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Global Leaders Agree to Full Phase-Out of Fluorescent Lighting

CLASP

This week at the Minamata Convention on Mercury Fifth Conference of Parties (COP5), delegates from 147 countries agreed to phase out florescent lighting globally and completely by 2027. Fluorescent lamps contain mercury, a potent neurotoxin. The decision will accelerate global adoption of LEDs by effectively putting an end to the fluorescent lighting industry, with the limited exception of special uses like some transport applications. LEDs are on average 40% more energy efficient than fluorescents. COP5 decisions primarily addressed linear fluorescent lamps (LFLs), the largest contributor to lighting-based mercury pollution in the world, ubiquitously found in offices, stores, and other commercial settings and institutions. LFLs are also a major source of energy-related CO2 emissions. The decisions close the loop on continued efforts to stop the manufacture, export and import of mercury in lighting worldwide. Global markets are going all LED. The benefits of a full transition to LEDs by 2027 are massive. The appliance efficiency expert group CLASP estimates the move will have the following benefits (cumulatively from the phase out dates to 2050): Avoid 2.7 gigatonnes of CO2 emissions Eliminate 158 tonnes of mercury pollution, both from the light bulbs themselves and from avoided mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants Save US$1.13 trillion on electricity bills “The Africa region, in deep collaboration with colleagues around the world, are proud to have made momentous progress to Make Mercury History,” said David Kapindula, Minamata COP3 President and Africa Region expert. “The decision to phase out mercury-based fluorescent lighting will have unprecedented benefits in combatting the triple planetary crisis of climate change, air pollution, and biodiversity loss. Such actions would not have been possible without the spirit of cooperation demonstrated by Parties at this Minamata COP5.” This week’s move complements decisions at Minamata COP4 in March 2022 to phase out compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), lamps commonly found in homes, by 2025. Proposals to phase out fluorescents at COP4 and COP5 were introduced by delegates from Africa. “I was pleased to see a high spirit of collaboration amongst the Parties as related to matters concerning mercury lighting,” said Itsuki Kuroda, co-chair for COP5 proceedings and the Delegate from Japan. “Parties were able to align on phase out dates for all fluorescent categories, representing a positive example of successful diplomacy on the world stage.” Fluorescent lighting contains mercury, a toxic chemical that threatens the health of people and the planet. Most fluorescents are improperly disposed of into general waste streams; broken bulbs pollute land and water, and increase health risks in vulnerable populations like children, pregnant people, and waste workers. “The mercury-free lighting community came together to achieve a significant feat in the fight against mercury added products. Putting a stop to all lighting-related mercury pollution will have wide reaching benefits for our communities, ecosystems, and for the generations to come. We congratulate the governments and are pleased to join them in saying ‘Farewell to Fluorescents,’” said Elena Lymberidi-Settimo, International Co-coordinator of the Zero Mercury Working Group. LED lamps pay for themselves quickly in energy savings. Recent global analysis indicates that payback periods for LED alternatives to LFLs are improving, from an average of 6.3 months in 2022 to 2.4 months in 2023. LED sales and manufacturing rates are increasing year on year while fluorescent manufacture and sales are plummeting. Apart from the specialized blue-chip components, LEDs can be manufactured and assembled anywhere, unlike fluorescents, which are only produced by a few companies in a handful of countries. Advocates claim that the transition to all LED will drive local economic growth, especially in low- and middle- income countries, due to the affordability and availability of the lamps and increased clean energy jobs. ### CLASP improves the energy and environmental performance of the appliances & equipment we use every day, accelerating our transition to a more sustainable world. The Clean Lighting Coalition is a global partnership to capture the health and environmental benefits of eliminating mercury-based lighting. Contact Details Alexia Ross +1 339-222-4311 aross@clasp.ngo Company Website http://www.clasp.ngo/

November 03, 2023 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Crisis Protection Network Rebrands as “Reputation Advisors International”

