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Legal / Law: Criminal Law

Attorneys at mctlaw File a Second Kratom-Related Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Same WA County as a Recent Multi-Million Dollar Kratom Verdict

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The lawsuit alleges that on April 5, 2022, Jordan came home from work and collapsed. His young nephew found him unconscious and paramedics rushed Jordan to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The complaint also alleges that an open bag of Cloud House kratom powder sat on his kitchen counter and that Jordan’s autopsy report lists mitragynine, a compound found in kratom, as the cause of death.

The lawsuit points to a growing number of death certificates across the U.S., in which kratom is formally identified as the cause of death and cites 2023 research finding kratom 63 times more deadly than other natural products sold to consumers. The complaint raises serious concerns about the kratom industry.

“How many kratom deaths will the families of Cowlitz County suffer before the industry is stopped? These heartbreaking tragedies must stop. Jordan McKibban died from a product that is so dangerous it should not even be on the shelf,” says the family’s attorney, Talis Abolins of mctlaw. “The defendants falsely promote kratom as safe for human consumption when, in fact, it is causing deaths and other harmful impacts across the country.”

The complaint (Case No. 23-2-01183-08)was filed in the Superior Court of the State of Washington in Cowlitz County between Rachel McKibban, individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Jordan McKibban, deceased vs. Texas limited liability company; LP IND., LLC, a Wyoming limited liability company; CAG HOLDINGS, LLC, a Wyoming limited liability company; RMH HOLDINGS, INC., a Wyoming corporation; OLISTICA, an unincorporated association; MIT THERAPY INC., an Idaho corporation; DURITY DISTRIBUTION, INC., an Idaho corporation; HUSH WORLDWIDE LLC, a Wyoming limited liability company; DRIP DROP DISTRO LLC, an Idaho limited liability company; BEDROCK MFG LLC, a Wyoming limited liability company; CLOUD HOUSE VAPORZ, INC., a Washington corporation; and JOHN & JANE DOES 1 THROUGH 10.

About mctlaw: The attorneys at mctlaw are national leaders in kratom wrongful death litigation and are committed to seeking justice for the families of those impacted by this substance. For questions about kratom litigation across the United States, contact attorney Talis Abolins, attorney Michael Cowgill, and attorney Tamara Williams at 888.952.5242. You can find more information about kratom litigation at www.mctlaw.com

Media Contact

Gilda Dennis, mctlaw, 1 941-879-9913, [email protected], www.mctlaw.com 

Talis Abolins, mctlaw, 1 888-952-5242, [email protected], www.mctlaw.com

SOURCE mctlaw

Legal / Law: Criminal Law

VentureLab Announces Third Annual “Ready, Set, Startup!” Gala to Launch K-12 Girls into Entrepreneurship

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“James and I are delighted to serve as honorary chairs for Ready, Set, Startup!” says Kellie Zesch Weir, CFA, Portfolio Manager, and Head of Austin Office at Brown Advisory. “Encouraging girls and underrepresented youth to pursue entrepreneurship is a cause very near and dear to us, our family and our broader community.”

Current sponsors include Brown Advisory, Atlassian, Wild Basin, Goldman Sachs, Renu Well, and TaleSplash. Guest panelists include Ansley Carlisle of Venture Dallas.

“We look forward to opening the doors of our new campus in East Austin for this awesome event,” says Denise Guzman, Enterprise Customer Retention Manager at Atlassian. “The Atlassian Foundation is passionate about empowering the next generation of problem solvers, so we’re really happy to support the great work VentureLab is doing.”

Ready, Set, Startup! committee members include Patty Schatz, former honorary chair; Jacqueline Hughes from Capital Factory; Juliette Richert from the Artemis Fund; Estie White and Faiza Jooma from Brown Advisory; Albert Swantner from SaveDay and The Fund; and Amy Jackson and Mayra Peña from TaleSplash; Cristal Glangchai, Desma Deitz, Monica Garcia, Christen Rains, Jessica Murray, Lindly Fernandez, and Aileen Passariello-McAleer from VentureLab.

“With Ready, Set, Startup! entering its third year, we are so grateful for the support from our sponsors and supporters as a whole,” says Desma Deitz, Executive Director of VentureLab. “The generosity and inspiration is felt by each and every one of the students that participate in VentureLab’s programs.”

To purchase tickets or sponsorship opportunities, visit https://www.betterunite.com/readysetstartup.

