Latest news with #RandolphD.Moss
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
VoIP-Pal Affirms Court Acceptance of Second Amended Complaint and Service upon Defendants in Federal Antitrust and RICO Lawsuit
WACO, Texas, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inc. (OTCQB: VPLM) announced that the United States District Court for the District of Columbia has granted its motion for leave to enter its Second Amended Complaint as the operative pleading in its ongoing federal antitrust and RICO action against AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Additionally, VoIP-Pal confirms they have served all Defendants through their legal counsel by the previously extended court deadline of April 23, 2025. Following the effecting timely service and satisfactorily responding to the Court's procedural inquiry, the Honorable Judge Randolph D. Moss issued an order on May 7, 2025, vacating the prior show-cause deadline and discharging the associated order. Defendants now have until June 22, 2025, to respond to VoIP-Pal's operative complaint, which alleges violations of the RICO statutes, the Sherman and Clayton Antitrust Acts, and Section 251 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, based on alleged coordinated conduct among Defendants aimed at excluding VoIP-Pal and other potential competitors from the mobile voice-routing market. If RICO violations are proven, liability could extend to all named Defendants involved in the alleged enterprise. VoIP-Pal will continue to provide updates as the case proceeds through the next phase of litigation. About Inc. ('VoIP-Pal') is a publicly traded corporation (OTCQB: VPLM) headquartered in Waco, TX. The company owns a portfolio of patents related to Voice-over-Internet Protocol ('VoIP') technology that it is actively seeking to monetize. Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements as defined under securities laws. These statements reflect management's current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Litigation outcomes and settlement discussions are unpredictable, and there is no assurance of favorable resolution. For Further InformationCorporate Website: Inquiries: IR@ Contact: Rich Inza, (954) 495-4600
Arab News
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Justice Department can cut funding for legal guidance for people facing deportation, US judge says
A federal judge has allowed the US Department of Justice to temporarily stop funding legal education programs for people facing deportation or immigration court while a lawsuit brought by the organizations that provide the service moves forward in court. The decision from US District Judge Randolph D. Moss in Washington, D.C., means a coalition of nonprofit groups that offer the education programs will lose their federal funding on Wednesday – and possibly, some access to potential clients inside detention centers. Unlike criminal cases, people in immigration courts and detention centers don't have a right to an attorney if they can't afford one themselves. Proponents of the legal education programs say they ease the burden on immigration judges and help immigrants navigate the complicated court system more efficiently. Congress allocates $29 million a year for four programs — the Legal Orientation Program, the Immigration Court Helpdesk, the Family Group Legal Orientation and the Counsel for Children Initiative — and those groups spread the funding to subcontractors nationwide. The Justice Department first instructed the nonprofit groups to 'stop work immediately' on the programs on Jan. 22, citing an executive order from President Donald Trump targeting illegal immigration. The nonprofit groups about a week later, and the Justice Department then rescinded the stop-work order. But on April 11, the agency said it was terminating its contracts with the groups nationwide, effective at 12:01 a.m. on April 16. During a hearing Tuesday afternoon, Moss told attorneys on both sides that he wanted more information about exactly how the Department of Justice came to its decision to end the contracts, any plans for spending the earmarked money in the future, as well as any problems the nonprofit groups run into as they try to provide legal information to detained non-citizens in the coming weeks. The judge also said he wanted to issue a final decision in the case quickly, and set a hearing for a preliminary injunction and possible final decision for May 14. A few blocks away from the federal immigration courts in New York City, a leader of the one affected program testified at a city council hearing on immigration fraud. 'We're often the first attorneys people are able to speak to about their immigration cases,' said Hannah Strauss, an immigration lawyer who supervises a team triaging cases Supervising Attorney of the Immigration Court Helpdesk run by Catholic Charities. New York state is one of only six states in the US where more than half of immigrants are represented by an attorney in pending immigration cases, according to government data compiled by Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. That's thanks in part to state and city grants, as well as a large pool of lawyers who volunteer. But federal funding forms an important part of the system. Strauss said the $1.2 million federal grant covering New York covered the helpdesk, a skeleton crew relied upon by other NGOs to screen immigration referrals and by immigration judges to explain the basics on laws regarding asylum and other forms of legal immigration. 'Unfortunately today marks the final day of both ICH and FGLOP, as the federal government has chosen to terminate our contracts as of midnight tonight,' Strauss, referring to her organization and the Family Group Legal Orientation Program, run by Acacia Center for Justice. The main reason for falling prey to immigration scams is the lack of legitimate legal help, said immigrants at the hearing. The immigrants testified without using their names, citing fear they could become targets of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for speaking out, but details they shared were representative of cases that have been investigated by federal prosecutors, costing immigrants thousands of dollars and sometimes ruining their the hearing, the city council discussed ways to crack down on immigration service providers advertising exaggerated or outright fraudulent services. For example, it's considering increasing funding for civil enforcement of business laws through the city's consumer protection department. The agency uses investigators, sometimes undercover, to investigate violations that can lead to civil penalties, or referrals to criminal prosecutors.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Justice Department can cut funding for legal guidance for people facing deportation, US judge says
