Diane Lilli

Diane Lilli is an award-winning Journalist, Editor, and Author with over 18 years of experience contributing to New Jersey news outlets, both in print and online. Notably, she played a pivotal role in launching the first daily digital newspaper, Jersey Tomato Press, in 2005. Her work has been featured in various newspapers, journals, magazines, and literary publications across the nation. Diane is the proud recipient of the Shirley Chisholm Journalism Award.

Articles

A man speaking into a microphone with his hand raised, set against a backdrop of red curtains.

Fired Former Weinstein Exec Ordered to Pay $1.2 Million or His Shares in 101 Studios to Icelandic Venture Capitalist for Debt Default

The far-reaching repercussions of the dramatic fall of infamous Hollywood Producer Harvey Weinstein continue, as his former President and COO was ordered to pay a large debt in arrears or forfeit his stake in a movie studio. LA County Superior Court Judge David Sotelo ordered ex-Weinstein former CEO and COO... Read More about Fired Former Weinstein Exec Ordered to Pay $1.2 Million or His Shares in 101 Studios to Icelandic Venture Capitalist for Debt Default

President Biden speaking at a podium, outlining his infrastructure plan.

Biden’s Sweeping Infrastructure Bill Harkens Back to Roosevelt’s WPA

President Biden unveiled his sweeping new infrastructure plan for America on Wednesday. The daring proposal includes plans to fix 10,000 bridges, about 20,000 miles of roadways, and more. The new $2 trillion plan includes new corporate tax hikes, robust climate change laws, millions of new jobs and training for Americans,... Read More about Biden’s Sweeping Infrastructure Bill Harkens Back to Roosevelt’s WPA

Exterior view of the Minnesota Supreme Court building.

Minnesota Supreme Court Overturns Criminal Sexual Conduct Conviction due to Victim's Intoxication

The Minnesota Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, overturned a criminal sexual conduct case due to the female victim being "voluntarily intoxicated." The court did not disagree with the occurrence of the sexual act in the case, stating, "The parties do not dispute the relevant facts." Yet, they still overturned... Read More about Minnesota Supreme Court Overturns Criminal Sexual Conduct Conviction due to Victim's Intoxication

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. addresses the press regarding the investigation into Donald Trump and the Trump Organization.

Trump CFO Allen Weisselberg's Personal Bank Records Subpoenaed in NY Criminal Trump Investigation

NY Times Report Says Flipping Exec is Possible Prosecutors in an ongoing, sweeping investigation into Donald Trump and the Trump Organization, conducted by the Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., have subpoenaed the personal bank records of Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg, 73. Vance and his team's sweeping investigation focuses... Read More about Trump CFO Allen Weisselberg's Personal Bank Records Subpoenaed in NY Criminal Trump Investigation

A man standing on the steps outside a courthouse, dressed casually in a dark jacket and sweater.

Did You Hear the One About the Comic Juror Who Ignited an Appeal?

New Yorker Jake Letizia enjoys making people laugh. But Judge John G. Koeltl of Federal District Court was not amused. After the defendant’s attorney discovered Letizia was sharing jokes about the trial online, he requested an appeal. And he got it. The trial by jury was in late 2019, and... Read More about Did You Hear the One About the Comic Juror Who Ignited an Appeal?

A woman wearing a black hat and glasses poses in front of an abstract background.

Appeals Court Rules Andy Warhol Foundation Broke Copyright Laws in Use of Celeb Photographer’s Prince Photograph

Celebrity photographer Lynn Goldsmith is probably partying like it’s still 1999. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a controversial 2019 New York Federal Court’s ruling that the Andy Warhol Foundation’s usage of Goldsmith’s copyrighted Prince photograph was legal. The high-profile photographer to the stars won her copyright lawsuit on... Read More about Appeals Court Rules Andy Warhol Foundation Broke Copyright Laws in Use of Celeb Photographer’s Prince Photograph

Teenager in red prison attire and a mask appearing in court following a hacking conviction.

High School Teen Sentenced To 3 Years for Hacking Celebrity Twitter Accounts in Bitcoin Scam

A brilliant yet criminally savvy Tampa high-school teenager was convicted of hacking numerous celebrity Twitter accounts in 2020 in an attempt to get over $100,000 in Bitcoin. This high-profile case includes the hacked social media accounts of some of the most well-known celebrities globally, plus numerous U.S. presidents and global... Read More about High School Teen Sentenced To 3 Years for Hacking Celebrity Twitter Accounts in Bitcoin Scam

A group of women standing together at a press conference advocating for survivors' rights, with a banner reading "Justice for Survivors" in front of them.

