Synopsis
Truth is trending on the Veritas News Network! VNN is an online publication featuring the news and is dedicated to in-depth investigative reporting with a consumer advocacy focus. Our Managing Editor is a veteran investigative journalist who has won dozens of awards. Several categories of news are featured on the Veritas News Network include Citizen Journalism, Consumer News, Ripoffs and Scams, Consumer Advocacy, World News, US News, Crime, Economic News, Editorial and Opinion, Education, Health & Science, Human Rights, Investigative Reports, Investing, Legal News, Money, Personal Finance, Op-Ed, Politics, Technology, and Travel. Stories explored at depth on the Veritas News Network in our Citizen Journalism section include The New Democracy of News, Citizen Journalists: Rights, Risks, and Responsibilities, Whistleblower: The US Army and its Internal Culture War, Information Overload: Social Sharing and the Surrender of Privacy, and Unspoken Border Issues. Topics investigated on VNN in our Consumer News section include Consumer Protection Financial Bureau (CPFB) Tackles Mandatory Arbitration Clauses, State Farm Lloyd's to Refund $352 Million to Texas Homeowners, Does Homeowner Insurance Cover Frozen Water Pipes?, Appealing Arbitration Awards, Only 6% of Consumers Win Credit Card Arbitration, Before You Sign: Read the Fine Print, Arbitration: Attorneys General Speak Out, Changing Your Social Security Number, FTC Issues Follow-Up Study on Credit Report Accuracy, Online Payday Lending Companies to Pay $21 Million to Settle FTC Charges, and Operators of Scheme Targeting Hispanic Consumers Banned by Federal Trade Commission. Featured topics on VNN in our Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) section include The Secrets of Arbitration, The ABC's of Arbitration, The Fourth Estate: Media Ethics Disappear, Arbitration Undermines Homebuyers in Las Vegas Luxury Condos, Rolling Stone Raises Questions About Journalism Ethics, Immigration and Ferguson: A Country Divided, Tax Lien Investment Company PIP West Responds to Criticism, Is Your Local News A Scripted Fraud?, and Are Tax Lien Investments the Latest Real Estate Ripoff? Stories examined on VNN in our Investigative Reports section include Forced Arbitration: The End of Class Action?, Dying to Drink: College Binge Drinking Proves Fatal, Wrongful Convictions: The High Price of Justice Denied, Net Neutrality Sparks Protest, Facebook Claims Messenger 'Privacy Invasion' is False, Media Credentials: Crossing the Line, Student Loan Debt: Too Big to Fix?, No Legal Recourse for Lost Home: Texas Bar Dismissed Complaint, Citizen Journalism: Understanding the Freedom of Information Act, Arbitration: A Cheaper Alternative to Court?, Arbitration: An Unfair Advantage, Veterinarian Malpractice: Your Computer May Be Worth More Than Your Pet, Man Made Skies: Geoengineering for Climate Change?, Cyber-Stalkers: Online Predators Pose Offline Challenges, Protect Yourself Against ID Theft: The Laws May Not, The Fourth Estate: Shield Law, New Technology Beats Domestic Snooping, Gift Cards: Holiday Favorites But Susceptible to Scammers, Can the NCAA Adapt to Impending Change: Inside the Future of College Sports, NCAA: College Football's Supervisors Set to Collect Big on Bowl Games. Stories covered by VNN in our Human Rights Watch section include Citizen Journalism: Understanding Rights and Responsibilities, Raising the Shield: Free Flow of Information Act, From World's Policeman to Police State, Online Privacy in the Age of Everyday 'Big Brothers', Victims of Human Trafficking Hide in Plain Sight in Pennsylvania, Searching For Justice: Inmate's Death Caused by Jailers, Arbitration: Fair or A Scam Against The Public?, Officer Identified in Garner Killing: Death Ruled A Homicide, Lawsuit Alleges Southwest Airlines Secretly Records Calls. Topics explored on VNN in our Legal section include Civil Forfeiture: Policing For Profit Violates Civil Rights, Blind Justice: Arbitrators Have Immunity From Lawsuits, Herbalife Settles Class Action for $15 Million, Online Dating Service Fined by FTC for Fake Profile Scheme, New York Cracks Down on Portfolio Recovery Associates, Debt Collectors: Harassing the Elderly, FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges Against Snapchat, TracFone Settles FTC Complaint for $40 Million, Exoneration of the Wrongfully Convicted Reaches Record High, Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Loan Officers Accused of Taking Kickbacks, Chimpanzee Loses Bid for Habeas Corpus, Sony Settles False Advertising Claim with the Federal Trade Commission, Civil Forfeiture: Bank Accounts and More At Risk, Municipalities Take Big Pharma to Court, Slander Suit Reinstated Against Boeheim and Syracuse University, Facebook Sues Paul Ceglia's Lawyers, Federal Trade Commission Halts Online Credit Score Scheme. Featured topics on VNN in our Education section include The Hidden Face of Student Loan Debt, College Crime Transparency Required Under Federal Law, Colleges Cut Student Work Hours to Avoid Healthcare Costs, No Easy Fix: Death, Taxes, and Student Loan Debt. Stories reported on VNN in our Investing, Ripoffs & Scams,
