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Va. A.G. Jones Secures Landmark $2.25 Million Settlement Against Discriminatory Landlord
RICHMOND, Virginia, July 17 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on July 16, 2026:
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Attorney General Jay Jones Secures Landmark $2.25 Million Settlement Against Discriminatory Landlord
The OAG's Office of Civil Rights Achieves Justice for Hampton Roads Tenants
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Attorney General Jones is proud to announce the Office of Civil Rights' historic settlement in a fair housing case brought against David Merryman, a notorious landlord in Newport News and Norfolk who is already serving 17 years in prison for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and race-based
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RICHMOND, Virginia, July 17 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on July 16, 2026:
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Attorney General Jay Jones Secures Landmark $2.25 Million Settlement Against Discriminatory Landlord
The OAG's Office of Civil Rights Achieves Justice for Hampton Roads Tenants
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Attorney General Jones is proud to announce the Office of Civil Rights' historic settlement in a fair housing case brought against David Merryman, a notorious landlord in Newport News and Norfolk who is already serving 17 years in prison for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and race-basedinterference with housing and employment. The court found that for years, Merryman harassed and abused his tenants by calling them racist, sexist, and homophobic epithets, refusing to complete basic repairs to make their homes habitable, evicting tenants who requested those basic repairs, and, in some cases, even threatening violence to tenants who simply requested that Merryman fulfill his legal duties as a landlord.
Attorney General Jones has put an end to this abhorrent situation, and secured relief for those who were victimized as part of a landmark settlement. This huge win comes two years after Merryman was sentenced to federal prison for fraud and discriminatory practices. The terms of the settlement are sweeping and 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.
"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."
"I was honored to rejoin the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia under Attorney General Jones' leadership," said Deputy Attorney General Helen Hardiman. "When he created the new Public Advocacy Division, AG Jones made clear that we are here to vigorously enforce people's rights. I still viscerally remember the horror stories of Merryman's tenants who we interviewed when we first opened this case in 2021. I hope they finally feel vindicated. This settlement is a testament to the hard work of attorneys in the Office of Civil Rights and the willingness of the Attorney General to bring the full resources of the Office to bear to stamp out housing discrimination."
"Today's settlement holds Merryman accountable; requiring him to admit that he discriminated against his tenants, abused his tenants, and called them horrific racist, sexist, and homophobic slurs. Justice has come. He can never again harm a tenant in the Commonwealth," said Section Chief Palmer Heenan. "The extent of the trauma and abuse his tenants faced cannot be understated. Having been involved in this case from the start, I am grateful to have helped impacted tenants achieve long-awaited justice."
If you believe your housing rights have been violated, you have options:
* File a complaint within one year with the Virginia Fair Housing Office or your local fair housing agency.
* File a lawsuit in court within two years of the last discriminatory act.
To read the full Consent Decree, click here (https://itsm-mailers.samanage.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.oag.state.va.us%2Ffiles%2FConsent_Decree_Signed.pdf/1/0100019f6ca64ad1-a0e39fc4-f55a-4e05-bac7-4b5c8c617651-000000/vnJd_bp2oP-zzGgWJ0S5UU31iS4U_vsQtEXnWtrN8d4=452).
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Original text here: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/3078-attorney-general-jay-jones-secures-landmark-2-25-million-settlement-against-discriminatory-landlord
Statement From Md. A.G. Brown Following President Trump's Speech on U.S. Elections
BALTIMORE, Maryland, July 17 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following statement on July 16, 2026:
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Statement from Attorney General Brown Following President Trump's Speech on U.S. Elections
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today issued the following statement on President Donald Trump's speech concerning United States elections:
"Tonight, President Trump used a national address to make broad claims about the integrity of our elections that risk undermining public confidence in our democratic process.
Marylanders should know that our state's elections are conducted
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, July 17 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following statement on July 16, 2026:
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Statement from Attorney General Brown Following President Trump's Speech on U.S. Elections
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today issued the following statement on President Donald Trump's speech concerning United States elections:
"Tonight, President Trump used a national address to make broad claims about the integrity of our elections that risk undermining public confidence in our democratic process.
Marylanders should know that our state's elections are conductedsecurely, fairly, and in accordance with the law.
"When Marylanders cast their ballots, they can trust that their votes will be counted accurately and that their voices will be heard.
The right to participate in our democracy and choose our leaders belongs to the people of Maryland, and my Office will continue to defend that right."
