New York Paralegal Blog

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Long Island Business Feud Leads to Alleged Murder-for-Hire Plot

Imagine a business disagreement spiraling into a shocking criminal plot. That's what authorities in Nassau County say happened in a case involving a Dix Hills man accused of trying to hire a hitman to kill a former associate. The Accusation Navdeep Singh, 48, is at the center of a disturbing story. Prosecutors allege that he was so deep in a business dispute that he decided to have his rival kidnapped and killed. The Alleged Offer What was the price for this horrifying job? Singh allegedly offered the would-be hitman $100,000 and 10 acres of land in India. The plan was reportedly to kidnap the victim, torture him for millions of dollars, and then murder him. The Backstory This wasn't a random act. The feud started around two years ago when the intended victim, also in the construction business, fired Singh's company from a project. This led to a multi-million dollar civil lawsuit that was still pending. The Investigation According to officials, Singh provided the hired ass...

The Unseen Architects of American Wealth: How Enslaved Labor Built the Nation

When we talk about the founding and growth of the United States, it's essential to understand a foundational truth: much of the nation's early wealth and infrastructure was built on the backs of enslaved people. Their forced labor wasn't just a side note; it was the engine of a brutal but incredibly lucrative economic system. From the very beginning, enslaved individuals were the primary workforce for the booming cash crop industries. Think of the vast cotton plantations that fueled textile mills in both the North and Europe, or the sprawling tobacco and sugar operations. These profitable ventures, which made the Southern states among the wealthiest regions globally, were entirely dependent on the relentless, unpaid labor of enslaved men, women, and children. But their contributions weren't limited to agriculture. Enslaved people were also the muscle and skill behind much of America's early infrastructure. They quarried stone, milled timber, and laid bricks to con...

From the Courtroom Floor to the Highest Court: A Simple Guide to a Case's Journey to the Supreme Court

Ever watch a legal drama and wonder how a case makes it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court? It's a long and winding road, and very few cases complete the journey. For those that do, it's a process that can take years, involving multiple courts and intense legal strategy. Let's break down the typical path a legal matter takes from a local courthouse to the nation's highest court, using a real-life example to light the way. Step 1: The Lawsuit Begins in a Trial Court Every legal dispute starts in a trial court. This is the court you're probably most familiar with—the one with the judge, jury, witnesses, and evidence. In the federal system, this is called a U.S. District Court. For matters concerning state law, it begins in a state trial court. Here, both sides present their arguments, and the court makes a decision. A judge or jury determines the facts of the case and applies the relevant law to reach a verdict. Step 2: The Appeal to an Intermediate Court What hap...

Unlocking Liberty: What is the "Great Writ" of Habeas Corpus?

Ever heard the phrase "you have the body"? It might sound like something out of a crime novel, but it's actually the literal translation of "habeas corpus," a legal principle that stands as one of the most powerful safeguards of our freedom. In a nutshell, a writ of habeas corpus is a court order demanding that a public official who is holding someone in custody bring that person to court. But why is this so important? The core purpose of habeas corpus is to ensure that no one is imprisoned unlawfully. It’s a direct challenge to the government's power to detain individuals, forcing them to justify the legal basis for the detention. This powerful tool is so fundamental to our legal system that it's often called the "Great Writ." Not About Guilt or Innocence A common misconception is that a habeas corpus petition is a way to re-try a criminal case. However, its focus isn't on whether the person committed a crime, but rather on the...

Decoding the Deal: NPAs and DPAs in the World of Compliance and Ethics

Ever wondered what happens when a company gets into legal trouble but doesn't face a full-blown criminal trial? Often, it's the result of a carefully negotiated agreement with the government. In my recent introduction to Compliance and Ethics class, I learned about two powerful tools that prosecutors use to address corporate misconduct: the Non-Prosecution Agreement (NPA) and the Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA). These agreements are essentially settlements that allow a company to avoid a criminal conviction, but they come with significant strings attached. Let's break them down. What is a Non-Prosecution Agreement (NPA)? Imagine a company discovers misconduct within its ranks. It proactively reports the issue to the authorities, cooperates fully with the investigation, and takes significant steps to fix the problem. In such a scenario, the government might offer a Non-Prosecution Agreement. With an NPA, the prosecutor agrees not to file criminal charges against the c...

Two Charged in Appalling Online Animal Cruelty Network Involving Torture of Monkeys

A federal grand jury has indicted two individuals, Katrina D. Favret of Tennessee and Robert M. Craig of North Carolina, for their alleged roles in a gruesome online network dedicated to the creation and distribution of videos showing the torture and sexual abuse of monkeys. The indictment, unsealed today, sheds light on a disturbing subculture of animal cruelty. The charges allege that Favret and Craig conspired with a previously charged individual, Ronald P. Bedra of Ohio, to produce what are known as “animal crush videos.” These videos depict extreme acts of violence against animals for the titillation of viewers. Favret faces additional charges for the creation and distribution of these horrific videos. According to court documents, the conspiracy extended globally, with the defendants allegedly using encrypted messaging apps to commission and fund individuals in Indonesia to carry out and film the acts of torture. The details of the alleged videos are profoundly distur...

FTC Cracks Down on Deceptive Ads by Florida Addiction Treatment Clinic

In a significant move to protect vulnerable individuals seeking help for substance use disorders, the operators of a Florida-based treatment clinic have faced penalties for their deceptive marketing practices. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) took action against Evoke Wellness, LLC, for using misleading Google search ads and telemarketing tactics to impersonate other treatment providers. The Deceptive Scheme According to an FTC complaint filed in January 2025, Evoke Wellness and its officers targeted people searching online for specific addiction treatment facilities. Here’s how they did it: Misleading Google Ads: Evoke bid on the names of competing treatment centers as keywords for their Google ads. This meant that when someone searched for a different clinic by name, an ad for Evoke would appear, often leading the person to believe they were clicking on a link for the clinic they were actually seeking. The ads displayed Evoke's call center phone number. Impersonatio...