Featured Stories
AG Campbell Secures $2.4 Million Settlement With School Bus Company For Colluding To Allocate Government Contracts, Raising Prices For Municipalities
BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 27 -- Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued the following news release:
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AG Campbell Secures $2.4 Million Settlement With School Bus Company For Colluding To Allocate Government Contracts, Raising Prices For Municipalities
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Boston -Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today announced a $2.4 million assurance of discontinuance with student transportation services company Beacon Mobility Corporation, which operates through subsidiaries including Van Pool Transportation LLC and NRT Bus, Inc., (collectively, "Beacon"), to resolve
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BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 27 -- Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued the following news release:
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AG Campbell Secures $2.4 Million Settlement With School Bus Company For Colluding To Allocate Government Contracts, Raising Prices For Municipalities
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Boston -Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today announced a $2.4 million assurance of discontinuance with student transportation services company Beacon Mobility Corporation, which operates through subsidiaries including Van Pool Transportation LLC and NRT Bus, Inc., (collectively, "Beacon"), to resolveallegations that the company colluded to allocate contracts-raising prices-and made false statements regarding school bus transportation contracts in the City of Lynn and Towns of Dedham and Saugus.
In addition to the $2.4 million monetary payment, the majority of which will be distributed to the affected municipalities, the settlement requires Beacon to maintain an antitrust compliance program for at least five years, to notify the Attorney General's Office (AGO) of any acquisitions of other transportation companies for ten years, to cooperate with the AGO in future investigations, and to notify the AGO of any efforts by a competitor to enter into or enforce any agreement to allocate contracts, fix prices, rig bids, or share competitively sensitive information related to student transportation contracts in Massachusetts.
"When companies engage in unlawful collusion that increase costs for municipalities, it reduces their ability to fund other critical programs including our libraries, public safety agencies and schools," said AG Campbell. "My office is committed to investigating and eliminating illegal anticompetitive agreements that harm our communities."
"This vendor's corrupt exploitation of our district's efforts to get some of our most vulnerable students to school is shameful," said Lynn Mayor Jared C. Nicholson. "We very much appreciate the Attorney General and her team for holding them accountable and returning their ill-gotten gains back to our taxpayers."
"As have many of our peers in the Commonwealth, Dedham has struggled with unsustainable cost increases for many goods and services, especially since the pandemic. In order for us to provide safe and reliable services to our residents, we must have trust in our vendors and contractors, and this includes fair and transparent pricing because profits cannot come before people," said Dedham Town Manager Leon I. Goodwin. "It is reassuring to see the Attorney General's Office investigate one of the root causes of this issue and hold a company liable for their illegal actions."
Beacon is a student transportation services company registered in Delaware that provides special education transportation services to school districts in Massachusetts through its subsidiaries including Van Pool Transportation LLC and NRT Bus, Inc.
Through the Assurance, the AGO alleges that in 2022, Beacon colluded with another student transportation services company in the region to raise prices on school districts by allocating contracts for the transportation of special education students in Saugus, Lynn, and Dedham. Beacon did so by agreeing not to compete with the other company for contracts in certain towns in exchange for not facing competition from that company in other municipalities. The AGO also alleges that Beacon made false claims for payment by concealing its collusion and signing a certificate of non-collusion in Lynn.
This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Katherine Krems and Division Chief Anthony Mariano of the AGO's Antitrust Division.
If you are aware of anticompetitive agreements to fix prices, allocate markets, rig bids, or share competitively sensitive information in restraint of trade, please reach out to the AGO's Antitrust Division at antitrust@mass.gov or by calling (617) 727-8400.
