News From Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman

Rooting Out Public Corruption

Attorney General Schneiderman charged political consultant Steven Pigeon this week with bribery, rewarding official misconduct, and grand larceny. In connection with the alleged scheme, New York Supreme Court Justice John Michalek pleaded guilty to receiving bribes from Pigeon, and for filing a false document with the New York State Office of Court Administration when he appointed a receiver who had been suggested by Pigeon. The charges stem from an ongoing public corruption investigation by the Office of the Attorney General. 

Major Settlement in Volkswagen Investigation

The Attorney General announced New York State’s participation in settlements with Volkswagen AG and its Audi and Porsche affiliates arising from the company’s violations of emissions standards and state consumer protection laws. As part of the settlements, New York owners of certain VW and Audi diesel cars will be entitled to sell their cars back at full, pre-scandal fair market value or keep their vehicle and wait to see if VW and Audi develop acceptable emissions fixes. Car owners who exercise either option will also receive a cash payment of at least $5,100. The Attorney General’s investigation is ongoing and intends to hold Volkswagen and its affiliated companies accountable for their violations.

Protecting Vulnerable Communities From Exploitation

The Attorney General reached a settlement with Global Elites Network Xpeed Learning Academy (“Xpeed”) that targeted Chinese-speaking parents with false advertising for a children’s summer academic enrichment program. An investigation by the Attorney General’s office revealed that the company was unable to provide substantiation for the miraculous results promised in its advertisements. The company will pay $60,000 in restitution to parents of children in the program, cease its deceptive advertising of the program, and make changes to the company’s refund policy. 

Expanding Access To Women’s Healthcare Resources

The Attorney General issued a statement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike two provisions of Texas law that would have substantially limited access to abortion services in that state:

"Today’s Supreme Court decision striking down Texas’s unconstitutional and disingenuous abortion restrictions is a landmark victory for women’s health and definitively rejects the state of Texas’s spurious claims that their draconian restrictions protected women’s health. This ruling, the most significant abortion decision in a generation, puts states on notice that they cannot adopt restrictions that unduly burden or deny a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion.  In a concurring opinion, Justice Ginsburg movingly spotlights the women whose desperation in the face of such abortion restrictions would drive them to unlicensed rogue practitioners at great risk to their health and safety. Today marks a decisive step forward in the fight for reproductive freedom, and a turning point away from a period of endless restrictions whose sole purpose is to block women from exercising their right to choose.”

In January 2016, Attorney General Schneiderman led a coalition of 14 states and the District of Columbia in filing a friend-of-the-court brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate both of these regulations.

Have a question, comment, or complaint? Click here. You can also learn more about the various initiatives of the Attorney General's office by visiting our website atag.ny.gov. You can also call our General Hotline: 800-771-7755. 

News From Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman

Taking Down SAFE Act Violators

Attorney General Schneiderman and NYSP Superintendent George Beach charged three men on multiple weapons counts for illegally selling over 100 assault rifles. Each assault weapon is banned in New York under the 2013 Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act (SAFE Act). These charges are the result of a two-year investigation into the illegal sales of assault weapons in Western New York, and they are the largest enforcement action against violations of SAFE Act-related provisions. 

Protecting Workers’ Rights in the Job Market

The Attorney General continued his efforts to enforce violations of non-compete agreements, which are not permitted by New York law. Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches agreed to stop including non-compete agreements in their hiring packets as well as inform its franchises that non-compete agreements are unlawful and should be voided.

Combating Housing Discrimination

The Attorney General reached settlements with two real estate brokerage firms for unlawful housing discrimination. Through undercover testing, his office found that both firms were denying housing to prospective tenants with Living in Communities III rental assistance vouchers. Living in Communities (LINC) III, are government vouchers intended to assist homeless victims of domestic violence in securing safe housing. 

Disappointing Inaction on Immigration

The The Attorney General issued a statement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on President Obama’s executive action on immigration:

"I am extremely disappointed that the Supreme Court declined to overrule the lower court's misguided preliminary injunction. President Obama’s executive actions, if allowed to go forward, would give millions of undocumented immigrants a measure of security, protecting them from deportation and allowing them to work legally and contribute fully to the country they call home.  Instead, they are now once again left in limbo. It’s important to recognize that President Obama was compelled to act in response to Congress’s repeated and inexcusable failure to meaningfully reform our nation’s immigration system. Instead of passing comprehensive immigration reform, many members of Congress continue fanning anti-immigrant flames, and in the process, fail immigrant communities and the nation at large. It is absolutely imperative that Congress finally end the gridlock and do its job by passing comprehensive immigration reform legislation as soon as possible. I urge all members of our nation’s immigrant community to stay strong. Today’s decision may be a setback, but we will continue fighting until all immigrants have the legal rights and economic opportunities they deserve.”