Reputation Advisors International

The Crisis Protection Network, a worldwide association of distinguished communications professionals, today announced its new name: Reputation Advisors International The name change, which was adopted at the Network’s annual meeting in London on October 12, 2023, reflects the broadening scope of the Network as it looks to foster a “360-degree approach” to reputation management and reputational risk mitigation. “Effective management of reputational risk is more than just planning and responding in the event of a crisis,” James F. Haggerty, President of Reputation Advisors International, said. “It requires the establishment and maintenance of reputation management protocols that ensure the preservation of trust, credibility and brand equity in a complex, global business environment.” Membership in the Network is composed of leaders at independent strategic communications firms who bring unparalleled depth and diversity of knowledge to their work. Network members have previously served in senior positions at some of the world’s largest public relations agencies, as well as in corporations, major media outlets, law firms, and governmental organizations. Through regular collaboration and consultations, members share knowledge and perspectives to ensure their clients receive thoroughly vetted strategies for brand development, reputation management, and crisis and litigation communications response. Among the topics discussed at the Network’s annual meeting in London was effective communications training and response to cyber crises (including ransomware attacks), the role of the European Union in setting global standards in such areas as competition, energy and the environment, and current conditions in the APAC (Asia-Pacific) region. Network members also discussed reputation management issues in sports, as well as energy, the environment and the role of ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) principles in effect brand management. Haggerty added: “Through Reputation Advisors International, our member firms bring a depth of experience and breadth of resources that we believe is unrivaled by any strategic communications organization of its kind worldwide.” The Network currently has members in 16 cities across the globe, including Brussels, Chiasso, Chicago, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Munich, New York, Oslo, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Zurich. To learn more about Reputation Advisors International, visit: www.reputationadvisors.net. Contact Details Reputation Advisors International Juliette Foyle +1 212-683-8100 jfoyle@prcg.com Company Website https://reputationadvisors.net/

October 30, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Visa, Inc. Chairman Al Kelly Asked to Revoke Black Lives Matter Endorsement

NLPC

The following letter was sent today by Peter Flaherty, Chairman of the National Legal and Policy Center, to Alfred F. Kelly, Jr., Executive Chairman of Visa, Inc.: The Visa Inc. website still carries your July 15, 2020, endorsement of Black Lives Matter (BLM). We ask that it be taken down. We raised the issue of your BLM support at the 2023 Visa, Inc. annual meeting, but you ignored us. In the wake of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, BLM has shown its true colors. There is more than one entity that calls itself BLM, but the movement has made it clear where it stands. Please be aware: The Chicago chapter of BLM Grassroots tweeted imagery of a hang glider with a Palestinian flag, captioned “I Stand With Palestine.” Hang gliders were used by Hamas terrorists in the murder and hostage taking of innocent civilians attending the Tribe of Nova music festival. The BLM Grassroots national organization issued a “Statement in Solidarity With the Palestinian People” against the backdrop of the Palestinian flag. It read in part, “When a people have been subject (sic) to decades of apartheid and unimaginable violence, their resistance must not be condemned, but understood as a desperate act of self-defense." BLM Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF) co-founder Patrice Cullors, called for an “end of the imperialist project known as Israel” at Harvard Law School in 2015. Additionally, as detailed in a series of Complaints we filed with the Internal Revenue Service, BLMGNF is plagued by high living and self-dealing by its past and present leadership. Cullors, a self-proclaimed Marxist, resigned after we exposed the fact that she owned four homes. In the past, you have been eager to involve Visa, Inc. in controversial issues that have nothing to do with the company’s core business, but you have not yet condemned the Hamas attack or antisemitism. We ask that you do so without further delay. ### Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 drene@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

