Captured: The U.S. State Department has not yet confirmed reports this morning that ousted Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has been captured in fighting in his hometown of Surt. The New York Times reports revolutionary leaders celebrated at the fall of Surt.
Paying Up: Citigroup has agreed to pay $285 million to settle a Securities and Exchange Commission civil enforcement action that alleged the financial company defrauded investors who bought risky mortgage-related investments, The New York Times reports. The Wall Street Journal reports banks have now paid more than $1 billion in settlement costs tied to securities complaints.
Captured or Killed: The authorities in Zanesville, Ohio, said they have captured or killed all of the exotic animals, including tigers and bears, that escaped from a 73-acre private reserve. There were no reports of people being attacked. More coverage here.
Secret Trusts: A Government Accountability Office report illuminates the largely secret system of asbestos injury trusts, Corporate Counsel reports. The GAO report examined 52 asbestos-related bankruptcy trusts that have paid millions of claims valued at $17.5 billion. Forbes has coverage here of the GAO report. Most of the trusts made general information available. Few of the trusts, however, provided detailed data without first being subpoenaed.
Closing Time: The special prosecutor appointed to investigate the Ted Stevens trial team continues his work, but at least two government lawyers said an internal ethics probe yielded no misconduct finding. A lawyer for Brenda Morris told The Wall Street Journal that investigators cleared his client. Another attorney in the case, Edward Sullivan, is back working public corruption cases for the government. Morris continued to work public corruption cases during the ethics probe.
Under Review: The California Supreme Court will review a lower court ruling that invalidated a state law requiring the collection of DNA samples from people arrested on felony offenses. The Recorder said the lower court ruling held the law violates privacy rights.
Focus: McDermott Will & Emery leaders said they are focusing on growth after the departure of at least 38 partners, including practice group heads. "Looking at ins and outs can be misleading," litigation partner Jeffrey Stone, cochair of the firm, told The AmLaw Daily. "There is an intelligent and strategic growth initiative going on here." Stone said the firm has added 19 partners and 11 counsel to offset losses.
Conviction Upheld: A federal appeals court upheld the conviction of former defense contractor Brent Wilkes, who allegedly bribed Rep. Randall "Duke" Cunningham, The National Law Journal reports. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, however, ordered a hearing on an issue involving a defense witness and immunity. In its ruling, the court rejected allegations of prosecutorial misconduct.
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