Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
Swarovski Subtle Bracelet Buy Now
Striped Hawaiian Shirt Buy Now
T-Shirt Beefy-T Heavyweight Buy Now
RUNBOX Slim RFID Leather Wallet Buy Now
Dream Coat Anti-Humidity Spray Buy Now
6S Wireless Bluetooth Headphones Buy Now
Golden Hour Men's Stainless Steel Chronograph Watch Buy Now
Ficerd Women's Ribbed T-Shirts Buy Now
GoPro HERO13 Black: 5.3K Action Camera Buy Now
Fitpolo Smart Watch for Women Buy Now
Augusta Ladies' Performance Shorts Buy Now
Hair Bonnet for Sleeping Hair Buy Now
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells Buy Now
100 Simple Healthy Recipes Buy Now
Levi's Women's Mid Length Shorts Buy Now
Blackview MP60 Mini PC Intel Buy Now
HP Touchscreen Flagship Laptop for Business Buy Now
Dokotoo Pants for Women Buy Now
Men's Slim Fit Knit Cardigan Buy Now
Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Face Buy Now
MoreBack to News Headlines
Judge fully dismisses U.S. lawsuit against N.B.'s Cooke Inc.

Judge fully dismisses U.S. lawsuit against N.B.'s Cooke Inc.

CBC
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 2:41 PM GMT

A federal judge in New York has found the arguments made in a lawsuit against a large New Brunswick seafood company to be false and ordered the case closed.

Saint John-based Cooke Inc. was sued last July for its involvement in the menhaden fishery in Virginia. The lawsuit alleged Cooke knowingly defrauded the U.S. government by creating shell companies to operate the fishery of a small baitfish used to make fishmeal, fish oil and other products.

U.S. District Court Judge Jesse M. Furman dismissed the case because he found that not only did the plaintiffs not prove foreign ownership beyond a doubt, but also that the fish and fishing licences that Cooke was allegedly defrauding the government of cannot legally be considered property. 

"Cooke Inc. is pleased that the court has dismissed this baseless lawsuit, which we have always maintained was without merit," Joel Richardson, company spokesperson, wrote in an emailed statement on behalf of Cooke Inc. and Omega Protein.

"For over a decade, the individuals behind this lawsuit have repeatedly targeted menhaden harvesters and processors to undermine a sustainable and essential sector of the fishing industry."

It was filed by Chris Manthey of New York and W. Chiles Benson of New Jersey as a qui tam lawsuit, which allows private citizens to file a case on behalf of the U.S. government as whistleblowers under the U.S. False Claims Act.

The lawsuit described Manthey as a "professional investigator and researcher" and Benson as someone working in the fisheries management industry who "occasionally receives non-public information" about fishing companies, including Cooke and Omega.

The premise of the lawsuit was based around Cooke-affiliated companies operating a menhaden fishery in Chesapeake Bay.

Cooke has owned Omega Protein in Virginia since 2017. Omega is affiliated with another company that operates the menhaden fishery.

The lawsuit alleged Cooke was violating the American Fisheries Act, which requires 75 per cent of a company fishing in the U.S. to be owned by a U.S. citizen.

The lawsuit also alleged that the total value Omega had fished while "falsely certifying compliance" with U.S. citizenship laws exceeded $2 billion between 2017, when Cooke bought it, and 2021, when the lawsuit was launched.

The lawsuit said the alleged scheme was accomplished through a restructuring of Omega after the 2017 purchase by transferring Omega vessels to another company, Ocean Harvesters.

That company was then sold to a shell company called Alpha VesselCo, operating as Ocean Fleet Services, in Delaware, which the lawsuit said is 20 per cent owned by Omega and 80 per cent owned by U.S. citizen Seth Dunlop. The lawsuit claimed Dunlop was "a figurehead," a longtime Cooke employee and nephew of Cooke CEO Glenn Cooke.

Cooke Inc., Cooke Aquaculture, Omega Protein, Ocean Harvesters, Ocean Fleet Services and Dunlop were named in the suit.

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
700 people stranded in northern Sask. community after wildfire blocks road

About 700 people in a small hamlet in northern Saskatchewan are stranded Friday after a wildfire knocked out the only road into their community.

Officials find the body of a woman who got off a cruise ship in Alaska to hike and didn't return

Authorities say they have found the body of a woman visiting Alaska's capital city who did not return to her cruise ship from a hike she said she was taking.

Parade kicks off 113th Calgary Stampede

Horses, hats, and a whole lot of "ya-hoos."