About VentureLab

VentureLab envisions a world where every child, regardless of gender, race, or economic status, is empowered to fully participate in creating the future through entrepreneurial and STEM education. In its mission to create the next generation of diverse innovators and changemakers by making entrepreneurial education accessible to all youth, VentureLab has reached over 747,000 students, educators, and caregivers in 155+ countries and all 50 United States. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, support for VentureLab helps provide scholarships to students, schools, and organizations who want entrepreneurship and innovation education. It will provide training and coaching for teachers, business models/budgeting tools, and mentoring and materials for students without access.

Media Contact

Amy Jackson, TaleSplash for VentureLab, 1 415-609-2435, [email protected], https://venturelab.org/ 

SOURCE VentureLab

Legal / Law: Criminal Law

New Center for Disaster Philanthropy report finds disaster giving by largest U.S. foundations dipped in 2021

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Overall, efforts that primarily addressed the needs of children and youth and ethnic and racial populations received the highest amount of funding from foundation and corporate donors.

“We are facing a time unlike any other in living memory: The scale, severity and sheer number of disasters threaten to overwhelm communities and those who seek to help them,” said Patricia McIlreavy, president and CEO of CDP. “While our data shows a promising increase in philanthropic generosity, for which we are thankful, it also shows that contributions are not nearly enough, and too often remain focused on immediate need over the long-term recovery support required for a community to thrive post-disaster.”

Key findings

In collaboration with Candid, CDP examined the disaster-related grantmaking in 2021 by private and community foundations, corporations and public charities in the U.S. and abroad.

Data showed that only $3 billion, or 2% of the $157 billion total philanthropic dollars in 2021, was disaster-related. A closer look found that:

  • Epidemics, notably the COVID-19 pandemic, were the most-supported disasters, receiving 82%.
  • Giving related to natural hazards, such as storms, earthquakes and wildfires, received 6% of funding.
  • For every $1 given to disasters, only 10¢ went towards resilience, risk reduction, preparedness, reconstruction and recovery efforts combined.
  • In the U.S., efforts that explicitly served children and youth received 19% funding, followed by 17% for ethnic and racial groups.
  • Among issue areas that intersect with disasters, health and human services received the most philanthropic funding, followed by education.
  • 2021 giving of the Candid’s Foundation 1000 outpaced 2012-2019.

Aside from the pandemic, other notable disasters in 2021 included Hurricane Ida, winter storms and tornado outbreaks in the U.S., Haiti earthquake, Typhoon Rai in the Philippines, and flooding in India, China, Europe and Afghanistan.

View the 2023 Measuring the State of Disaster Philanthropy infographic.

Takeaway for grantmakers

In a blog post, Tanya Gulliver-Garcia, CDP’s director of learning and partnerships, urges grantmakers to:

  • Continue to increase overall disaster giving to help meet the immediate and long-term needs of disaster-affected communities. We are witnessing more devastation from humanitarian crises and natural hazards, including those fueled by climate change. For many affected communities, especially for marginalized groups, the road to recovery is long and under-resourced.
  • Address the root causes of disparities in their grantmaking. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters last years and sometimes decades. They exacerbate underlying inequities, such as food and housing insecurity.
  • Build relationships with nonprofits responding to disasters before a disaster strikes their community. Preparedness helps reduce the time it takes to rebuild communities after a disaster. This includes strengthening the nonprofit infrastructure to handle the additional stresses a disaster poses.

About the data

Candid is a nonprofit that provides the most comprehensive data and insights about the social sector. CDP used Candid’s data, which included information from funders that reported their grantmaking directly; published media, including English-language news and press releases; and publicly available data sources, including grantmaker websites and IRS Forms 990 and 990-PF. 2021 is the latest available complete calendar year reporting from the IRS.

The data set includes cash grants, grants to individuals, program-related investments, and in-kind gifts with a monetary value from private and community foundations, corporations (including corporate giving programs), and public charities in FY 2021. U.S. and non-U.S. donors are included: Of 3,941 donors, 3,785 are based in the United States, representing 83% of dollars in the data set.

To learn more about the findings and the data used for the 2023 State of Disaster Philanthropy report, please visit disasterphilanthropy.org.