October 30, 2023 07:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time

How to Prevent Your Home from Becoming the Haunted House on the Block

YourUpdateTV

With Halloween just around the corner, homeowners everywhere are going out of their way to make their homes look scary and ‘haunted’ on purpose. But when we put off routine fixes around the house – think servicing a noisy HVAC system or replacing light fixtures – our homes can actually start to feel haunted year-round. Recently, Home Care Expert at Thumbtack, David Steckel, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss the elements that make our homes feel haunted, easy fixes and resources that can help. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/m5os3Us5wTA Recently, Thumbtack surveyed over 1,000 millennials to get a sense of what exactly is ‘haunting’ their homes. A resounding 40% of people surveyed believe they’ve lived in a haunted home at some point and 20% revealed having consulted paranormal experts. So, what elements make homes start to feel haunted? Based on the survey findings, the most common elements according to millennials are: ● Doors closing unexpectedly (47%): Hiring a door repair specialist can cost between $63-$475 depending on what door type you need fixed, materials, and more. ● Noises coming from inside the walls (38%): Hiring an exterminator can likely help you get rid of unwanted tenants and costs between $100-$140 on average. ● Flickering lights (34%): Hiring an electrician can run between $150-$200 depending on the scope and timing of the project. ● Creaky floors or stairs (28%): Hiring a flooring specialist can cost between $300-$500 on the lower end and $4,963-$7,101 on the high end. While being the spookiest house on the block might be the goal for Halloween, it is easy to prevent living in a haunted home the rest of the year. According to millennials, the easiest ways to make a home less spooky is to give it a refresh – with a fresh coat of paint or a deep clean (25%), fixing light fixtures and faulty electrical wiring (23%), and keeping up with proactive maintenance (20%). The bottom line is: Homes don’t start out haunted. They can simply feel that way because homeowners are in the dark about what’s really going on, and don’t know where to begin or who to call. Thumbtack provides homeowners with personalized guidance on what to do and when to do it as well as who to hire, so your home stays in good shape all year long. Visit www.thumbtack.com/haunted to learn more — or download the app to get rid of your “ghosts” once and for all. About David Steckel David Steckel is a Home Expert at Thumbtack, with more than 15 years of experience as a general contractor in the homebuilding industry. David provides homeowners with the expertise they need to better plan, budget, and complete home projects from small fixes to routine maintenance and larger improvements. Prior to his role at Thumbtack, David founded Setter, a subscription-based service that handled home maintenance and repairs. David is based in Toronto, Canada. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

October 25, 2023 04:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Shareholder Urges Microsoft to Boot Jeffrey Epstein Pal from Board of Directors

