Australia
Sons of Virginia Giuffre, who accused Andrew and Epstein of abuse, seek control of estate
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Lawyers for two sons of Virginia Giuffre, her housekeeper and her former attorney appeared in an Australian court Friday in a case deciding who controls her estate.
Giuffre was the highest-profile accuser of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and she settled a lawsuit for an undisclosed sum in 2022 against the former Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-
Windsor, after he was stripped of his royal titles over his association with Epstein
She died by suicide in April at the age of 41 at her farm in Western Australia state without leaving a will.
The only adults of her three children — Christian Giuffre, 19, and Noah Giuffre, who is 18 — filed a case in the state Supreme Court in June to gain control of their mother’s estate including property in Western Australia, where she had lived for years, and potential revenue from her memoir “Nobody’s Girl.”
The memoir, released last month, expands on her claims that she was sexually trafficked as a teen by the late financier to billionaires, politicians and King Charles III’s brother. Mountbatten-Windsor categorically rejected the allegations and said he didn’t recall having met her.
The brothers want the court to appoint them administrators of their mother’s estate.
The brothers’ application is opposed by Virginia Giuffre’s former housekeeper and caregiver Cheryl Myers and her former Perth-based attorney, Karrie Louden. The women want to be made administrators.
A temporary administrator was appointed this week to manage the estate. The first court hearing in the case was held Friday and another will be scheduled next year.
Lawyers on Friday discussed a range of issues, including whether Virginia Giuffre’s daughter, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and her estranged husband Robert Giuffre should become parties in the case.
Virginia Giuffre separated from her husband and children this year. She had been charged with breaching a family violence restraining order over an incident in February, and died before she was to appear in court over the matter.
Washington
Supreme Court won’t immediately let Trump administration fire copyright office head
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court won’t immediately allow the Trump administration to fire the director of the U.S. Copyright Office, instead delaying a decision until after they rule in two other high-profile firing cases.
The justices’ Wednesday order leaves in effect for now lower court rulings that held that the official, Shira Perlmutter, could not be unilaterally fired.
The case is the latest that relates to Trump’s authority to install his own people at the head of federal agencies. The Supreme Court has largely allowed Trump to fire officials, even as court challenges proceed.
Justice Clarence Thomas said he would have allowed Perlmutter to be fired as her lawsuit proceeds. The court majority, though, decided to wait to make a decision until after they rule in two other lawsuits over Trump firings.
Arguments are set for December in the first case, over the removal of Rebecca Slaughter as a member of the Federal Trade Commission.
And in January the court will hear the case of Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, who remains in her job despite Trump’s attempt to fire her.
Rulings are expected weeks or months after the court hears arguments.
Perlmutter’s case concerns an office that is within the Library of Congress. She is the register of copyrights and also advises Congress on copyright issues.
Despite the ties to Congress, the register “wields executive power” in regulating copyrights, Solicitor General D. John Sauer told the court.
Perlmutter claims Trump fired her in May because he disapproved of advice she gave to Congress in a report related to artificial intelligence. Perlmutter had received an email from the White House notifying her that “your position as the Register of Copyrights and Director at the U.S. Copyright Office is terminated effective immediately,” her office said.
A divided appellate panel ruled that Perlmutter could keep her job while the case moves forward.
Perlmutter’s attorneys have argued that she is a renowned copyright expert. She has served as register of copyrights since then-Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden appointed her to the job in October 2020.
Trump appointed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to replace Hayden at the Library of Congress. The White House fired Hayden amid criticism from conservatives that she was advancing a “woke” agenda.
Maryland
Baltimore landlords found liable for hiring a sex offender who set tenants on fire
BALTIMORE (AP) — Landlords in Baltimore are being held liable for hiring a convicted sex offender with a violent criminal record who then attacked two tenants and set them on fire, with a jury awarding the victims $21.5 million.
The same man murdered a tech CEO just days after attacking April Hurley and Jonte Gilmore in their home in 2023, which he was able to enter by misrepresenting himself as building maintenance. The lawsuit argued the companies neglected basic background vetting for Jason Billingsley, who was allowed to live on the companies’ property and to perform paid upkeep tasks.
