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Q&A

Past proactive litigation efforts by the Law Department

1:00:22

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173 sec

Council Member Powers asks about the Law Department's role in proactive litigation to defend New York City's interests. Muriel Goode-Trufant provides examples of past proactive litigation efforts.

The department has sued gun manufacturers to address the epidemic of guns on city streets.
Recent successful lawsuits against online retailers of ghost guns without proper background checks or serial numbers.
Litigation against social media platforms concerning youth mental health issues.
Participation in a nationwide class action against Juul and lawsuits against untaxed cigarette distributors.
Collaboration with other municipalities during the Trump administration to protect sanctuary cities.

Keith Powers

1:00:22

Very diplomatic answer.

1:00:26

I wanna talk a little bit about, the the the ability for proactive litigation, and and the role that you see the law department potentially playing in some proactive defenses here at the city against federal action, but, of course, any other issues where we might take action.

1:00:45

Can you talk a little bit about the role that it's played in your time there and the ways that you might seek out proactive litigation, proactive action to defend New Yorkers and protect the city's interests?

Muriel Goode-Trufant

1:00:58

The law department has, done a range of proactive, litigation.

1:01:05

I'll I'll I'll mention a few and I'll then go into what we might continue to do.

1:01:13

We have, dating back to the Bloomberg era, sued gun manufacturers, for, the epidemic of guns on city streets.

1:01:27

More recently, we, successfully sued, online retailers, who made ghost guns that were coming into, New York City and, without, requisite background checks or requiring any type of, serial numbers.

1:01:48

We have, sued social media, platforms, concerning, their contributions to, I would say, the degradation of youth mental health.

1:02:07

We have we were part of a a a nationwide class action against Juul.

1:02:16

We have sued manufacturers and and distributors who, shipped untaxed cigarettes, into, New York City.

1:02:29

We've done a host of, of of cases to, push forward, protection of New Yorkers in their physical, and mental health.

1:02:46

Beyond that, we joined with many municipalities and attorney general offices, during the first Trump administration to, protect, the city of, New York particularly when there was an attack on sanctuary cities.

1:03:05

And, we anticipate that we will, need similar, types of efforts to protect the city of New York.

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Law Department's budget and staffing adequacy

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Future areas for proactive litigation and inter-city collaboration