Avern Cohn, a retired federal judge in Detroit who heard cases into his 90s, has died at age 97.

DETROIT - A group of Detroit-area men opened bank accounts to move millions of dollars to Yemen, their war-torn native country. They didn't register as a money transfer business, but they were fortunate to have a kind judge. Federal Judge Avern Cohn has declined to send them to prison, despite guidelines that call for a few years or more behind bars. The judge says Yemen's financial system is a mess and residents there desperately need help. Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.

DETROIT - A judge denied a motion Tuesday to dismiss a lawsuit Mercedes-Benz filed against artists whose murals appeared in the automaker's ads. When several artists, including Detroit artist James "Dabls" Lewis, complained about the use of the art in the ads, the automaker sued them. Mercedes is suing to show that it is able to use the murals in its ads. While Judge Avern Cohn didn't dismiss the lawsuit, he did say, "These murals have a uniqueness... "What's to stop companies from following around artists and pillaging these works of art at will?"