larger.

Mark Johnson, the bank's global head of foreign-exchange cash trading, was arrested Tuesday at JFK International Airport, according to multiple reports. He faces charges following a three-year investigation into currency trading practices at multiple global banks, according to the reports.
In addition, Stuart Scott, former head of cash trading for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, also faces wire fraud conspiracy charges, though he has not been arrested yet. Johnson and Scott committed the alleged violation on a $3.5 million trade, which allegedly occurred in October 2011 involved an unnamed oil and gas company that wanted to exchange U.S. dollars with British pounds. Authorities said HSBC made $8 million from the transaction.
The Department of Justice charged that "Johnson and Scott caused the $3.5 billion foreign exchange transaction to be executed in a manner that was designed to spike the price of the pound sterling, to the benefit of HSBC and at the expense of their client."

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Gawker's motion to stay Hogan's case against Nick Denton is denied.

CNBC BREAKING: Gawker founder Nick Denton says he will file for personal bankruptcy after judge denies lawsuit shield in Hulk Hogan case - DJ
 

Gawker Can't Shield Chief From Judgment

Law360, New York (July 19, 2016, 8:46 PM ET) -- Gawker Media chief Nick Denton will likely be forced to file for personal bankruptcy after a New York judge on Tuesday denied the company’s request to temporarily shield him from Hulk Hogan’s $140 million sex tape judgment.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Stuart Bernstein denied the company’s request for an injunction to protect Denton and former Gawker editor-in-chief, A.J. Daulerio, from the judgment handed down by a Florida jury until Sept. 3. Gawker attorneys said the injunction would allow Denton to focus on selling the company’s assets.

Gawker CEO Nick Denton testifies at TRO Hearing July 19, 2016. Judge Stuart Bernstein presiding. Attorney David Hennes questioning Denton. “As has been reported, the Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel has been funding a series of lawsuits against the company intended to deter critical coverage,” Denton testified. “It’s been a drain on the company’s energy and financial resources.”
Attorney David Hennes questions Nick Denton during Gawker TRO hearing


Attorney Eric B. Fisher attorney for Mr Bollea cross examines Nick Denton CEO of Gawker during the TRO Bankruptcy hearing. July 19, 2016
Denton testified Tuesday that a personal bankruptcy could disrupt Gawker’s plan to sell itself in an August auction, in which he would play a role marketing the company. Lead bidder Ziff Davis has agreed to bid $90 million and keep Denton on if it wins the auction.
“I’m the founder of the company,” he said, when asked whether Gawker could survive without him. “I founded it out of my apartment and I know where all the bodies are buried.”
Artwork by Elizabeth Williams
Click on image to see larger.

Monday, July 18, 2016

Aeropostale Hits Ch. 11, Plans To Shutter 154 Stores


Aeropostale Hits Ch. 11, Plans To Shutter 154 Stores

Law360, New York (May 4, 2016, 7:53 AM ET) -- Teen apparel retailer Aeropostale filed for bankruptcy Wednesday in New York carrying $223 million in funded debt, and it plans to immediately close 154 stores, becoming the latest apparel chain to seek court protection amid fierce competition and the changing buying habits of consumers.

Aeropostale listed approximately $216 million in assets in its Chapter 11 petition. The company, which is being represented by Weil Gosthal & Manges LLP, has lined up a proposed $160 million financing package with Crystal Financial LLC to keep the business operating.

Southern District of NY  Judge Sean Lane presiding over the Aeropostale bankruptcy. Aeropostale is represented by Weil Gotshal attorney Garrett Fail ( at podium). Courtroom reporter Jonathan Ramos seated in foreground.
Click on the image to see it larger.
Artwork by Elizabeth Williams

 

 More information:

 Will your Aeropostale close? Here's the list

Friday, July 15, 2016

Ex-Sidley Austin Atty Moves To Block Dem Superdelegates> Motion denied

UPDATE: Supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders have lost their bid to block the Democratic Party’s use of superdelegates at this week’s convention in Philadelphia.

The First Amendment does not give individual members a right to control internal processes of the party, which is expected to nominate Hillary Clinton for president, a U.S. district court in Manhattan ruled recently in a challenge filed by Jeff Kurzon, an attorney and Sanders supporter.
Kuzon charged in court paper’s that the party’s use of superdelegates dilutes the power of the popular vote and sought a court order that would bar them from voting at the convention. The Democratic Party has 713 superdelegates, who include members of Congress and party leaders, and who can vote for the candidate of their choice. Clinton leads Sanders among superdelegates, 602-48.
“An individual’s First Amendment associational rights do not empower him to compel nomination procedures that guarantee his preferred candidate a ‘fair shot’ at winning a party’s nomination,” Judge Paul Oetken wrote in a ruling dated July 18.

 file:///C:/Users/li/Downloads/Jeffrey-Mead-Kurzon-v-Democratic-National-Committee-and-New-York-State-Democratic-Committee.pdf

 

Ex-Sidley Austin Atty Moves To Block Dem Superdelegates

By William Gorta
Law360, New York (July 14, 2016, 7:01 PM ET) -- A former Sidley Austin LLP attorney and avowed supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders asked a New York federal judge on Thursday to block the Democratic National Committee from using superdelegates at its upcoming convention in Philadelphia, saying the Democrats violated his rights by violating their charter.

Jeffrey Mead Kurzon, now of Kurzon Kohen & Stancati LLP, asked U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken to enjoin the use of superdelegates at the Philadelphia confab, which starts July 25.

LAW360 Link
http://www.law360.com/articles/817671
Plaintiff Jeffrey Kurzon attorney Joshua Douglass speaking in Manhattan Federal Court.
 From Jeffrey Kurzon website:
As it turns out, as my lawyer, Josh Douglass( pictured), and I have discovered, the entire concept of super-delegates is in violation of the Party’s own charter. That the Democratic Party is even using super-delegates, is a clear breach of contract. It is also a violation of our constitutional rights, including the 14th Amendment of Equal Protection (our vote should hold just as much weight as a super-delegate’s!).

Last week, I instructed Mr. Douglass to sue both the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the New York State Democratic Committee, on my behalf, over their use of super-delegates. We have requested a preliminary injunction which would cause the DNC to honor the average voter’s preference of POTUS nominee by having the super delegate votes be diminished to being proportional and in keeping with the preference of the primary voters. 
Mark Elias speaking on behalf of the Democratic National Committee

 click on the image to see it larger. Artwork by Aggie Kenny

LAW 360: AXA Beats Broker's $20M Contract Beef With Quick Verdict


AXA Beats Broker's $20M Contract Beef With Quick Verdict

Law360, New York (July 14, 2016, 6:20 PM ET) -- A seven-member civil jury needed just over an hour Thursday to reject broker Steven S. Novick's breach of contract suit against two AXA units, finding the financial giant breached no agreements with the Connecticut money man when it fired him for hawking unapproved investments then reached out to some of his clients.

Members of the four-man, three-woman federal panel had no comment after their lightning-fast rejection of claims by Novick, now affiliated with Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and with Charles Schwab Corp.

Law360 link
http://www.law360.com/newyork/articles/817543?nl_pk=a7274232-dbac-4545-9d0e-47645a9bd165&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newyork
Plaintiff Steven Novick's counsel, Michael S. Finkelstein, giving closing statement,
Steven Novick seated to Finkelstein's right looking at jury. Judge Alvin Hellerstien presiding. Artwork by Elizabeth Williams