Posted by Charles Fisher and Randy Fisher (Twitter @HHSYC)
Dear Friend:
Beginning with this first edition of my weekly newsletter, my goal is to ensure that you are given a snapshot of the work that my office is doing on behalf of all New Yorkers. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to stay informed about my office’s work. I hope that you will also take the time to visit my website at www.ag.ny.gov, where you can learn more about the various initiatives my office has undertaken.
Sincerely,
Eric T. Schneiderman
THIS WEEK IN THE NEWS
January 13 to January 17, 2014
A.G. Schneiderman Announces Groundbreaking Settlement With Abusive “Patent Troll”
Attorney General Schneiderman reached a groundbreaking settlement with a known “patent troll” MPHJ Technology Investments, LLC to end their abusive tactics, including strong-arming New York business into paying for patient licenses of dubious value. The agreement establishes clear guidelines that will serve as the minimum standards for the entire industry. Read the Wall Street Journal story breaking this news here.
A.G. Schneiderman Encourages New Yorkers To Take Advantage Of Credit Protection For Target Shoppers
After calling on Target to provide free credit monitoring to all victims of its recent security breach, Attorney General Schneiderman encouraged New Yorkers to take advantage of those theft protection services, which were made available on Monday. Consumer can register for Target’s program here. The Attorney General also released his tips for preventing identity theft in the wake of the breach.
A.G. Schneiderman Announces Settlement With Health Care Insurer For Wrongfully Denying Mental Health Treatment Claims
The Attorney General stood up for New York’s mental health community by reaching a settlement with Cigna Corporation, requiring the health insurer to reprocess and pay hundreds of claims for nutritional counseling for conditions such as eating disorders, to members who were wrongfully denied those benefits.
A.G. Schneiderman & NYS Tax Commissioner Mattox Announce Charges Against Counterfeit Goods Dealers
Joined by New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Thomas H. Mattox, Attorney General Schneiderman busted a Chinatown-based retail business selling counterfeit copies of designer handbags and watches. This enterprise robbed legitimate, well-known brands, such as Chanel and Rolex. See a small sample of the knock-off goods that were recovered by the Attorney General’s Office here.
A.G. Schneiderman Announces Conviction Of Rochester Man Who Earned More Than $115k Posing As Optometrist And Ophthalmic Dispenser
A Rochester man who lied about his credentials as an optometrist and treated countless individuals without a license pleaded guilty to Attorney General’s Office to raking in thousands of dollars on the backs of patients, taxpayers and insurance companies.
A.G. Schneiderman Obtains Jail Sentence For Owner Of Movie Theater Cleaning Company That Underpaid Workers
Attorney General Schneiderman secured conviction and sentencing of the owner of a Brooklyn-based movie theater cleaning company who not only underpaid his workers, but also attempting to deny them back wages, following a federal investigation into his labor abuses. Jose Hector Hernandez Gramajo will serve jail time and pay $60,000 in restitution to his employees.
A.G. Schneiderman Appoints Veterans Lawyers To Leadership Positions
Attorney General Schneiderman announced several appointments within his office: Charities Bureau Enforcement Section Chief David Nachman will now serve as Senior Enforcement Counsel; Senior Investigative Counsel Gary Fishman will be the Chief of the newly formed Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau, and James Sheehan will join the Attorney General’s Office as chief of the Charities Bureau.
