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

The iconic Hollywood sign surrounded by hills and trees under a dramatic sky.

“Con Queen of Hollywood” Faces London Courts & Extradition for Allegedly Defrauding Star-Struck Actors

With a story juicy enough to be a hit movie, the secret identity of the infamous “Con Queen of Hollywood” was revealed in a London courtroom to be an Indonesian man, Hargobind Tahilramani, 41. Nicknamed the “Con Queen of Hollywood” because of his alleged scheme to steal hundreds of thousands... Read More about “Con Queen of Hollywood” Faces London Courts & Extradition for Allegedly Defrauding Star-Struck Actors

Signage of The Cheesecake Factory restaurant, featuring its name prominently along with the terms "Restaurant," "Bakery," and "Bar."

Humble Pie: California-Based Cheesecake Factory Fined $125,000 by Feds

The Cheesecake Factory was served something off the menu by the Feds on December 4: a whopping $125,000 fine. The California-based company with 300 national restaurants in the US and Canada allegedly was caught hiding cash that the dining chain was losing in the early days of the COVID-19 Pandemic.... Read More about Humble Pie: California-Based Cheesecake Factory Fined $125,000 by Feds

A masked individual in church attire adjusts candles next to a floral arrangement on an altar.

US Supreme Court Agrees with California Church Disputing Governor Newsom’s Coronavirus Restrictions for Religious Service

California Governor Gavin Newsom lost ground in a new US Supreme Court ruling yesterday that sided with a church that had defied the governor’s temporary order to restrict religious services. The justices tossed out the order from the federal trial court in the Central District of California, which had previously... Read More about US Supreme Court Agrees with California Church Disputing Governor Newsom’s Coronavirus Restrictions for Religious Service

Two individuals, flanked by a police officer, leaving a courtroom following a hearing related to fraud charges.

Two Former Associates of President Trump’s Attorney Rudy Giuliani Plead Not Guilty

String of Charges Involves Numerous Actors in Complex Case It’s a complex story of numerous alleged illegal actions involving President Trump’s attorney; illegal donations to a pro-Trump super PAC; Ukraine and Belarus-born defendants and a Florida golf pro; millions of scammed investors… and it’s not a movie. Lev Parnas, a... Read More about Two Former Associates of President Trump’s Attorney Rudy Giuliani Plead Not Guilty

Under Threat of Death, Petitioner & Former Police Officer has Appeal Approved for US Asylum

When the US Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) rejected former Columbian police officer Edier de Jesus Rodriguez Bedoya’s application for asylum, the ominous death threats kept coming. Bedoya and his family had arrived in the US legally in 2013 and applied for asylum. The now-retired Colombian law officer had spent... Read More about Under Threat of Death, Petitioner & Former Police Officer has Appeal Approved for US Asylum

Bill Cosby walking under an umbrella, appearing serious during a legal proceeding.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Homes in on ‘Prior Bad Act’ Witnesses in Bill Cosby’s Appeal, as His Attorneys Claim Unfair Conviction for Celeb

In a virtual hearing on November 20, The Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justices homed in on a specific area of interest concerning an appeal of Bill Cosby’s prior conviction: what is the permissible legal scope of using ‘prior bad acts’ witnesses? The use of ‘prior bad act’ refers to witnesses who... Read More about Pennsylvania Supreme Court Homes in on ‘Prior Bad Act’ Witnesses in Bill Cosby’s Appeal, as His Attorneys Claim Unfair Conviction for Celeb

Ivanka Trump attending an event, looking serious, with a man beside her.

Ivanka Trump is Deposed in Inauguration Lawsuit Against Trump Hotel & Presidential Inaugural Committee

Ivanka Trump was deposed Tuesday in the Washington, DC attorney general’s lawsuit late Tuesday concerning her father’s inauguration. President Trump’s daughter, who is also said to be under consideration by the president for a preemptive pardon, sat for her deposition in the offices of the attorney general. The lawsuit concerns... Read More about Ivanka Trump is Deposed in Inauguration Lawsuit Against Trump Hotel & Presidential Inaugural Committee

A group of individuals, including family members and advisors, clapping and attending an event in a formal setting.