Get ready, Toronto: forecast calls for a sweltering weekend

Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for the city of Toronto this weekend.

Scorching hot weekend forecast, health unit issues heat warning

The Middlesex-London Health Unit has issued a heat warning, asking residents to take care of themselves and check on loved ones and neighbours during another hot weekend. 

'We must lower the cost of building homes,' says mayor as Toronto releases designs for garden, laneway suites

Toronto is rolling out several measures to cut design costs and speed up permit approval times in its latest bid to boost construction of new housing.

River rescuer risked his life to pull boy, man to safety

David Hickey was enjoying an afternoon run along the shore of the Ottawa River on Wednesday when he noticed a commotion in the water near Westboro Beach.

Memorial University gets advice from staff as it aims to cut spending by $20M

Students and staff at Newfoundland and Labrador's only university have offered the administration suggestions to reduce costs, increase revenue and boost morale as the school looks to cut millions of dollars in spending.

Britt, Ont., residents shocked after sudden closure of local nurse practitioner clinic

The closure of the West Parry Sound Health Centre's nurse practitioner-led clinic in Britt, Ont., has left the local community reeling. 

RCMP 'ready for the challenges' of expanded role following N.S. policing review

Nova Scotia's commanding RCMP officer says the Mounties are well positioned to take on a bigger role in the province, two years after a public inquiry identified serious failures in its response to the April 2020 mass shooting and called for major improvements.

N.B. codes of conduct allow for degree of council secrecy not possible under N.S. rules

Under New Brunswick rules, the public can be kept in the dark when their local officials face discipline — an approach far less open than one adopted next door in Nova Scotia. 

2 teen boys arrested in Markham rock-throwing incidents: OPP

Two teenage boys have been arrested in connection with rock-throwing incidents last fall, the Ontario Provincial Police says.

Should Quebec require landlords to keep apartments cool during summer?

Montreal has been faced with record-breaking heat already this summer, and heat waves have been known to kill dozens of people in the city as people swelter in their residences without air conditioning.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
More and more influencers are offering financial advice on TikTok and YouTube. Should you take it?

If you've ever wondered how to navigate the stock market, build a budget or plan for retirement, your first stop might've once been a parent, a trusted friend or an advisor at the bank. 

Ontario group marks 40 years of keeping the history of Canada's WW II 'pilot maker' alive

For prospective young pilots intending to join the Allied effort during the Second World War, the Harvard was the ultimate training plane — but it also posed a key test. 

It's bananas: Churchill Park Music Festival books Gwen Stefani

There's no doubt that the Churchill Park Music Festival lineup is glittering with star power, with Gwen Stefani added as the latest headliner announced for the St. John's event.

3 dead in motorcycle crashes on N.S. highways this week

Three people have died in motorcycle crashes on Nova Scotia roads this week.

Topless Tuesday back on after liquor regulators force small N.B. resort to cancel event

In the lead-up to Hope Wellness Eco-Resort's first Topless Tuesday of this year, Katie Carson was surprised by a phone call she got from a man concerned about the event.

Man accused of running Canada's largest grandparent scam network arrested in Quebec

Gareth West, the alleged leader of a network of grandparent scammers accused of defrauding $30 million from American seniors, has been arrested.

Accessibility minister will keep her job after comments about sign-language interpreter: Manitoba premier

Premier Wab Kinew said Manitoba's accessibility minister will remain in her position after she apologized for swearing into a hot mic about sharing a stage with a sign-language interpreter.

Edmonton public hearing to resume next week, after heated city council exchange

Edmonton city council reluctantly voted to continue a public hearing next week — their vacation period — after Friday evening's debate led to swears being thrown.

CFIA confirms Prince Edward Island's 1st case of dermo, in oysters from Egmont Bay

Canadian Food Inspection Agency lab tests have confirmed the presence of the highly damaging mollusc disease dermo in oysters from P.E.I.'s Egmont Bay. 

City names laneway after Black woman who made difference to early Toronto

Toronto has officially named a laneway in the city's east end after a Black woman who made a big impact on her community in the early 1900s.

Q+A | Nunavut's top doctor says early testing and awareness key to eliminating TB

Nunavut's health department has officially declared an end to years-long tuberculosis outbreaks in Pangnirtung and Pond Inlet and the territory's top doctor says that's thanks to diligent screening to catch the disease early, and awareness in the communities. 

Canadians in ICE detention centres left in legal limbo as families try to secure release

Relatives of Canadians detained by ICE in the United States say they're furious and frustrated by the treatment of their loved ones and the battles they're having to fight for even the most basic information. 

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us