NLPC

In a letter to the lead independent director for Microsoft Corporation, National Legal and Policy Center has asked for the removal of billionaire Reid Hoffman from the company’s board of directors, due to his hyper-partisan political activities and his connections to the late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, whose private island Hoffman visited in 2014. NLPC owns stock in Microsoft and is also sponsoring a shareholder proposal at this year’s annual meeting, which will be held on December 7, 2023. LinkedIn, which was co-founded by Hoffman, was acquired by Microsoft in December 2016. He joined Microsoft’s board in March 2017. As NLPC’s Paul Chesser wrote in his letter to the company’s top independent director, Sandra Peterson, Hoffman has shown poor discernment in his associations, poor judgment in his political and social actions, and utter disregard for Microsoft’s reputation and shareholder value. “Reid Hoffman’s wealth and arrogance have clearly gone to his head and he appears to think he doesn’t have to be accountable to anyone,” said Chesser, who is director of NLPC’s Corporate Integrity Project (CIP). “Whether its visiting ‘Pedophile Isle’ with Jeffrey Epstein, or calling the likely 2024 Republican presidential nominee ‘The Disease President,’ or simply advising aspiring entrepreneurs to ‘ignore your customers,’ Hoffman obviously would rather satiate his sensual impulses than properly oversee the fiduciary responsibilities of a major technology company,” said Luke Perlot, associate director and chief researcher for the CIP. In the heavily footnoted letter to Microsoft, NLPC pointed out three major reasons that make Hoffman unsuitable for the board: his close association with Epstein; his unrestrained, hyper-partisan political urges; and his hypocritical views regarding “civic participation” and his own company’s censorship practices. Excerpts from the letter: According to Axios, Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Epstein both aggressively fundraised for the [MIT Media Lab], with Mr. Hoffman also inviting Mr. Epstein to join him at an August 2015 dinner in Silicon Valley that included tech entrepreneurs Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Peter Thiel. In an email to Mr. Thiel, according to the Wall Street Journal, “Hoffman wrote that Epstein was a ‘mostly fun, very interesting guy, you may find him perverse, but very smart on biology, computation, macro econ.’”… Mr. Hoffman’s extremely poor judgment leaves many unanswered questions. Recognizing Mr. Epstein as “perverse,” how did Mr. Hoffman justify ongoing collaboration with the convicted pedophile, who maintained his own luxury island to traffic underage girls to fulfill the sexual desires of himself and his associates? How could a highly educated, savvy and instinctive tech billionaire agree to visit such a place, with such a person, with such a detestable reputation, unless it was intentional, showing utter disregard for his own image and that of the businesses and organizations with which he is identified? … MotiveAI, another firm credited with “with backing from billionaire LinkedIn chairman Reid Hoffman,” ran ads through associated limited liability companies that featured offensive content and disinformation…. Facebook pages with MotiveAI associations made sexist comments about former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and Republican megadonor Rebekah Mercer. One such page called Rep. Gabbard a “C.W.I.L.F.,” which stands for a “Congresswoman I’d like to f---”… Mr. Hoffman…could easily advocate for [LinkedIn] to remain open to all for reasoned political debate, but there is no evidence that he does. In fact, his own history indicates that he encourages such snubs. As a self-styled expert on venture capital-funded startups…Mr. Hoffman recommends one counterintuitive business practice for an alleged path to success: “Ignore your customers.” Is this an image that Microsoft wishes to project? NLPC called for Peterson to ask for Hoffman’s resignation, and if he refuses to do so, then to seek his removal. Hoffman is listed as a nominee for re-election to the board on the company’s proxy statement. “Reid Hoffman has been very successful in business but he has shown very poor judgment,” said Peter Flaherty, chairman of NLPC. “Wealth should not be an exemption from decent behavior. Microsoft will be a better company when Hoffman leaves the board.” Founded in 1991, NLPC promotes ethics in public life and government accountability through research, investigation, education, and legal action. ### For more information or to schedule an interview with Paul Chesser, contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or drene@nlpc.org. Please visit http://www.nlpc.org. Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 danrenejr@gmail.com Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

