National Roundup

Massachusetts
Man who sold sick puppies must pay $480K
BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts man has been ordered to permanently stop operating an unlicensed and unsanitary pet shop out of his home and to pay more than $480,000 in penalties and damages for selling sick and dying puppies to customers.

State Attorney General Maura Healey announced Monday that a judge entered a default judgment against Heath Morse, of Shrewsbury, barring him from ever selling dogs in the state.

The state sued Morse in November.

Authorities say from 2016 until October he sold more than three dozen Bulldog puppies for thousands of dollars each. More than a quarter of the puppies sold ultimately died, many within days of purchase, and customers paid thousands in veterinary bills to treat or euthanize sick dogs.

A working number could not be found for Morse.

California
Class action lawsuit filed against UCLA gynecologist
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two women said in a federal class action lawsuit they were sexually assaulted by a former gynecologist who worked for the University of California, Los Angeles.

The lawsuit states Dr. James Heaps sexually assaulted the women and made sexually inappropriate comments during their appointments. The suit also alleges that UCLA failed to protect Heaps’ patients and acted negligently.

The class action lawsuit is the latest lawsuit to be filed against Heaps and UCLA, though others have been pursued through state court.

Heaps has been criminally charged with the sexual battery of two patients, but he denies any wrongdoing. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to return to court Aug. 29.

As of July 31, 130 former patients had reached out to UCLA with “concerns about their interactions” with Heaps, UCLA spokeswoman Rhonda Curry said. An additional 161 former patients expressed support for the doctor.

Elizabeth Kramer, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said the lawsuit now needs a judge’s permission to move forward as a class action case. She said this suit could potentially help women who were victimized but cannot file their own, separate lawsuits.

Curry did not immediately have a comment about the class action case Monday.

Heaps’ attorney, Tracy Green, said some women may not understand what constitutes standard pelvic and clinical breast medical examinations.

“Many of the allegations in the civil lawsuit are claiming that standard medical exams are misconduct or sexual,” she said in an email.

The lawsuit was filed last Tuesday against Heaps, the university system’s regents and other unnamed defendants in U.S. District Court in the Central District of California.

Kentucky
Judge rules on evidence allowed in trial of former Dem. Party chief
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — A federal judge has ruled on evidence that prosecutors can present when the trial begins next week for the father of Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes.

Former state Democratic Party chief Jerry Lundergan is charged with making illegal contributions to his daughter’s 2014 U.S. Senate campaign against Republican Mitch McConnell. He has pleaded not guilty.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the judge ruled last week that evidence of Lundergan making alleged illegal contributions to his daughter’s 2011 and 2015 campaigns can be admitted. Lundergan is not facing any charges in those campaigns.

Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove said evidence of other contributions benefiting Grimes would help “complete the story” of the alleged 2014 conspiracy.

Jury selection is set to begin Thursday and opening statements are scheduled on Aug. 13.

New York
Court reinstates Palin suit against New York Times
NEW YORK (AP) — An appeals court has revived a defamation lawsuit Sarah Palin brought against The New York Times.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals restored the lawsuit on Tuesday, saying Palin must be allowed to collect evidence to support her claims.

Still, it said Palin’s burden of proof was high to show the Times acted with actual malice when it published an editorial titled “America’s Lethal Politics” in 2017.

The onetime Republican vice presidential nominee sued over the editorial published after a gunman opened fire on Republican lawmakers in Virginia, wounding U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise.

The Times’ editorial was corrected twice when readers complained it appeared to blame a political action committee belonging to Palin for “political incitement.”

A Times’ spokesperson says the newspaper is disappointed and will vigorously fight the lawsuit.

Missouri
Abbey: 8 priests credibly accused of abusing kids
CONCEPTION, Mo. (AP) — A Benedictine monastery in northwestern Missouri has released the names of eight priests or brothers who it says face credible allegations of having sexually abused children during the last seven decades.

The Conception Abbey, about 95 miles (150 kilometers) north of Kansas City, said on its website Monday that seven of the priests are dead and the eighth had been removed from the ministry.

Many Catholic dioceses and religious orders have released similar lists recently, and the abbey said it was releasing its list with the goal of providing transparency and accountability.

FBI agents reviewed personnel files of priests and brothers who served at the abbey in the past 70 years to compile the list, which provides no information on the allegations.

David Clohessy, volunteer leader of Missouri Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, said the group doubts that the abbey’s list is complete.

The abbey said that in 2011, it implemented policies designed to protect guests, children and other visitors. It also hired a victim advocate and has a board comprised of lay people that investigations all allegations of abuse.

The priests on the list are Vincent Barsch, who was ordained in 1945, left religious life in 1973 and died in 2010; Bede Parry, ordained in 1983, dismissed from religious life in 2002 and died in 2013; Edgar Probstfield, ordained in 1952 and died in 2007; Regis Probstfield, ordained in 1957 and died in 2008; Gilbert Stack, ordained in 1939 and died in 2007; Hugh Tasch, ordained in 1957 and died in 2017; Paschal Thomas, ordained in 1959 and died in 2015; and Isaac True, ordained in 1966 and removed from ministry.

In 2017, the abbey settled a lawsuit accusing it of covering up abuse by Parry for $415,000.