Latest news with #LizMurrill
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Louisiana Ten Commandments law ruled unconstitutional by federal appeals court
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled Friday that Louisiana's law to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms is unconstitutional. Louisiana became the first state in the nation to pass the bill requiring public schools and universities to display the Ten Commandments in the 2024 regular legislative session. The law stated that it would be displayed with a large, readable font on an 11-by-14-inch poster or framed document. 'We strongly disagree with the Fifth Circuit's affirmance of an injunction preventing five Louisiana parishes from implementing HB71. We will immediately seek relief from the full Fifth Circuit and, if necessary, the U.S. Supreme Court,' Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement. 'The Ten Commandments are the foundation of our laws—serving both an educational and historical purpose in our classrooms. I fully support Attorney General Murrill's decision to seek an en banc panel to review the decision,' said Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry. Timeline of Louisiana's Ten Commandments Law: June 19, 2024: A bill requiring public schools and universities to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms was passed during the 2024 Regular Legislative Session. June 24, 2024: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit claiming the law violated students' First Amendment rights. Some religious leaders and activists also voiced opposition to the law. Aug. 5, 2024: Murrill called for the lawsuit to be dismissed, arguing it was premature and that the plaintiffs could not demonstrate actual harm. July 19, 2024: Louisiana agreed to pause implementation of the law until a hearing could be held, initially scheduled for Nov. 15. Oct. 21, 2024: A hearing debated whether the law should go into effect while its constitutionality is litigated. The preliminary injunction allowed arguments on both sides regarding the posting of the Commandments. Nov. 12, 2024: A federal judge ruled the law unconstitutional, prohibiting the display of the Ten Commandments in schools. Dec. 11, 2024: Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill filed an opening brief to defend Louisiana's Ten Commandments law in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Jan. 23, 2025: Oral arguments held in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to address the state's appeal of the preliminary injunction. Can public money flow to Catholic charter school? The Supreme Court will decide US Senator Bill Cassidy take steps to ensure public's trust in vaccines Supreme Court approves swift deportation Under Trump Policy Baton Rouge Police Chief shares vision for safer community as crime rate drops Our Lady of the Lake showcases newest surgical technology Suspect arrested, accused of shooting man after an argument in Baton Rouge Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Louisiana Attorney General files petition for full Fifth Circuit to rehear Ten Commandments law
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — On Thursday, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill filed a petition for the full Fifth Circuit Court to review the state's Ten Commandment Law. 'The Fifth Circuit's panel decision in this case directly rejected the Fifth Circuit's own precedents and precedents from other circuits and the Supreme Court. This is exactly the sort of case that warrants full Court review, and we appreciate the Court's careful consideration,' Murrill said in a release. On June 20, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the state's law to display the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms is unconstitutional. This bill passed in the 2024 Regular Legislative Session. Murrill argues that the ruling lacks standing, meaning the plaintiff has not encountered a Ten Commandments display. According to a Fifth Circuit precedent, an encounter with a religious display is required to establish standing. The state also believes the panel misused the 'Lemon v. Kurtzman' test. Louisiana says the panel used an outdated framework instead of using a historical analysis. Murrill wants the full Fifth Circuit to rehear the case to allow HB 71 to be implemented. Timeline of Louisiana's Ten Commandments Law: June 19, 2024: A bill requiring public schools and universities to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms was passed during the 2024 Regular Legislative Session. June 24, 2024: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit claiming the law violated students' First Amendment rights. Some religious leaders and activists also voiced opposition to the law. Aug. 5, 2024: Murrill called for the lawsuit to be dismissed, arguing it was premature and that the plaintiffs could not demonstrate actual harm. July 19, 2024: Louisiana agreed to pause implementation of the law until a hearing could be