October 24, 2023 10:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

First Ever Global Campaign to Decriminalise Suicide Worldwide

LifeLine International

Today, LifeLine International launched Decriminalise Suicide Worldwide, a new campaign advocating for legal changes in countries where suicide is either a crime or the law is unclear. Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard joined Lifeline International to give a keynote speech calling for communities around the world to unite against outdated and punitive laws exacerbating the isolation and stigma associated with suicide. According to new analysis from LifeLine International, suicide and attempted suicide is a crime in 25 countries, while the legality of both is unclear in a further 27 countries. Laws criminalising suicide are generally associated with higher suicide rates because they are ineffective deterrents and inhibit people in suicidal distress from seeking help. The analysis, completed with input from the International Bar Association, is the latest comprehensive audit of laws criminalising suicide undertaken. A population of 1.2 billion people live in the 52 countries where suicide is either a crime or laws are uncertain. The campaign advocates for legislative changes that will also help achieve the UN's Sustainable Development goal to decrease global suicide rates by 30% by 2030. Where we seek to change laws, LifeLine International will also work to either establish or enhance crisis line services. Decriminalisation has gathered positive momentum in the last five years, with legal reform completed in Ghana, Malaysia, Pakistan, India and Singapore. LifeLine International has identified Malawi and Nigeria as initial focus countries for decriminalisation campaign support. In the 27 countries with unclear legal frameworks, LifeLine International will engage with governments and civil society organisations to seek clarity and request the removal of barriers preventing people from seeking help. The ambiguity comes from a lack of consistency in the respective legal systems. The official campaign launch at Australia House in London was attended by diplomats, representatives of major mental health organisations, service providers, charities, supporters and the media. Former Australian Prime Minister, the Honourable Julia Gillard AC, who gave the keynote speech at the event, said: “The power of coalition and influence has the potential to drive significant change in addressing suicide as a global public health crisis. Coming together to support decriminalising suicide holds the promise of saving hundreds of thousands of lives." LifeLine International President, Justin Chase, said: "Every day, more than 1,900 people lose their lives to suicide, and approximately 77% of these tragic events occur in low- and middle-income countries. Suicide is a global public health challenge, but LifeLine International's new campaign is committed to creating a world where individuals facing suicidal thoughts can seek help without fear of legal repercussions. Decriminalisation addresses a significant barrier to deploying crisis support services and tackling the social stigmas that discourage help-seeking.” As part of the campaign, two digital platforms were launched today: www.25crimes.org – A social change campaign platform serving as the public face of the campaign; and, www.suicide-decrim.network – A bespoke knowledge platform for experts, NGOs, civil society, and crisis support services to facilitate the formation of national decriminalisation. LifeLine CEO Thilini Perera said: "Through our knowledge platform, we are bridging the gap between countries to advocate for change. LifeLine International's commitment to using innovative technology and galvanising support will accelerate decriminalisation campaigns, allowing people living in countries where suicide remains a crime to receive the help they deserve. We are proud to open source our knowledge to support network participants. Our platform will enable us to track progress and move closer to a world where suicide is decriminalised, stigma is reduced, and help-seeking is both accessible and encouraged." About LifeLine International: LifeLine International is an Australian-registered international civil society organisation representing 27 Members, in 23 separate countries. Our Members collectively operate more than 200 suicide prevention and crisis support services across the world. Our shared mission is to create a world where quality suicide prevention support is available, accepted and encouraged. Our goal is to ensure that the life-saving work of our Members is fully recognised, valued and supported. We focus on supporting the expansion of community-based crisis support services, wholly operated by our Members and beyond. We believe that crisis support services must be accessible and widely promoted in all communities, regardless of location, cultural practice or legal frameworks. We fundamentally believe that crisis helplines play a critical role in the overall continuum of care for suicide prevention. Our ultimate beneficiaries are help seekers: individuals in distress, despair and at risk of suicide. Notes to Editors: Click here for the Campaign Brief Click here for Decriminalise Suicide Worldwide Factsheet For further information or interview requests, please contact LifeLine.International@highgate.ltd Contact Details LifeLine International Jenny Wright +44 7786 567525 LifeLine.International@highgate.ltd Company Website https://lifeline-intl.com/

October 23, 2023 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Evidence of Discrepancies, Misrepresentations, and Noncompliance with FCC Rules Calls FOX's Truthfulness with Regulator into Question

