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Mark Zuckerberg, CEO May 22, 2017 Sheryl Sandberg, COO Facebook 1 Hacker Way Menlo Park, CA 94025
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO May 22, 2017 Sheryl Sandberg, COO Facebook 1 Hacker Way Menlo Park, CA 94025 Dear Mr. Zuckerberg and Ms. Sandberg: I am writing on behalf of Consumer Watchdog to ask that Facebook take immediate steps to halt child sex-trafficking via the Internet and immediately support necessary amendments to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act that would allow such cynical businesses as Backpage.com to be held accountable for actively aiding and abetting child sex trafficking. By one count 73% of child trafficking reports in the United States involve Backpage.com. Backpage hides behind the cloak of Sec. 230 while too many in the tech industry blindly and reflexively claim that needed amendments would undermine Internet freedom. Do not fall victim to this spurious claim. Action on your part now would be particularly timely; Congress has designated this week as “Combatting Trafficking and Child Protection Week” and expects to focus on the issue. Rep. Anne Wagner, R-Mo., has introduced H.R. 1865, the “Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017.” It could well be the vehicle that would finally allow Backpage to be held accountable. Just last week Consumer Watchdog, DeliverFund, Faith and Freedom Coalition, The Rebecca Project for Justice, Trafficking in America Taskforce and Nacole S., a sex-trafficking victim’s mother, released a comprehensive report detailing Backpage’s wrongful activities and how Google has spent millions to fund efforts to thwart any changes in Section 230. (http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/backpagereport.pdf) As detailed in the report, primary recipients of Google’s largess are two nonprofit organizations, The Center for Digital Democracy (CDT) and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). -
The Salute to Women Behind the Wheel Celebrates 5 Years!
The Salute to Women Behind the Wheel celebrates 5 years! Five years ago the Women In Trucking Association kicked off the first annual “Salute to Women Behind the Wheel.” The goal then, which continues now, was to honor the women who travel the highways as a career. Whether she drives an 18-wheeler or a bus full of children (or tourists), the reason for the Salute is to honor the women who have professional licenses and earn a living while driving. On Saturday, March 29 at 11 am, the celebration will begin in rooms C201-204 (South Wing) at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville. Drivers and their families, as well as members of Women In Trucking Association, will have the opportunity to meet with event sponsors, be entertained by Terry Wooley, and enjoy a special birthday cake to celebrate our Salute’s 5th year. The event will also include WIT’s signature chocolate fountain! Attendees can register for the Salute at the WIT booth #40557 in the North Wing Lobby at the show on Thursday or Friday, or outside rooms C201-204 in the South Wing on Saturday. This year’s speaker is Rebecca Brewster, President and COO of the American Transportation Research Institute, who is also the 2013 recipient of the “Influential Woman in Trucking” award sponsored by Navistar. She will be riding to Louisville from Atlanta as a passenger in tractor-trailers driven by our members, Stephanie Klang of Con-way Truckload and Monica Abdul-Rashid of Schneider. She will stop at Nashville TA/Petro along the way and have lunch with her drivers before heading to the Mid- America Trucking Show. -
2020 Fall Meeting
TECHNOLOGY & MAINTENANCE COUNCIL’S 2020 FALL MEETING FALL MEETING PROGRAM September 14-17, 2020 TECHNOLOGY & MAINTENANCE COUNCIL 950 N. Glebe Road, Suite 210 • Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 838-1763 http://tmc.trucking.org TABLE OF CONTENTS AGENDAS Monday, September 14 ...............................................................................10 Tuesday, September 15 ...............................................................................10 Wednesday, September 16.........................................................................24 Thursday, September 17 .............................................................................28 Friday, September 18 ..................................................................................31 CONTENTS Associates Advisory Group .......................................................................39 Audio/Visual Equipment & Recordings ...................................................45 Board Nominating Committee ...................................................................38 Board of Directors .......................................................................................34 Schedule-at-a-Glance ..................................................................................4 Chairman’s Remarks .....................................................................................3 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ...........................................................6 Future TMC Meetings ................................................................Back Cover -