held, initially scheduled for Nov. 15. Oct. 21, 2024: A hearing debated whether the law should go into effect while its constitutionality is litigated. The preliminary injunction allowed arguments on both sides regarding the posting of the Commandments. Nov. 12, 2024: A federal judge ruled the law unconstitutional, prohibiting the display of the Ten Commandments in schools. Dec. 11, 2024: Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill filed an opening brief to defend Louisiana's Ten Commandments law in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Jan. 23, 2025: Oral arguments held in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to address the state's appeal of the preliminary injunction. June 20, 2025: The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the law unconstitutional. Reproductive rights groups fear SCOTUS ruling will inspire anti-abortion politicians Trump's attacks on CNN, Fox underscore effort to stifle questions, put media on back foot Bill Moyers, the former White House press secretary turned acclaimed TV journalist, dead at 91 Should ICE agents wear masks? Police seek tips after elderly woman hurt in Baton Rouge hit-and-run crash Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Louisiana files lawsuits alleging pharmaceutical giant CVS deceived customers in text messages
NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana filed several lawsuits accusing pharmaceutical giant CVS of abusing customer information and using its dominant market position to drive up drug costs and unfairly undermine independent pharmacies, the state's attorney general said Tuesday. Attorney General Liz Murrill began investigating CVS after the company sent out mass text messages to thousands of residents on June 11 to lobby against legislation that took aim at its business structure. The texts warned that medication costs could go up and all CVS pharmacies in the state would close. The lawsuits, which were filed Monday in central Louisiana's St. Landry Parish, seek 'injunctive relief, civil penalties and restitution,' Murrill said. CVS 'abused customers' sensitive information to push a political message,' Republican Gov. Jeff Landry said Tuesday at a press conference. He noted CVS had lobbied his wife over text via the same messaging chain normally used to notify her about picking up a prescription drug or other healthcare-related matters. One lawsuit argues that the text message lobbying constituted 'unfair or deceptive acts' in violation of state trade law. Two Louisiana-based law firms have filed a separate class action lawsuit against CVS over the text messages. CVS has denied any wrongdoing. 'Our communication with CVS customers, patients and members of the community was consistent with the law,' CVS said in an emailed statement. 'We believe it was important for people to know about a potential disruption to where they get their medicine.' Two other lawsuits allege that CVS artificially inflates prices for consumers and independent pharmacies. CVS serves as a pharmacy benefit manager, essentially an intermediary that buys medication from manufacturers and distributes drugs to pharmacies. CVS and the mail-order pharmacy Express Scripts dominate the market by processing about eight out of every 10 prescription drug claims, according to the Federal Trade Commission, which warned in a 2024 report that this allows for 'inflating drug costs and squeezing Main Street pharmacies.' Because CVS also owns a vast network of retail pharmacies, including 119 in Louisiana, it sets the terms for how prescription drugs are sold to customers there. The proposed law that sparked the text messages from CVS had sought to ban pharmacy benefit managers like CVS from owning drug stores. The law failed to pass, but Landry has stated he will seek to revive it. In the state's litigation, Murrill alleges that CVS business structure and practices allow the company to 'manipulate prices, restrict competition and channel profits internally.' One lawsuit accuses CVS of 'systematically under-reimbursing independent Louisiana pharmacies to the point of economic hardship, while routing patients to CVS-owned facilities.' The lawsuit alleges that CVS imposes 'unethical, unscrupulous, and exorbitantly high fees on independent pharmacies.' CVS said that it should not have to pay higher rates for 'less efficient pharmacies' and that this would lead to 'higher costs for consumers.' 'Importantly, CVS Pharmacy remains the lowest cost pharmacy and a critical partner in lowering prescription drug costs for Louisianans,' the company said. Another lawsuit argues that CVS uses its market control to exclude lower-cost drugs for 'high-rebate, high-price brand drugs' and other practices that 'distort the drug market' and 'drive up costs for the state's public health programs and its citizens.' CVS said that its business structure allows for 'better access, affordability, and advocacy for those we serve.' The company said that removing CVS pharmacies from Louisiana would increase costs to the state by more than US$4.6 million. Landry said he would seek new legislation targeting CVS if existing laws were insufficient to win in court. Jack Brook, The Associated Press
