USA Archive - Law Commentary

Jeff Ruby Restaurants Violated Federal and State Wage and Labor Laws in ‘Tip-Pooling Scheme,' Says New Lawsuit

A lawsuit filed against Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment accuses the popular fine dining restaurant chain of violating state and federal labor laws through a forced “tip pooling” scheme. The lawsuit was filed by a former employee, Jonathan Lamb, "on behalf of all others similarly situated." The lawsuit argues that employees... Read More about Jeff Ruby Restaurants Violated Federal and State Wage and Labor Laws in ‘Tip-Pooling Scheme,' Says New Lawsuit

A group of three individuals posing together at an event, featuring a man in a patterned blazer and two women, one in a graphic sweatshirt and the other in a stylish top.

'Vanderpump Rules' Rachel Leviss Files Lawsuit Against Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix

Rachel “Raquel” Leviss, known for her appearance on the reality show "Vanderpump Rules," has filed a lawsuit against Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix for a series of alleged offenses including revenge porn, eavesdropping, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Leviss filed documents on Thursday, seeking unspecified damages... Read More about 'Vanderpump Rules' Rachel Leviss Files Lawsuit Against Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix

Close-up of a motorcycle with a rider in a leather jacket, highlighting the bike's headlight and signal in a sunlit urban setting.

Auto Insurer Sues for $1M, Arguing the City of Portland Is to Blame Over Deadly Crash That Killed 17-Year-Old Motorcyclist

A new lawsuit is accusing the city of Portland of negligence, claiming that the city failed to adhere to its own regulations regarding homeless encampments along busy roadways. It was this negligence, the lawsuit claims, that ultimately led to the death of a motorcyclist in 2022. The one million dollar... Read More about Auto Insurer Sues for $1M, Arguing the City of Portland Is to Blame Over Deadly Crash That Killed 17-Year-Old Motorcyclist

Taylor Swift performing on stage at a concert event.

Live Nation Faces Legal Heat Over Alleged Anticompetitive Practices

Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, is under scrutiny for potentially misleading investors about the origins of its market success. In a recent ruling, U.S. District Judge Kenly Kato refused to dismiss a class action lawsuit alleging that Live Nation may have violated securities laws by attributing its financial... Read More about Live Nation Faces Legal Heat Over Alleged Anticompetitive Practices

DJ Jam Master Jay performing on stage, wearing a large chain and a black hat.

2 Men Found Guilty of Murder of Run-DMC DJ Jam Master Jay

Two men from Hollis, Queens, Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington, have been convicted of the 2002 murder of Jam Master Jay, DJ for the revolutionary hip-hop group Run-DMC. Jam Master Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, played a crucial role in shaping the sound and culture of hip-hop... Read More about 2 Men Found Guilty of Murder of Run-DMC DJ Jam Master Jay

Tesla vehicle parked in front of a Tesla factory building.

Tesla Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Alleged Racial Discrimination at Fremont Factory

A California state judge has tentatively approved a class action lawsuit allowing nearly 6,000 Black factory workers to collectively sue Tesla for alleged racial discrimination and harassment at its Fremont manufacturing plant. This decision, issued by California Superior Court Judge Noel Wise in Oakland, underscores serious accusations against the electric... Read More about Tesla Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Alleged Racial Discrimination at Fremont Factory

User-Generated Gaming Platform Roblox Faces Class Action Lawsuit for Being “Addictive” and Exploiting Child Labor

A new lawsuit accuses popular gaming platform Roblox of creating an “addictive” gaming experience while “exploiting” children and profiting off of “child labor.” Experts say that an estimated 75% of children aged 9-12 use Roblox monthly. In the first months of 2023, the company made $2.39 billion from “Robux” purchases... Read More about User-Generated Gaming Platform Roblox Faces Class Action Lawsuit for Being “Addictive” and Exploiting Child Labor

Empty wooden jury chairs in a courtroom setting.

