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Judge Judy's son wants to see lawsuits in wake of deadly LA wildfires: Public officials 'personally liable'

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Judge Judy's son wants to see lawsuits in wake of deadly LA wildfires: Public officials 'personally liable'

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EXCLUSIVE – As the California wildfires continue to blaze, a couple of popular TV judges say they’re ready to see some consequences.

The California wildfires have burned countless homes and taken over 20 lives as of this week. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom have taken the brunt of the blame in the wake of the devastation. Some allege the leaders failed to secure enough resources for the blaze, while others have condemned Bass for going on international travel in the midst of the inferno and cutting the city’s fire department budget by millions.

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Adam Levy and Tanya Acker, judges on Prime Video’s “Tribunal Justice,” told Fox News Digital they want to see some accountability. Judge Patricia DiMango serves as the third judge on the “Tribunal Justice” panel.

“I know a number of people whose homes have burned to the ground,” said Acker. “And I know the communities that have burned or are burning… It’s just a really hard time.”

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES: ESSENTIAL PHONE NUMBERS FOR LOS ANGELES-AREA RESIDENTS AND HOW YOU CAN HELP THEM  

The wind whips embers while a firefighter battles the fire in the Angeles National Forest near Mt. Wilson as the wildfires burn in the Los Angeles area, during the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, Jan. 9, 2025.  (REUTERS/Ringo Chiu)

Acker explained she felt “blessed and lucky” because she only had to evacuate briefly and was able to return to her house.

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Levy, the son of Judge Judy, who serves as a creator on “Tribunal Justice,” said he hopes to see some lawsuits in the wake of the inferno.

“I hope so,” he told Fox News Digital. “I do. But, you know, the problem is that when there are lawsuits filed, as the lawsuit that was recently filed down in New Orleans and the Bourbon Street massacre, if there is a judgment, if you can overcome issues of sovereign immunity and if you can overcome issues of third-party liability for the criminal conduct, right, of third parties and the issues of foreseeability which always come into play, taxpayers pick up the tab. I think that system has to change.” 

SILENT ON ARRIVAL: LA MAYOR KAREN BASS REFUSES TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR HER ABSENCE WHILE WILDFIRES RAVAGE CITY

“Palisades Fire” near Brentwood neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, United States on January 11, 2025. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

One lawsuit has popped up against Southern California Edison in response to the Eaton fire. Trial law firms McNicholas & McNicholas, Becker Law Group and Singleton Schreiber filed the lawsuit on behalf of the victims impacted by the fire, alleging that Southern California Edison failed to comply with essential electrical and fire safety standards, including failing to maintain power lines and overgrown vegetation, Fox 11 reported. The lawsuit referred to it as “gross negligence.”

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Levy pointed fingers at public officials who he said “know that they are immune from any liability” and are “going to do whatever they have to do to remain in office.”

JUDGE JUDY’S SON, FELLOW JUDGES DISH ON WHY AUDIENCES LOVE TV COURTROOM DRAMA: INSTANT ACCOUNTABILITY

“Despite the fact that the decisions that they’re making are putting the majority of their constituents at risk,” Levy said. “You have to. That’s my feeling. And that’s coming from me. And I was a former DA. I set policy. I set my budget, and I did it always with the safety of my constituents in mind… And unfortunately, there are people, there are politicians who don’t hesitate to do the wrong thing so long as it makes it more likely that they are re-elected. And we’ve got to change that. We have to make sure that public officials have skin in the game. And the only way we do that is by changing the tort laws.”

Acker said she hopes people won’t start dragging LA into a really divisive national conversation, but agreed that people are entitled to ask questions of California leadership.

“There’s a difference between sort of trying to dig in and get at the root cause of something and just sort of trying to score political points,” Acker said. “I think the latter is not helpful, but that doesn’t mean that… We have to figure out how and why this happened. And people need to be held accountable for decisions that they made or didn’t make. And, you know, we’ve got to make sure that we do a better job of protecting this community going forward. So, you know, tough questions should be asked. I mean, and the time for doing that, I think, is going to continue for the foreseeable future because there’s a lot to figure out here.”

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Adam Levy, right, is Judge Judy Sheindlin’s son, and stars with Judge Tanya Acker and Judge Patricia DiMango in the series “Tribunal Justice.” (Michael Becker/Prime Video)

‘TRIBUNAL JUSTICE’ JUDGES SHARE TIPS ON HOW TO TELL WHEN SOMEONE IS LYING

“I think that we need to have a really rigorous investigation as to what happened so we can prevent this from happening again,” she later added. “And we really need to dig in and help these communities rebuild.”

