Author: Scott A. Ferris, Esq.

Apple CEO backs privacy laws, warns data being ‘weaponized’

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The head of Apple on Wednesday endorsed tough privacy laws for both Europe and the U.S. and renewed the technology giant's commitment to protecting personal data, which he warned was being "weaponized" against users. Speaking at an international conference on data privacy, Apple CEO Tim Cook applauded European Union authorities for bringing in a strict new data privacy law in May and said the iPhone maker supports a U.S. federal privacy law... [...]

Winner of lottery can stay anonymous thanks to state’s law

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Like the location of Jimmy Hoffa's body, the secret formula for Coca-Cola and whether there are aliens in outer space, the identity of the winner of the second-biggest lottery in American history may remain hidden forever — because of where the person bought the ticket. South Carolina, where someone recently purchased the ticket at a convenience store , is one of a handful of states that play Mega Millions and allow winners to be... [...]

Miami Lawyer Appointed Receiver in $30 Million Brickell Fraud Case

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Federal Judge Jose E. Martinez in the Southern District of Florida has appointed Melanie E. Damian, a senior partner at Damian & Valori, as receiver in a fraud case against Miami business owners Timothy Atkinson and Jay Passerino. The men are accused of using offshore companies All in Publishing LLC and Gasher Inc. to run an illegal trading operation from Brickell, defrauding investors of $30 million. The Commodity Futures... [...]

The Latest: Monsanto weed killer legal battle to last years

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With the value of its stock dropping and more lawsuits expected, Monsanto's parent company says it will press on with its nationwide legal defense of its best-selling weed killer Roundup. On Monday, San Francisco Judge Suzanne Bolanos upheld a verdict saying it causes cancer. But she cut the jury's award to $78 million. Legal experts said the decision will have little value in courtrooms across the country where similar cases are pending,... [...]

Judge won’t dismiss lawsuits brought by cities against state restrictions on gun laws

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A circuit judge has given a boost to more than 30 local governments — many of them in Miami-Dade and Broward counties — challenging a 2011 state law that threatens stiff penalties for city or county officials who approve gun restrictions. Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Dodson last week refused a request by Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office to dismiss three consolidated lawsuits that contend the 2011 law, which threatens... [...]