Featured Stories
WHAT VIRGINIANS ARE SEEING: VA. A.G. JONES SHARES WEEKLY ROUNDUP OF ACTIONS TAKEN ON JULY 24, 2026
RICHMOND, Virginia, July 25 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news wrap up on July 24, 2026:
* * *
WHAT VIRGINIANS ARE SEEING: ATTORNEY GENERALJAY JONES SHARES WEEKLY ROUNDUP OF ACTIONS TAKEN
Defends fair housing and protects consumers
RICHMOND, Va. - Attorney General Jay Jones continued fighting for the Commonwealth, securing a $2.25 million landmark settlement in a fair housing case, holding broadcast titans accountable for court violations, and agrees on a settlement in a national data privacy case.
Secures Landmark Fair Housing Settlement
Last week, Attorney
... Show Full Article
RICHMOND, Virginia, July 25 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news wrap up on July 24, 2026:
* * *
WHAT VIRGINIANS ARE SEEING: ATTORNEY GENERALJAY JONES SHARES WEEKLY ROUNDUP OF ACTIONS TAKEN
Defends fair housing and protects consumers
RICHMOND, Va. - Attorney General Jay Jones continued fighting for the Commonwealth, securing a $2.25 million landmark settlement in a fair housing case, holding broadcast titans accountable for court violations, and agrees on a settlement in a national data privacy case.
Secures Landmark Fair Housing Settlement
Last week, AttorneyGeneral Jay Jones and the Office of Civil Rights secured a landmark $2.25 million settlement against a deeply discriminatory landlord. The terms of the settlement are sweeping and demand that, among other terms, Merryman never be a landlord in the Commonwealth again.
PRESS RELEASE: Attorney General Jay Jones Secures Landmark $2.25 Million Settlement Against Discriminatory Landlord
"Our friends, neighbors, communities, and families have the right to be treated with respect and dignity throughout the housing process, as guaranteed by the Virginia Fair Housing Law and the Fair Housing Act. Anyone found in violation of these laws will be held accountable by this office and justice will be achieved for tenants who face discrimination," said Attorney General Jones. "We are in a new era of civil rights enforcement in the Commonwealth. Returning this office to the people means returning energy and talent to the cases that went neglected far too long. The attorneys who first brought this case to court under my predecessor, former Attorney General Mark Herring -- Helen Hardiman and Palmer Heenan -- are back in this office leading efforts to safeguard the civil rights of all Virginians. Discriminatory harassment has no place in our Commonwealth and will play no role in the future we are creating for those who come after us."
13 News Now: Virginia Attorney General speaking out after former landlord ordered to pay $2.25 million to tenants
"David Merryman has to divest his properties within a year and he can never be a landlord here in Virginia ever again. I think that this is a really strong signal to people who are not playing by the rules that we are ready and willing and able to take action to make sure that we're pursuing justice on behalf of Virginians."
WAVY: Hampton Roads landlord ordered to sell properties in $2.25M settlement
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones says the Office of Civil Rights reached a historic settlement in a fair housing case against David Merryman. Merryman is a notorious landlord with properties in Newport News and Norfolk. The settlement is in the amount of $2.25 million.
Merryman was already serving 17 years in prison for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and race-based interference with housing and employment. The court found that Merryman harassed and abused tenants by calling them racist, sexist, and homophobic epithets, refusing to complete basic repairs in their homes, and evicting tenants who requested those repairs.
This settlement comes two years after Merryman was sentenced to federal prison for fraud and discriminatory practices. The terms of the settlement order the following of Merryman:
He can never be a landlord in the Commonwealth again.
He must sell all of his rental properties in Virginia within a year.
He must work with the courts to eliminate millions of dollars of eviction filings and judgments from the records of his past tenants. This action removes a serious barrier for tenants to obtain housing.
He must pay a monetary settlement of $2,250,000, which will be used to compensate tenants who were victims of his discriminatory behavior.
WHRO: Virginia Attorney General settles discrimination case from 2021 against 'notorious' Newport News landlord
A new settlement from Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones makes sure David Merryman's days as a landlord are over.
Former AG Mark Herring sued Merryman in 2021. State courts found that Merryman called his tenants -- most of whom were Black women -- racist, sexist and homophobic slurs and evicted renters who requested repairs.