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Statement-from-Attorney-General-Brown-Following-President-Trump%e2%80%99s-Speech-on-U.S.-Elections.aspx
Statement From A.G. Brown on U.S. Department of Justice Lawsuit Challenging Maryland's In-State Tuition Law
BALTIMORE, Maryland, July 17 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following statement on July 16, 2026:
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Statement from Attorney General Brown on U.S. Department of Justice Lawsuit Challenging Maryland's In-State Tuition Law
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the State of Maryland, the Maryland Higher Education Commission, and the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, challenging Section 15-106.8 of the Education Article, known as the Maryland Dream Act, along with
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, July 17 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following statement on July 16, 2026:
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Statement from Attorney General Brown on U.S. Department of Justice Lawsuit Challenging Maryland's In-State Tuition Law
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the State of Maryland, the Maryland Higher Education Commission, and the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, challenging Section 15-106.8 of the Education Article, known as the Maryland Dream Act, along witha related Maryland Higher Education Commission regulation:
"Today, the Department of Justice sued to take away an opportunity from Maryland students who grew up here, graduated from school here, and are working to pursue something more for themselves, their families, and the communities in which they live. We are reviewing the complaint closely.
We will respond through the courts, as we do whenever Maryland's laws are challenged, and we will keep fighting for the young people in our state and their futures."
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Statement-from-Attorney-General-Brown-on-U.S.-Department-of-Justice-Lawsuit-Challenging-Maryland%e2%80%99s-In-State-Tuition-Law-.aspx
R.I. A.G. Neronha, Coalition Intervene to Protect Onshore Wind Energy Projects
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, July 17 -- Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha issued the following news release on July 16, 2026:
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Attorney General Neronha, coalition intervene to protect onshore wind energy projects
Attorney General Peter F. Neronha today joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general in moving to intervene in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Secretary Pete Hegseth for unlawfully freezing routine reviews of land-based wind energy projects across the country. Federal law requires DoD to review proposed wind projects for potential national security
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PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, July 17 -- Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha issued the following news release on July 16, 2026:
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Attorney General Neronha, coalition intervene to protect onshore wind energy projects
Attorney General Peter F. Neronha today joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general in moving to intervene in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Secretary Pete Hegseth for unlawfully freezing routine reviews of land-based wind energy projects across the country. Federal law requires DoD to review proposed wind projects for potential national securityconcerns and work with developers to address any issues. In August 2025, DoD stopped moving projects through this process, thereby blocking wind energy development nationwide.
"Obstructing the development of wind energy will lead to higher costs for consumers; there's no way around it, said Attorney General Neronha. "This Administration's obsession with hindering the implementation of clean energy infrastructure is rooted in their belief that doing so is politically beneficial to them. The truth remains that without the development of clean, renewable energy resources, Americans can continue to expect energy instability and fluctuating prices. I believe Americans are largely ready to embrace clean, affordable energy solutions to curb the harmful effects of climate change and the increasingly volatile costs of fossil fuels. And we will fight to ensure that our progress is not lost because of the unlawful whims of this federal government."
Under federal law, land-based wind project developers must submit any proposed projects with wind turbines over 200 feet tall to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for review. The FAA then refers these projects to DoD to assess whether they could affect military operations, radar systems, flight paths, or national security. For more than a decade, DoD engaged in a predictable review process and worked with developers to mitigate potential concerns. Mitigation measures often included changes to turbine placement or height, radar upgrades, or agreements to pause generation under certain circumstances.
In August 2025, DoD abruptly stopped engaging in this process. Officials ceased countersigning mitigation agreements, stopped sending completed agreements to developers for signature, and delayed or halted communications with developers about mitigation. As a result, wind projects across the country have been frozen at various stages of the review process, including those that have already completed mitigation negotiations and are awaiting only final DoD approval.
In Rhode Island, this freeze on wind development will reduce the amount of wind energy added to the grid in NE-ISO and New York, which will drive up the cost of electricity for Rhode Island consumers and threaten grid reliability by constraining supply during a period of growing demand for electricity.
The coalition argues that DoD's freeze is unlawful, arbitrary and capricious, and violates the Administrative Procedure Act. DoD has not provided a reasonable explanation for its sudden change in policy, accounted for the harm to states, developers, workers, and ratepayers, or considered the major investments made in reliance on its longstanding review process. The coalition also argues that DoD's refusal to act is causing unreasonable delay and undermining Congress' directive that DoD balance national security concerns with the responsible development of renewable energy. They are asking the court to require the agency to resume reviewing and approving land-based wind projects.
Joining Attorney General Neronha in intervening in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and the District of Columbia.