About the Center for Disaster Philanthropy

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy mobilizes philanthropy to strengthen communities’ ability to withstand disasters and recover equitably when they occur. It provides expert advice and resources while managing domestic and international disaster funds on behalf of corporations, foundations and individuals through targeted, holistic and localized grantmaking. Find out more at disasterphilanthropy.org and LinkedIn.

Media Contact

Yna Moore, Center for Disaster Philanthropy, 1 720-583-5325, [email protected], https://disasterphilanthropy.org 

SOURCE Center for Disaster Philanthropy

Legal / Law: Criminal Law

Westside Future Fund Celebrates Next Chapter In Atlanta’s Historic Westside With Groundbreaking Ceremony

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The new development at 839 Joseph E. Boone will include 33 units of rental housing and 1,200 square feet of space for retail. This development will be located next to Kathryn Johnston Park, one of several greenspaces WFF has partnered with community leadership to bring to the community. Building near green space has been a key focus for WFF’s real estate acquisition and development.

“This project is a significant contribution to one of our city’s priority neighborhoods, and reflects WFF’s commitment to revitalizing our historic Westside to healthy, safe and thriving communities,” said Mayor Andre Dickens. “Thank you to WFF and their Chair, Dr. Tatum, the Woodruff Foundation and Invest Atlanta for their partnership, and for believing in the future of Atlanta’s Westside by investing in our residents through sustainable, affordable housing.”

This project was made possible through a grant from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation. Additional funding for the development was provided by Invest Atlanta and WFF’s Impact Fund. To ensure permanent affordability and retention of legacy residents, WFF relies on philanthropy to help fuel its efforts. WFF’s high-quality affordable housing efforts come at a time when Atlanta, and the nation, are grappling with limited housing inventory. WFF’s signature program Home on the Westside prioritizes residents with “live, work and learn” connections to the community and includes rental housing, homeownership, and property tax assistance.

“As the representative for District 3, I am proud to witness the groundbreaking of a project that will have a lasting impact on our community,” said Councilman Amos. The work of Westside Future Fund demonstrates a commitment to equitably revitalizing the historic Westside. This development in English Avenue aligns with our vision for a community that thrives economically, socially, and culturally. I look forward to the positive changes this project will bring to our residents.”

With all its work, WFF aims to advance a compassionate and equitable approach to neighborhood revitalization. The organization is focused on moving quickly to increase high-quality affordable housing options within its service footprint because stable housing is the foundation for a healthy neighborhood. Over the last decade, WFF has championed several key impact strategies that take a holistic approach to restoring the historic Westside.

“This groundbreaking symbolizes a pivotal moment for our organization and the entire community,” said John Ahmann, President, and CEO of WFF. “It’s not just about breaking ground on a project; it’s about breaking barriers and building bridges towards a more vibrant and inclusive future for Atlanta’s historic Westside. We have been diligent in our process of acquiring land, and thinking about the future ahead, to ensure we help build a community that will positively impact the lives of generations to come.”

WFF is currently developing an additional 104 high-quality, affordable housing units, in both new construction and substantial rehab projects, throughout its service footprint.

About Westside Future Fund
The Westside Future Fund is a place-based non-profit dedicated to restoring the historic Westside to a vibrant community on Atlanta’s Westside. WFF advances a compassionate approach to equitable neighborhood revitalization through strategic partnerships and community-driven initiatives. The organization serves residents with live, work, and learn connections to five historic neighborhoods including English Avenue, Vine City, Atlanta University Center, Ashview Heights, and Just Us. WFF’s signature quality affordable housing program Home on the Westside enables legacy residents to stay in their communities through three service areas: rental housing, homeownership, and property tax assistance. Learn more about our work and Our Next Chapter to enhance the quality of life for residents and build a sustainable future for this historic neighborhood.

Media Contact
Candace Wheeler, Westside Future Fund, 404-545-6570, [email protected], www.westsidefuturefund.org

SOURCE Westside Future Fund

Legal / Law: Criminal Law

Former OFAC Assistant Director for Regulatory Affairs Elyse B. Martin Joins Morrison Foerster

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Martin brings over a decade of prominent government and private sector experience in economic sanctions, export controls, and other national security matters; she is the fifth former OFAC official to join the firm

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Morrison Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce the arrival of Elyse Martin as of counsel in the firm’s National Security Group. Martin, who will be based in the firm’s Austin, Texas office, brings to the firm more than a decade of combined government and private practice experience in economic sanctions, export controls, and other foreign policy and national security trade and investment controls matters. Prior to her most recent private sector role, Martin served for more than five years at the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), most recently as OFAC’s Assistant Director for Regulatory Affairs.