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Louisiana files lawsuits alleging pharmaceutical giant CVS deceived customers in text messages
NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana filed several lawsuits accusing pharmaceutical giant CVS of abusing customer information and using its dominant market position to drive up drug costs and unfairly undermine independent pharmacies, the state's attorney general said Tuesday. Attorney General Liz Murrill began investigating CVS after the company sent out mass text messages to thousands of residents on June 11 to lobby against legislation that took aim at its business structure. The texts warned that medication costs could go up and all CVS pharmacies in the state would close.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Louisiana files lawsuits alleging pharmaceutical giant CVS deceived customers in text messages
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana filed several lawsuits accusing pharmaceutical giant CVS of abusing customer information and using its dominant market position to drive up drug costs and unfairly undermine independent pharmacies, the state's attorney general said Tuesday. Attorney General Liz Murrill began investigating CVS after the company sent out mass text messages to thousands of residents on June 11 to lobby against legislation that took aim at its business structure. The texts warned that medication costs could go up and all CVS pharmacies in the state would close. The lawsuits, which were filed Monday in central Louisiana's St. Landry Parish, seek 'injunctive relief, civil penalties and restitution,' Murrill said. CVS 'abused customers' sensitive information to push a political message,' Republican Gov. Jeff Landry said Tuesday at a press conference. He noted CVS had lobbied his wife over text via the same messaging chain normally used to notify her about picking up a prescription drug or other healthcare-related matters. One lawsuit argues that the text message lobbying constituted 'unfair or deceptive acts' in violation of state trade law. Two Louisiana-based law firms have filed a separate class action lawsuit against CVS over the text messages. CVS has denied any wrongdoing. 'Our communication with CVS customers, patients and members of the community was consistent with the law,' CVS said in an emailed statement. 'We believe it was important for people to know about a potential disruption to where they get their medicine.' Two other lawsuits allege that CVS artificially inflates prices for consumers and independent pharmacies. CVS serves as a pharmacy benefit manager — essentially an intermediary that buys medication from manufacturers and distributes drugs to pharmacies. CVS and the mail-order pharmacy Express Scripts dominate the market by processing about eight out of every 10 prescription drug claims, according to the Federal Trade Commission, which warned in a 2024 report that this allows for 'inflating drug costs and squeezing Main Street pharmacies.' Because CVS also owns a vast network of retail pharmacies — including 119 in Louisiana — it sets the terms for how prescription drugs are sold to customers there. The proposed law that sparked the text messages from CVS had sought to ban pharmacy benefit managers like CVS from owning drug stores. The law failed to pass, but Landry has stated he will seek to revive it. In the state's litigation, Murrill alleges that CVS business structure and practices allow the company to 'manipulate prices, restrict competition and channel profits internally.' One lawsuit accuses CVS of 'systematically under-reimbursing independent Louisiana pharmacies to the point of economic hardship, while routing patients to CVS-owned facilities.' The lawsuit alleges that CVS imposes 'unethical, unscrupulous, and exorbitantly high fees on independent pharmacies.' CVS said that it should not have to pay higher rates for 'less efficient pharmacies' and that this would lead to 'higher costs for consumers.' 'Importantly, CVS Pharmacy remains the lowest cost pharmacy and a critical partner in lowering prescription drug costs for Louisianans,' the company said. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. Another lawsuit argues that CVS uses its market control to exclude lower-cost drugs for 'high-rebate, high-price brand drugs' and other practices that 'distort the drug market' and 'drive up costs for the state's public health programs and its citizens.' CVS said that its business structure allows for 'better access, affordability, and advocacy for those we serve.' The company said that removing CVS pharmacies from Louisiana would increase costs to the state by more than $4.6 million. Landry said he would seek new legislation targeting CVS if existing laws were insufficient to win in court. ___ Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
