04-07-2025
Muslim woman says CA deputy stomped on hijab in lawsuit and 4 more legal cases
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
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.
Social Security worker steals $110K from 28 people while working in GA, feds say
In Georgia, Christina Daniels, a former Social Security Administration employee, is facing prison time after pleading guilty to stealing over $110,000 from 28 beneficiaries, federal prosecutors say. Daniels rerouted their payments to accounts she controlled using Cash App and Green Dot, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia. She faces up to 10 years in prison, prosecutors say. | Published June 30 | Read More
Woman assaulted by boss accused of yearslong sex harassment in Georgia, feds say
A federal lawsuit in Georgia says the owner of Action Insulation Co. sexually harassed an office manager for years, escalating to physical assault, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The woman resigned after her complaints were ignored, according to the EEOC, which is suing on her behalf on violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The lawsuit accuses the owner of inappropriate comments and touching from 2016 to 2024. | Published July 1 | Read More
Family being 'violently' stalked finds knife, note on doorstep in CA, feds say
In Southern California, a family was terrorized by threatening calls and found a knife and note on their doorstep, the FBI says. Two men, Xiang Li and Bowen Zhou, are accused of stalking the family over a supposed debt, leading to a shooting at the family's home, according to the FBI. The men face federal stalking charges. | Published July 2 | Read More
Muslim woman says deputy stomped on hijab, left her exposed. She's suing in CA
Two Muslim women in California have filed a federal lawsuit against a sheriff's office, saying deputies forced them to remove their hijabs in jail, violating their religious rights. Shenai Aini and Salma Nasoordeen were arrested during a protest, and Aini says a deputy stomped on her hijab, leaving her exposed, according to the lawsuit. The Orange County Sheriff's Department denies the accusations. | Published July 3 | Read More
22-year-old beaten daily by head chef at Hawaii restaurant wins $3M, lawyer says
In Hawaii, a jury awarded $3.15 million to Andrew Debellis, a former sous chef who endured daily beatings from a head chef at Margotto, a Honolulu restaurant, his attorney says. The jury found that the restaurant's owner, Kazutomo Robert Hori, was aware of the abuse but allowed it to continue, according to attorney James D. DiPasquale. Debellis suffered physical and emotional injuries, his attorney said. | Published July 3 | Read More
McClatchy News continues to follow lawsuits and legal cases from around the country. Check back for more legal stories.