Merryman is already serving 17 years in prison for fraud and discriminatory practices, Jones wrote in the press release. And the consequences don't end there, according to the new settlement announced Thursday.
Merryman can never be a landlord in Virginia again and must sell his rental properties in the state within a year. The settlement also orders Merryman to erase millions of dollars of eviction filings and judgements against past tenants --legal records that could prevent them from securing housing in the future.
Merryman also has to pay $2,250,000 to the tenants he discriminated against.
"Justice has come," Palmer Heenan, who leads the AG's Office of Civil Rights, wrote in the press release. "He can never again harm a tenant in the Commonwealth."
Virginia Business: Attorney general's office secures landmark settlement with discriminatory landlord
A Hampton Roads landlord previously sentenced to prison for discriminatory housing and employment practices will have to pay $2.25 million to the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia as part of a landmark settlement reached by the office.
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones announced July 16 that the Office of Civil Rights reached the settlement in a fair housing case brought against David Merryman. Described in a press release from Jones' office as "a notorious landlord in Newport News and Norfolk," Merryman is serving a 17-year prison sentence for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and race-based interference with housing and employment.
Augusta Free Press: AG Jay Jones announces settlement in case with 'slumlord from hell'
Attorney General Jay Jones announced a settlement in a fair housing case brought against David Merryman, called a "slumlord from hell" by one former tenant, who is serving 17 years in prison for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and race-based interference with housing and employment.
Per the settlement, Merryman has to pay $2.25 million to his victims, is required to work with courts to eliminate millions of dollars of eviction filings and judgments from the records of his past tenants, and must sell all of his rental properties in Virginia within a year.
Probably obvious, he also had to agree to never be a landlord in the Commonwealth of Virginia again.
[...]
Merryman, who was sentenced in 2024, owned more than 60 rental properties in Hampton and Newport News, and according to court documents, he regularly harassed his minority tenants with slurs, comments about slavery and death threats, and took advantage of COVID-19 rent-relief programs by using his tenants' names and personal information without their consent and forging their signatures.
The COVID scheme enabled Merryman to obtain big money from state and federal relief programs without telling his tenants, then evicting those tenants that he'd exploited for unpaid rent.
The court documents tell us that Merryman primarily rented his properties, which were often in poor condition, some basically uninhabitable, to African American tenants with limited credit and housing options.
Protecting Consumers
Attorney General Jay Jones joined a coalition of attorneys general in alleging that Tegna and Nexstar are violating a court order as their merger case is in court. The Office of the Attorney General also secured a victory in a multistate lawsuit against 23andMe over a genetic data breach. The OAG was able to hold 23andMe accountable for its faulty security practices and secured over $650,000 for Virginia in the settlement.
PRESS RELEASE: Attorney General Jones Alleges Nexstar/Tegna are Violating Court Order
"Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of our democracy, and the reality is the free press is under attack. Fewer local newsrooms mean fewer opportunities for the pursuit of the truth and reduced public accountability. This merger further jeopardizes journalistic integrity and independence of our media at time when it is needed most," said Attorney General Jay Jones. "This office will continue to fight for consumers and for the people who rely on local news stations in communities across the Commonwealth."
PRESS RELEASE: Attorney General Jones Secures Multistate Settlement of Bankruptcy Claims Against 23andMe over Genetic Data Breach
"Virginians and consumers globally have put their trust in companies like 23andMe to handle their DNA data responsibly as they seek to learn more about their family history and ancestry," said Attorney General Jones. "Thanks to Virginia's consumer protection laws, we were able to hold 23andMe accountable for their faulty security protocols that put consumers at risk, securing a $662,649 settlement."
WDBJ7: VA and 41 other states reach settlement with 23andMe
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones along with 41 other state attorneys general reached a settlement with genetic testing company 23andMe, according to the Commonwealth of Virginia Office of the Attorney General on Monday.
Jones and the coalition of state attorneys general reached a settlement with a bankruptcy trustee for 23andMe resolving accusations stemming from a 2023 data breach in which the genetic data of 7 million+ was compromised. States then sued to block the sale of 23andMe personal genetic data without customer consent after another biotechnology company sought permission from the court to buy 23andMe.
