New York Paralegal Blog

LOS ANGELES – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in Los Angeles is taking several proactive measures to reach customers and employees affected by the earthquake and aftershocks. The safety of our customers and employees comes first and foremost. All applicants who missed appointments due to the earthquake will receive priority rescheduling for a new appointment. USCIS will call applicants to reschedule an appointment at a convenient time. As of this afternoon (July 29, 2008) at 1 p.m. (PDT) USCIS offices remain open. USCIS will closely monitor the effects of the earthquake and aftershocks and the impact on our employees and customers. See, USCIS .

WASHINGTON – United States Senator Theodore F. Stevens of Alaska was charged today in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia with seven counts of making false statements related to Stevens’ financial disclosure forms, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced. The seven-count indictment charges Sen. Stevens, the former chairperson of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, with engaging in a nearly eight-year scheme to conceal his receipt of more than $250,000 in things of value from VECO Corporation, formerly a multi-national oil services company based in Alaska, and Bill J. Allen, the Chief Executive Officer of VECO at the time. According to the indictment, Stevens concealed these things of value from his publicly filed United States Senate financial disclosure forms. The things of value that Stevens allegedly received included: substantial home improvements to property Stevens owns in Girdwood, Alaska; ...

BUFFALO, N.Y. (July 28, 2008) - Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the guilty plea of a North Collins manufacturing company that neglectfully released nearly 250 gallons of a dangerous, corrosive material into the local environment. As part of the plea, Attorney General Cuomo’s Office has required Crescent Manufacturing, located at 10285 Eagle Dr. in North Collins, to fund equipment and training for the Town of North Collins Volunteer Fire Department’s use in addressing releases of hazardous materials. The company pleaded guilty to endangering public health, safety or the environment in the fourth degree before Town of North Collins Judge John M. Stevens. See, NYAG .

Los Angeles - A multi-agency operation in a four-year robbery/murder investigation has lead to the arrest of multiple suspects. On July 25, 2008, in the early morning hours, a series of 20 search warrants, 12 arrest warrants, and 1 parole search were served at various locations. Warrants for an additional five suspects were issued, but at this time these suspects have not been located. The warrants stemmed from an on-going investigation of a robbery/murder case in March 1, 2004. On March 1, 2004, at about 10:50 a.m., eight suspects armed with assault-type weapons attacked armored car guard Evelio Suarez as he unloaded money bags from the truck. Suarez, 61, was shot multiple times and later died at a local hospital. The suspects fled with an undisclosed amount of cash in a white van with an unknown type logo on the side. See, LAPD .

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department announced today the settlement of a lawsuit against Salem County and the borough of Penns Grove, N.J., alleging violations of the rights of Puerto Rican voters under the Voting Rights Act. The settlement agreement requires the county and borough to ensure that elections are equally open to Latino voters, that Spanish language assistance and materials be available at the polls, and that Spanish-speaking voters be allowed to select the assistor of their choice. One of the concerns that led to the Civil Rights Division’s investigation was that the borough and county were violating the rights of voters who had been educated in Spanish in American-flag schools in Puerto Rico. The settlement agreement was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey contemporaneously with the complaint and an accompanying proposed order allowing federal observers to monitor election day activities in its polling place. The order still must be appro...

Washington, D.C. - The Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USTPO) will begin a two-year pilot Law School Clinical Certification Program this Fall semester allowing law students to practice intellectual property law before the agency under the strict guidance of a law school clinical faculty supervisor. Six law schools have been selected to participate in the pilot, including American University, Washington College of Law; University of Connecticut School of Law; The John Marshall Law School; University of Maine School of Law; Vanderbilt Law School; and William Mitchell College of Law. "Congratulations to each of the selected schools," said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO Jon Dudas. "We look forward to providing a real-world experience for the students so they will be well prepared to tackle the complexities of intellectual property law that are so important in today’s economy." See, USPT...

By: Joel Irving Today's show has been canceled due to technical difficulties and will return next week at its regualally schedualed time. Anthony J. Lynch filed a civil lawsuit against JP Morgan Chase & Company in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, (2:08-cv-13059-DML-SDP) on July 15, 2008. In the civil complaint Anthony J, Lynch alleges (among other things) that his direct supervisor Tim Dolan (Acting on behalf of Chase) hired prostitutes (From “Craig’s List”) to service a group of male employees, who work for Chase’s mortgage division. Join me this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. as we talk about workplace sexual harassment and this federal lawsuit against JP Morgan Chase & Company. Click on the link to get to the show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Joel-Irving

By: Joel Irving Anthony J. Lynch filed a civil lawsuit against JP Morgan Chase & Company in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, (2:08-cv-13059-DML-SDP) on July 15, 2008. In the civil complaint Anthony J, Lynch alleges (among other things) that his direct supervisor Tim Dolan (Acting on behalf of Chase) hired prostitutes (From “Craig’s List”) to service a group of male employees, who work for Chase’s mortgage division. Join me this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. as we talk about workplace sexual harassment and this federal lawsuit against JP Morgan Chase & Company. Click on the link to get to the show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Joel-Irving

By: Joel Irving I have two exclusive news stories coming up so please keep reading New York Paralegal Blog! I also have some interesting people coming to The Joel Irving Show.

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today issued a new Compliance Manual Section regarding workplace discrimination on the basis of religion . The Section includes a comprehensive review of the relevant provisions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the EEOC’s policies regarding religious discrimination, harassment and accommodation. The EEOC also issued a companion question-and-answer fact sheet and best practices booklet . All three documents are available on the agency’s web site at www.eeoc.gov . “Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 seeks to ensure that applicants and employees enjoy the freedom to compete, advance and succeed in the workplace, irrespective of their religious beliefs,” said EEOC Chair Naomi C. Earp. “This Compliance Manual Section serves as a valuable resource for employers, employees, practitioners and EEOC staff seeking information on Title VII’s prohibition against religious discrimination.” The Section addre...