Martin joins Morrison Foerster from another leading global firm, where she managed a substantial portfolio of complex sanctions matters, including preparing specific license applications and general license requests; advocating for clients before the U.S. Departments of the Treasury and State; counseling clients across a variety of sectors regarding ordinary course sanctions issues and the establishment or updating of risk-based sanctions compliance policies; providing critical sanctions support on major client divestments of Russian entities and businesses, as well as other corporate transactions; conducting internal investigations; preparing voluntary self-disclosures; and handling sensitive client enforcement matters.

During her tenure at OFAC, Martin directed the team responsible for OFAC’s regulatory actions across all sanctions programs. Prior to serving as Assistant Director at OFAC, Martin served as a Section Chief in OFAC’s Compliance Division and as a Sanctions Regulations Advisor in its Regulatory Affairs Division. Over the span of her career at OFAC, she was extensively involved in the development, implementation, and administration of OFAC’s sanctions programs, and played a critical role in the execution of many of OFAC’s most complex and highest profile sanctions actions, including those involving Iran, Venezuela, Russia, and Cuba. Among other responsibilities, Martin directed the team responsible for drafting, clearing, and publishing all of OFAC’s regulatory actions. She also worked closely on sanctions issues with interagency partners, including the National Security Council, the Department of State, and the Department of Commerce. Martin also provided significant input on enforcement, compliance, and licensing matters presenting unique and complex questions of interpretation and policy.

“Elyse’s extensive OFAC experience, including her broad command of the legal issues and regulations related to economic sanctions, as well as her export controls expertise, combined with her years of private practice experience, will be invaluable to our global clients seeking guidance on their most complex national security and foreign policy issues,” said John Smith, former OFAC Director and co-head of Morrison Foerster’s National Security practice. “Elyse’s arrival makes her the fifth OFAC official to join MoFo in recent years, further cementing the firm’s position as a national security industry leader.”

In addition to Smith and Martin, MoFo’s sanctions practice includes three other OFAC veterans: former OFAC Assistant Chief Counsel Andrea Delisi, former OFAC Enforcement Section Chief Rachel Fiorill, and former OFAC Sanctions Compliance Officer Charlotte Baskin-Gerwitz. Together with Smith, the MoFo National Security practice is co-headed by Brandon Van Grack, who oversaw sanctions and export control prosecutions at the U.S. Department of Justice before joining the firm. Nathanael Kurcab, who formerly served in the Intelligence Branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is also a senior member of the firm’s National Security/sanctions team.

“I am thrilled to join Morrison Foerster’s exceptional National Security team and the firm,” said Martin. “Having previously worked with many of the firm’s sanctions experts during my time at OFAC, I know I am joining a talented and dedicated team of lawyers. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues, new and old, and leveraging my extensive technical expertise to assist clients in solving their most complex sanctions issues, while drawing on my OFAC experience to help our clients take risk-based approaches with their multilayered sanctions matters.”

During her tenure at OFAC, Martin received several notable awards and recognitions, including OFAC’s “Outstanding Service” award in 2021 and two Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence awards for work on the Iran sanctions program and a significant project to serve OFAC’s national security and foreign policy goals, in addition to being recognized as OFAC’s sole “Outstanding New Employee of the Year” in 2016. Earlier in her career, she was an attorney at another prominent global law firm.

Martin earned her B.A., magna cum laude, from The George Washington University and her J.D. from New York University School of Law. She is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, New York, and Texas.

About Morrison Foerster

Morrison Foerster is a leading global law firm that transforms complexity into advantage for its clients. The year 2023 marks the 40th anniversary of Morrison Foerster’s presence in Asia. Our clients include some of the largest financial institutions, banks, consulting and accounting firms, and Fortune 100, technology, and life sciences companies. Highlighting the firm’s commitment to client service, leadership in market-changing deals and impact litigation, and values-based culture, Morrison Foerster has been named to The American Lawyer’s A-List for 20 of the ranking’s 21 years. Year after year, the firm receives significant recognition from Chambers and The Legal 500 across their various guides, including Global, USA, Asia Pacific, Europe, UK, Latin America, and FinTech Legal. Our lawyers passionately care about delivering legal excellence while living our values. Morrison Foerster has a longstanding commitment to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment. The firm has achieved Mansfield Certification Plus since 2018 as a result of having at least 30 percent women, minority, LGBTQ+, and lawyers with disabilities representation across notable leadership roles and within the partnership. In addition, the firm was selected as the “Outstanding Firm for Diversity & Inclusion” as part of the Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: USA 2023. Morrison Foerster also has a long history of commitment to the community and society through providing pro bono legal services, including litigating for civil rights and civil liberties, improving public education and fostering the wellbeing of children, advocating for veterans, promoting international human rights, enforcing the right to asylum, and safeguarding the environment. For more information, visit http://www.mofo.com.