* Office of the Attorney General
The Attorney General is the chief lawyer and law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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Original text here: https://www.mass.gov/news/ag-campbell-secures-24-million-settlement-with-school-bus-company-for-colluding-to-allocate-government-contracts-raising-prices-for-municipalities
Mo. A.G. Hanaway Announces Guilty Verdict in Taney County Double Murder Case
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, July 27 -- Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Hanaway Announces Guilty Verdict in Taney County Double Murder Case
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Today, Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that, following a jury trial, Miguel Melendez Torres was found guilty of two counts of murder in the second degree, two counts of armed criminal action, and two counts of attempted robbery in the first degree. The verdict follows a multi-agency investigation and prosecution effort spanning several years.
"Today's verdict delivers accountability
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JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, July 27 -- Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Hanaway Announces Guilty Verdict in Taney County Double Murder Case
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Today, Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that, following a jury trial, Miguel Melendez Torres was found guilty of two counts of murder in the second degree, two counts of armed criminal action, and two counts of attempted robbery in the first degree. The verdict follows a multi-agency investigation and prosecution effort spanning several years.
"Today's verdict delivers accountabilityand affirms that violence in our communities will be met with the highest degree of the law," said Attorney General Hanaway. "Our thoughts remain with the victims' families and loved ones, who have carried a heavy burden throughout this joint pursuit of justice. My office will continue to protect the public by holding violent offenders accountable and getting dangerous criminals off our streets."
On July 23, 2026, a Taney County jury found that Torres approached the victims, Rocky McMahan and Krystle Buhl, behind a Famous Dave's restaurant on May 29, 2021, intending to rob them. During the encounter, Torres shot and killed both victims. McMahan was taken to a hospital, where he died several hours later, while Buhl was pronounced deceased at the scene.
"I want to extend my sincerest condolences to the loved ones of both Rocky and Krystle. They have been through a lot since 2021, including the mistrial in January. Unfortunately, nothing can bring Rocky and Krystle back, but I hope this conviction provides some sense of justice and comfort as they continue to heal from these losses," said Taney County Prosecutor Brad Hughes.
The case was investigated by the Branson Police Department with assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and was tried by Taney County Prosecuting Attorney Brad Hughes with the assistance of Assistant Attorney General Paige Wheeler. Attorney General's Office Investigators David Southard and Deborah Wade also assisted in the prosecution.
Formal sentencing is set for October 6, 2026, at the Taney County Courthouse in Forsyth.
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Original text here: https://ago.mo.gov/attorney-general-hanaway-announces-guilty-verdict-in-taney-county-double-murder-case/
Attorney General Griffin Announces Multistate Settlement with 23andMe over Genetic Data Breach
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, July 27 -- Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Griffin Announces Multistate Settlement with 23andMe over Genetic Data Breach
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#Griffin: 'Our coalition has reached an agreement by which 23andMe will pay $18 million to the states. Arkansas's portion of the settlement will be $431,937'
LITTLE ROCK - Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following statement after he and 41 other state attorneys general reached a settlement with the genetic-testing company 23andMe:
"This settlement brings finality to an issue
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LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, July 27 -- Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Griffin Announces Multistate Settlement with 23andMe over Genetic Data Breach
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#Griffin: 'Our coalition has reached an agreement by which 23andMe will pay $18 million to the states. Arkansas's portion of the settlement will be $431,937'
LITTLE ROCK - Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following statement after he and 41 other state attorneys general reached a settlement with the genetic-testing company 23andMe:
"This settlement brings finality to an issuethat started in 2023 when 23andMe discovered a data breach that impacted 6.9 million consumers, including more than 48,000 Arkansans. The breach exposed a wide range of customer data, including, in some cases, genetic ancestry information. After initially denying the breach, the company then blamed customers for how they had set up their accounts. In March 2025, 23andMe filed for bankruptcy protection, and states subsequently filed claims related to the data breach investigation. Our coalition has reached an agreement by which 23andMe will pay $18 million to the states. Arkansas's portion of the settlement will be $431,937.
"23andMe also agreed to a $46.75 million class-action settlement in bankruptcy court to provide relief to affected U.S. consumers who submitted claims by February 17, 2026.
"I am pleased to see this issue resolved and 23andMe held accountable for its failure to protect Arkansans' data."
