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Carroll Receives $5.8 Million Escrow Release After Supreme Court Declines Trump Appeal
A federal judge ordered the release of $5.8 million held in escrow to writer E. Jean Carroll after the Supreme Court declined to hear Donald Trump’s appeal of a jury finding that he sexually abused and defamed her. The funds, plus interest, come from a 2023 verdict and have sat in court-ordered escrow for over three years even as Trump’s team pursued a rehearing. Separately, Carroll was awarded about $83.3 million in damages for defamation in another proceeding, which Trump is appealing to the Supreme Court as well. Judge Lewis Kaplan criticized Trump’s delays and said it was time to pay the judgment, prompting the release of the escrow funds.
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Judge orders release of roughly $5.8 million from Trump–Carroll verdict
The Guardian•2 days ago
11th Circuit Hands Florida a Setback Over Stop WOKE Act in Higher Education
Politico•3 days ago
More Legal Stories

Carroll asks court to force Trump to pay $5 million verdict
Carroll seeks a Manhattan federal judge to order Trump to immediately pay about $5 million from a verdict finding him liable for sexual abuse in the 1990s and defaming her after she described the attack; the amount has grown to nearly $5.8 million with interest as Trump has pressed to delay payment, despite the Supreme Court declining to hear the appeal. He also faces an $83 million defamation award from a separate Manhattan case.
Fourth Circuit Rejects ICE’s Mass Detention Policy, Setting Up Supreme Court Fight
The 10th Circuit unanimously rejected ICE’s bid to detain millions of noncitizens without bond under a new reading of a decades-old immigration statute, saying the government’s interpretation is flawed. As the fourth appeals court to rule against the policy, and with the DOJ seeking Supreme Court review, the battle over mass detention appears headed for the high court.

Jury Orders Chris Brown to Pay $13 Million in Guard Dog Mauling Case
A California jury found Chris Brown and his company negligent after his 200-pound dog mauled Maria Avila, a housekeeper at Brown’s Tarzana home in 2020, awarding Avila about $12.9 million in damages; her sister Patricia Avila was granted $885,000 for emotional distress, and Maria’s husband Oscar Olivo was awarded $50,000. Brown acknowledged some liability but disputed injury severity, and he remains on tour with Usher as the verdict lands.

California Appeals Court Keeps Weinstein Conviction, Orders Sentence Review
An appeals panel in California upheld Harvey Weinstein’s Los Angeles rape conviction, ruling that the trial court did not err under the rape shield law or in its evidentiary rulings, and ordered resentencing. The new sentence could be lower overall if the judge applies the middle six-year term for the relevant offense, in light of the status of Weinstein’s New York conviction.

Montana judge finds prosecutors in contempt for public comments in murder case
A Montana judge held prosecutors in contempt for public remarks about the Tyler Robinson murder case, ruling that while some statements didn’t violate a narrowly tailored publicity order, others claiming there was ample evidence beyond a reasonable doubt risked prejudicing the jury; the ruling emphasizes restricting pre-trial commentary to protect the fairness of the proceedings.

Palisades Fire Case Stalls as Jury Deadlocks on Fire-Destruction Charges
After roughly 10 days of trial, the federal jury in the Lachman/Palisades Fire case against ex-Uber driver Jonathan Rinderknecht says they are deadlocked on all counts, prompting Judge Anne Hwang to order continued deliberations as the trial continues. Rinderknecht faces up to 45 years in prison on charges including Destruction of Property by Fire, Arson Affecting Property Used in Interstate Commerce, and Timber Set Afire; if a mistrial is declared, prosecutors could retry with a new jury. The Palisades Fire devastated the LA area, destroying more than 5,400 homes and killing more than a dozen people.

Weinstein Rape Charge Dropped; No Fourth Trial, 20-Year Haley Sentence Sought
Manhattan prosecutors dismissed the rape charge against Harvey Weinstein related to Jessica Mann after Mann declined to testify again, ending a potential fourth trial in that case; they will proceed with a 20-year sentence recommendation on Weinstein’s conviction for a criminal act against Miriam Haley. Weinstein, 74, has health issues and remains imprisoned; Mann’s rape conviction was overturned in 2024 and a 2025 retrial led to Haley’s conviction and a mistrial on the Mann charge.

Judge blocks live testimony from suspect’s ex in Kirk shooting case
A Utah judge denied the defense’s bid to compel in-person testimony from Tyler Robinson’s former romantic partner, Luna Twiggs, at the July preliminary hearing; prosecutors will rely on a recorded interview, a handwritten note, text messages and other evidence to establish probable cause in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.

Comedian Mencia Hit With Felony Tax-Evasion Charges Over Unreported Income
Comedian Carlos Mencia faces 12 felony counts of tax evasion in Los Angeles County for allegedly failing to report about $8.7 million in personal and corporate income from 2019–2024 via Nedlos Entertainment; arraignment set for June 22, bail is $250,000, and a conviction could carry more than 11 years in prison. The case is being pursued by the county's Business Tax Fraud Unit.

Carlos Mencia Charged With 12 Felony Tax Fraud Counts in Los Angeles
Comedian Carlos Mencia, whose real name is Ned Holness, was arrested in Los Angeles on 12 counts of felony tax evasion for failing to report about $8.7 million in personal and Nedlos Entertainment income from 2019–2024, leaving California with more than $300,000 in taxes due; bail was set at $250,000 and an arraignment is scheduled, in a case prosecutors say targets tax scofflaws and marks the LA DA’s new Business Tax Fraud Unit’s first major action.