[...]
The Office says the settlement included $150 million in allowed claims for states, but recovery was limited to $18 million to be paid out of available bankruptcy funds immediately; 23andMe also agreed to a $46.75 million class-action settlement in the bankruptcy to provide relief to affected U.S. consumers who submitted claims by February 17, 2026.
Along with general consumer protection and privacy laws, VA residents are also protected under Virginia's Genetic Data Privacy law, which requires direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies to "implement and maintain reasonable security procedures and practices to protect a consumer's genetic data against unauthorized access, destruction, use, modification, or disclosure." Virginia Code Sec. 59.1-597(1), according to Jones' Office.
Jones' Office said 23andMe failed to maintain proper security measures as required by this 2023 law; the settlement was the Commonwealth's first relating to the new Genetic Data Privacy policy.
WAVY: AG Jones secures $660,000 in 23andMe data breach settlement
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones joined a coalition of 42 attorneys general announcing a settlement with the bankruptcy trustee for 23andMe, resolving allegations stemming from a 2023 data breach that compromised the genetic data of nearly seven million customers worldwide.
The settlement includes $150 million in allowed claims for states, but recovery is limited to $18 million to be paid out of available bankruptcy funds immediately.
Of the $18 million, Virginia will receive $662,649. 23andMe also agreed to a $46.75 million class-action settlement in the bankruptcy to provide relief to affected U.S. consumers who submitted claims by February 17, 2026.
23andMe is a direct-to-consumer genetic testing company. It announced it had discovered a data breach in October 2023, in which 6.9 million consumers were affected, including 170,495 in Virginia. The breach exposed a wide range of data about 23andMe customers, including in some cases genetic ancestry information, and subsets of this data were subsequently published for sale on the dark web.
According to a press release from Jones' office, 23andMe learned about the breach months after impacted personal information was publicly available, and at first denied there was a breach before confirming it and blaming consumers for how their accounts were set up or how passwords were used.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/3084-what-virginians-are-seeing-attorney-general-jay-jones-shares-weekly-roundup-of-actions-taken-2026-07-24
Va. A.G. Jones Files Amicus Brief Supporting Continued Access to Mifepristone as Case Returns to Fifth Circuit
RICHMOND, Virginia, July 25 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on July 24, 2026:
* * *
Attorney General Jay Jones Files Amicus Brief Supporting Continued Access to Mifepristone as Case Returns to Fifth Circuit
Attorney General Jay Jones joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in support of the manufacturers of mifepristone in Louisiana v. FDA. In the amicus brief, the coalition urges the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to reject Louisiana's request to reinstate overly burdensome and medically unnecessary requirements
... Show Full Article
RICHMOND, Virginia, July 25 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on July 24, 2026:
* * *
Attorney General Jay Jones Files Amicus Brief Supporting Continued Access to Mifepristone as Case Returns to Fifth Circuit
Attorney General Jay Jones joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in support of the manufacturers of mifepristone in Louisiana v. FDA. In the amicus brief, the coalition urges the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to reject Louisiana's request to reinstate overly burdensome and medically unnecessary requirementsthat are intended to prevent access to reproductive healthcare. This filing comes as the case returns to the Fifth Circuit for a merits determination after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed continued access to mifepristone in May 2026 while the litigation proceeds.
"Reproductive healthcare decisions are deeply personal and should be left to individuals, families, and their medical providers. That includes the medically-directed use of Mifepristone, which is a safe and potentially life-saving medication," said Attorney General Jones. "As Republican states continue to attack access to reproductive healthcare, my office will fight to ensure that Virginians and their rights are protected."
In the amicus brief, Attorney General Jones and the coalition argue that:
* Mifepristone is a safe and effective medication, as demonstrated by decades of research and clinical experience demonstrating its safety.
* The FDA's decision to remove the burdensome and medically unnecessary dispensing requirement for mifepristone was supported by scientific evidence and helped expand access to medication abortion, particularly for people facing barriers like distance, cost, and limited provider availability.