A federal judge has allowed the U.S. Department of Justice to temporarily stop funding legal education programs for people facing deportation or immigration court while a lawsuit brought by the organizations that provide the service moves forward in court. The decision from U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss in Washington, D.C., means a coalition of nonprofit groups that offer the education programs will lose their federal funding on Wednesday – and possibly, some access to potential clients inside detention centers. Unlike criminal cases, people in immigration courts and detention centers don't have a right to an attorney if they can't afford one themselves. Proponents of the legal education programs say they ease the burden on immigration judges and help immigrants navigate the complicated court system more efficiently. Congress allocates $29 million a year for four programs — the Legal Orientation Program, the Immigration Court Helpdesk, the Family Group Legal Orientation and the Counsel for Children Initiative — and those groups spread the funding to subcontractors nationwide. The Justice Department first instructed the nonprofit groups to 'stop work immediately' on the programs on Jan. 22, citing an executive order from President Donald Trump targeting illegal immigration. The nonprofit groups about a week later, and the Justice Department then rescinded the stop-work order. But on April 11, the agency said it was terminating its contracts with the groups nationwide, effective at 12:01 a.m. on April 16. During a hearing Tuesday afternoon, Moss told attorneys on both sides that he wanted more information about exactly how the Department of Justice came to its decision to end the contracts, any plans for spending the earmarked money in the future, as well as any problems the nonprofit groups run into as they try to provide legal information to detained non-citizens in the coming weeks. The judge also said he wanted to issue a final decision in the case quickly, and set a hearing for a preliminary injunction and possible final decision for May 14. A few blocks away from the federal immigration courts in New York City, a leader of the one affected program testified at a city council hearing on immigration fraud. 'We're often the first attorneys people are able to speak to about their immigration cases,' said Hannah Strauss, an immigration lawyer who supervises a team triaging cases Supervising Attorney of the Immigration Court Helpdesk run by Catholic Charities. New York state is one of only six states in the U.S. where more than half of immigrants are represented by an attorney in pending immigration cases, according to government data compiled by Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. That's thanks in part to state and city grants, as well as a large pool of lawyers who volunteer. But federal funding forms an important part of the system. Strauss said the $1.2 million federal grant covering New York covered the helpdesk, a skeleton crew relied upon by other NGOs to screen immigration referrals and by immigration judges to explain the basics on laws regarding asylum and other forms of legal immigration. 'Unfortunately today marks the final day of both ICH and FGLOP, as the federal government has chosen to terminate our contracts as of midnight tonight,' Strauss, referring to her organization and the Family Group Legal Orientation Program, run by Acacia Center for Justice. The main reason for falling prey to immigration scams is the lack of legitimate legal help, said immigrants at the hearing. The immigrants testified without using their names, citing fear they could become targets of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for speaking out, but details they shared were representative of cases that have been investigated by federal prosecutors, costing immigrants thousands of dollars and sometimes ruining their the hearing, the city council discussed ways to crack down on immigration service providers advertising exaggerated or outright fraudulent services. For example, it's considering increasing funding for civil enforcement of business laws through the city's consumer protection department. The agency uses investigators, sometimes undercover, to investigate violations that can lead to civil penalties, or referrals to criminal prosecutors. ___ Boone reported from Boise, Idaho and Attanasio reported from New York.
The Independent
15-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Justice Department can cut funding for legal guidance for people facing deportation, US judge says
A federal judge has allowed the U.S. Department of Justice to temporarily stop funding legal education programs for people facing deportation or immigration court while a lawsuit brought by the organizations that provide the service moves forward in court. The decision from U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss in Washington, D.C., means a coalition of nonprofit groups that offer the education programs will lose their federal funding on Wednesday – and possibly, some access to potential clients inside detention centers. Unlike criminal cases, people in immigration courts and detention centers don't have a right to an attorney if they can't afford one themselves. Proponents of the legal education programs say they ease the burden on immigration judges and help immigrants navigate the complicated court system more efficiently. Congress allocates $29 million a year for four programs — the Legal Orientation Program, the Immigration Court Helpdesk, the Family Group Legal Orientation and the Counsel for Children Initiative — and those groups spread the funding to subcontractors nationwide. The Justice Department first instructed the nonprofit groups to 'stop work immediately' on the programs on Jan. 22, citing an executive order from President Donald Trump targeting illegal immigration. The nonprofit groups about a week later, and the Justice Department then rescinded the stop-work order. But on April 11, the agency said it was terminating its contracts with the groups nationwide, effective at 12:01 a.m. on April 16. During a hearing Tuesday afternoon, Moss told attorneys on both sides that he wanted more information about exactly how the Department of Justice came to its decision to end the contracts, any plans for spending the earmarked money in the future, as well as any problems the nonprofit groups run into as they try to provide legal information to detained non-citizens in the coming weeks. The judge also said he wanted to issue a final decision in the case quickly, and set a hearing for a preliminary injunction and possible final decision for May 14. A few blocks away from the federal immigration courts in New York City, a leader of the one affected program testified at a city council hearing on immigration fraud. 