Media Contact

Carla Del Bove, Morrison Foerster, 646-387-5068, [email protected]

SOURCE Morrison Foerster

Legal / Law: Criminal Law

The Identity Theft Resource Center Creates Advisory Board: Announces First Members

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“Identity crimes are dynamic and ever-evolving, which means we need help keeping pace with the tactics of criminals so we can create the services needed to support victims,” said Eva Velasquez, President and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center. “This new group of industry leaders with specific skillsets and experiences will help ensure the ITRC stays on top of trends, emerging threats and defenses and is well positioned to participate in discussions about them.”

The following people are the initial members of the ITRC’s AIR Advisory Board:

  • Jay Meier, Senior Vice President of North American Operations at FaceTec, Inc. and President & CEO of Sage Capital Advisors, LLC
  • Lynette Owens, Vice President of Global Consumer Education and Product Marketing at Trend Micro
  • Meghan Land, Executive Director of Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
  • Michael Scheumack, Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer at IDIQ
  • Stephen Smith, Senior Vice President of Business and Strategy at Intellectual Technology, Inc.

The AIR Advisory Board will be chaired by Shawn Holtzclaw, a veteran corporate and nonprofit executive. To view the Advisory Board, click here. To see a full list of the ITRC’s Leadership, click here.

About the Identity Theft Resource Center

Founded in 1999, the Identity Theft Resource Center® (ITRC) is a national‥nonprofit organization established to empower and guide consumers, victims, business and government to minimize risk and mitigate the impact of identity compromise and crime. Through public and private support, the ITRC provides no-cost victim assistance and consumer education through‥its website live-chat‥idtheftcenter.org and toll-free phone number 888.400.5530. The ITRC also equips consumers and businesses‥with‥information about recent data breaches through its data breach tracking tool, notified. The ITRC offers help to specific populations, including the deaf/hard of hearing and blind/low visioncommunities.

Media Contact

Identity Theft Resource Center
Alex Achten
Director of Communications & Media Relations
888.400.5530 Ext. 3611
[email protected]

Media Contact

Alex Achten, Identity Theft Resource Center, 888-400-5530 x 3611, [email protected], www.idtheftcenter.org

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SOURCE Identity Theft Resource Center



Legal / Law: Criminal Law

SRI, a nonprofit R&D insitute with deep roots in Silicon Valley, unveils transformative new brand identity

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The rebranding simplifies SRI International to its familiar acronym, SRI, and introduces the “Future Cube.” This symbol, inspired by SRI’s historical logos, frames the institute’s global positioning, both literally and figuratively. The left square of the Future Cube tilts at precisely 37 degrees, a nod to SRI’s 37°N latitude physical location in Silicon Valley. It also represents an inflection point, symbolizing that moment between ideation and realization, thinking and doing, and developing something inside a lab or office and bringing it to market.

“The Future Cube is the heart of our brand story,” said Mike Freedman, SRI’s Vice President of Communications. “It represents myriad perspectives — a space for out-of-the-box thinking, a blank canvas or sandbox for innovation, as well as our problem-solving ethos. It symbolizes SRI’s role at the forefront of technological and scientific breakthroughs in diverse fields, such as quantum, trusted AI, climate, education, precision medicine, and much more.”

The new visual language also incorporates a rich graphical heritage drawn from the world of research. It uses geometric shapes, test patterns, and chart notations, with a font system inspired by the aesthetics of robotics and machines.

The blue color palette draws from SRI’s history, which includes the acquisition of the famed Sarnoff Corp. (formerly RCA Labs) in Princeton, N.J., in 1987, and Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) earlier this year. The color is infused with a new vibrancy to reflect the dynamism of innovation and bold ambition to deliver world-changing outcomes.