* Reinstating the unnecessary dispensing requirement would harm States' efforts to protect access to reproductive healthcare by creating unnecessary barriers for patients, straining healthcare systems, and limiting access to other essential services provided by reproductive health clinics, such as pre- and postnatal care, family planning, cancer screening, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and HIV.
* Louisiana seeks to improperly elevate the policy preferences of States that have banned or restricted abortion over the preferences of other States that have made the different but equally sovereign determinations to promote access to abortion care.
In filing this amicus brief, Attorney General Jones joins the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/3085-attorney-general-jay-jones-files-amicus-brief-supporting-continued-access-to-mifepristone-as-case-returns-to-fifth-circuit
Statement of N.J. A.G. Davenport Announcing Major Victory Blocking Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger
TRENTON, New Jersey, July 25 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following statement on July 24, 2026, on Paramount-Warner Bros. merger:
* * *
Statement of Attorney General Davenport Announcing Major Victory Blocking Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger
"We are thrilled that, because of our lawsuit, Paramount and Warner Bros. have backed down and won't move forward with their merger while our case proceeds. Under the agreement announced today, Paramount and Warner Bros. have put their merger on hold until either the end of the trial or June 1, 2027, whichever comes first.
This
... Show Full Article
TRENTON, New Jersey, July 25 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following statement on July 24, 2026, on Paramount-Warner Bros. merger:
* * *
Statement of Attorney General Davenport Announcing Major Victory Blocking Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger
"We are thrilled that, because of our lawsuit, Paramount and Warner Bros. have backed down and won't move forward with their merger while our case proceeds. Under the agreement announced today, Paramount and Warner Bros. have put their merger on hold until either the end of the trial or June 1, 2027, whichever comes first.
Thisis an enormous win for consumers. We won't allow corporate monopolists to upend the film and television industry, exploit New Jersey consumers, and drive up their cable bills and the cost of movie tickets.
Working side by side with my fellow state attorneys general, I will continue to do everything I can to block this unlawful merger and stand up for New Jersey consumers."
* * *
Original text here: https://www.njoag.gov/statement-of-attorney-general-davenport-announcing-major-victory-blocking-paramount-warner-bros-merger/
S.D. A.G. Jackley Releases 2028 Draft Ballot Explanation Allowing Exceptions for Direct Sale of Homemade Dairy Products
PIERRE, South Dakota, July 25 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release on July 24, 2026:
* * *
Attorney General Jackley Releases 2028 Draft Ballot Explanation Allowing Exceptions for Direct Sale of Homemade Dairy Products
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has released a draft ballot explanation for a proposed initiated measure that would allow exceptions for the direct sale of homemade dairy products. The measure is proposed by Brenda Anderson of Custer.
The initiated measure would require 17,509 valid petition signatures to qualify for the
... Show Full Article
PIERRE, South Dakota, July 25 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release on July 24, 2026:
* * *
Attorney General Jackley Releases 2028 Draft Ballot Explanation Allowing Exceptions for Direct Sale of Homemade Dairy Products
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has released a draft ballot explanation for a proposed initiated measure that would allow exceptions for the direct sale of homemade dairy products. The measure is proposed by Brenda Anderson of Custer.
The initiated measure would require 17,509 valid petition signatures to qualify for the2028 general election ballot.
Attorney General Jackley takes no position on any such proposal. He has provided a fair and neutral explanation on the proposed initiated measure to help assist the voters.
This proposed initiated measure would allow dairy producers to sell homemade, raw dairy products directly to consumers. Under this proposal, raw dairy products would be exempt from state laws on licensing, permitting, inspecting, testing, and state packing and label requirements.
State law requires the Attorney General to draft a title and explanation for each initiated measure, initiated constitutional amendment, constitutional amendment proposed by the Legislature, or referred measure that may appear on an election ballot. The Attorney General's explanation is meant to be an "objective, clear, and simple summary" intended to "educate the voters of the purpose and effect of the proposed" measure, as well as identify the "legal consequences" of each measure.
Once the Attorney General has filed and posted the draft explanation, the public has 10 days to provide written comment. The explanation was filed today July 24, 2026, and the deadline for comments on this explanation is Aug. 3, 2026, at the close of business in Pierre, South Dakota. The final explanation is due to the Secretary of State on Aug. 13, 2026. To file written comments for a draft Attorney General's explanation please use one of the following methods below. Copies of all received comments will be posted on this website.