United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
United States Court of Appeals For the First Circuit No. 15-1724 JANE DOE NO. 1 ET AL., Plaintiffs, Appellants, v. BACKPAGE.COM, LLC ET AL., Defendants, Appellees. APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS [Hon. Richard G. Stearns, U.S. District Judge] Before Barron, Circuit Judge, Souter, Associate Justice, and Selya, Circuit Judge. John T. Montgomery, with whom Ching-Lee Fukuda, Aaron M. Katz, Christine Ezzell Singer, Jessica L. Soto, Rebecca C. Ellis, and Ropes & Gray LLP were on brief, for appellants. Maura Healey, Attorney General of Massachusetts, and Genevieve C. Nadeau, Deputy Chief, Civil Rights Division, on brief for Commonwealth of Massachusetts, amicus curiae. Dennis J. Herrera, City Attorney, Victoria Wong, Mollie Lee, Elizabeth Pederson, and Mark D. Lipton, Deputy City Attorneys, on brief for City and County of San Francisco, amici curiae. Cathy Hampton, City Attorney, on brief for City of Atlanta, amicus curiae. Michael N. Feuer, City Attorney, James P. Clark, Mary Clare Hon. David H. Souter, Associate Justice (Ret.) of the Supreme Court of the United States, sitting by designation. Molidor, Anh Truong, Sahar Nayeri, and Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney, on brief for City of Los Angeles, California, amicus curiae. Tracy Reeve, City Attorney, and Harry Auerbach, Chief Deputy City Attorney, on brief for City of Portland (Oregon), amicus curiae. Donna L. Edmundson, City Attorney, on brief for City of Houston, amicus curiae. Shelley R. Smith, City Solicitor, on brief for Michael A. Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia, amicus curiae. Jeffrey Dana, City Solicitor, on brief for City of Providence and Mayor Jorge O. -
Amicus Brief Respondents Backpage
No. 44920-02-11 COURT OF APPEALS DIVISION II OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON VILLAGE VOICE MEDIA HOLDINGS, L.L.C., d/b/a Backpage.com; BACKPAGE.COM, L.L.C.; and NEW TIMES MEDIA, L.L.C., d/b/a Backpage.com, Appellants, v. J.S., S.L., and L.C., Respondents. BRIEF OF RESPONDENTS J.S., S.L, and L.C. PFAU COCHRAN VERTETIS THE LAW OFFICE OF ERIK L. AMALA PLLC BAUER Darrell L. Cochran, WSBA #22851 Erik L. Bauer, WSBA #14937 Michael T. Pfau, WSBA#24649 Attorney for Respondents Jason P. Amala, WSBA #37054 215 Tacoma Ave. South Vincent T. Nappo, WSBA #44191 Tacoma, WA 98402 Attorneys for Respondents (253) 383-2000 phone 911 Pacific Ave. Ste. 200 Tacoma, WA 98402 (206)462-4334 phone (206) 623-3624 facsimile TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION 1 II. RESTATEMENT OF ISSUES ON APPEAL 3 III. COUNTER-STATEMENT OF THE CASE 4 A. Factual Background 4 1. The Child Victims Allege the Backpage Defendants Were Responsible for Creating and/or Developing Unlawful Content on Backpage.com 4 2. The Backpage Defendants Trafficked Each of the Child Victims on Backpage.com 9 B. Procedural History 11 IV. ARGUMENT 13 A. Standard of Review 13 B. Congress Did Not Enact CDA § 230 to Immunize Websites That Create or Develop Unlawful Content Online 14 C. CDA § 230 Does Not Immunize Websites That Are Responsible, In Whole or In Part, for the "Development" of Illegal Content 16 D. Websites Like Backpage.com That "Materially Contribute" to Unlawful Content Are "Co-Developers" of That Content and Are Not Entitled to CDA § 230 Immunity 17 E. -
August 16, 2017 the Honorable Roger Wicker Chairman Senate
August 16, 2017 The Honorable Roger Wicker Chairman Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation The Honorable Brian Schatz Ranking Member Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation The Honorable Marsha Blackburn Chairman House of Representatives Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Committee on Energy and Commerce The Honorable Michael Doyle Ranking Member House of Representative Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Committee on Energy and Commerce RE: Amendment of Communications Decency Act Dear Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Schatz, Chairman Blackburn, and Ranking Member Doyle: In 2013, Attorneys General from 49 states and territories wrote to Congress, informing it that some courts have interpreted the Communications Decency Act of 1996 (“CDA”) to render state and local authorities unable to take action against companies that actively profit from the promotion and facilitation of sex trafficking and crimes against children. Unfortunately, nearly four years later, this problem persists and these criminal profiteers often continue to operate with impunity. The recent news highlighting the potential complicity of online classified-ad company Backpage.com in soliciting sex traffickers’ ads for its website once again underscores the need 1850 M Street, NW to expand, not limit, the ability of all law-enforcement agencies to fight sex Twelfth Floor Washington, DC 20036 Phone: (202) 326-6000 http://www.naag.org/ trafficking.1 The undersigned Attorneys General once again respectfully request that the United States Congress amend the CDA to affirm that state, territorial, and local authorities retain their traditional jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute those who facilitate illicit acts and endanger our most vulnerable citizens. -