Episodes
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More Motions Filed in Results Property Management Case
21/01/2019 Duration: 05minLegal battle continues in Results Property Management case A lawyer for Results Property Management has filed a motion to continue trial, and requesting sanctions in response to a motion filed by the plaintiff’s attorney to have him disqualified from the case. As reported Nov. 30, an ongoing legal battle between Jason Hartman and Results Property Management principals Ken Logan and Quentin Kearney continues with Hartman’s attorney calling for the disqualification of the attorney for Results Property Management. In a November 13 filing, Hartman’s attorney, Kenneth Caldwell, asked the court to disqualify defendants’ co-counsel David Zeiler due to “extraordinary circumstances.” For many years, Hartman had been represented by Lee Hardee III of Kansas City, Missouri, but the case took a bizarre turn in early August when Hardee was forced to recuse himself from the case when he was notified — while arguing in court on the same case — that Ken Logan and Quentin Kearney were suing him for abuse of process. The pair
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Motion to Recuse Filed in Results Property Management Case
18/01/2019 Duration: 04minThe ongoing legal battle between Jason Hartman and Results Property Management principals Ken Logan and Quentin Kearney continues. Now Hartman’s attorney is calling for the disqualification of the attorney for Results Property Management. Missouri lawyer Lee Hardee III was forced to recuse himself from the case in early August, after he was notified while in court on the same case that Logan and Kearney were suing him for abuse of process. Hardee was representing Hartman, the plaintiff in the case. Due to a conflict-of-interest, Hardee filed a motion to withdraw, leaving Hartman without counsel hours before the trial was to begin. In a November 13 filing, Hartman’s new attorney, Kenneth Caldwell, asked the court to disqualify defendants’ co-counsel David Zeiler due to “extraordinary circumstances.” “On August 5, 2018, during the deposition of plaintiff Jason Hartman by defendants’ co-counsel Michael Hughes, something extraordinary occurred. Just before plaintiff’s counsel, Lee Hardee was to ask follow up ques
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Settlement Demand Offered in Welcome Inn Case
16/01/2019 Duration: 03minThe Welcome Inn labor relations case could be coming to an end — but only if the defendants accept a settlement demand offered by the attorney for the plaintiffs. Attorney John Ireland, representing April Brashier, Chad Lebow, Richard Orencia and more than two dozen former and current employees, offered a Nov.30 settlement demand. The demand would settle the case for approximately 34 plaintiffs, who allege Welcome Inn owners operated in violation of the Illinois Fair Labor Standards Act. Last month the case involving the Quincy, IL hotel had been reassigned to Judge Colin Stirling Bruce and Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long. U.S. Magistrate Judge Tom Schanzle-Haskins is no longer on the case. A telephone conference was held between Ireland and attorneys for the defendant Kevin Doherty, Ambrose McCall and Thomas Luetkemeyer. The parties indicated discovery has not been initiated due to interest in mediation, court records show. Case history Plaintiffs April R. Brashier, Richard M. Orencia, and Chad Lebow filed a l
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Plaintiffs’ Lawyer Presents Demands in Welcome Inn Case
15/01/2019 Duration: 02minThe Welcome Inn labor relations case is moving forward after months of legal wrangling. Plaintiffs April R. Brashier, Richard M. Orencia, and Chad Lebow filed a lawsuit against Quincy Property LLC, doing business as “Welcome Inn,” and against Brett Burge, Kenneth Logan, Quentin Kearney and Joe Wimberly under FLSA and Illinois Wage Laws. The lawsuit, filed Jan. 28, 2017, alleges the plaintiffs worked at the defendants’ hotels and weren’t paid overtime due under FLSA. A telephone conference was held Oct. 15 with counsel for plaintiff, John Ireland, and defense counsel, Mary Yong and Thomas Luetkemeyer. Court documents show that plaintiffs’ counsel is in the process of obtaining demands from each of the plaintiffs. Those documents note that Ireland has presented a demand for 21 of the plaintiffs. He hopes to have demands for the remaining plaintiffs by the end of the week. Demands are a collection of all documents that show injuries and/or loss of wages. It is a step undertaken prior to litigation. Ireland said