To read the settlement agreement, click here.
To download a PDF version of this release, click here.
About Attorney General Tim Griffin
Tim Griffin was sworn in as the 57th Attorney General of Arkansas on January 10, 2023, having previously served as the state's 20th Lieutenant Governor from 2015-2023. From 2011-2015, Griffin served as the 24th representative of Arkansas's Second Congressional District, where he served on the House Committee on Ways and Means, House Armed Services Committee, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, House Committee on Ethics and House Committee on the Judiciary while also serving as a Deputy Whip for the Majority.
Griffin is currently an officer in the Arkansas Army National Guard and holds the rank of colonel. Griffin served as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps for more than 28 years. In 2005, Griffin was mobilized to active duty as an Army prosecutor at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and served with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Mosul, Iraq.
His previous assignments include serving as the Commander of the 2d Legal Operations Detachment in New Orleans, Louisiana; the Commander of the 134th Legal Operations Detachment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and as a Senior Legislative Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness at the Pentagon. Griffin earned a master's degree in strategic studies as a Distinguished Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.
Griffin also served as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Political Affairs for President George W. Bush; Special Assistant to Assistant Attorney General Michael Chertoff, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice; Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Arkansas; Senior Investigative Counsel, Government Reform and Oversight Committee, U.S. House of Representatives; and Associate Independent Counsel, Office of Independent Counsel David M. Barrett, In re: HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros.
Griffin is a graduate of Magnolia High School, Hendrix College in Conway, and Tulane Law School in New Orleans. He attended graduate school at Oxford University. He is admitted to practice law in Arkansas (active) and Louisiana (inactive). Griffin lives in Little Rock with his wife, Elizabeth, a Camden native, and their three children.
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Original text here: https://arkansasag.gov/news-release/attorney-general-griffin-announces-multistate-settlement-with-23andme-over-genetic-data-breach/
AG's office secures $1.6 million for Washington homeowners who were charged illegal fees by Hayden Homes
OLYMPIA, Washington, July 27 -- Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown issued the following news release:
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AG's office secures $1.6 million for Washington homeowners who were charged illegal fees by Hayden Homes
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The Washington State Attorney General's Office has agreed to an assurance of discontinuance with the homebuilder Hayden Homes and its nonprofit partner First Story, requiring them to stop adding illegal private transfer fees to properties and to pay back Washington homeowners who paid the fees. This settlement concludes the office's investigation and avoids litigation.
"Under
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OLYMPIA, Washington, July 27 -- Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown issued the following news release:
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AG's office secures $1.6 million for Washington homeowners who were charged illegal fees by Hayden Homes
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The Washington State Attorney General's Office has agreed to an assurance of discontinuance with the homebuilder Hayden Homes and its nonprofit partner First Story, requiring them to stop adding illegal private transfer fees to properties and to pay back Washington homeowners who paid the fees. This settlement concludes the office's investigation and avoids litigation.
"UnderWashington law, no one can force you to pay fees to a third party when you sell your home," said Attorney General Nick Brown. "Our agreement makes the affected homeowners whole and stops these suspect business practices."
Between 2006 and 2025, Hayden Homes put covenants on 7,627 Washington properties it sold to homebuyers. These covenants required every homeowner to pay 0.125% of the property's sales price to First Story every time a homeowner sold one of these properties. First Story is a nonprofit lending corporation founded by the CEO of Hayden Homes. More than 2,000 Washingtonians paid these fees upon selling their home. Some of the homeowners filed complaints with the AG's office, prompting this investigation.
Under the law, "charitable covenants" that require home sellers to donate to a nonprofit organization are only legal if the donations are used to directly benefit the property being sold. One of First Story's primary purposes is to lend money to people purchasing Hayden Homes, a program unrelated to the property of the homeowner paying the fee. First Story used the money to make donations to other nonprofits that homeowners did not select and often did not know about. Because First Story is so closely associated with Hayden Homes, the AG's office alleged that the payments essentially allowed Hayden Homes to take money from their client homebuyers and use it to burnish Hayden Homes' public image.