The jury awarded the money, including $10 million in punitive damages, last week in Baltimore City Circuit Court.
“I’m just thankful that me and Jonte survived that day and that we made it this far to fight for this ruling,” said Hurley said in a news release following the decision. “No amount of money could possibly change what happened, but it definitely sends a message.”
Hurley was raped and badly wounded in the attack, which happened in a rooming house in West Baltimore’s “Black Butterfly,” an area long marked by racial segregation and underinvestment. Advocates said the case underscored the compounded risks faced by tenants in historically neglected Black communities.
The apartment building where Hurley and Gilmore were attacked is owned by Property Pals LLC and managed by Eden’s Homes LLC, according to the lawsuit. The defendants have signaled that they plan to appeal the civil judgment. Melody Haynes, who represented Eden’s Homes and Property Pals, did not immediately return an email seeking comment Monday.
Billingsley has since pleaded guilty to the attack and to killing Pava LaPere, who founded a tech startup from her dorm room at Johns Hopkins University. Billingsley is now serving multiple life sentences.
The Baltimore Banner reported that Curtis Haynes, owner of Eden’s Homes and co-owner of Property Pals, testified that he met Billingsley at a bar and let him live without paying rent in a different apartment. Haynes testified that he paid Billingsley to cut the grass and do other maintenance jobs but did not check his background. Haynes also disputed that Billingsley was an employee.
Billingsly’s criminal record included sex offenses and violence. He was released from prison in October 2022 after serving a shortened sentence for a 2013 rape because he earned good behavior credits behind bars.
The night of the attack, Billingsley identified himself as building maintenance and said there was a flood in the kitchen, according to the complaint. He overpowered the two renters and, after sexually assaulting Hurley and slitting her throat, set both of them on fire, according to police and the lawsuit.
LaPere, named to Forbes’ 30 under 30 list for social impact, died from strangulation and blunt force trauma just two days later. In a bail review hearing following Billingsley’s arrest, prosecutors said he had admitted to beating LaPere with a brick.
Texas
Judge expands access to bond hearings for detained immigrants nationwide
McALLEN, Texas (AP) — A federal judge in California has expanded a decision granting more detained immigrants the ability to request a bond hearing after the Trump administration ended the practice in July. Lawyers say thousands could benefit from the order, but it’s expected to be appealed.
U.S. District Judge Sunshine S. Sykes on Tuesday expanded an order from last week granting detained immigrants with no criminal history the opportunity to request a bond hearing. Now, instead of only impacting a few named in the California lawsuit, the decision will apply to immigrants held in detention nationwide.
It’s part of an ongoing lawsuit challenging changes the Trump administration made over the summer when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it was revisiting its authority to detain people and would make noncitizens ineligible for bond hearings before an immigration judge.
Prior to the policy change, most noncitizens with no criminal record who were arrested away from the border had an opportunity to request such a hearing and if bond was granted remain free while their cases wound through immigration court.
Sykes issued an order on Thursday that found the new policy unlawful.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, released a statement Wednesday that pointed to a September decision from the Justice Department’s Board of Immigration Appeals allowing the new policy.
She said the previous policy “dangerously unleashed millions of unvetted illegal aliens into American communities—and they used many loopholes to do so.”
Her statement did not say whether Sykes’ decision would be appealed and the department did not respond to questions on the matter.
Tuesday’s decision could impact thousands of immigrants but not all. Those with criminal convictions or who have an expedited removal order would still not be allowed a bond hearing.
Matt Adams, lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said he has heard of immigration judges already advising some immigrants of their right to a bond hearing since Sykes’ orders were filed.
“These are people who’ve been living here in the United States, many for years, many for decades, who have U.S. citizen family members, who have no criminal history, who do not present any danger or threat of a flight risk, and yet they were being locked up without any possibility of being released during these lengthy proceedings,” Adams said.
