And the Southern NJ Boys will be moaning about their beloved Taylor Ham...
the "Headline That Caught My Attention or the WTF" thread
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Avenger
Well-Known Angler
Looks like Taylor Swift is off the hook on the cyclosporia diarrhea thing.
www.nbcnews.com
Taylor Farms lettuce sample produced false positive for cyclospora, FDA says
The false positive was discovered when the agency again reviewed the results of a sample from Taylor Farms de Mexico. It doesn’t change the company’s earlier voluntary recall.
www.nbcnews.com
Avenger
Well-Known Angler
Suffolk got $91M in illegal fees, they're only refunding $45M and the lawyers get $12.5M. Who says crime doesn't pay?
By Peter Gill
[email protected]
Updated July 31, 2026 3:27 pm
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After a decade-long legal battle, Suffolk County has agreed to a $57.5 million settlement that repays drivers up to $36 for administrative fees that it tacked on to millions of red-light camera tickets.
Between 2013 and 2023, the county collected $30 on top of the $50 base fine for each violation. Two years ago, an appeals court ruled the extra fees were illegal because they violated "a plain reading" of the state law authorizing such programs, which capped the cost of red light camera tickets at $50 plus a $25 late fee.
Under the settlement agreement, which was posted online this week, the county will repay drivers up to $36 ($30 plus $6 interest) for each ticket, an amount that could be less depending on how many drivers apply for reimbursement. The county has agreed to pay up to a total of $45 million to drivers, plus the administrative costs of the program and $12.5 million to the plaintiffs' lawyers.
"It was a hard-fought litigation for 10 years, and we're very pleased that the Suffolk County ticket holders will be able to receive back the fees that they paid," David Raimondo, one of the plaintiffs' lawyers, told Newsday in an interview.
In a statement, Suffolk County Attorney Christopher Clayton noted the litigation began under former County Executive Steve Bellone. "We are pleased to have reached a resolution that is fair to the members of the class while also protecting the interests of Suffolk County taxpayers," he said. Bellone did not respond to a request for comment.
Meanwhile, Nassau County — which tacked on $100 in illegal fees to each ticket until 2024 — is still fighting its red light camera ticket case in court, arguing that despite the appeals court’s ruling, it should not have to repay drivers.
Suffolk County’s agreement stipulates that drivers will have to apply to get reimbursed. A private contractor, Kroll Settlement Administration, will send out mailers to drivers who paid the camera tickets and conduct a social media campaign to inform drivers about their eligibility.
In total, Suffolk County collected about $91 million in the illegal fees over the course of a decade, Newsday's public records requests previously revealed.
But because its liability for reimbursing drivers is capped at roughly half that amount, including interest, each driver could receive closer to $18 per ticket if all eligible drivers apply.
Raimondo said he thinks that is unlikely to happen.
"One of the reasons is that not everyone will make claims. There are people that have written them off for business expenses. People have moved. People have died. Businesses have shut down," he said.
The settlement documents note that Kroll expects "direct notice will likely reach 90%" of those eligible for a refund.
In the agreement, the county makes no admission of fault, which could protect it from future lawsuits. It was signed by County Attorney Christopher J. Clayton and the executive director of the traffic court, Chad A. Lupinacci, as well as Raimondo, his partner in the case, attorney Kevin Landau, and the lead plaintiff, Robert McGrath. A "fairness hearing" will be scheduled with the judge, David T. Reilly, and open to eligible drivers, for final approval.
Asked to comment on the $12.5 million his firm and the other plaintiffs' attorneys are set to receive, Raimondo said, "I don't think anybody could honestly complain" about it.
"After 10 years of litigation, not only did our work stop Suffolk County residents from incurring the fee — it was instrumental in helping shut down the entire program in Suffolk County," he said.
Suffolk County ended its red light camera program Dec. 1, 2024, soon after it lost the appeals court ruling, though some of the camera equipment and signs still remain up.
Nassau maintains its red light camera program, now charging just the $50 base fine plus a $25 late fee. It stopped charging a $45 "public safety fee" and $55 "driver responsibility fee" on the camera tickets after losing the appeals court ruling.
Suffolk County agrees to refund drivers $45M for illegal red light camera fees
The county would repay drivers up to $36 — the $30 fee plus $6 interest.
www.newsday.com
By Peter Gill
[email protected]
Updated July 31, 2026 3:27 pm
Share
After a decade-long legal battle, Suffolk County has agreed to a $57.5 million settlement that repays drivers up to $36 for administrative fees that it tacked on to millions of red-light camera tickets.
Between 2013 and 2023, the county collected $30 on top of the $50 base fine for each violation. Two years ago, an appeals court ruled the extra fees were illegal because they violated "a plain reading" of the state law authorizing such programs, which capped the cost of red light camera tickets at $50 plus a $25 late fee.
Under the settlement agreement, which was posted online this week, the county will repay drivers up to $36 ($30 plus $6 interest) for each ticket, an amount that could be less depending on how many drivers apply for reimbursement. The county has agreed to pay up to a total of $45 million to drivers, plus the administrative costs of the program and $12.5 million to the plaintiffs' lawyers.
"It was a hard-fought litigation for 10 years, and we're very pleased that the Suffolk County ticket holders will be able to receive back the fees that they paid," David Raimondo, one of the plaintiffs' lawyers, told Newsday in an interview.
In a statement, Suffolk County Attorney Christopher Clayton noted the litigation began under former County Executive Steve Bellone. "We are pleased to have reached a resolution that is fair to the members of the class while also protecting the interests of Suffolk County taxpayers," he said. Bellone did not respond to a request for comment.
Meanwhile, Nassau County — which tacked on $100 in illegal fees to each ticket until 2024 — is still fighting its red light camera ticket case in court, arguing that despite the appeals court’s ruling, it should not have to repay drivers.
Suffolk County’s agreement stipulates that drivers will have to apply to get reimbursed. A private contractor, Kroll Settlement Administration, will send out mailers to drivers who paid the camera tickets and conduct a social media campaign to inform drivers about their eligibility.
In total, Suffolk County collected about $91 million in the illegal fees over the course of a decade, Newsday's public records requests previously revealed.
But because its liability for reimbursing drivers is capped at roughly half that amount, including interest, each driver could receive closer to $18 per ticket if all eligible drivers apply.
Raimondo said he thinks that is unlikely to happen.
"One of the reasons is that not everyone will make claims. There are people that have written them off for business expenses. People have moved. People have died. Businesses have shut down," he said.
The settlement documents note that Kroll expects "direct notice will likely reach 90%" of those eligible for a refund.
In the agreement, the county makes no admission of fault, which could protect it from future lawsuits. It was signed by County Attorney Christopher J. Clayton and the executive director of the traffic court, Chad A. Lupinacci, as well as Raimondo, his partner in the case, attorney Kevin Landau, and the lead plaintiff, Robert McGrath. A "fairness hearing" will be scheduled with the judge, David T. Reilly, and open to eligible drivers, for final approval.
Asked to comment on the $12.5 million his firm and the other plaintiffs' attorneys are set to receive, Raimondo said, "I don't think anybody could honestly complain" about it.
"After 10 years of litigation, not only did our work stop Suffolk County residents from incurring the fee — it was instrumental in helping shut down the entire program in Suffolk County," he said.
Suffolk County ended its red light camera program Dec. 1, 2024, soon after it lost the appeals court ruling, though some of the camera equipment and signs still remain up.
Nassau maintains its red light camera program, now charging just the $50 base fine plus a $25 late fee. It stopped charging a $45 "public safety fee" and $55 "driver responsibility fee" on the camera tickets after losing the appeals court ruling.
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