Comments may be submitted via mail, or through hand delivery, to the Attorney General's Office at:
Office of the Attorney General
Ballot Comment
1302 S.D. E. Hwy 1889
Pierre, SD 57501
Comments that are hand delivered must be received by the close of business in Pierre, South Dakota, by Aug. 3, 2026. Comments that are mailed must be received by the Aug. 3, 2026 deadline to be accepted. Comments may also be emailed to ATGballotcomments@state.sd.us by the close of business on Aug. 3, 2026. Comments should be clearly expressed in the body of the email. The Attorney General's Office will not open attachments in an effort to prevent malware or other digital threats. Please include your name and contact information when submitting your comment. The title of the comment must be included in the subject line of the email.
The draft ballot explanation can be found here: https://atg.sd.gov/docs/July%2024%202026%20ltr.MJJ%20Draft%20AG%20Statement.%20IM%20Direct%20Sales%20of%20Dairy%20Products.pdf
* * *
Original text here: https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=3119
N.J. A.G. Office: State Grand Jury Declines to File Criminal Charges in Connection With October 2025 Fatal Crash Involving Atlantic Highlands Police Officer
TRENTON, New Jersey, July 25 -- The New Jersey Attorney General Office issued the following news release on July 24, 2026:
* * *
State Grand Jury Declines to File Criminal Charges in Connection with October 2025 Fatal Crash Involving Atlantic Highlands Police Officer
A state grand jury has voted not to file criminal charges at the conclusion of its deliberations regarding the death of Henry Phillips Jr., 73, of Middletown, New Jersey. Mr. Phillips died on October 19, 2025, nine days after a motor-vehicle collision with an officer of the Atlantic Highlands Police Department.
Mr. Phillips's death
... Show Full Article
TRENTON, New Jersey, July 25 -- The New Jersey Attorney General Office issued the following news release on July 24, 2026:
* * *
State Grand Jury Declines to File Criminal Charges in Connection with October 2025 Fatal Crash Involving Atlantic Highlands Police Officer
A state grand jury has voted not to file criminal charges at the conclusion of its deliberations regarding the death of Henry Phillips Jr., 73, of Middletown, New Jersey. Mr. Phillips died on October 19, 2025, nine days after a motor-vehicle collision with an officer of the Atlantic Highlands Police Department.
Mr. Phillips's deathwas investigated by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) and presented to New Jersey residents serving on the grand jury in accordance with the Independent Prosecutor Directive of 2019, which was issued following the enactment of a state law requiring the Office of the Attorney General to investigate deaths that occur during an encounter with law enforcement.
This investigation included officer and witness interviews, photographs, vehicle digital forensics, body-worn camera and third-party surveillance camera footage, as well as autopsy results from a medical examiner. This evidence was presented to a state grand jury. After hearing the testimony and evidence, the grand jury finished deliberating on July 20, 2026, and voted "no bill," concluding that no criminal charges should be filed against the involved officer.
According to the investigation, at approximately 1:00 p.m. on October 10, 2025, while operating a marked police vehicle, Officer Timothy Funk of the Atlantic Highlands Police Department was traveling on Orchard Avenue and stopped at a red light at the intersection of Orchard Avenue and Route 36. Mr. Phillips was operating an e-bike southbound in the northbound lane of Route 36. The e-bike and marked police vehicle collided after Officer Funk made a right turn on red. Mr. Phillips was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. He was pronounced deceased on October 19, 2025.
Footage from a third-party camera related to the encounter was previously released and is posted online at https://njoag.app.box.com/s/o3snzsx5jmqy2vv37hmgey5epz6vvv3s.
N.J.S.A. 52:17B-107(a)(2), requires the Attorney General's Office to conduct investigations of a person's death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer's official capacity or while the decedent is in custody. It requires that all such investigations be presented to a grand jury to determine if the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the involved officers. The grand jury is instructed on the elements of the potential criminal offenses, including criminal homicide offenses, that could be brought and, as required by statutes, the grand jury is instructed on self-defense and other forms of legal justification.