Specifically, the AG's office contended that the covenants requiring homeowners to pay a fee to First Story violated Washington's Private Transfer Fee Obligation Act and the Consumer Protection Act. The AG's office also contended that within the covenants attached to each property, Hayden Homes and First Story included threats to take legal action against homeowners if they refused to pay the fee, a deceptive practice which violated the Consumer Protection Act, since the fees were legally unenforceable.
The agreement between the AG's office and Hayden Homes requires Hayden Homes to pay $1.6 million in restitution to homeowners who paid the fee, which includes full refunds plus interest. Hayden Homes must also cease the use of these covenants and remove existing covenants from all other properties they have built or sold in Washington.
Read the agreement.
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Washington's Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state's largest law firm, the Attorney General's Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington's 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.
Media Contact:
Email: press@atg.wa.gov
Phone: (360) 753-2727
General contacts: Click here
Media Resource Guide & Attorney General's Office FAQ
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Original text here: https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-s-office-secures-16-million-washington-homeowners-who-were-charged-illegal
Attorney General Bonta Secures Another Victory Against President Trump's Second Elections-Related Executive Order
SACRAMENTO, California, July 26 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Bonta Secures Another Victory Against President Trump's Second Elections-Related Executive Order
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OAKLAND -Co-leading a coalition of 23 attorneys general and the Governor of Pennsylvania, California Attorney General Rob Bonta secured another victory in the coalition's lawsuit challenging Executive Order No. 14399, President Trump's second elections-related Executive Order. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit denied requests by the U.S. Department of
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SACRAMENTO, California, July 26 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Bonta Secures Another Victory Against President Trump's Second Elections-Related Executive Order
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OAKLAND -Co-leading a coalition of 23 attorneys general and the Governor of Pennsylvania, California Attorney General Rob Bonta secured another victory in the coalition's lawsuit challenging Executive Order No. 14399, President Trump's second elections-related Executive Order. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit denied requests by the U.S. Department ofJustice and intervenor states to pause a district court order blocking key provisions of the Executive Order in the plaintiff States for the upcoming fall midterm elections while the appeal proceeds. Specifically, the district court's order blocks a provision that directs the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to issue regulations that would prohibit the mailing of ballots to voters who are not included on new USPS lists of "enrolled" mail voters. All three First Circuit judges who considered the appeal unanimously agreed that this provision should not take effect while the appeal proceeds. The district court's order also blocks provisions that direct the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to create voter eligibility lists for each state, despite the government's concession that the lists would be incomplete, and that target state officials for potential prosecution if they mail ballots to voters deemed ineligible.
"The Trump Administration does not have authority under the U.S. Constitution to dictate how states administer elections," said Attorney General Bonta. "This decision ensures key provisions of President Trump's second elections-related Executive Order remain blocked for the upcoming midterm elections in the plaintiff States. We will continue fighting to protect the right to vote and defend the rule of law."
In April 2026, the coalition filed a lawsuit challenging Executive Order No. 14399. The coalition was co-led by Attorney General Bonta, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, and Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, and included the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin, as well as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
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Original text here: https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-secures-another-victory-against-president-trumps-second
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:
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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
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RICHMOND, Virginia, July 25 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news wrap up on July 24, 2026:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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:
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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
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TRENTON, New Jersey, July 25 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following statement on July 24, 2026, on Paramount-Warner Bros. merger:
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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."
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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:
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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
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PIERRE, South Dakota, July 25 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release on July 24, 2026:
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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
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Original text here: https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=3119
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:
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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:
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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).
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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:
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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:
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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).
