Afternoon Briefs: Trump campaign eschews conspiracy-minded lawyer; New Jersey law protects judges' privacy
President Donald Trump. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Shutterstock.com.
Trump campaign distances from lawyer Sidney Powell
The Trump campaign has distanced itself from lawyer Sidney Powell after she made unsupported claims that voting machines had been rigged and Republican officials in Georgia were part of the scam. “Sidney Powell is practicing law on her own,” the campaign said in a statement. Powell said she would continue to represent people who had their votes stolen, “and we will be filing suit soon.” (Reuters, the New York Times, CBS News, CNN)
‘Daniel’s Law’ in New Jersey protects judges’ privacy
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation Friday that protects the home addresses and telephone numbers of judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers from public disclosure. The bill is called “Daniel’s Law,” after Daniel Anderl, the slain son of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas of the District of New Jersey. Police think Anderl was killed at Salas’ home by a disgruntled lawyer dressed as a delivery driver. Experts told Law360 that it will be difficult for judges to claw back personal information after it is public. (Law360, New Jersey governor press release)
Cases settle over smelly hog farms
Smithfield Foods agreed Thursday to settle lawsuits filed by North Carolina residents over smelly hog farms near their homes. The company announced the settlement after a federal appeals court partly ruled for the neighbors in one of the cases. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Richmond, Virginia, upheld a 2018 verdict for the for the neighbors but said the $2.5 million punitive damages award should be reconsidered. (Courthouse News Service, Law360)
Paralegal pleads guilty to stealing legal fees
California paralegal Tanya Garcia pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing fees for legal services from immigrants when she worked at various law firms in Los Angeles and Riverside County. She allegedly used the money to make credit card payments and to buy clothing and food. At least 144 clients were defrauded. (Law360, U.S. attorney press release)