Media and Democracy Project

The Media and Democracy Project (MAD) has submitted a comprehensive response to the filing by Fox Television Stations (FTS), urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to compel FOX to turn over key discovery documents from recent litigation. MAD reiterated its belief that obtaining these documents is crucial for the FCC to evaluate the numerous character violations relevant to the broadcast license renewal application for the FOX Corp-owned television station FOX 29 Philadelphia (WTXF). The filing focused on dismantling FOX’s attempt to shield the questionable conduct of FOX executives and hosts from thorough examination by the FCC. FOX's opposition to releasing these materials is an attempt to hinder the Commission from conducting a full and transparent assessment of the company's deliberate and willful promotion of false election narratives, which had dire consequences for the country. FOX has labeled the request a "fishing expedition," disregarding the fact that the motion for documents seeks only to enhance the record for evaluating WTXF's license application. It is a routine practice that is common during an FCC license review. FOX argues that its alleged misconduct falls outside the scope of FCC character policy, therefore, the request for documents is irrelevant to its renewal application. This fails to appreciate the gravity of the actions taken by senior FOX leadership following the 2020 election that shock the conscience and are well within the scope of the Commission. FOX's assertion that granting evidence from shareholder lawsuits contradicts Delaware law is baseless. This law pertains specifically to shareholder requests and does not apply to a license renewal proceeding where the FCC makes the request. MAD's motion also requested information related to contracts between WTXF and political advertisers, as mandated by law to be filed with the FCC and made public. Rather than acknowledging any wrongdoing, FOX has chosen to double down on arguments made before the Commission that it did nothing wrong despite ample evidence of discrepancies, misrepresentations, and noncompliance to the contrary. This continues the pattern of mistruths noted by the judge in the Dominion case and demonstrates that FOX’s penchant for lies does not stop with its regulator. Access to nonpublic discovery material would further support what publicly available information has already established—that FOX and Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch lack the character required of public broadcast license trustees. Given that these documents have already been categorized, organized, and provided in various lawsuits, the FCC could request the same documents be provided to the petitioners with ease. A copy of MAD’s response to FTS can be found here. The Media and Democracy Project: MAD is a non-partisan, all-volunteer, grassroots organization focused on strengthening a free and independent media in the public interest. MAD aims to improve our national discourse so that American voters can engage in informed decision-making. As part of that goal, MAD has an interest in the responsibility of journalists and media to report fully, accurately, and fairly on the electoral process and the outcome of elections. Additional information is available at www.MediaAndDemocracyProject.Org. Contact Details Aaron Alberico +1 202-744-0786 aalberico@raynoravenue.com Company Website https://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/

October 23, 2023 11:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

RV Sales of Broward, Owner Gigi Stetler To Appeal Catastrophic Fire Case Against 595 Annex

RV Sales of Broward

RV Sales of Broward, one of the leading recreational vehicle sellers in Florida, operating under the trade name Planet RV, is continuing a legal battle of paramount importance to win again at the appellate level. While the jury in the original case awarded $2,637,000 to RV Sales of Broward after hearing all the evidence, the judge nullified the jury’s award, reducing it to $557,000. The judgment came after a jury had ruled in favor of the RV company in its case against the landlord, 595 Annex, LLC, following a devastating fire that razed Planet RV in March 2021. Stetler will ask the appeals court to reverse the judge’s decision that stripped away her multi-million-dollar damage award, decided by a Broward County jury after a two-week trial. The plaintiffs had initiated legal proceedings against their landlord, 595 Annex, LLC, to seek damages and remedies for the tragic incident. The company previously occupied a commercial property at 3030 Burris Rd, Davie, Florida, owned by the same landlord who also operates the 595 Truck Stop in Davie, Florida. In 2018, RV Sales of Broward raised concerns about faulty wiring that had caused damage to numerous RVs and equipment over several years. The landlord dismissed the concerns. Unfortunately, on March 22, 2021, a catastrophic five-alarm fire erupted, resulting in a complete loss of Stetler's building, business, and its contents. Stetler, who believed she was protected by her lease, expected insurance proceeds to be used for rebuilding or restoring the property in the event of such a casualty. However, this did not happen. It was later discovered that the landlord had received insurance proceeds exceeding $1,000,000 for rebuilding and also received lost rent revenue totaling $210,000. Surprisingly, the landlord sued Stetler for rent and eviction. In response, Stetler filed a seven-count complaint in the summer of 2021. After 27 months, only three counts remained, with one of them being a breach of contract negligence claim, which eventually went to a jury trial. Just before concluding the trial, there was a dispute regarding the verdict form. Stetler's counsel argued that the defendant's form was confusing and inconsistent, but the court favored the defendant's version. The jury, however, faced difficulties in understanding the form and sought clarification from the judge, who could only refer to the jury instructions. After extensive deliberations, the jury reached a verdict. They awarded Stetler's company $557,000 for breach of contract negligence due to the faulty wiring issue. Additionally, they granted $210,000 for unjust enrichment, as the landlord had charged rent while also collecting insurance. Furthermore, Stetler's company received $1,870,000 for constructive eviction because the landlord's failure to rebuild forced Stetler to relocate her company at a much higher rental rate. Following the jury's decision, the defendants raised concerns about the verdict's inconsistency. In response to these concerns, the judge ordered all parties to return the next morning. After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge retained only the breach of contract claim. The judge told Stetler that she had her day in court and she would be left with the breach of contract claim for $557,000. All post-trial motions have been considered and denied, and appeals have been filed. However, Stetler finds herself in a legal limbo. Although she has a final judgment of $557,000 against the defendants, the judge has not determined the rent owed after set-offs and proper abatement. The judge has refused to rule on this matter until the appeal process is complete, even though it technically should not occur until a proper final judgment is in place. RV Sales of Broward and Stetler remain committed to protecting their rights as they believe it was clear after a long, drawn-out trial that the jury had intended to award Stetler and her company fair compensation for the losses that were suffered. Stetler is grappling with the challenge of rebuilding her company amid escalating legal expenses and an uncertain timeline to resolve this ordeal. Compounding her difficulties, 595 Annex currently holds all the funds and has transformed Stetler's previously thriving RV dealership into an extension of their truck stop. More information about RV Sales of Broward is available at www.rvsalesofbroward.com. Download a copy of the legal filings here and at LawsuitPressRelease.com. Contact Details Tom Alexander +1 954-801-0586