SRI’s rebrand was designed by Studio Scott, a San Francisco-based studio known for transforming many iconic research, cultural, and education organizations, in collaboration with the Minnesota-based strategy firm, Astrion Partners.

“Our new branding is a declaration of our legacy and our future,” added Parekh. “It embodies our commitment to innovation, our independence as a non-profit, and our relentless pursuit of collaboration with our government and industry customers and strategic partners to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. It’s a brand identity that not only represents who we are but also inspires where we are headed.”

About SRI

SRI is an independent nonprofit research institute headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., with a rich history of supporting government and industry. We create and deliver world-changing solutions for a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future. For more than 75 years, we have collaborated across technical and scientific disciplines to discover and develop groundbreaking products and technologies and bring innovations and ideas to the marketplace. Learn more at www.sri.com.

Media Contact
Kelly Brieger, SRI, 1 650-704-1748, [email protected], www.sri.com

SOURCE SRI

Legal / Law: Criminal Law

AfDB, IEA, and CCA Join Forces to Help African Governments Deliver Clean Cooking for All

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The announcement was made at the COP28 side event, “A Call for Action: Universal Clean Cooking Access in Africa,” which was hosted by AfDB, IEA, CCA, and the African Union Commission and brought together four African governments, funders, and the private sector to make clean cooking a top priority in the coming years.

Today, 2.3 billion individuals globally, nearly a third of the world’s population, prepare their meals over open fires or inefficient, polluting stoves, contributing to 3.7 million premature deaths each year. This costs the average household hours each day in gathering fuel and cooking. Women and children bear the worst of these consequences.

“It is unacceptable that in the 21st century, close to 1 billion people in Africa do not have access to clean cooking,” said Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the AfDB. “The goal of this Consortium is to drive meaningful, transformative change that will assure 100 percent access to clean cooking in Africa in less than 10 years.”

AfDB, IEA, and CCA are working to move the sector away from incremental, small-scale funding to large-scale financing. For universal access in Africa, investment in clean cooking stoves, equipment, and infrastructure, investment would need to reach US $4 billion annually. During the side event, Dr. Adesina announced up to 20 percent of AfDB’s approved annual lending program for energy will be allocated toward clean cooking.

Fatih Birol, Executive Director of IEA said, “Clean cooking should be solved because it is a stain on humanity. We are going to make 2024 a turning point for addressing this issue.”

A full transition to clean cooking in Africa could avert the release of about 900 million tons of CO2 equivalent annually, placing clean cooking at the center of Africa’s net-zero ambition. This will also ensure clean cooking becomes a prime candidate for climate finance and carbon credits to help fund this transformation.

“African governments are making it clear that they are ready to take the lead on this pressing issue,” said Dymphna van der Lans, Chief Executive Officer of the Clean Cooking Alliance. “To achieve their goals, they need stronger, more dedicated support, which is what the Africa Clean Cooking Consortium aims to deliver.”

Many African governments, including Kenya and Sierra Leone, are prioritizing clean cooking. In September, Kenya announced the inaugural Clean Cooking Delivery Unit, a team of experts embedded within the Office of the President to accelerate clean cooking access. Sierra Leone is joining with its own Delivery Unit also housed in the Office of the President.

The consortium will integrate initiatives to bring more awareness to top-levels of government while building robust commitments, new partnerships, and innovative solutions to Africa’s No. 1 climate and energy issue.

Media Contact

Kip Patrick, Clean Cooking Alliance, 2028879040, [email protected], cleancooking.org

SOURCE Clean Cooking Alliance

Legal / Law: Criminal Law

Chaffin Luhana Partner, Roopal Luhana Appointed as Co-Lead In Uber Rideshare Litigation

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Roopal Luhana, Founder and Partner at Chaffin Luhana LLP has been appointed as Co-Lead Counsel in the Uber Rideshare Litigation MDL by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The litigation primarily focuses on allegations that Uber did not implement sufficient safety measures to prevent passengers from being sexually assaulted during rides.

NEW YORK, Dec. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The Honorable Charles R. Breyer of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has appointed Chaffin Luhana LLP Founder and Partner, Roopal Luhana as Co-Lead in the Uber Passenger Sexual Assault Litigation MDL (No. 3084).

Plaintiffs’ Co-Lead Counsel is responsible for coordinating pretrial proceedings on behalf of plaintiffs. These individuals have many responsibilities in the MDL, which was established by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) on October 4, 2023.