U.S.C. Settles Sex Abuse Case for $1.1 Billion in Biggest Payout in Higher Education History

University of Southern California (U.S.C.) is paying out a staggering $1.1 billion settlement to 710 female patients of a campus gynecologist accused of sex abuse, George Tyndall. This payout is the largest sex abuse settlement and payout in the history of higher education. U.S.C. attorneys announced the gigantic settlement in... Read More about U.S.C. Settles Sex Abuse Case for $1.1 Billion in Biggest Payout in Higher Education History

Bipartisan support for the Debra Nixon Special Needs Trust Inclusion Act is shown during a congressional event, featuring a veteran and a representative with a service dog.

Special Needs Trust Legislation Introduced in Congress for Vets With Children With Special Needs

A bipartisan bill allowing veterans more flexibility on naming beneficiaries in the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) was introduced by New Jersey Democrat Representative Mikie Sherrill and Florida Republican Representative Gus Bilirakis. The "Debra Nixon Special Needs Trust Inclusion Act," if passed, will offer veterans participating in SBP the full advantage... Read More about Special Needs Trust Legislation Introduced in Congress for Vets With Children With Special Needs

A medical professional demonstrating a hip implant attachment using a model of a knee joint.

Hip Replacement Lawsuits Grow as Defective Metal Implants Pay over $65 Billion to Thousands of Patients

Sometimes, the cure is worse than the disease. Hip implant manufacturers are being sued for creating serious medical conditions in thousands of patients who opted for metal hip implants. From metal poisoning to metal debris entering the joints, from chromosomal abnormalities and DNA damage to a risk of cancer, serious... Read More about Hip Replacement Lawsuits Grow as Defective Metal Implants Pay over $65 Billion to Thousands of Patients

Home Depot store exterior with signs and products displayed outside.

Home Depot Agrees to Pay $20.75 Million Penalty for Failure to Follow Lead Paint Laws

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) jointly announced a nationwide settlement of $20.75 million by Home Depot USA Inc. in a lead paint practices lawsuit. The settlement is the highest civil penalty paid in history under the Toxic Substance Controls Act. The lawsuit alleged... Read More about Home Depot Agrees to Pay $20.75 Million Penalty for Failure to Follow Lead Paint Laws

A man with braided hair and a beard, wearing a white shirt, looks into the camera with a subtle smile against a neutral background.

Wrongly Convicted and Jailed Man Suing Hertz Over Lost Alibi Receipt in Murder Case that Resulted in Five Years in Prison

After spending five years in prison for a murder he did not commit, Herbert Alford, 47, was set free. Alford, who was convicted in 2016 of second-degree murder, is now suing Hertz car rental over a lost receipt that proved his alibi. Alford spent five years in prison without the... Read More about Wrongly Convicted and Jailed Man Suing Hertz Over Lost Alibi Receipt in Murder Case that Resulted in Five Years in Prison

President Joe Biden signing a document at a desk with the presidential seal.

President Biden’s Legacy $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Plan Offers Multiple New Checks for Americans & Much More

When President Joe Biden released his eagerly awaited new stimulus package on March 11, millions of unemployed, hungry, and otherwise financially stressed Americans pored over every detail. Though the new bill mirrored some of the primary, less-funded ideas of the 2020 version, this stimulus bill was super-sized and represented a... Read More about President Biden’s Legacy $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Plan Offers Multiple New Checks for Americans & Much More

Image of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaking, gesturing with his hand.

As Governor Cuomo Faces Possibility of Impeachment, How Presidential VS. Gubenatorial Impeachments Differ

On the heels of a stunning national nursing home deaths scandal, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo now seems headed for impeachment for sexual harassment. Faced with twin scandals, both Democrats and Republicans are calling for his impeachment. In New York, this would be the first impeachment in more than a... Read More about As Governor Cuomo Faces Possibility of Impeachment, How Presidential VS. Gubenatorial Impeachments Differ

A memorial portrait of Officer Brian Sicknick displayed in the Capitol building, with a Capitol Police officer standing in the background.

Two Capitol Hill Rioters Charged with Assault Leading to Death of Officer Brian D. Sicknick

The U.S. Department of Justice charged two Capitol Hill rioters on March 14 in the deadly assault of Brian D. Sicknick, a Capitol Police officer. The violent clash by rioters during the January 6 riot on the Capitol led to five fatalities, including Officer Sicknick, a New Jersey native. These... Read More about Two Capitol Hill Rioters Charged with Assault Leading to Death of Officer Brian D. Sicknick