New York Paralegal Blog

Donald Trump's campaign has consistently challenged birthright citizenship, a fundamental principle enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. His administration has pursued policies, including an Executive Order, aimed at limiting birthright citizenship, particularly for children born in the U.S. to parents who are not lawful permanent residents or citizens. These actions have been met with legal challenges, with courts largely affirming the existing interpretation of the 14th Amendment. The 14th Amendment and its Roots To understand why birthright citizenship is so deeply embedded in American law, we need to look back to a pivotal moment in U.S. history: the aftermath of the Civil War. Before the war, the infamous 1857 Dred Scott v. Sandford decision by the Supreme Court declared that African Americans, whether enslaved or free, could never be citizens of the United States. This ruling denied them any rights or protections under the Constitution and was...

Ever heard the saying "the buck stops here"? Well, in the legal world, sometimes the "buck" doesn't just stop with the person who directly caused a problem. That's where a fancy-sounding legal term called "respondeat superior" comes into play. Don't let the Latin scare you off! It's actually a pretty straightforward idea that affects everyday life. Simply put, respondeat superior basically means that an employer can be held responsible for the actions of their employees, as long as those actions happened while the employee was doing their job. Think of it this way: imagine a delivery driver, speeding to get packages out on time, accidentally causes a car accident. While the driver is certainly responsible for their actions, the company they work for could also be held liable. Why? Because the driver was working for the company, doing their job, when the accident occurred. It's all about the "scope of employment." This is the ...

Yesterday, a somber chapter closed in a case that highlights the critical importance of workplace safety and honest accountability. Richard Zagger, a 58-year-old supervisor from Blue Point, New York, received a sentence of one year in prison and two years of supervised release. His crime? Conspiracy and obstruction of justice in connection with a fatal construction accident. This tragic story began when Zagger, overseeing a project for Northridge Construction Corporation in East Patchogue, Long Island, was in charge of assembling a metal shed. During the construction, a horrific accident occurred: one of the employees fell from the improperly secured shed roof and died. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the agency responsible for ensuring safe working conditions, launched an investigation. What they found was deeply concerning: multiple violations of worker safety standards. A key issue was the failure to keep the metal structure stable throughout the construct...

In a shocking case that has gripped New York, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng, a 35-year-old gastroenterologist, has pleaded guilty to multiple counts of rape and sexual abuse. He admitted to assaulting unconscious female patients in the hospital and acquaintances in his apartment, often filming the horrific acts. A Doctor’s Oath Betrayed Dr. Cheng, who once took an oath to "do no harm," used his position of trust to prey on vulnerable individuals. The District Attorney highlighted the disturbing nature of the crimes, emphasizing that Cheng abused his power as a medical professional. The brave actions of one woman who discovered videos of the assaults on Cheng’s phone led to his arrest in December 2022. This discovery triggered a major investigation by the Queens District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau. The Investigation and Evidence Investigators found shocking evidence after searching Cheng’s apartment. They seized digi...

Imagine billions of dollars meant for hospitals, doctors, and patient care ending up in the pockets of criminals. It sounds like a movie plot, but it's a real-life crime that's happening every day. The good news? The U.S. government just announced the biggest crackdown on healthcare fraud in history! The Staggering Numbers The Department of Justice (DOJ) just brought charges against 324 people—including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists—for schemes that tried to steal over $14.6 billion from our healthcare system. But it’s not just about catching the bad guys; it's about getting our money back. Authorities seized over $245 million in cash, luxury cars, and even crypto. On top of that, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) stopped over $4 billion from being paid out on fake claims. Attorney General Pamela Bondi put it best: "This record-setting Health Care Fraud Takedown delivers justice to criminal actors who prey upon our most vulnerable citi...

Hey everyone! As a compliance paralegal, I spend a lot of time thinking about how companies can stay on the right side of the law. And one fascinating legal idea that often comes up is the "Collective Knowledge Doctrine." It might sound a bit technical, but it’s actually a pretty common-sense concept with big implications for businesses. Think of it this way: Imagine a puzzle. Each employee in a company has a piece of that puzzle. Individually, one piece might not tell you much. But when you put all the pieces together, a clear picture emerges. The Collective Knowledge Doctrine basically says that a company can't claim ignorance if different employees have different pieces of information that, when combined, would reveal something important – especially if that "something" is wrongdoing. In simpler terms, if employee A knows one fact, and employee B knows another, and bringing those facts together would show the company was breaking a rule or doing s...

A sophisticated, nationwide bank fraud scheme that stole over $2 million by impersonating individuals across the country has been dismantled with the conviction of its alleged ringleader, Oluwaseun Adekoya, also known as "Ace G." On Thursday, June 26, 2025, a jury found the 39-year-old Cliffside Park, New Jersey, resident guilty of bank fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and nine counts of aggravated identity theft. The Modus Operandi: How the Scheme Operated From his luxury apartment, Adekoya orchestrated a complex operation targeting people with substantial home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) at credit unions nationwide. He used encrypted messaging platforms like Telegram to acquire sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers, account numbers, and mothers' maiden names. Adekoya then recruited a network of managers across the country. He supplied them with this stolen information and fake driver's licenses for lower-leve...