Sons of Virginia Giuffre, who accused Andrew and Epstein of abuse, seek control of estate
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Lawyers for two sons of Virginia Giuffre, her housekeeper and her former attorney appeared in an Australian court Friday in a case deciding who controls her estate.
Giuffre was the highest-profile accuser of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and she settled a lawsuit for an undisclosed sum in 2022 against the former Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-
Windsor, after he was stripped of his royal titles over his association with Epstein
She died by suicide in April at the age of 41 at her farm in Western Australia state without leaving a will.
The only adults of her three children — Christian Giuffre, 19, and Noah Giuffre, who is 18 — filed a case in the state Supreme Court in June to gain control of their mother’s estate including property in Western Australia, where she had lived for years, and potential revenue from her memoir “Nobody’s Girl.”
The memoir, released last month, expands on her claims that she was sexually trafficked as a teen by the late financier to billionaires, politicians and King Charles III’s brother. Mountbatten-Windsor categorically rejected the allegations and said he didn’t recall having met her.
The brothers want the court to appoint them administrators of their mother’s estate.
The brothers’ application is opposed by Virginia Giuffre’s former housekeeper and caregiver Cheryl Myers and her former Perth-based attorney, Karrie Louden. The women want to be made administrators.
A temporary administrator was appointed this week to manage the estate. The first court hearing in the case was held Friday and another will be scheduled next year.
Lawyers on Friday discussed a range of issues, including whether Virginia Giuffre’s daughter, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and her estranged husband Robert Giuffre should become parties in the case.
Virginia Giuffre separated from her husband and children this year. She had been charged with breaching a family violence restraining order over an incident in February, and died before she was to appear in court over the matter.
Washington
Supreme Court won’t immediately let Trump administration fire copyright office head
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court won’t immediately allow the Trump administration to fire the director of the U.S. Copyright Office, instead delaying a decision until after they rule in two other high-profile firing cases.
The justices’ Wednesday order leaves in effect for now lower court rulings that held that the official, Shira Perlmutter, could not be unilaterally fired.
The case is the latest that relates to Trump’s authority to install his own people at the head of federal agencies. The Supreme Court has largely allowed Trump to fire officials, even as court challenges proceed.
Justice Clarence Thomas said he would have allowed Perlmutter to be fired as her lawsuit proceeds. The court majority, though, decided to wait to make a decision until after they rule in two other lawsuits over Trump firings.
Arguments are set for December in the first case, over the removal of Rebecca Slaughter as a member of the Federal Trade Commission.
And in January the court will hear the case of Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, who remains in her job despite Trump’s attempt to fire her.
Rulings are expected weeks or months after the court hears arguments.
Perlmutter’s case concerns an office that is within the Library of Congress. She is the register of copyrights and also advises Congress on copyright issues.
Despite the ties to Congress, the register “wields executive power” in regulating copyrights, Solicitor General D. John Sauer told the court.
Perlmutter claims Trump fired her in May because he disapproved of advice she gave to Congress in a report related to artificial intelligence. Perlmutter had received an email from the White House notifying her that “your position as the Register of Copyrights and Director at the U.S. Copyright Office is terminated effective immediately,” her office said.
A divided appellate panel ruled that Perlmutter could keep her job while the case moves forward.
Perlmutter’s attorneys have argued that she is a renowned copyright expert. She has served as register of copyrights since then-Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden appointed her to the job in October 2020.
Trump appointed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to replace Hayden at the Library of Congress. The White House fired Hayden amid criticism from conservatives that she was advancing a “woke” agenda.
Maryland
Baltimore landlords found liable for hiring a sex offender who set tenants on fire
BALTIMORE (AP) — Landlords in Baltimore are being held liable for hiring a convicted sex offender with a violent criminal record who then attacked two tenants and set them on fire, with a jury awarding the victims $21.5 million.
The same man murdered a tech CEO just days after attacking April Hurley and Jonte Gilmore in their home in 2023, which he was able to enter by misrepresenting himself as building maintenance. The lawsuit argued the companies neglected basic background vetting for Jason Billingsley, who was allowed to live on the companies’ property and to perform paid upkeep tasks.
