Roanoke ER doc seeks $20M in landmark whistleblower lawsuit
A Roanoke Valley emergency room doctor’s $20 million lawsuit goes to jury trial this week, with Dr. Thomas Bolton alleging that he was fired for complaining that HCA Healthcare‘s emphasis on shorter ER wait times at LewisGale Medical Center and its Cave Spring ER had a negative impact on patient safety. The case is believed […]
Convicted of bilking investors, Nikola founder and Trump donor gets a presidential pardon
Trevor Milton, the founder of electric vehicle startup Nikola who was sentenced to prison last year for fraud, was pardoned by President Donald Trump, the White House confirmed Friday. The pardon of Milton, who was sentenced to four years in prison for exaggerating the potential of his technology, could wipe out hundreds of millions of […]
Major law firm reaches deal with Trump to avoid White House order even as two other firms sue
WASHINGTON (AP) — A prominent international law firm reached a deal with President Donald Trump on Friday to dedicate at least $100 million in free legal services and to review its hiring practices, averting a punishing executive order like the ones directed at nearly a half-dozen other major legal institutions in recent weeks. The deal with Skadden, […]
Former exec of Mars candy subsidiary charged with stealing $28M from company
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Before his arrest Wednesday, Paul Steed was a respected sugar market expert for a subsidiary of famed candymaker Mars Inc. He served on a U.S. trade advisory committee for sweeteners as well as on industry group boards, while giving presentations at conferences. Now Steed, of Stamford, Connecticut, is accused in a […]
Federal judge struggles with scope of relief for fired workers
BALTIMORE (AP) — A federal judge in Maryland said Wednesday he will at least briefly extend a temporary order requiring the Trump administration to bring back federal workers who were fired as part of a dramatic downsizing of the federal workforce, but the judge said he was struggling with the scope of a broad order. U.S. District […]
Judge orders a June trial for US government’s felony case against Boeing
A federal judge in Texas has set a June trial date for the U.S. government’s years-old conspiracy case against Arlington County-headquartered Boeing for misleading regulators about the 737 Max jetliner before two of the planes crashed, killing 346 people. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor did not explain in the scheduling order he issued on Tuesday why he […]
The family of an airplane safety whistleblower is suing Boeing over his death
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — The family of a former Boeing quality control manager who police say killed himself after lawyers questioned him for days about his whistleblowing on alleged jumbo jet defects sued the airplane maker Thursday. Boeing subjected John Barnett to a “campaign of harassment, abuse and intimidation intended to discourage, discredit and humiliate him […]
Trump Town owner found not guilty of assault, indecent exposure
A judge Monday found Donald “Whitey” Taylor, owner of Boones Mill’s Trump Town retail store, not guilty of misdemeanor charges of indecent exposure and assaulting three store employees. “It was very rewarding,” Taylor said of the verdict. “These ladies were just looking for money.” Requests for comment from the Franklin County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney and to [&hellip[...]
Woman accused of running high-end brothels in Northern Virginia and near Boston set to be sentenced
BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts woman accused of operating a high-end brothel network with wealthy and prominent clients in that state and the Washington, D.C., suburbs of Northern Virginia is set to be sentenced. Han Lee and two others were indicted last year on one count of conspiracy to persuade, entice and coerce one or […]
Ben & Jerry’s alleges parent company Unilever removed its CEO over social activism
Ben & Jerry’s says its CEO was unlawfully removed by its parent company, Unilever, in retaliation for the ice cream maker’s social and political activism. In a federal court filing late Tuesday, Ben & Jerry’s said Unilever informed its board on March 3 that it was removing and replacing Ben & Jerry’s CEO David Stever. Ben […]
Judge orders Trump to reinstate probationary workers let go in mass firings across multiple agencies
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge in San Francisco ordered President Donald Trump’s administration to rehire thousands, if not tens of thousands, of probationary workers let go in mass firings across multiple agencies, blasting their tactics Thursday as he slowed the new president’s dramatic downsizing of the federal government. U.S. District Judge William Alsup said that [&hell[...]
Whistleblowers in Sentara insurance investigation revealed
UPDATED MARCH 18 The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia has unsealed a whistleblower complaint against Sentara Health that accused the Hampton Roads health care system of improperly inflating local insurance rates in 2018 and 2019. On Feb. 14, the court revealed the plaintiffs are Sara Stovall, Ian Dixon and Karl Quist […]