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Arizona Restauranteur Responds to Allegations
11/01/2019 Duration: 04minPopular Arizona restauranteur Julian Wright is embroiled in a bitter battle with former managers who claim Wright misappropriated funds. Wright responded to those allegations by accusing the former managers of misappropriation. Wright owned the Gringo Star Street Bar, which subsequently closed without notice to investors. Wright’s limited liability company is Fork & Dagger, LLC., listed as “manager” in legal documents. Whiskey Rocks Tempe, LLC, is a limited liability company organized for the operation of the Gringo Star Street Bar. True Gentlemen, LLC (“TL”) is a member of Gringo, hence, Fork & Dagger is one corporation. Operating under it is Whiskey Rocks Tempe, and under that True Gentlemen. Wright’s rebuttal contends: “Throughout the past year, TL (Gringo Star managers) has alleged and asserted to other Gringo members that “manager” (referring to Wright) had engaged in fraud and other improprieties, and had overcharged for corporate overhead and other expenses. Most recently, in the course of sol
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Gringo Star Street Bar Investors Still Waiting for Return on Investment
09/01/2019 Duration: 04minWhen the Gringo Star Street Bar in Tempe, Arizona closed abruptly in mid-January, investors said they were taken by surprise when they learned via Facebook post that the popular nightspot had closed its doors for good. “I had no idea it closed,” said a Tempe resident at the time, who had invested in the establishment. His sentiment was echoed by other investors, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of financial retribution. The surprise was not that the establishment had closed, but that shareholders had learned of the closure on social media. As reported January 20, a post on the bar’s Facebook page alerted customers to the closing. There was no explanation given and numerous questions from patrons were left unanswered. In March, Wright told shareholders that once the books were reconciled, they would receive their return on investment. Months passed without payment. Now the former managers are in a bitter legal battle with Wright, alleging he misappropriated Gringo Star’s funds. Conversely, Wright is al
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Investors in Tempe Bar Hit with IRS Penalty
07/01/2019 Duration: 05minIt was more bad news for some who invested in a Tempe bar owned by Julian Wright as the IRS has sent notifications that they owe money. According to one shareholder, the IRS sent notification that money is owed for the Canteen bar. “He’s costing his investors almost a quarter of a million dollars because he didn’t do something right,” the investor said. “We’re paying penalties and interest and the investors had nothing to do with it.” The shareholder said it makes no sense that those who invested in the Canteen are liable to the IRS. “According to him (Wright), he sold have the business to someone else and they took it over. Then the other owner put in that they put in a million dollars in assets, when it was really only $300,000 in assets for depreciation. So why aren’t they paying it instead of us paying it.” For some investors, there was another potential loss as Wright abruptly closed the Gringo Star Street Bar on the popular Mill Avenue. The closure left shareholders to wonder if they will see any incom
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Gringo Star Street Bar Owner Explains Closure
04/01/2019 Duration: 04minThe owner of the Gringo Star Street Bar in Tempe, Arizona said a manager posted the closure notice on Facebook before he had the chance to notify investors. That’s one of the complaints investors stated when owner Julian Wright abruptly closed the popular bar located on Mill Avenue. “There was no communication,” said an investor who trusted his money with Wright. “I found out Gringo Star closed when I saw it on Facebook.” The shareholder noted that there had been “street talk” that business was faltering and that it was apparent the bar was not doing well, however, he was “left in the dark.” The Jan. 19 closure announcement was vague, leaving investors to wonder what was going on. They alleged Wright was a poor communicator and that it wasn’t until he was contacted by an investor that all investors were notified that the bar had been sold. Wright said investors were aware he’d been trying to sell. “The investors that keep in touch with me had known about us trying to sell this business for a year now, includ