The jury awarded the money, including $10 million in punitive damages, last week in Baltimore City Circuit Court.
“I’m just thankful that me and Jonte survived that day and that we made it this far to fight for this ruling,” said Hurley said in a news release following the decision. “No amount of money could possibly change what happened, but it definitely sends a message.”
Hurley was raped and badly wounded in the attack, which happened in a rooming house in West Baltimore’s “Black Butterfly,” an area long marked by racial segregation and underinvestment. Advocates said the case underscored the compounded risks faced by tenants in historically neglected Black communities.
The apartment building where Hurley and Gilmore were attacked is owned by Property Pals LLC and managed by Eden’s Homes LLC, according to the lawsuit. The defendants have signaled that they plan to appeal the civil judgment. Melody Haynes, who represented Eden’s Homes and Property Pals, did not immediately return an email seeking comment Monday.
Billingsley has since pleaded guilty to the attack and to killing Pava LaPere, who founded a tech startup from her dorm room at Johns Hopkins University. Billingsley is now serving multiple life sentences.
The Baltimore Banner reported that Curtis Haynes, owner of Eden’s Homes and co-owner of Property Pals, testified that he met Billingsley at a bar and let him live without paying rent in a different apartment. Haynes testified that he paid Billingsley to cut the grass and do other maintenance jobs but did not check his background. Haynes also disputed that Billingsley was an employee.
Billingsly’s criminal record included sex offenses and violence. He was released from prison in October 2022 after serving a shortened sentence for a 2013 rape because he earned good behavior credits behind bars.
The night of the attack, Billingsley identified himself as building maintenance and said there was a flood in the kitchen, according to the complaint. He overpowered the two renters and, after sexually assaulting Hurley and slitting her throat, set both of them on fire, according to police and the lawsuit.
LaPere, named to Forbes’ 30 under 30 list for social impact, died from strangulation and blunt force trauma just two days later. In a bail review hearing following Billingsley’s arrest, prosecutors said he had admitted to beating LaPere with a brick.
Texas
Judge expands access to bond hearings for detained immigrants nationwide
McALLEN, Texas (AP) — A federal judge in California has expanded a decision granting more detained immigrants the ability to request a bond hearing after the Trump administration ended the practice in July. Lawyers say thousands could benefit from the order, but it’s expected to be appealed.
U.S. District Judge Sunshine S. Sykes on Tuesday expanded an order from last week granting detained immigrants with no criminal history the opportunity to request a bond hearing. Now, instead of only impacting a few named in the California lawsuit, the decision will apply to immigrants held in detention nationwide.
It’s part of an ongoing lawsuit challenging changes the Trump administration made over the summer when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it was revisiting its authority to detain people and would make noncitizens ineligible for bond hearings before an immigration judge.
Prior to the policy change, most noncitizens with no criminal record who were arrested away from the border had an opportunity to request such a hearing and if bond was granted remain free while their cases wound through immigration court.
Sykes issued an order on Thursday that found the new policy unlawful.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, released a statement Wednesday that pointed to a September decision from the Justice Department’s Board of Immigration Appeals allowing the new policy.
She said the previous policy “dangerously unleashed millions of unvetted illegal aliens into American communities—and they used many loopholes to do so.”
Her statement did not say whether Sykes’ decision would be appealed and the department did not respond to questions on the matter.
Tuesday’s decision could impact thousands of immigrants but not all. Those with criminal convictions or who have an expedited removal order would still not be allowed a bond hearing.
Matt Adams, lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said he has heard of immigration judges already advising some immigrants of their right to a bond hearing since Sykes’ orders were filed.
“These are people who’ve been living here in the United States, many for years, many for decades, who have U.S. citizen family members, who have no criminal history, who do not present any danger or threat of a flight risk, and yet they were being locked up without any possibility of being released during these lengthy proceedings,” Adams said.