As for the reports that looters have started to take advantage of the communities in flames, Acker held nothing back. 

“I cannot think of anything more despicable than trying to prey on homes and properties that have been devastated, victimizing people who are already going through one of the worst moments of their lives,” Acker told Fox Digital. “I cannot think of anything more despicable… I’m pleased that our district attorney has indicated that his office will be taking a tough position, a tough stance on those who are preying on people. And I mean, I just I can’t think of anything more abhorrent.” 

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The Santa Monica Police Department has arrested 39 people in evacuation zones since the start of the Palisades Fire, SMPD told Fox News. Suspects were caught with daggers, window-breaking tools, masks, gloves and narcotics and other “burglary tools,” according to police.

“This community is really going through one of the worst moments in its history. And to exacerbate that pain by victimizing people,” Acker continued. “And I just – I can’t, I have no words for it. And I hope that those who engage in those kinds of activities are caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.”

The second season of “Tribunal Justice” debuts on Prime Video on Monday, January 27, with new episodes every weekday.

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Denver, CO

Could the Dolphins Do Another Deal With Denver?

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Could the Dolphins Do Another Deal With Denver?


As the NFL draft moves farther into the rearview mirror and the offseason program continues to march on, linebacker Jordyn Brooks remains one of three significant Miami Dolphins veterans looking for a contract extension.

And while new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan said at draft time that running back De’Von Achane was not available for trading purposes, he hasn’t made the same declaration for either Brooks or center Aaron Brewer (while it’s fair to add that Sullivan wasn’t asked specifically about the latter two at draft time, he easily could have ended all speculation by adding them to Achane’s name).

Instead, what we have are Sullivan’s prior words that he always would listen if another GM were to give him a call.

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That’s important to remember when it comes to Brooks when we hear or see reports around the league about teams in the market for a linebacker.

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The Dallas Cowboys were one such team heading into the draft, but they acquired former starting San Francisco 49ers starter Dee Winters for a fifth-round pick, so it would seem they’re not longer shopping around.

Now comes a report that the Denver Broncos could be looking to add a linebacker to a defense they believe could lead them to a Super Bowl after they secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs last year before losing starting QB Bo Nix in the divisional round.

An NFL executive told Denver Broncos On SI that they could be looking to make a move that seemed to describe the Dolphins and Brooks to a T.

“The Broncos, I am certain, are going to be watching every cut for a terrific linebacker who can upgrade that,” the executive told Broncos On SI. “It’s the only weak link on their defense. If they could get one dominant player that another team couldn’t afford or doesn’t want to pay because they’re not in contention, they could be scary next year.”

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The key line in the executive’s quote was about a dominant player that a team doesn’t want to pay because they’re not in contention.

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Wow, might as well have stamped Brooks’ picture on that comment right there.

Brooks was dominant last year, for sure, when he earned All-Pro honors and it’s not realistic to expect the Dolphins to be in contention in 2026 after their roster overhaul that ended with more than 60 percent of the team’s salary cap going to players no longer around.

Under normal circumstances, extending Brooks would look like a no-brainer for the Dolphins given his ability, leadership and culture-setting characteristics, but he’s looking for a payday and he’s also going to be 29 years old during the 2026 season.

So instead of a slam dunk, the Dolphins have to ask themselves have kind of financial commitment they want to make to a linebacker who likely will be in his 30s when the team is ready to compete.

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Brooks has no guarantees this year with a $7.8 million base salary and he’s set to become a free agent next offseason when his contract goes into void years. If a move were to happen with Brooks, it almost assuredly would take place after June 1 when the Dolphins would save $8.4 million with a trade.

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Brooks currently has a $10.9 million cap number for 2026 and an extension likely would lower that number, which makes it very intriguing that it hasn’t happened yet or that the Dolphins did not restructure his contract to lower his cap number — the way they did with Achane and Brewer.

But any decision to trade Brooks would not be easy because the Dolphins, after all, do need good players and good leaders to establish a foundation in the first year of the Jon-Eric Sullivan/Jeff Hafley regime.

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WHAT A TRADE COULD LOOK LIKE

If the Broncos indeed were to place a phone call to Sullivan at some point, there probably isn’t a strong likelihood that the Dolphins could get a replay of what they got when they sent wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to Denver this year.

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That deal saw Miami give up Waddle for picks in the first and third rounds, with the teams swapping fourth-round choices to the benefit of the Broncos for 19 spots.

But Waddle is only 27, was under contract for three more years and plays a more premium position.

