The Jewish Home | JULY 14, 2022
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proven to be false. After several years of lawsuits, the company dissolved in 2018. Jury deliberations last week lasted four full days and followed a lengthy trial, which began in March. The jury declared that Balwani had defrauded both patients and investors, and found him guilty on all 12 charges, which included 10 counts of federal wire fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In another trial, Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes was acquitted by a separate jury on charges pertaining to defrauding patients; the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on three of the charges regarding defrauding investors. Holmes was found guilty on four charges relating to investors. Balwani and Holmes were indicted four years ago, but their trials were severed after Holmes’ legal team outlined plans to make accusations about their relationship as part of her defense. Holmes’ trial concluded around six months ago. In a statement read outside the courthouse, U.S. Attorney Stephanie Hinds thanked the jurors for “dutifully navigating through the complex issues presented by this case,” adding, “we appreciate the verdict and look forward to sentencing proceedings.” Balwani faces up to 20 years in pris-
on, as well as a fine of $250,000 plus restitution for each count of wire fraud and each conspiracy count. He is expected to be sentenced in November; Holmes is expected to be sentenced in September.
CA Targets Gun Industry
California is taking on guns. This week, in response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling against restrictions on carrying firearms in public, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed at least three major gun control measures into law to restrict access to the weapons and create an avenue for private citizens to sue the industry. Assembly Bill 1594 establishes a “firearm industry standard of conduct” and allows local governments, the state Department of Justice, and gun violence
survivors to sue for egregious violations of state sales and marketing regulations. “To the victims of gun violence and their families: California stands with you. The gun industry can no longer hide from the devastating harm their products cause,” Newsom said. “Our kids, families and communities deserve streets free of gun violence and gun makers must be held accountable for their role in this crisis. Nearly every industry is held liable when people are hurt or killed by their products — guns should be no different.” The new law will go into effect on July 1, 2023, while others will be implemented immediately due to an urgency clause, which required a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of the Legislature. Two bills Newsom signed on June 30 will limit firearm advertising to minors and add restrictions against already highly regulated ghost guns. On June 23, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a New York law that requires people to prove a “special need for self protection” in order to bring guns outside their homes. The 6-3 ruling creates legal jeopardy for a range of state firearms laws nationwide and looms over the bills Newsom has signed. In response to SCOTUS’s ruling, Congress passed bipartisan legislation that prevents abusive intimate partners from buying firearms and encourages states to pass so-called red flag laws. President Biden signed it into law on June 25. Newsom is expected to sign more gun bills in August, after lawmakers return from their summer break and adjourn this year’s legislative session. Among them is Senate Bill 1327, a closely watched proposal to increase legal liability in the industry by authorizing private lawsuits against anyone who imports, distributes, manufactures or sells illegal firearms such as assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles and so-called ghost guns. California has long required that applicants prove “good cause” to obtain a concealed carry gun permit, but the Supreme Court’s New York decision rendered that requirement unconstitutional. Even so, Newsom said that he had been working closely with the attorney general and legislative leaders “for months” on Senate Bill 918, which would “update and strengthen our public-carry law and make it consistent with the Supreme Court ruling.” The bill aims to specify where guns are prohibited in California, including on school grounds and universities, public transportation, bars and public parks. Firearm owners who want to obtain a concealed carry license would also face a more
stringent application process and additional storage and training requirements. Lawmakers approved the bill during a key committee hearing last month.
No Small Fry
In this restaurant, you don’t get fries on the side. In fact, you only get French fries if your wallet is feeling particularly hefty. That’s because this New York eatery is home to the world’s most expensive French fries. Serendipity3, located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, has earned the Guinness World Record for the world’s most expensive french fries with its Creme de la Creme Pommes Frites. For now, the restaurant is bringing back the $200 chips for July 13, National French Fry Day. Lest you think that the expensive spuds are just potatoes, think again. The fries feature ingredients including Chipperbeck potatoes, Dom Perignon Champagne, J. LeBlanc French Champagne Ardenne Vinegar, cage-free goose fat from France, Guerande Truffle Salt, truffle oil, Crete Senesi Pecorino Tartufello cheese, shaved black summer truffles from Italy, truffle butter, organic A2 A2 100% grass fed cream from Jersey Cows, Gruyere Truffled Swiss Raclette and a topping of 23-karat edible gold dust. Serendipity3 is also home to the world’s most expensive burger ($295) and ice cream sundae ($1,000), so the fries are not much of a surprise. That’s an expensive mouthful.
Buried Treasure Rich Gilson is now a bit richer than before. The New Jersey man was doing home renovations when he made a surprising discovery under his porch: $1,000 in $10 and $20 bills from 1934. Gilson and his wife, Suzanne, bought a 1920s-era cottage in Wildwood about