A conflicts check was conducted pursuant to the Independent Prosecutor Directive and no actual or potential conflicts of interest were found involving any individual assigned to OPIA's investigation. Prior to presentation to the grand jury, the investigation was reviewed by an Independent Supervisory Reviewer in accordance with the policies and procedures established for these presentations.
Now that the investigation has concluded, pursuant to the Independent Prosecutor Directive and SOPs, OPIA will determine whether any officer should be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency for administrative review in accordance with the AG's Internal Affairs Policy & Procedures. OPIA will monitor any resulting review and take such actions as are necessary to ensure that the review is completed in a timely fashion, and that appropriate actions are taken based on the results of the review.
Further information about how fatal police encounters are investigated in New Jersey under the Independent Prosecutor Directive can be found here (https://www.nj.gov/oag/dcj/agguide/directives/ag-Directive-2019-4.pdf).
* * *
Original text here: https://www.njoag.gov/state-grand-jury-declines-to-file-criminal-charges-in-connection-with-october-2025-fatal-crash-involving-atlantic-highlands-police-officer/
Md. A.G. Brown Announces $13 Million in Settlements With Seven Opioid Drug Manufacturers
BALTIMORE, Maryland, July 25 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on July 24, 2026:
* * *
Attorney General Brown Announces $13 Million in Settlements with Seven Opioid Drug Manufacturers
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today announced finalized national opioids settlements with seven opioid drug manufacturers - Alvogen, Amneal, Apotex, Hikma, Mylan, Sun, and Zydus - that manufactured opioid pills and worsened the nationwide opioid crisis. Maryland is expected to receive over $13 million from the multistate settlement, to be used for the state's and
... Show Full Article
BALTIMORE, Maryland, July 25 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on July 24, 2026:
* * *
Attorney General Brown Announces $13 Million in Settlements with Seven Opioid Drug Manufacturers
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today announced finalized national opioids settlements with seven opioid drug manufacturers - Alvogen, Amneal, Apotex, Hikma, Mylan, Sun, and Zydus - that manufactured opioid pills and worsened the nationwide opioid crisis. Maryland is expected to receive over $13 million from the multistate settlement, to be used for the state's andits subdivisions' efforts to continue fighting the opioid crisis. Maryland's consent judgments with these manufacturers have been entered in the Circuit Court for Frederick County.
"Maryland communities are still living with addiction and loss caused by the opioid crisis," said Attorney General Brown. "These settlements will fund treatment and recovery that helps Marylanders break the cycle of addiction and also require safeguards that keep the drug companies responsible for the crisis from fueling another."
Over many years, these seven drug makers manufactured and sold generic opioids, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl patches, throughout the United States, including in Maryland. The state alleged that each of these manufacturers' practices in manufacturing, selling, or marketing opioids resulted in significant diversion of opioids, contributing to the opioid crisis.
The seven defendants and the estimated amount they will pay Maryland in opioid abatement funds are:
Alvogen: $ 402,150 paid in a single year
Amneal: $ 2,450,965 paid over 10 years
Apotex: $ 1,370,968 paid in a single year
Hikma: $ 2,065,728 paid in a single year
Mylan: $ 5,982,176 paid over 10 years
Sun: $ 667,204 paid in a single year
Zydus: $ 317,892 paid in a single year
Beyond the payments, each settlement imposes a set of injunctive terms on the manufacturer's opioid business. Among other requirements, the companies are prohibited from promoting or marketing opioid products to prescribers or patients; barred from manufacturing, promoting, or distributing any oxycodone pill exceeding 40 milligrams; and barred from tying sales staff pay or discipline to opioid sales volume. Each company must also maintain an ongoing system to monitor and report suspicious orders of its opioid products.
Maryland's complaint against the manufacturers can be read here (https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Announces--Million-in-Settlements-with-Seven-Opioid-Drug-Manufacturers.aspx).
* * *
Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Announces--Million-in-Settlements-with-Seven-Opioid-Drug-Manufacturers.aspx
Ariz. A.G. Mayes Files Lawsuit Challenging Unlawful Conditions on Federal Counterterrorism Funding
PHOENIX, Arizona, July 25 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release on July 24, 2026:
* * *
Attorney General Mayes Files Lawsuit Challenging Unlawful Conditions on Federal Counterterrorism Funding
Attorney General Kris Mayes joined a coalition of 26 states to stop the Trump administration's continued efforts to use federal funds--specifically, billions of dollars in federal counterterrorism and other funds--to coerce states into complying with the administration's political and policy priorities.