Corporate Governance
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FORM DEF 14A Definitive proxy statements Filing Date: 2021-05-19 | Period of Report: 2021-06-30 SEC Accession No. 0001193125-21-165953 (HTML Version on secdatabase.com) FILER Nikola Corp Mailing Address Business Address 4141 E BROADWAY ROAD 4141 E BROADWAY ROAD CIK:1731289| IRS No.: 824151153 | State of Incorp.:DE | Fiscal Year End: 1231 PHOENIX AZ 85040 PHOENIX AZ 85040 Type: DEF 14A | Act: 34 | File No.: 001-38495 | Film No.: 21938362 (480) 666-1038 SIC: 3711 Motor vehicles & passenger car bodies Copyright © 2021 www.secdatabase.com. All Rights Reserved. Please Consider the Environment Before Printing This Document Table of Contents UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 14A Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ) Filed by the Registrant ☒ Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐ Check the appropriate box: ☐ Preliminary Proxy Statement ☐ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) ☒ Definitive Proxy Statement ☐ Definitive Additional Materials ☐ Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12 Nikola Corporation (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): ☒ No fee required. ☐ Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: (5) Total fee paid: ☐ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. -
A Study Estimating Online Sex Customers Research Report
Invisible Offenders: A Study Estimating Online Sex Customers Research Report This study and executive summary were developed from funding from Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children, ASU Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research and supported by the Phoenix Police Department. Research Team from the Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research (STIR) Dominique Roe-Sepowitz, MSW, Ph.D., STIR Director Kristine Hickle, MSW, Doctoral Candidate, STIR Associate Director of Research Development James Gallagher, M.Admin, STIR Associate Director of Research Innovation and Lieutenant, Vice Enforcement Unit, Phoenix Police Department Jessica Smith, MA, STIR Project Coordinator Eric Hedberg, Ph.D., Arizona State University, Faculty Associate © ASU STIR and Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children 2013 1 Background Information Prostitution, the exchange of sex for money, drugs or other things has received increased attention in recent years from the media, advocacy groups, law enforcement and legislators with a specific focus on the victimization of minors in sex trafficking situations. Sex trafficking, sex trading and sex exchange are all used to describe the exchange of sex between a buyer and a provider or prostituted person. If the person is under the age of 18 years old or is prostituted by another person using force, fraud or coercion, it is defined as sex trafficking by the Victim of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (2000). Sex buyers of prostituted and sex trafficked persons are poorly understood as there are numerous challenges to detecting and studying them. The foci of this study, online sex ad customers, are hidden offenders who are rarely exposed to the public except by episodic targeted enforcement by police (Sanders, 2008). -
The Inconsistency of Prostitution, Sex Trafficking, and the Internet
A Modern Look at the Oldest Profession: The Inconsistency of Prostitution, Sex Trafficking, and the Internet Cara Strike I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 353 A. Distinctions Between Prostitution and Sex Trafficking ......................... 355 B. Modern Day Prostitution: Prostitution on the Internet .......................... 359 C. Internet Regulation Generally ................................................................. 360 III. PROSTITUTION AND SEX TRAFFICKING IN THE UNITED STATES .......................................................................................................................... 362 A. The Repercussions of the Communications Decency Act ........................ 362 B. Congress Takes Action—The Enactment of FOSTA-SESTA ................. 364 C. The United States’ Criminalization Prostitution System ....................... 365 IV. PROSTITUTION AND SEX TRAFFICKING BEYOND AMERICAN BORDERS ........................................................................................................ 368 A. Canada: A Quasi-Decriminalization Approach ....................................... 368 B. New Zealand: A Decriminalization Approach ......................................... 370 V. THE FUTURE OF PROSTITUTION, SEX TRAFFICKING, AND THE INTERNET ..... 372 VI. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................... 374 I. INTRODUCTION At fifteen-years-old, Alyssa Beck became a victim of sex trafficking. -