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Original text here: https://riag.ri.gov/press-releases/attorney-general-neronha-coalition-intervene-protect-onshore-wind-energy-projects
Okla. A.G. Drummond Settles With 23andMe Over Breach of Oklahomans' Data
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, July 17 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on July 16, 2026:
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Drummond settles with 23andMe over breach of Oklahomans' data
Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced today that Oklahoma will receive $276,435 as part of a multistate settlement over 23andMe's 2023 data breach. The breach exposed the genetic and personal data of more than 78,000 Oklahomans.
The settlement, negotiated with the bankruptcy trustee overseeing 23andMe's Chapter 11 case, resolves claims that the company failed to protect customers' sensitive
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OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, July 17 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on July 16, 2026:
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Drummond settles with 23andMe over breach of Oklahomans' data
Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced today that Oklahoma will receive $276,435 as part of a multistate settlement over 23andMe's 2023 data breach. The breach exposed the genetic and personal data of more than 78,000 Oklahomans.
The settlement, negotiated with the bankruptcy trustee overseeing 23andMe's Chapter 11 case, resolves claims that the company failed to protect customers' sensitivegenetic information. Drummond joined a coalition of 42 attorneys general in the agreement, which allows $150 million in total claims but limits actual payouts to $18 million because of the limited funds available in 23andMe's bankruptcy estate.
"When Oklahomans signed up for 23andMe and shared their DNA, they trusted the company to protect some of the most personal information a person can share. Instead, that trust was betrayed," Drummond said. "This settlement won't undo the damage, but it holds 23andMe accountable and puts guardrails in place to prevent this from happening again."
In October 2023, the genetic testing company announced that it had discovered a data breach affecting 6.9 million customers. This data 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.
23andMe learned about the breach months after impacted personal information was publicly available. At first, the company denied a breach and then, once it confirmed the breach, blamed consumers for how their accounts were set up or how passwords were used.
A multistate investigation led by state attorneys general found 23andMe had failed to take basic security precautions, including checking passwords against lists of known stolen passwords, requiring extra login verification, monitoring for suspicious login activity, and fixing known security weaknesses even after they were identified.
23andMe filed for bankruptcy in March 2025, and as part of that process, the company's assets, including its customer data, were sold to a new nonprofit, TTAM Research Institute, founded by 23andMe's former CEO, Anne Wojcicki. That nonprofit has since reregistered as 23andMe Research Institute and agreed to stronger data security and privacy protections going forward, including allowing customers to delete their data and creating an outside advisory board to oversee security practices.
Separately, 23andMe has also agreed to pay $46.75 million to settle a related class-action lawsuit for consumers who filed claims by February 17, 2026.
Read the Settlement Agreement (https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/news-documents/2026/july/48357efe-af7a-4643-9161-3e0c2adbb0f8.pdf)
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Original text here: https://oklahoma.gov/oag/news/newsroom/2026/july/drummond-settles-with-23andme-over-breach-of-oklahomans-data.html
N.J. A.G. Davenport Sues to Advance Wind Energy Projects
TRENTON, New Jersey, July 17 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on July 16, 2026:
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Attorney General Jennifer Davenport Sues to Advance Wind Energy Projects
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport today joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general participating in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Secretary Pete Hegseth for unlawfully freezing routine reviews of wind energy projects across the country. These projects, if allowed to proceed, would increase the supply of clean energy and help bring down electricity prices.
For
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TRENTON, New Jersey, July 17 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on July 16, 2026:
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Attorney General Jennifer Davenport Sues to Advance Wind Energy Projects
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport today joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general participating in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Secretary Pete Hegseth for unlawfully freezing routine reviews of wind energy projects across the country. These projects, if allowed to proceed, would increase the supply of clean energy and help bring down electricity prices.
Formore than a decade, DoD followed its legally mandated review process for wind projects under federal law, issuing approvals and working with developers to address concerns as it had in the past. However, the second Trump Administration has attempted to halt wind projects through presidential memoranda, secretarial orders, agency instruction, permit denials, sudden reversals of established policies and practices, unlawful settlements, and a host of other actions. Today's lawsuit pushes back on the federal government's latest efforts to indefinitely delay more than one hundred wind projects by refusing to carry out its required review.
"Instead of focusing on boosting domestic sources of clean energy, the Trump Administration has chosen to freeze projects that would supply much-needed electricity to New Jerseyans and people across the country," said Attorney General Davenport. "What New Jersey residents need is more, not less, energy generation to bring down record-high electricity bills, but the federal government is undermining nationwide investments in clean power that will impact prices here at home."
Attorney General Davenport and the coalition are asking the court to block DoD's unlawful freeze and order the agency to resume its review of the pending wind projects as required by law.
