WJI's Daily Reads for April 15, 2022

WPR: State Supreme Court won't reinstate permit for frac company that would impact wetlands.

"They must submit basic data about the soils and hydrology of the wetlands they want to fill, so that those values can be assessed. And, more importantly, so that the impacts to those values can be mitigated, and that assessment is required before a permit is issued," said MEA (Midwest Environmental Advocates) attorney Rob Lee. "But, DNR, under the Walker administration tried to get around that missing information by granting the permit, and then just putting conditions in there that that information could be submitted at a later date. That's unlawful."

WBAY (Associated Press): Wisconsin claims board says Milwaukee man deserves $1 million for 24 years in prison for crime he did not commit.

ABC: Federal judge expresses concern about democracy and blames Donald Trump.

"You know, I think our democracy is in trouble," Judge Reggie Walton said at the conclusion of the third jury trial for a defendant charged in the Capitol assault. "Because unfortunately, we have charlatans like our former president, who doesn't in my view really care about democracy, but only about power. And as a result of that, it's tearing this country apart."​

Reuters: Judge confirms jury verdict against Tesla regarding hostile environment for Black worker but cuts damages award by over $100 million.

Reuters: Juul settles litigation brought by Washington State.

E-cigarette maker Juul Labs Inc has agreed to pay $22.5 million to settle a lawsuit by the state of Washington accusing it of fueling a vaping epidemic by marketing its products to appeal to minors and deceiving consumers about their addictiveness.

The settlement, announced Wednesday by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, is Juul's fourth with a state over similar claims. The company agreed to pay $40 million to North Carolina last June and $14.5 million to Arizona last November, and Louisiana last week moved to drop its case against Juul pursuant to a $10 million settlement.