THIS WEEK IN THE NEWS
April 21 to April 25, 2014
TOP HEADLINES
Schneiderman Ends Ban By Bed Bath & Beyond On Hiring Applicants With Criminal Convictions
Attorney General Schneiderman’s settlement with Bed Bath & Beyond, a national retailer with 62 stores in New York, will ensure that future applicants for employment are not automatically disqualified based on criminal convictions and without the individualized consideration that is required by New York State law. The agreement also requires that the company pay $40,000 in restitution to individuals who were unlawfully denied employment, and $15,000 to three organizations that assist rehabilitated individuals with their job search.
Schneiderman & Comptroller DiNapoli Secured Guilty Pleas From Former Met Council Directors For Stealing $9M In Kickback Scheme
Attorney General Schneiderman and Comptroller DiNapoli secured the guilty pleas of the former executive directors of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (Met Council), William Rapfogel and David Cohen, for stealing $9 million from the taxpayer-funded nonprofit organization in a 20-year kickback scheme. As part of their plea agreements, Rapfogel faces up to 10 years in prison and will pay $3 million in restitution, while Cohen could serve up to 4 ½ years in prison and will pay $650,000.
Schneiderman Reaches $7.5M Settlement With Former Bank Of America CFO, Barring From Serving At A Public Company For 18 Months
Attorney General Schneiderman announced a $7.5 million settlement with Bank of America Corporation’s former Chief Financial Officer, Joe L. Price, which also bars him from serving as an officer or director of a public company for 18 months. The agreement, which follows last month’s deal with former BofA CEO Ken Lewis, resolves charges of misconduct alleged during the bank’s 2008 merger with Merrill Lynch, closing the final chapter in the Attorney General’s litigation over the merger.
Schneiderman Celebrates Earth Week
Attorney General Schneiderman made a number of announcements to promote environmental protection for Earth Week. The Attorney General kicked off the week with an overview on the initiatives undertaken by his office to protect the environment, including a map of their impact statewide. He released his office’s top ten tips for consumers looking reduce energy use, cut climate change pollution and, at the same time, save money. You can also read his statement regarding Earth Day here. In addition, Attorney General Schneiderman presented the Best Green Startup Award to Energy Hub at New York Tech Day, and he went green on his website – literally. And he posted this “Throwback Thursday” from Earth Day 2008.
Schneiderman Files Charges Against 17 Nursing Home Employees For Neglecting Disabled Resident
Attorney General Schneiderman’s Office filed charges against 17 employees of a Buffalo nursing home, following an investigation into their treatment of a nursing home resident. The investigation, which relied on a hidden camera placed in the patient’s room, revealed a disturbing pattern of neglect.
Schneiderman Settles With Rochester-Area Furniture Store Over Deceptive Advertising Practices
The Attorney General settled with a Rochester-based furniture company for engaging in deceptive and misleading advertising in violation of New York State law. After advertising a “five day only,” “going out of a business” sale for nearly eight weeks to lure in shoppers, this store will cease their deceptive practices and pay $30,000 in penalties.
Schneiderman Fines Telemarketer For Soliciting Funds In New York Despite Lifetime Ban
The Attorney General reached a $50,000 settlement with Mark Gelvan, a telemarketer whose New Jersey-based companies solicit charitable donations, for violating an order that barred him from raising money for charity in New York State. Gelvan was first banned following a lawsuit that alleged he made fraudulent claims to potential contributors, including stating that donations would be used to benefit families and widows of New York State Troopers and to sponsor drug and alcohol prevention programs.
Schneiderman Bars NYC Attorney From Securities Work For Allegedly Facilitating Fraud In Condo Sales
Attorney General Schneiderman settled with a Brooklyn attorney for allegedly submitting at least nine fraudulent filings to the Attorney General’s Real Estate Finance Bureau and breaching his fiduciary duties as an escrow agent. Under the settlement agreement, the attorney and his firm are permanently barred from offering or selling securities in or from New York, which includes cooperative apartments and condominium units.
In Other News…
Attorney General published an op-ed in the New York Times on his lawsuit against Airbnb and his effort to work with the tech industry to protect the public interest online.
The Attorney General’s Community Overdose Prevention (COP) Program continues to make progress across the state, with 9 agencies signing on in the Capital Region
Attorney General Schneiderman was also praised by the New York Times editorial board for recovering nearly $1 million for 1,450 victims of wage theft across New York.
He also celebrated the 10th anniversary of one of his office’s HOPP grantees, Staten Island Legal Services.
Contact Us
Visit our website at ag.ny.gov, where you can learn more about the office’s various initiatives. You can also contact us here.
For more info on Attorney General Schneiderman or other elected officials don’t hesitate to hit us up at RandyKFisher@gmail.com.
Posted by Charles Fisher and Randy Fisher (Twitter @HHSYC).