President Trump Meets with Advisors about Preemptive Pardons for Children & Giuliani

It may only be early December, but President Donald Trump is already meeting with advisors in the White House to discuss preemptive pardons for his adult children Donald Jr., Eric, and Ivanka, along with son-in-law Jared Kushner and personal attorney Rudy Giuliani. Presidential pardons are extremely broad though not unlimited,... Read More about President Trump Meets with Advisors about Preemptive Pardons for Children & Giuliani

Image of the Federal Trade Commission building in the United States.

FEDS Investigate Beam App as Online Banking Customers Start Getting Their Money After Frustrating Wait

San Francisco-based FinTech app ‘Beam’ promised clients above-market rates on federally insured deposits with 24/7 access to their funds, but did not return their deposits when requested, as noted in a new federal lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The banking app is now being investigated by The... Read More about FEDS Investigate Beam App as Online Banking Customers Start Getting Their Money After Frustrating Wait

Former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn speaking at a press conference in the White House.

Trump Pardons Former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn, Who Twice Pleaded Guilty About Contact with Russia

President Donald Trump announced via tweet on November 25th that he granted a full pardon to Former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn, 61, who pleaded guilty twice for lying to the FBI regarding his contact with Russia while working on Trump’s presidential campaign. Trump had said he was considering the... Read More about Trump Pardons Former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn, Who Twice Pleaded Guilty About Contact with Russia

A person's hand holding a credit card while using a laptop.

Grinch Alert: Pandemic Holidays Show Heightened Risk of Retail Cyberattacks & Consumer Data Breach

Online Shopping Boom Creates Evolving Niche for Attorneys As new coronavirus cases surge in all US states, the once-coveted ‘working from home’ dream has become the norm for almost half of Americans. As of today, about 42 percent of all workers are working from home as they continue to rely... Read More about Grinch Alert: Pandemic Holidays Show Heightened Risk of Retail Cyberattacks & Consumer Data Breach

The exterior of the United States Supreme Court building, featuring the inscription "Equal Justice Under Law."

Supreme Court Justices Share Doubts About Trump’s Directive to Exclude Illegal Immigrants in Census Count

In a surprising move on Monday, the conservative majority Supreme Court publicly shared doubts about President Trump’s plan to exclude illegal immigrants from the Census count. The US Supreme Court was reviewing President Trump’s contentious directive to exclude all illegal immigrants in the culling of current Census data. With an... Read More about Supreme Court Justices Share Doubts About Trump’s Directive to Exclude Illegal Immigrants in Census Count

Tim Cook speaking at a presentation event with a visually abstract background.

Apple Seeks to Hide Full Disclosure from Google due to ‘Sensitive’ Info in Antitrust Lawsuit by DOJ

An antitrust suit by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) involving Apple and Google has lived up to its name, with “trust” as a major point of contention. Attorneys for Apple requested that confidential secrets shared with the DOJ be hidden from its competitor’s in-house attorneys, in spite of the... Read More about Apple Seeks to Hide Full Disclosure from Google due to ‘Sensitive’ Info in Antitrust Lawsuit by DOJ

Signage for Johnson & Johnson, indicating its corporate identity and location.

Johnson & Johnson’s $300 Million Damages Reduced to $120 million in Manhattan Supreme Court

The original award of $300 million in Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson’s New York asbestos-containing talcum powder case in 2019 has been reduced dramatically to $120 million. The damages now include $15 million of compensatory damages, down from $25 million, and $105 punitive damages, down from the original $300 million.... Read More about Johnson & Johnson’s $300 Million Damages Reduced to $120 million in Manhattan Supreme Court

A bright green Hyundai Kona Electric vehicle displayed at an auto show alongside a charging station.

It’s Electric: Hyundai Motor Sued over Battery Fires in Electric Vehicles

General Motors Also Recalls 68,000 Electric Vehicles for Fire - Automakers Share Same Battery Manufacturer South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Company is facing a class-action lawsuit from about 200 people seeking compensation for battery fires occurring in their electric vehicles (EV). The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for the reduced value... Read More about It’s Electric: Hyundai Motor Sued over Battery Fires in Electric Vehicles