Pregnant US citizen arrested by ICE went into labor, claim says, & 5 more cases
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Thousands of legal cases reach U.S. courts every year. From accusations of mistreatment in prisons to fraud to sexual abuse and beyond, here are some of the latest from across the country.
Pregnant US citizen arrested by ICE went into labor prematurely in CA, claim says
In Los Angeles, Cary Lopez Alvarado, a U.S. citizen, says she went into premature labor after being wrongfully arrested and assaulted by immigration agents. The incident occurred when Alvarado, who was nine months pregnant, was detained by ICE and Border Patrol agents for hours without a warrant, according to a federal tort claim. Alvarado is seeking $1 million in damages, citing harm to herself and her baby, the claim shows. | Published Aug. 26 | Read More
Buffalo Wild Wings refused to hire woman who wore long skirts in Georgia, feds say
In Georgia, a woman was denied a job at Buffalo Wild Wings due to her religious beliefs, federal officials say. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit, resulting in a $47,500 settlement for the woman, according to the agency.The lawsuit says she was not hired because she wore long skirts as part of her Pentecostal Christian faith. | Published Aug. 27 | Read More
Veteran stole $244K in disability, then faked drowning death in Maine, feds say
A Maine veteran, Gregory P. Heimann Jr., is accused of stealing over $244,000 in disability benefits and faking his own drowning to evade authorities, federal officials say. Heimann, who claimed to be wheelchair-bound, was found walking and engaging in activities that contradicted his disability claims, according to prosecutors. He was arrested in Missouri and will face charges in Maine over making false statements to the government, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine. | Published Aug. 27 | Read More
Cop asked 16-year-old crime victim he met on duty for nude photos in FL, feds say
In Kissimmee, Florida, former police officer Dariel Javier Quiles-Davila was found guilty of receiving child sexual abuse material from a teenage girl he met while on duty, according to federal prosecutors. Quiles-Davila asked the 16-year-old for nude photos and sent her money in exchange, court documents say. | Published Aug. 28 | Read More
15-year-old US citizen held at gunpoint by ICE agents at CA school, claim says
In Los Angeles, a 15-year-old U.S. citizen with special needs was held at gunpoint by ICE agents outside a high school, according to a federal tort claim. The boy, who was not a suspect in any crime, was detained based on racial profiling, his attorneys say. The family is seeking $1 million in damages, accusing agents of false arrest and civil rights violations. | Published Aug. 29 | Read More
Jail staff ignored man having a seizure until he died in GA, mom’s lawsuit says
In Georgia, a federal lawsuit filed by Debbie Fullerton claims that jail staff ignored her son Bradley Fullerton’s seizure, leading to his death. The lawsuit says that medical staff at Bartow County Jail withheld his seizure medication and failed to call for emergency assistance during his 45-minute seizure. Debbie Fullerton is suing the medical provider and jail staff for negligence, seeking accountability for her son’s suffering, the lawsuit shows. | Published Aug. 29 | Read More
McClatchy News continues to follow lawsuits and legal cases from around the country. Check back for more legal stories.