California State Uber lawsuits were previously consolidated in the San Francisco Superior Court on December 9, 2021. A recent ruling, however, excluded all plaintiffs who weren’t California residents. Plaintiffs appealed the decision, but meanwhile, many plaintiffs in that litigation have dismissed their cases and re-filed in federal court.

Ms. Luhana Brings Years of Experience to the Litigation

Ms. Luhana, who co-founded Chaffin Luhana LLP firm with partner Eric Chaffin in 2010, has many years of experience in consolidated litigation. For two decades, Ms. Luhana has led and assisted in litigating numerous consolidated litigations and MDLs. She has been entrusted by federal judges who have appointed her to numerous Plaintiffs’ Executive and Steering Committees, including in Camp Lejeune, Paraquat, Zantac, 3T Heater Cooler, Yaz Birth Control and Denture Cream litigations, among others. In these leadership positions, Ms. Luhana has led the charge in navigating a multitude of critical issues, including ESI and discovery matters, law and briefing, experts, and data analytics, to name a few.

Ms. Luhana was also named as Chair of the ESI/Document Production Committee for the Zantac (Ranitidine) Products Liability litigation, in which plaintiffs claimed that Zantac manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline failed to warn about the potential cancer effects of the antacid drug.

Most recently, she was appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the Camp Lejeune Water Litigation, and to the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee in Paraquat Products Liability Litigation. Now, she will be working on behalf of passengers who were sexually assaulted by Uber drivers whom they trusted to transport them safely to their destinations.

As Co-Lead Counsel, she will be involved in presenting to the Court the plaintiffs’ position on matters arising during pre-trial proceedings. She will also be helping to coordinate settlement discussions or other dispute resolution efforts on behalf of plaintiffs, delegating tasks to other plaintiffs’ counsel, coordinate the initiation and conduct of discovery on behalf of plaintiffs, and much more.

“I am deeply honored to be appointed as Co-Lead Counsel in the Uber Rideshare Litigation MDL. This appointment underscores our firm’s commitment to seeking justice for those who have been wronged, particularly in complex and significant cases like this. The allegations against Uber not only highlight a disturbing breach of trust but also raise serious questions about corporate responsibility and passenger safety. We aim to not only secure rightful compensation for the survivors but also to drive systemic change in Uber’s operations to ensure such incidents are prevented in the future. We stand ready to advocate tirelessly on behalf of the plaintiffs to hold Uber accountable for its actions and to work towards a resolution that upholds the dignity and rights of those affected.” – Roopal Luhana, Partner, Chaffin Luhana LLP.

Survivors Claim Uber Didn’t Do Enough to Protect Riders

Currently, there are over 130 lawsuits pending against Uber in the MDL. Most involve plaintiffs who claim the company failed to take the necessary steps to protect its riders from sexual assault.

Uber was founded in 2009. In 2014, the company started charging riders an extra $1 fee for each trip. Uber called this a “Safe Rides Fee,” but then failed to earmark the money for actually improving safety.

As the company grew, it required more drivers, so it used a background-check system designed to get them approved as quickly as possible. Plaintiffs claim that this system was sub-par, and abandoned fingerprinting and FBI checks because they were time-consuming methods of verification.

After news reports in 2018 revealed that more than 100 women had been sexually assaulted during Uber rides, the company began to look into safety. It produced its first-ever safety report.

Data from Uber’s latest safety report in 2020 combined with data from the 2018 report shows there were 9,805 reports of sexual assault on Uber rides between 2017 and 2020, including 852 reports of rape.

Plaintiffs involved in the Uber MDL claim that the company has long been aware that its riders were being sexually harassed, assaulted, and raped, yet did not take the appropriate action. They list Uber’s failures in its inadequate background checks, discounting of passengers’ reports of sexual assault, inattention to drivers who assaulted passengers, and negligence in warning riders of the dangers.

They also claim the company made false statements regarding its ability to provide safe rides to passengers and failed to adopt measures to protect passengers, such as installing cameras in vehicles.

“Roopal’s appointment as Co-Lead Counsel is a testament to her expertise and our firm’s dedication to obtaining justice for survivors. Her and our firm’s role is pivotal in ensuring that those affected by Uber’s alleged wrongdoing receive the representation they deserve. Chaffin Luhana is committed to this important cause and confident in achieving a just outcome under the leadership Judge Breyer has appointed.” – Eric Chaffin, Managing Partner, Chaffin Luhana LLP.