So thinking about getting a first-round pick for Brooks would not seem realistic, though maybe Denver would be willing to pay a bigger price if the Broncos indeed feel that the linebacker could be the final piece to a Super Bowl puzzle.

As was the case with the Cowboys, this is a situation to monitor because the idea of a trade involving Brooks really can’t be summarily dismissed until he signs a contract extension and we’re still waiting on that.

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Seattle, WA

Who will be the next Seahawks owner? One possible bidder invests in the 49ers

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Who will be the next Seahawks owner? One possible bidder invests in the 49ers


The Seattle Seahawks’ new ownership group may be just like the old one: a team of basketball owners.

In addition to being the first known bidders for the Seahawks, Mittal and Grousbeck were the only names listed on their letter of interest to the Allen Estate. Since Mittal lives in London, Grousbeck would likely be running operations from Seattle and live there part-time, as per Sportico.

But wait, there’s more.

Vinod Khosla, an investor in the division rival San Francisco 49ers, has also been named as a potential buyer. Last year, Khosla was one of a few nearby investors to purchase equity in the 49ers, with the team’s total valuation reaching north of $8.5 billion at the time. The specifics of the individual stakes were not made public, but Sportico reports that Khosla’s was the largest of the group.

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The Seahawks are valued at just under $7 billion, but they will likely be sold for more. If Khosla were to purchase the team from Jody Allen, he would obviously need to sell his stake in the Niners. This type of move is becoming increasingly common in today’s NFL, which has seen former Pittsburgh Steelers minority owners David Tepper and Josh Harris acquire the Panthers and Commanders, respectively.

Harris, who bought a controlling interest in the Commanders in 2023, purchased the team from Dan Snyder for over $6 billion, the largest figure for such an acquisition for an NFL franchise. No matter who ends up purchasing the Seahawks from the Allen Estate, Harris’s record will surely be broken.



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San Diego, CA

Padres Promote 28-Year-Old Rookie, Place Luis Campusano on Injured List Amid Breakout Season

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Padres Promote 28-Year-Old Rookie, Place Luis Campusano on Injured List Amid Breakout Season


The bad news for San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano is good news for third-string catcher Rodolfo Duran.

Duran was promoted from Triple-A El Paso on Thursday, when the Padres prepared to take on the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a four-game series. Campusano was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left toe fracture. Right-handed pitcher Joe Musgrove was transferred to the 60-day injured list in a corresponding roster move.

It isn’t the first time this season the Padres have summoned Duran from Triple-A El Paso.

The 28-year-old catcher joined the Padres on April 16 in advance of a game against the Seattle Mariners at Petco Park. At the time, catcher Freddy Fermin was undergoing concussion testing after he took a foul ball off his mask the night before.

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Ultimately, Duran went back to the minor leagues without appearing in a game. Because he isn’t on the Padres’ 40-man roster, multiple roster moves were needed before he could be promoted.

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Campusano was deemed day-to-day after taking a foul ball of his foot in Tuesday’s win over the San Francisco Giants. Now, he’ll miss at least the next 10 days amid a breakout season that’s seen him hit .288 with three home runs, 10 RBIs and an OPS of .958.

As for Duran, he signed a minor league contract with the Padres in January 2025 and has spent the past two seasons at Triple-A El Paso.

The catcher is a veteran of 615 minor league games since 2015, when he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies out of the Dominican Republic as a teenager. He’s a career .268/.335/.458 hitter in Triple-A, but has so far been buried on the depth chart of four different big league organizations.

Prior to signing with the Padres, Duran played for the Kansas City Royals organization in 2024. He split his time between Triple-A Omaha and Double-A Northwest Arkansas, slashing .282/.323/.467 across the two levels.

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In 2023, Duran spent the entire season with the New York Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate — his first full season at the highest level of the minor leagues. Duran slashed .252/.329/.444 for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders that season.

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From 2015-21, Duran climbed the Phillies’ organizational ladder slowly, topping out with four games at Triple-A in his final season. He has also appeared in 90 Dominican Winter League games from 2020-26, slashing .242/.283/.377 in his homeland’s top circuit.

At 5-foot-8, Duran becomes the shortest position player on the Padres’ active roster.

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Padres Place Joe Musgrove on 60-Day IL

As for Musgrove, he’s ramping back up from 2024 Tommy John surgery. He suffered a setback this spring that has him sidelined for seemingly the foreseeable future.

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While this move was strictly procedural, the latest updates on Musgrove don’t provide much confidence toward him returning any time soon.

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