Mayes and the coalition's lawsuit filed today challenges decisions
... Show Full Article
PHOENIX, Arizona, July 25 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release on July 24, 2026:
* * *
Attorney General Mayes Files Lawsuit Challenging Unlawful Conditions on Federal Counterterrorism Funding
Attorney General Kris Mayes joined a coalition of 26 states to stop the Trump administration's continued efforts to use federal funds--specifically, billions of dollars in federal counterterrorism and other funds--to coerce states into complying with the administration's political and policy priorities.
Mayes and the coalition's lawsuit filed today challenges decisionsby the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to impose unlawful conditions on billions of dollars in federal funds that Congress appropriated for states to use in preparing for and responding to emergencies and natural disasters, including acts of terrorism. The conditions challenged in the lawsuit would require the states to change the way they conduct elections, including by transmitting lists of all registered voters to DHS, and to assist DHS in enforcing federal immigration law. They would also permit DHS to terminate any federal grant at any time and for any reason.
"Congress appropriated these funds to help protect our communities from terrorism, cyberattacks, and natural disasters--not to give the federal government leverage to force states to adopt unrelated political agendas," said Attorney General Kris Mayes. "The Trump administration cannot hold Arizona's public safety funding hostage to coerce states into changing their election laws or diverting law enforcement resources away from the work that keeps our communities safe. We have successfully challenged these unlawful funding conditions before, and we are now going back to court to ensure Arizona receives the critical resources Congress intended and to defend the constitutional limits on federal power."
Mayes joined two similar and successful lawsuits in 2025, each in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, challenging DHS's efforts to condition billions in federal emergency funding on states' agreement to enforce federal immigration law and DHS's subsequent attempt to unlawfully reallocate federal homeland security funding away from jurisdictions it viewed as insufficiently supportive of the President's political agenda.
Now, DHS and FEMA have established grant conditions for 2026 funding that again attempt to coerce the states into complying with the administration's policy priorities. The conditions in total affect billions of dollars in funding, including over a billion dollars in Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) funding that states use to support security measures and protect residents from terrorism, cyberattacks and more.
First, DHS and FEMA have again threatened to impose the same immigration conditions that they attempted to impose in 2025 on all federal grant programs. The conditions would require states to devote scarce law-enforcement resources to assisting DHS in enforcing federal immigration law. These conditions were found to be unlawful and were enjoined by a district judge last year.
Second, DHS and FEMA threaten to withhold 20% of each state's counterterrorism funding if states do not change state election law to conform to the administration's policy goals. The attorneys general assert that these requirements would force states to abandon years of work and millions of dollars of investments in their elections systems, all to obtain unrelated funding that Congress earmarked for the prevention of terrorist attacks.
Specifically, the challenged funding conditions would require states to transition to paper-ballot systems, conduct a mandatory 5% manual audit of voting systems, reconcile voters and ballots using a methodology DHS has not disclosed, and use DHS's Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system to verify the citizenship of every election worker and every registered voter in state's voter databases. If states do not comply, DHS and FEMA will withhold at least 20% of each state's HSGP funding.
Finally, the challenged funding conditions unlawfully claim effectively unfettered power to terminate these grants on a whim. The agencies are attempting to add a condition that would allow FEMA to terminate any grant program for any reason. This constant threat of termination undermines the stability and reliability that these critical programs rely on to be effective. Indeed, a federal court recently rejected the Trump administration's attempts to interpret an existing regulation to have that effect.
The attorneys general argue in today's lawsuit that the grant conditions violate the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution's Spending Clause.
Joining Attorney General Mayes in filing the lawsuit are attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, as well as the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
A copy of the complaint is available here (https://us.list-manage.com/6K_0eEFGPtt?e=b0dbe1a1e5&c2id=09345700d02fac819a23d47fdcb56250).
* * *
Original text here: https://www.azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-mayes-files-lawsuit-challenging-unlawful-conditions-federal
