Legal News for Tues 8/5 - Duane Morris Income Partner Pay Suit, DOJ Grand Jury on Obama-era Intel, Nunes Loses, Judicial AI Errors and FLOSS Nonprofits cover art

Legal News for Tues 8/5 - Duane Morris Income Partner Pay Suit, DOJ Grand Jury on Obama-era Intel, Nunes Loses, Judicial AI Errors and FLOSS Nonprofits

Legal News for Tues 8/5 - Duane Morris Income Partner Pay Suit, DOJ Grand Jury on Obama-era Intel, Nunes Loses, Judicial AI Errors and FLOSS Nonprofits

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 This Day in Legal History: Reagan Fires Air Traffic ControllersOn August 5, 1981, President Ronald Reagan followed through on a warning to striking air traffic controllers by initiating the dismissal of over 11,000 of them. The controllers, members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO), had walked off the job on August 3, demanding better wages, shorter hours, and improved working conditions. Reagan responded firmly, citing the fact that federal employees had taken an oath not to strike against the government. In a speech delivered the same day the strike began, he gave them 48 hours to return to work or face termination. When the deadline passed without compliance, the administration acted swiftly, beginning the process of mass firings. The move marked a defining moment in Reagan’s presidency and had lasting effects on labor relations in the public sector. It also effectively broke PATCO as a union, with the government decertifying it shortly afterward. The decision underscored Reagan’s commitment to law and order as well as his hardline stance against labor disruptions that affected national infrastructure. It sent a powerful signal to other unions and shifted the political climate around collective bargaining. The Federal Aviation Administration eventually rebuilt the workforce, but full staffing and operations took years to stabilize.A federal judge in San Diego has ruled that Duane Morris LLP must face most of the claims in a proposed class action accusing the firm of misclassifying certain employees as "partners" to shift tax and benefit costs onto them while denying them a share of the firm's profits. The case was brought by Meagan Garland, a former employment law partner at the firm, who alleges that Duane Morris used the "non-equity partner" designation to avoid paying payroll taxes and employee benefits like health and disability insurance.Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo rejected Duane Morris' motion to dismiss the majority of Garland’s claims, though she allowed two dismissed claims to be amended. Garland also claims the firm engaged in discriminatory pay practices, alleging that women and minorities were paid less than white male colleagues. Duane Morris, founded in Philadelphia, denies any wrongdoing and contends that Garland was properly treated as a partner under the law. The lawsuit spotlights the broader issue of how law firms use partnership titles that may not reflect actual ownership or control.US law firm Duane Morris must face lawsuit over alleged partner pay scheme | ReutersThe U.S. Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, is reportedly convening a grand jury to investigate claims that officials from former President Barack Obama’s administration fabricated intelligence about Russian interference in the 2016 election. The investigation stems from assertions by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has alleged the intelligence community was politically weaponized. The DOJ recently formed a strike force to assess those claims, though it has not commented on the reported grand jury.President Donald Trump has amplified Gabbard’s accusations, calling them vindication and reiterating his unsubstantiated claim that Obama committed treason by trying to link him to Russia. Gabbard, who declassified certain documents, claimed they reveal a “treasonous conspiracy” to sabotage Trump’s campaign. Democrats have dismissed the allegations as false and politically driven.The 2017 U.S. intelligence assessment concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to harm Hillary Clinton and help Trump, primarily through cyber operations and disinformation. However, it found no conclusive evidence that the efforts changed the outcome. Russia has consistently denied any involvement.US DOJ to open grand jury to investigate Obama officials, source says | ReutersA federal judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought by Devin Nunes—former congressman and current CEO of Trump Media—against NBCUniversal over statements made by Rachel Maddow on her MSNBC show. The case centered on Maddow’s 2021 claim that Nunes failed to turn over a package he received from Ukrainian legislator Andrii Derkach, who was sanctioned by the U.S. as a Russian agent. Nunes argued that Maddow knowingly misrepresented the situation, since the package had, in fact, been given to the FBI.U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel ruled that Nunes failed to show Maddow acted with "actual malice," a legal requirement for defamation claims brought by public figures. Castel said there was no evidence Maddow knew her statement was false or recklessly disregarded the truth. He also found no indication that her political bias drove her to fabricate the claim. Maddow and her team had relied on other sources, and weren’t even named as defendants in the suit—NBCUniversal was.The judge noted that Nunes couldn't prove Maddow was aware of a Politico article stating the FBI ...
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