Dismissal of Quarrelsome Juror Was Wrong So Defendant’s Conviction Was Reversed

California’s Penal Code (CPC) §1089 says that a juror can be removed for “good cause” if he or she refuses to deliberate. People v. Gaines provides a new definition of what this refusal must consist of to meet the law’s discharge criteria. Rodney Louis Gaines was on trial for elder... Read More about Dismissal of Quarrelsome Juror Was Wrong So Defendant’s Conviction Was Reversed

Sean Combs, also known as Diddy, attending a Grammy Awards event in formal attire.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs Faces Sexual Assault Lawsuit by Music Producer

Rapper Sean Combs, also known as Diddy, is once again facing sexual assault allegations. In a lawsuit filed on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones Jr. alleges that during his collaboration with Diddy on his most recent... Read More about Sean 'Diddy' Combs Faces Sexual Assault Lawsuit by Music Producer

Cargo ship loaded with containers at sea.

Two Alaska Seafood Shipping Companies to Pay $9.5M to the U.S. in Second Largest Settlement for Violations of the Jones Act

Two Alaskan seafood shipping companies have agreed to pay $9.5 million to end a lawsuit that accused them of violating the U.S. Jones Act. The settlement will be the second largest settlement ever involving a violation of the act, the Department of Justice said last Friday. The settlement is the... Read More about Two Alaska Seafood Shipping Companies to Pay $9.5M to the U.S. in Second Largest Settlement for Violations of the Jones Act

Appeals Court Upholds $90 Million Settlement in Class Action Suit Against Facebook for Invading Users’ Privacy

Facebook (now Meta Platforms) was created in 2004 to connect people to anyone who sought to be connected. Just two years later, privacy issues began to plague the young company. First, it was connecting users to News Feed, a service that told users what was new with their Facebook Friends,... Read More about Appeals Court Upholds $90 Million Settlement in Class Action Suit Against Facebook for Invading Users’ Privacy

Proposed Class Action Lawsuit Puts Stanley Cups on Center Stage Again, This Time Over Lead Concerns

The wildly popular Stanley Quencher cups are trending yet again, this time over a proposed class action lawsuit that accuses the makers of the cup, Pacific Market International, of false advertising. Separate lawsuits were initially brought forward by Stanley cup owners in California and Nevada. Both women say they purchased... Read More about Proposed Class Action Lawsuit Puts Stanley Cups on Center Stage Again, This Time Over Lead Concerns

A group of protesters holding signs and flags during a demonstration related to school policies in Iowa.

Iowa School District Agrees to Pay 20K Over Rescinded Gender-Affirming School Policy

Iowa’s Linn-Mar Community Schools District has agreed to pay $20,000 to end a lawsuit over a now-rescinded district policy that allowed students to ask for a gender support plan that would aid them in their gender transition without the permission of their parents or legal guardians. The lawsuit was filed... Read More about Iowa School District Agrees to Pay 20K Over Rescinded Gender-Affirming School Policy

Appeals Court Mostly Affirms Multi-Million Dollar Civil Judgment Against Online University

“What Ashford University did to its students was unconscionable and illegal,” said the California Attorney General who sued the online institution and won over $22 million in penalties. A California appellate court lowered the amount by just under one million because of statute of limitations violations, but the defendants, Ashford... Read More about Appeals Court Mostly Affirms Multi-Million Dollar Civil Judgment Against Online University

Sign displaying "UCLA" on a brick wall, with vines partially covering the area.

UCLA Is Not a Business That Can Be Sued Under Unruh Civil Rights Act

Myralyn OA Nartey was a doctoral student at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). In 2009, she entered the doctoral program at the university’s Fielding School of Public Health. When she sought to defend her dissertation in 2014, she was told she had to “throw away” her entire thesis... Read More about UCLA Is Not a Business That Can Be Sued Under Unruh Civil Rights Act