Under federal law, proposed projects with wind turbines over 200 feet tall must be reviewed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and DoD for potential impacts on military operations, radar systems, flight paths, or national security. DoD must follow certain procedures and engage with the project developer to discuss how to address any such concerns, which may include changes to turbine placement or height, radar upgrades, or agreements to pause generation under certain circumstances.
In August 2025, DoD abruptly stopped following this process, freezing development of more than one hundred pending wind projects across the country at various stages of the review process. New Jersey is served by the regional transmission organization PJM Interconnection, which receives energy from projects currently subject to the wind freeze. Electricity bills in New Jersey and throughout PJM have soared in recent years, and the frozen projects would bring new energy resources online to help lower costs.
Attorney General Davenport and the coalition argue that DoD's freeze is unlawful, arbitrary and capricious, and violates the Administrative Procedure Act. DoD has not provided a reasonable explanation for its sudden change in policy, accounted for the harm to states, developers, workers, and ratepayers, or considered the major investments made in reliance on its longstanding review process. The coalition also argues that DoD's refusal to act is causing unreasonable delay and undermining Congress' directive that DoD balance national security concerns with the responsible development of renewable energy. They are asking the court to require the agency to resume reviewing and approving the frozen wind projects.
This is the third time the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General has stepped in to stop the president's unlawful attack on the wind industry. In June, Attorney General Davenport joined a coalition suing the U.S. Department of the Interior over its unlawful cancellation of a lease for a major wind project off the coast of New Jersey and New York. Last year, New Jersey was one of 18 states suing the Trump Administration over the Presidential Memorandum that, among other things, indefinitely halted all federal approvals necessary for the development of offshore and onshore wind energy projects.
Joining Attorney General Davenport in intervening in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.
Complaint (http://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-0716_92.1.Proposed.Complaint.Motion.Intervene.DoD_.pdf) | Motion to Intervene (http://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-0716_92.Motion.Intervene.DoD_.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.njoag.gov/attorney-general-jennifer-davenport-sues-to-advance-wind-energy-projects/
Md. A.G. Brown Intervenes to Protect Onshore Wind Energy Projects
BALTIMORE, Maryland, July 17 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on July 16, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Intervenes to Protect Onshore Wind Energy Projects
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a coalition of 18 other attorneys general in moving to intervene in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Secretary Pete Hegseth for unlawfully freezing routine reviews of land-based wind energy projects across the country.
Federal law requires DoD to review proposed wind projects for potential national security concerns
... Show Full Article
BALTIMORE, Maryland, July 17 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on July 16, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Intervenes to Protect Onshore Wind Energy Projects
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a coalition of 18 other attorneys general in moving to intervene in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Secretary Pete Hegseth for unlawfully freezing routine reviews of land-based wind energy projects across the country.
Federal law requires DoD to review proposed wind projects for potential national security concernsand work with developers to address any issues. In August 2025, DoD stopped moving projects through this process, blocking wind energy development nationwide. Attorney General Brown and the coalition are asking the court to set aside DoD's unlawful freeze and order the agency to resume the review process required by federal law.
"DoD's unlawful freeze is blocking clean-energy projects that could lower costs for Maryland families, create jobs, and strengthen our energy future," said Attorney General Brown. "We're intervening to ensure the federal government follows the law and allows these projects to move forward."
Under federal law, land-based wind project developers must submit any proposed projects with wind turbines over 200 feet tall to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for review. The FAA then refers these projects to DoD to assess whether they could affect military operations, radar systems, flight paths, or national security. For more than a decade, DoD engaged in a predictable review process and worked with developers to mitigate potential concerns. Mitigation measures often included changes to turbine placement or height, radar upgrades, or agreements to pause generation under certain circumstances.
In August 2025, DoD abruptly stopped following this process. Officials ceased countersigning mitigation agreements, stopped sending completed agreements to developers for signature, and delayed or halted communications with developers about mitigation. As a result, wind projects across the country have been frozen at various stages of the review process, including those that had already completed mitigation negotiations and were awaiting only final DoD approval.
Attorney General Brown and the coalition argue that DoD's freeze is unlawful, arbitrary and capricious, and violates the Administrative Procedure Act. DoD has not provided a reasonable explanation for its sudden change in policy, accounted for the harm to states, developers, workers, and ratepayers, or considered the major investments made in reliance on its longstanding review process. The coalition also argues that DoD's refusal to act is causing unreasonable delay and undermining Congress' directive that DoD balance national security concerns with the responsible development of renewable energy. They are asking the court to require the agency to resume reviewing and approving land-based wind projects.
Joining Attorney General Brown in intervening in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington.
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Intervenes-to-Protect-Onshore-Wind-Energy-Projects--.aspx