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Gringo Star Street Bar Abruptly Closed–Reportedly Sold
31/12/2018 Duration: 08minInvestors left in the dark regarding Gringo Star Street Bar closure Investors of a popular Tempe, Arizona bar were taken by surprise when they learned via a Facebook post that the Gringo Star Street Bar on Mill Avenue had locked the doors for good. “I had no idea it closed,” said a Tempe resident, who had invested in the establishment. His sentiment was echoed by other investors, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of financial retribution. The surprise was not that the establishment had closed, but that shareholders had learned of the closure on social media and not from the owner or managing partners. “There was no communication,” said an investor who trusted his money with Gringo Star Street Bar owner Julian Wright. “I found out Gringo Star closed when I saw it on Facebook.” The shareholder noted that there had been “street talk” that business was faltering and that it was apparent the bar was not doing well, however, he was “left in the dark.” Unbeknown to shareholders, the bar was sold, according to
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Popular Tempe Bar Closes Without Explanation
28/12/2018 Duration: 03minWith little fanfare and no explanation, a popular bar in Tempe, Arizona is closing. The Gringo Star Street Bar, located on the city’s famed Mill Avenue, opened in 2013 offering arcade games, food, drinks, dancing and street art. In a Jan. 19 Facebook post, a vague notice was given. “It’s been real and it’s been fun but now it’s time to go. We know many of you have had some of your wildest nights at our lovely bar and we are glad we were able to be part of it It’s been a great ride! Peace out Thanks for the memories!” As of publication, there was no indication on the tavern’s website that it is closing. Patrons of the establishment were surprised by the announcement. Alex Kelly Ouch.. I have left a piece of me at the corner table by the DJ booth with its departure. The only place in the world to have a keg stacked with Don and Vodka.. Amanda Gordon Audra Nicole Hall Nicole Daignault nooooooo…..this just broke my heart and I don’t even live there anymore Chris Hirata Dude I love
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New Judges Assigned in Welcome Inn Case
26/12/2018 Duration: 03minTwo new judges will oversee the ongoing legal battle between the proprietors of the Welcome Inn and its employees. The case involving the Quincy, IL hotel has been reassigned to Judge Colin Stirling Bruce and Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long, according to the most recent document filing. U.S. Magistrate Judge Tom Schanzle-Haskins is no longer on the case. Plaintiffs April R. Brashier, Richard M. Orencia, and Chad Lebow filed a lawsuit against Quincy Property LLC, doing business as “Welcome Inn,” and Brett Burge, Kenneth Logan, Quentin Kearney and Joe Wimberly under FLSA and Illinois Wage Laws. The lawsuit, filed Jan. 28, 2017, alleges the plaintiffs worked at the defendants’ hotels and weren’t paid overtime due under FLSA. The plaintiffs further allege they were misclassified as salaried employees exempt from FLSA, and that the defendants illegally deducted amounts from their pay in violation of FLSA. Under FLSA, employees may bring a collective action against an employer to recover unpaid overtime or minimum wa
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Welcome Inn Hotel Employees, Owners Spar Over Signed Declarations
21/12/2018 Duration: 05minThe owners of a Welcome Inn hotel in Quincy, Illinois had initially reacted to a lawsuit by interviewing employees as to their working conditions, according to court documents. In Brashier v. Quincy Properties, LLC, former Welcome Inn employees April Brashier, Richard Orencia and Chad O. Lebow alleged the owners of the hotel violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by failing to pay them for overtime hours worked. The plaintiffs claim Welcome Inn owners Ken Logan and Quentin Kearney misclassified them as salaried employees in order to dodge overtime pay requirements. The plaintiffs also allege the owners violated the FLSA through illegal deductions from their paychecks. Brashier claims that when she went to the owners to complain about the conditions now described in the lawsuit, they fired her. According to court documents, Logan said he and Kearney interviewed several Welcome Inn hotel employees to see if the plaintiffs’ allegations had any merit, and also to determine if Brashier, Orencia and Lebow mi