'We're often the first attorneys people are able to speak to about their immigration cases,' said Hannah Strauss, an immigration lawyer who supervises a team triaging cases Supervising Attorney of the Immigration Court Helpdesk run by Catholic Charities. New York state is one of only six states in the U.S. where more than half of immigrants are represented by an attorney in pending immigration cases, according to government data compiled by Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. That's thanks in part to state and city grants, as well as a large pool of lawyers who volunteer. But federal funding forms an important part of the system. Strauss said the $1.2 million federal grant covering New York covered the helpdesk, a skeleton crew relied upon by other NGOs to screen immigration referrals and by immigration judges to explain the basics on laws regarding asylum and other forms of legal immigration. 'Unfortunately today marks the final day of both ICH and FGLOP, as the federal government has chosen to terminate our contracts as of midnight tonight,' Strauss, referring to her organization and the Family Group Legal Orientation Program, run by Acacia Center for Justice. The main reason for falling prey to immigration scams is the lack of legitimate legal help, said immigrants at the hearing. The immigrants testified without using their names, citing fear they could become targets of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for speaking out, but details they shared were representative of cases that have been investigated by federal prosecutors, costing immigrants thousands of dollars and sometimes ruining their the hearing, the city council discussed ways to crack down on immigration service providers advertising exaggerated or outright fraudulent services. For example, it's considering increasing funding for civil enforcement of business laws through the city's consumer protection department. The agency uses investigators, sometimes undercover, to investigate violations that can lead to civil penalties, or referrals to criminal prosecutors.
Associated Press
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Justice Department can cut funding for legal guidance for people facing deportation, US judge says
A federal judge has allowed the U.S. Department of Justice to temporarily stop funding legal education programs for people facing deportation or immigration court while a lawsuit brought by the organizations that provide the service moves forward in court. The decision from U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss in Washington, D.C., means a coalition of nonprofit groups that offer the education programs will lose their federal funding on Wednesday – and possibly, some access to potential clients inside detention centers. Unlike criminal cases, people in immigration courts and detention centers don't have a right to an attorney if they can't afford one themselves. Proponents of the legal education programs say they ease the burden on immigration judges and help immigrants navigate the complicated court system more efficiently. Congress allocates $29 million a year for four programs — the Legal Orientation Program, the Immigration Court Helpdesk, the Family Group Legal Orientation and the Counsel for Children Initiative — and those groups spread the funding to subcontractors nationwide. The Justice Department first instructed the nonprofit groups to 'stop work immediately' on the programs on Jan. 22, citing an executive order from President Donald Trump targeting illegal immigration. The nonprofit groups about a week later, and the Justice Department then rescinded the stop-work order. But on April 11, the agency said it was terminating its contracts with the groups nationwide, effective at 12:01 a.m. on April 16. During a hearing Tuesday afternoon, Moss told attorneys on both sides that he wanted more information about exactly how the Department of Justice came to its decision to end the contracts, any plans for spending the earmarked money in the future, as well as any problems the nonprofit groups run into as they try to provide legal information to detained non-citizens in the coming weeks. The judge also said he wanted to issue a final decision in the case quickly, and set a hearing for a preliminary injunction and possible final decision for May 14. A few blocks away from the federal immigration courts in New York City, a leader of the one affected program testified at a city council hearing on immigration fraud. 'We're often the first attorneys people are able to speak to about their immigration cases,' said Hannah Strauss, an immigration lawyer who supervises a team triaging cases Supervising Attorney of the Immigration Court Helpdesk run by Catholic Charities. New York state is one of only six states in the U.S. where more than half of immigrants are represented by an attorney in pending immigration cases, according to government data compiled by Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. That's thanks in part to state and city grants, as well as a large pool of lawyers who volunteer. But federal funding forms an important part of the system. Strauss said the $1.2 million federal grant covering New York covered the helpdesk, a skeleton crew relied upon by other NGOs to screen immigration referrals and by immigration judges to explain the basics on laws regarding asylum and other forms of legal immigration. 'Unfortunately today marks the final day of both ICH and FGLOP, as the federal government has chosen to terminate our contracts as of midnight tonight,' Strauss, referring to her organization and the Family Group Legal Orientation Program, run by Acacia Center for Justice. The main reason for falling prey to immigration scams is the lack of legitimate legal help, said immigrants at the hearing. The immigrants testified without using their names, citing fear they could become targets of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for speaking out, but details they shared were representative of cases that have been investigated by federal prosecutors, costing immigrants thousands of dollars and sometimes ruining their the hearing, the city council discussed ways to crack down on immigration service providers advertising exaggerated or outright fraudulent services. For example, it's considering increasing funding for civil enforcement of business laws through the city's consumer protection department. The agency uses investigators, sometimes undercover, to investigate violations that can lead to civil penalties, or referrals to criminal prosecutors. ___ Boone reported from Boise, Idaho and Attanasio reported from New York.