October 23, 2023 08:44 AM Eastern Daylight Time

NLPC Files Ethics Complaint Against Senator Robert Menendez Seeking His Expulsion

NLPC

The National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) filed an ethics complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee against Senator Robert Menendez. The complaint requests that the Committee investigate his criminal conduct and recommend that the Senate vote to expel him from office. NLPC’s complaint cites the recent superseding indictment against Senator Menendez, his wife, and three New Jersey businessmen, who “willfully and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together and with each other” to have Senator Menendez act as an agent of the Government of Egypt and Egyptian officials. In return for this and other favors to the businessmen, he and his wife received bribes and other illegal gratuities of over $480,000 in cash — much of it stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing and closets in his home — along with gold bars, a luxury Mercedes Benz, and personal items. “Menendez’s excuse for having $480,000 in cash stuffed in his clothes and closet because he was saving it from his paycheck for a rainy day is laughable and insults the intelligence of his constituents, especially when his co-defendant’s fingerprints were found on some of the envelopes,” said Paul Kamenar, NLPC’s counsel who filed the complaint. “We checked his financial disclosure forms and if anything, his Senate bank account increased by a sizable amount,” Kamenar added. The complaint notes that the Ethics Committee is mandated under its rules to open a preliminary inquiry and cannot nor should not wait until the criminal case is resolved as the Committee previously indicated that it would do. “The Ethics Committee should do its job and not wait until the criminal case is completed,” said Kamenar. “The Ethics Committee should do the Senate a favor and recommend that Senator Menendez be expelled from the Senate as his colleagues are calling on him to resign,’ Kamenar added. NLPC’s complaint notes that Senator Menendez was previously tried for bribery in 2018 for receiving gifts and luxury travel from his benefactor Dr. Salomon Melgen. NLPC was instrumental in that case of uncovering Senator Menendez’s lobbying efforts to fund a multi-million-dollar port security project in the Dominican Republic in which Dr. Melgen had a financial interest. “While his case ended in a hung jury, Menendez did not learn his lesson and continued to abuse his office and act corruptly,” said Peter Flaherty, NLPC Chairman. “Senator Menendez is not only a career politician but a career criminal,” Flaherty added. ### Founded in 1991, NLPC promotes ethics in public life and government accountability through research, investigation, education and legal action. Please visit http://www.nlpc.org Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 drene@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

October 20, 2023 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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