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Original text here: https://www.azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-mayes-files-lawsuit-challenging-unlawful-conditions-federal
Ariz. A.G. Mayes Announces $29.6 Million Settlement With Glenmark Over Conspiracy to Inflate Prices and Limit Competition
PHOENIX, Arizona, July 25 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release on July 23, 2026:
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Attorney General Mayes Announces $29.6 Million Settlement with Glenmark Over Conspiracy to Inflate Prices and Limit Competition
Attorney General Mayes today joined a coalition of 48 states and territories announcing a $29.6 million settlement with Glenmark to resolve allegations that the generic drug manufacturer engaged in a widespread, long-running conspiracy to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition, and unreasonably restrain trade with regard
... Show Full Article
PHOENIX, Arizona, July 25 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release on July 23, 2026:
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Attorney General Mayes Announces $29.6 Million Settlement with Glenmark Over Conspiracy to Inflate Prices and Limit Competition
Attorney General Mayes today joined a coalition of 48 states and territories announcing a $29.6 million settlement with Glenmark to resolve allegations that the generic drug manufacturer engaged in a widespread, long-running conspiracy to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition, and unreasonably restrain trade with regardto numerous generic prescription drugs. As part of the settlement agreement, Glenmark will cooperate in the ongoing multistate litigations against 33 corporate defendants and 25 individual executives. The company has further agreed to a series of internal reforms to ensure fair competition and compliance with antitrust laws.
The Glenmark settlement follows settlements with Lannett, Bausch, Apotex and Heritage totaling $66.95 million.
This latest settlement comes as the States prepare for the first trial to be held in Hartford, Connecticut and anticipated to be scheduled in late 2026.
If you purchased a generic prescription drug manufactured by either Glenmark, Lannett, Bausch, Apotex or Heritage between May 2009 and December 2019, you may be eligible for compensation.
To determine your eligibility, call 1-866-290-0182 (Toll-Free), email info@AGGenericDrugs.com or visit https://www.aggenericdrugs.com
"Glenmark and generic drug manufacturers illegally conspired to inflate prices and prevent real competition," said Attorney General Mayes. "We are holding them accountable for their unlawful conduct and providing relief to Arizonans who may have been harmed by their actions."
Attorney General Mayes joined the coalition being led by the Connecticut Attorney General Office is leading a coalition of nearly all states and territories in a series of antitrust cases, starting first in 2016. The first Complaint included Heritage and 17 other corporate Defendants, two individual Defendants, and 15 generic drugs. Two former executives from Heritage Pharmaceuticals, Jeffery Glazer and Jason Malek, have since entered into settlement agreements and are cooperating. The second Complaint was filed in 2019 against Teva Pharmaceuticals and 21 of the nation's largest generic drug manufacturers. The Complaint names 16 individual senior executive Defendants. The third complaint, to be tried first, focuses on 80 topical generic drugs that account for billions of dollars of sales in the United States and names 26 corporate defendants and 10 individual defendants. Seven additional pharmaceutical executives have been cooperating to support the States' claims.
The cases all stem from a series of investigations built on evidence from several cooperating witnesses at the core of the different conspiracies, a massive document database of over 20 million documents, and a phone records database containing millions of call detail records and contact information for over 600 sales and pricing individuals in the generics industry.
Each complaint addresses a different set of drugs and defendants, and lays out an interconnected web of competing industry executives that met with each other during industry dinners, "girls nights out," lunches, cocktail parties, golf outings and communicated via frequent telephone calls, emails and text messages that sowed the seeds for their illegal agreements. Throughout the complaints, defendants use terms like "fair share," "playing nice in the sandbox," and "responsible competitor" to describe how they unlawfully discouraged competition, raised prices and enforced an ingrained culture of collusion. Among the records obtained by the States is a two-volume notebook containing the contemporaneous notes of one of the States' cooperators that memorialized his discussions during phone calls with competitors and internal company meetings over a period of several years.
States and territories settling today with Glenmark include: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico.
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Original text here: https://www.azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-mayes-announces-296-million-settlement-glenmark-over-conspiracy