Have a question, comment, or complaint? Click here. You can also learn more about the various initiatives of the Attorney General's office by visiting our website atag.ny.gov. You can also call our General Hotline: 800-771-7755. 

News From Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman

Stopping The "Bots" That Make it Impossible to Buy Concert Tickets

  

In January, the Attorney General issued a report that uncovered practices and abuses that prevent New York consumers from accessing tickets at affordable prices – or even accessing them at all. The investigation revealed that illegal ticket bots, which can instantly snatch up thousands of tickets, are one major reason why ticketing is a rigged system. In response to the Attorney General’s report, the state legislature passed a bill this week that will imposes stiff penalties on the ticket brokers who use these illegal bots. While this legislation is a major step forward, the Attorney General will continue pushing for additional measures to ensure that New Yorkers can find affordable ways to see their favorite concerts and sporting events.

Addressing The Scourge Of Zombie Homes

The Attorney General has worked tirelessly to help New York families rebuild after the devastating housing crisis, and has fought for legislation which would address so-called “zombie properties” – vacant and abandoned homes that drag down property values and threaten the safety of neighborhoods. This weekend, the legislature passed a bill that would help crack down on this continued problem by requiring banks to maintain these abandoned properties--a significant step forward in helping to fight blight and revitalize neighborhoods that are still recovering from the housing crash across the state. 

Protecting the Rights of Workers In the Job Market

Attorney General Schneiderman announced that Law360, a legal publication company, agreed to stop using mandatory non-compete agreements for its employees. The company required a majority of its employees to sign non-compete agreements that prohibited them, for one year after leaving the company, from working for any media outlet that provides legal news. Reports have found that these employee contracts keep wages down, inhibit innovation, and thwart workers’ career advancement. Read the Wall Street Journal story here.

Exposing Scammers Who Exploit Tragedy

The Attorney General announced the felony conviction and sentencing of Caterina M. Curatolo, a scammer who obtained more than $87,000 in benefits by falsely claiming to be a Hurricane Sandy victim. An investigation by the Attorney General’s office revealed that Curatolo engaged in an elaborate scheme to defraud government agencies, private insurance companies, and a charitable organization by representing herself as a Sandy evacuee.  Curatolo pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay over $87,000 to New York City and the American Red Cross. Read the New York Daily News story here.

Protecting Consumers From Summer Scams

Attorney General Schneiderman reminded New Yorkers of common scams that occur during the summer and offered tips to protect consumers against abuse. Scam artists are known to prey on New Yorkers, particularly during the summer months, as consumers embark on home improvement projects and plan family vacations. The Attorney General urged New Yorkers to notify his office of any summer scams by contacting his Consumer Complaint Hotline at 1-800-771-7755 or online at ag.ny.gov. For more tips, read the consumer guide here.

Have a question, comment, or complaint? Click here. You can also learn more about the various initiatives of the Attorney General's office by visiting our website at ag.ny.gov. You can also call our General Hotline: 800-771-7755. 

News From Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman

Holding Domino’s Accountable For Mistreating Its Workers

The Attorney General announced a lawsuit against Domino’s Pizza, Inc., and three franchisees for allegedly underpaying workers over $565,000 at ten stores in New York. This is the first case the Attorney General has alleged that a fast food corporation is liable as a joint employer for labor violations at its franchise stores. The lawsuit revealed that Domino’s allegedly urged franchisees to use payroll reports from a computer system called “PULSE” that under-calculated gross wages. His office’s investigation found that the company also knowingly caused many store operation violations and pushed an anti-union position on franchisees. 

Expanding Mortgage Assistance Efforts for Homeowners

 

The Attorney General announced a $100 million expansion of foreclosure prevention efforts to help New York families avoid foreclosures and remain in their homes. The expansion is expected to help over 3,000 families across the state and could preserve $875 million in property value through no-interest loans that will help New Yorkers pay off their mortgage. 

Receiving a Fair Shot to New York Housing

Three settlement agreements were announced with real estate brokerage firms that conducted unlawful housing discrimination against potential applicants with Section 8 housing vouchers. The Attorney General’s office conducted an investigation which found that all three companies violated local law by discriminating on the basis of source of income. Operating in New York City, Nassau County, and Westchester County, the three firms agreed to reforms including developing new non-discriminatory policies and forwarding any complaints about housing discrimination to the Attorney General’s office. 

Have a question, comment, or complaint? Click here. You can also learn more about the various initiatives of the Attorney General's office by visiting our website atag.ny.gov. You can also call our General Hotline: 800-771-7755.