Judge Breyer Promises Speedy Resolution to the Cases

At the first hearing of the California MDL, Judge Breyer stated that he desires a speedy resolution to the cases because the survivors deserve to have them resolved as soon as possible. He expects to resolve common legal issues during the pre-trial process, including how Uber vetted, hired, trained, and monitored drivers; and how the company responded to reports of sexual assaults.

Uber has denied any wrongdoing, claiming it has taken reports of assault seriously and has adopted measures to protect passengers.

Chaffin Luhana expects that now that Uber lawsuits have been consolidated, many more will be filed in the coming months. If successful, plaintiffs hope to secure compensation and encourage meaningful changes in Uber’s hiring and safety procedure processes.

If you or a loved one has been sexually assaulted during an Uber ride, contact Chaffin Luhana LLP for a free and confidential case review at 888-480-1123, or visit their website at https://www.chaffinluhana.com/.

**Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

CONTACT

Dan Reo

Chaffin Luhana LLP

https://www.chaffinluhana.com/

(888) 480-1123

About Chaffin Luhana:

Chaffin Luhana LLP is a plaintiffs-only national trial firm focused on representing injured survivors and their families in catastrophic and complex cases. Started by former federal prosecutors Eric Chaffin and Roopal Luhana, the firm is comprised of former state and federal prosecutors, former large defense firm attorneys, former judicial law clerks, and caring and compassionate staff including an in-house social worker. The firm has been appointed by federal and state courts to important national litigations including the 3T Heater-Cooler Litigation, the Transvaginal Mesh Litigation, the Yaz Birth Control Litigation, and the Denture Cream Zinc Poisoning Litigation, the Zantac (Ranitidine) Products Liability Litigation, the Paraquat Products Liability Litigation, the Camp LeJeune Water Litigation, and the Hair Relaxer Marketing Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation. With over 200 years of combined legal experience, Chaffin Luhana’s attorneys have recovered over $1 billion for their clients nationwide. For more information, please visit https://www.chaffinluhana.com/.

Media Contact

Dan Reo, Chaffin Luhana LLP, 1 8884801123, [email protected], https://www.chaffinluhana.com/

SOURCE Chaffin Luhana LLP

Legal / Law: Criminal Law

Bottoms Up! Colossal Announces Voting is Open for Bar Boss 2023

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Colossal CEO Mary Hagen stated, “Our partnership with Dos Hombres and Kind Campaign is a momentous achievement in our mission to make a colossal impact on the lives of human beings. We look forward to fostering a sense of both individual worth and appreciation for community through this competition.”

While the cash is a helpful addition to a bartender’s usual take-home, the magazine feature can serve up a pivotal career moment for the lucky drink-slinger. Bartender Magazine is celebrating its 44th year and currently has a circulation of over 260,000 and growing.

But the buzz doesn’t wear off there. Eligible participants will be able to showcase their favorite custom recipe, accompanied by a photographed presentation, to take a shot at the prestigious title of “Critic’s Pick” by Bartender Magazine. The chosen creation will also be featured in the publication, forever enshrining the winner as top-shelf.

To cast your vote and learn more about the competition, please visit barboss.org. You can also stay updated on the competition by following @votebarboss on Instagram and Facebook.

ABOUT COLOSSAL x BAR BOSS
Colossal is the global leader in online competitions, with one of the most effective fundraising platforms available for charities. The Bar Boss competition is operated by Colossal as a fundraiser on behalf of DTCare, a nationally registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Funds raised during the Bar Boss competition go to DTCare, which will subsequently issue a grant to the Kind Campaign. Click here to learn more about the donation process, and visit colossal.org for more information on everything Colossal.

ABOUT DOS HOMBRES
Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, the stars of Breaking Bad, created Dos Hombres to cultivate a Mezcal that they thought was perfect. Revered by the alcohol industry with eight prestigious awards, Dos Hombres boasts a unique blend of the finest Espadin agave, hand-selected from the hillsides of a small village in Oaxaca, Mexico, by third-generation expert mezcalero, Gregorio Velasco. Learn more about Dos Hombres here.

Media Contact

Anne-Marie Pritchett, Colossal Management, (602) 633-4163, [email protected], Colossal Management

Twitter

SOURCE Colossal Management