STAFF WRITER

Staten Island Judge Halts NYC's "Pied-à-Terre" Tax Rollout Over Flawed Notice Process

Staten Island Judge Halts NYC's "Pied-à-Terre" Tax Rollout Over Flawed Notice Process

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A New York Supreme Court judge temporarily blocked New York City from enforcing its new tax surcharge on high-value second homes, siding with three homeowners who say the city wrongly identified their primary residences as potential targets of the levy. Justice Wayne M. Ozzi issued

Families of Fireworks Warehouse Blast Victims Sue California, County Over Preventable Deaths

Families of Fireworks Warehouse Blast Victims Sue California, County Over Preventable Deaths

SAN FRANCISCO — Families of six workers killed in a catastrophic fireworks warehouse explosion in rural Yolo County have sued the state of California, the county, and more than two dozen other defendants, alleging officials knew for years about an illegal fireworks operation and repeatedly failed to shut it down. The

California Judge Skeptical of County's Data Center Freeze in Fight Over State's Largest Proposed Facility

California Judge Skeptical of County's Data Center Freeze in Fight Over State's Largest Proposed Facility

EL CENTRO, Calif. — An Imperial County Superior Court judge voiced skepticism this week toward the county's justification for freezing approvals of new data centers, in a lawsuit brought by the developer behind what would be California's largest data center. Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing filed suit in

North Dakota Ordered to Pay Landowners Nearly $700,000 in Fees After Losing Property Rights Fights Twice

North Dakota Ordered to Pay Landowners Nearly $700,000 in Fees After Losing Property Rights Fights Twice

BISMARCK, N.D. — For the second time in eight months, a North Dakota district court judge has ruled that a state law allowing companies to store carbon dioxide underground without landowners' consent is unconstitutional — and ordered the state to cover the winning landowners' legal bills. South Central Judicial

Reedley Farmer's Nectarine Fight Goes to Fresno Jury as Public Rallies Behind Him

Reedley Farmer's Nectarine Fight Goes to Fresno Jury as Public Rallies Behind Him

FRESNO, Calif. — A breach-of-contract lawsuit over a specialty white nectarine variety went before a Fresno County jury this week, pitting a Reedley farmer against the Los Angeles produce company that sued him — even as thousands of people showed up at his farm to take free fruit and donate

Judge Presses Justice Family, Greenbrier Companies for Answers as New Fraud Suits Pile Up

Judge Presses Justice Family, Greenbrier Companies for Answers as New Fraud Suits Pile Up

LEWISBURG, W.Va. — Two companies holding a $35 million federal judgment against Gov. Jim Justice's business empire have sued three of his companies in West Virginia state court, alleging the Justice family fraudulently shuffled valuable real estate near The Greenbrier resort to dodge collection of that debt. New

Judge Lets First-Ever Wrongful Death Climate Case Against Big Oil Head Toward Trial

Judge Lets First-Ever Wrongful Death Climate Case Against Big Oil Head Toward Trial

SEATTLE — A King County judge has rejected a bid by seven of the world's largest oil and gas companies to throw out what is believed to be the first wrongful death lawsuit to blame a single individual's death on climate change, clearing the way for the