A newsletter by Reuters and Westlaw |
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Meta Platforms is set to face trial next week in a lawsuit brought by the state of New Mexico accusing it of exposing children and teens to sexual exploitation on its platforms and profiting from it. Here’s what to know: |
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It is the first case of its kind against the social media giant to reach a jury.
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The case grew out of an undercover operation called “Operation MetaPhile," which New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, a former prosecutor, and his office ran in 2023. As part of that effort, investigators created accounts on Facebook and Instagram posing as users younger than 14. The accounts received sexually explicit material and were contacted by adults seeking similar content, leading to criminal charges against three individuals.
- The state also accuses Meta of designing its platforms to maximize engagement despite evidence they were harming children's mental health.
- Meta denies the allegations and says it has extensive safeguards in place to protect younger users.
- The state is seeking monetary damages, as well as an order directing Meta to make changes to improve children’s safety while using the platforms.
- The trial, which is set to begin with jury selection on Monday in Santa Fe District Court, is expected to last seven or eight weeks.
- Diana Novak Jones has more here.
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Government: The 7th Circuit will hear arguments in a lawsuit from Chicago Women in Trades challenging two of President Trump’s executive orders aimed at eliminating DEI programs.
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Criminal: Luigi Mangione, the man accused of gunning down a health insurance executive outside a hotel in Manhattan, is due for a hearing in Manhattan federal court as a judge weighs whether prosecutors can seek the death penalty.
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Criminal: There will be a preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, charged with aggravated murder in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty against Robinson.
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Government: The U.S. Sentencing Commission is scheduled to meet virtually and possibly vote on publishing proposed amendments to the advisory guidelines used by federal judges to craft sentences.
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Court calendars are subject to last-minute docket changes. |
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- Three top U.S. universities have recently appointed former law school deans as their incoming presidents, highlighting a growing preference for leaders with legal expertise during a challenging period for higher education. Read more here.
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Plastic pipe maker JM Eagle expanded its legal campaign against plaintiff's law firms that spearheaded hundreds of asbestos cases against the company, filing a new racketeering lawsuit against a law firm based in Edwardsville, Illinois. Read more here.
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That's the number of licensed attorneys who quit federal government jobs between Trump's inauguration and November, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. After factoring in new hires, the total number of federal attorneys dropped by 6,524. Read more in this week’s Billable Hours. |
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Hooper, Lundy & Bookman’s Eric Fish examines the new legal frontiers created by the use of AI scribes in healthcare. |
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