Recommendation to Enforce a Subpoena Issued to the Ceo of Backpage.Com, Llc
United States Senate PERMANENT SUBCOMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATIONS Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Rob Portman, Chairman Claire McCaskill, Ranking Member RECOMMENDATION TO ENFORCE A SUBPOENA ISSUED TO THE CEO OF BACKPAGE.COM, LLC STAFF REPORT PERMANENT SUBCOMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATIONS UNITED STATES SENATE SENATOR ROB PORTMAN Chairman SENATOR CLAIRE McCASKILL Ranking Minority Member PERMANENT SUBCOMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATIONS BRIAN CALLANAN Staff Director & General Counsel MATT OWEN Chief Counsel MARK ANGEHR Senior Counsel ANDREW POLESOVSKY PHILIP ALITO Counsels WILL DARGUSCH Investigator JOHN KASHUBA Legal Fellow MARGARET DAUM Staff Director & Chief Counsel to the Minority BRANDON REAVIS Counsel to the Minority AMANDA MONTEE Legal Fellow CRYSTAL HUGGINS GAO Detailee KELSEY STROUD Chief Clerk ADAM HENDERSON Professional Staff Member i RECOMMENDATION TO ENFORCE A SUBPOENA ISSUED TO THE CEO OF BACKPAGE.COM, LLC TABLE OF CONTENTS I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................... 1 II. BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................... 4 A. Sex Trafficking on the Internet. ....................................................................... 4 B. Commerical Sex Advertising and Backpage.com. ........................................... 5 C. Crimes Associated with Backpage. .................................................................. 7 D. Public Scrutiny and Victim Lawsuits. ............................................................ -
In a Ruling Issued May 7 from Phoenix's Federal Court
Case 2:18-cr-00422-SMB Document 1155 Filed 05/07/21 Page 1 of 5 1 WO 2 3 4 5 6 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 8 9 United States of America, No. CR-18-00422-001-PHX-SMB 10 Plaintiff, ORDER 11 v. 12 Michael Lacey, et al., 13 Defendants. 14 15 The Court is in receipt of the Government’s Motion to Admit Evidence of Murders 16 Implicating Backpage. (Doc. 920.) Defendants Michael Lacey, James Larkin, John Brunst, 17 Scott Spear, Andrew Padilla, and Joye Vaught responded. (Doc. 953.) The Government 18 requested oral argument, but the Court declines to hold oral argument, finding that it is 19 unnecessary. The Court has considered the pleadings and applicable law and denies the 20 motion for the reasons explained below. 21 I. BACKGROUND 22 On July 25, 2018, a federal grand jury returned a 100-count superseding indictment 23 against several of the Defendants in this case alleging that the Defendants engaged in 24 various crimes related to the operation of the website Backpage.com (“Backpage”), 25 including conspiracy to facilitate prostitution under the Travel Act and money laundering. 26 (Doc. 3.) The Government filed this motion apparently asking the Court for an order 27 finding certain evidence is admissible at trial. The evidence at issue alleges to show that 28 certain persons who engaged in prostitution were murdered by third parties after Case 2:18-cr-00422-SMB Document 1155 Filed 05/07/21 Page 2 of 5 1 advertising on Bakcpage.com. -
Why Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act Does Not Bar Civil Lawsuits Brought by Sex Trafficking Victims Against Backpage.Com
CSE INSTITUTE POLICY PAPER Why Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act Does Not Bar Civil Lawsuits Brought By Sex Trafficking Victims Against Backpage.com The criminal justice system has recently turned its attention to investigating and prosecuting the crime of sex trafficking. Unfortunately, civil litigators have not been as successful at helping sex trafficking victims obtain justice outside the criminal justice system. Lawsuits against sex traffickers and pimps are usually not financially wise. Fortunately, a provision in Act 105 (2014), Pennsylvania’s anti-trafficking statute, permits survivors to sue big- pocket targets like Backpage.com (“Backpage”), an online “adult services” classified-style advertiser that is well known for hosting ads that facilitate the sex trafficking of women and girls. Many convicted sex traffickers have advertised their victims as available for sex on Backpage, some as many as 300 times, resulting in 10-12 transactions daily.1 In order to escape liability for suits brought by sex trafficking victims, Backpage has relied on a provision in the Communications Decency Act2, a Federal statute that prevents websites from being liable for content created by their users. This policy paper explains why the Communications Decency Act does not bar lawsuits brought by sex trafficking victims against Backpage. It explains how sex traffickers use Backpage and the Internet to recruit and sell their victims, and how civil litigators can help victims sue their traffickers or pimps using civil remedies in federal and state statutes. It then explains the history of section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, and why the CDA does not grant websites like Backpage a broad, general immunity from suit.