USA Archive - Law Commentary

A view of the exterior of Alameda County Jail, featuring a "No Trespassing" sign and barbed wire fencing.

California Man Dies in Santa Rita Jail After Being Neglected for Three Days, New Lawsuit Says

In November 2021, a California man died while under the custody of Santa Rita jail in Dublin, California. In an amended complaint, his family says officials failed to take the appropriate action to save his life, leading him to suffer a “slow, torturous death.” Maurice Monk, 45, was taken into... Read More about California Man Dies in Santa Rita Jail After Being Neglected for Three Days, New Lawsuit Says

The Rolling Stones performing on stage during a concert.

Major Music Publishers Sue Anthropic Over AI-Generated Lyrics for $75M

Universal Music Group, Concord Music Group, and ABKCO have filed a lawsuit against Anthropic, a company specializing in generative artificial intelligence. The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Tennessee, accuses Anthropic of "systematic and widespread infringement" for using copyrighted lyrics from artists like Katy Perry, The Rolling Stones, and... Read More about Major Music Publishers Sue Anthropic Over AI-Generated Lyrics for $75M

Rite Aid Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Plans for Store Closures Amid Continued Losses

Pharmaceutical giant Rite Aid is filing for bankruptcy protection in its efforts to cope with declining sales and financial losses associated with the over 1,000 federal, state, and local opioid-related lawsuits it has had to face over the years. Rite Aid has settled a majority of these lawsuits over the... Read More about Rite Aid Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Plans for Store Closures Amid Continued Losses

Sign for Yale New Haven Health and Yale New Haven Hospital with autumn foliage in the background.

Yale Fertility Clinic Faces New Lawsuit After Nurse Swapped Patient Drugs With Saline

A newly filed lawsuit accuses a Yale University fertility clinic of failing to do more to stop a former nurse who diverted pain medication from her patients in order to satisfy her own drug habits. The lawsuit was filed on October 10th in Connecticut Superior Court against Yale Reproductive Endocrinology... Read More about Yale Fertility Clinic Faces New Lawsuit After Nurse Swapped Patient Drugs With Saline

Aerial view of Oroville Dam and Lake Oroville, highlighting the water levels and surrounding landscape.

State Agency Is Not a Person Under Fish and Game Code

After California’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) released water from Lake Oroville into the Oroville Dam during 2017 flood conditions, a local district attorney sued the agency for releasing harmful materials into the state’s waters. DWR said they did it in order to protect the dam. The statute that protects... Read More about State Agency Is Not a Person Under Fish and Game Code

Tim Ballard standing in front of a promotional backdrop for the film "Sound of Freedom."

Sound of Freedom’s Tim Ballard Denies Allegations Made in Sexual Misconduct Lawsuits

Tim Ballard, a former homeland security officer and the filmmaker behind the wildly popular movie Sound of Freedom, is now facing his own allegation of sexual misconduct made by women who worked alongside him during his sex trafficking rescue operations. At least two lawsuits have been filed against Ballard. The... Read More about Sound of Freedom’s Tim Ballard Denies Allegations Made in Sexual Misconduct Lawsuits

A gavel resting on a wooden block with scales of justice in the background.

OK for Legislators, Not Just Judges, to Find Racism at Trial is Reversible Error

The People v. Simmons could also be named The Legislature v. The Judiciary. The conflict between the two branches of California’s government arose in a case that challenged the right of the state’s legislature to enact the Racial Justice Act (RJA) in 2020. The Act allows those convicted of crimes... Read More about OK for Legislators, Not Just Judges, to Find Racism at Trial is Reversible Error

Utah Sues TikTok Over Harmful Algorithm Targeting Child Users, Among Other Claims

Social media platform TikTok is being accused of not taking enough measures to ensure the safety of child users, among other allegations made by the state of Utah in a newly filed lawsuit. Utah is the latest state to take legal action against the popular app, following similar action from... Read More about Utah Sues TikTok Over Harmful Algorithm Targeting Child Users, Among Other Claims

Uber and Lyft decals displayed on a car's windshield.

Government Suits Against Uber and Lyft Do Not Require Arbitration as Driver Suits Do

When people sign up to drive for Uber and Lyft, they must agree to submit all their disputes with the companies to arbitration. But when the government is a party to a civil enforcement action against the ride-share companies, a California appellate court has ruled that similar arbitration agreements are... Read More about Government Suits Against Uber and Lyft Do Not Require Arbitration as Driver Suits Do

A gloved hand holding a dry psilocybin mushroom next to a glass beaker containing more mushrooms.

California Governor Vetoes “Magic Mushroom” Bill

In the past few years, several studies about the positive mental health effects of “magic mushrooms” have prompted Oregon, Colorado and several U.S. cities to decriminalize psilocybin, the drug certain fungi produce naturally. California, which passed a bill legalizing the mushrooms and several other natural psychedelics in September, will not... Read More about California Governor Vetoes “Magic Mushroom” Bill

Barbed wire on a prison wall against a cloudy sky.

Delaware ACLU Files Class Action Lawsuit Against Delaware Prisons and Their Private Healthcare Providers

Delaware’s ACLU has filed a class action lawsuit against the Delaware Department of Corrections and several healthcare providers on behalf of incarcerated Delawareans. The lawsuit accuses the correction facilities and the private healthcare agencies contracted to work with them of violating the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights of inmates because... Read More about Delaware ACLU Files Class Action Lawsuit Against Delaware Prisons and Their Private Healthcare Providers

Image of a man, identified in connection with a medical negligence case involving a hospital in Massachusetts.

A Massachusetts Hospital Faces Medical Negligence Lawsuit After Patient Found Dead in Nearby Woods

The mother of a Massachusetts man has filed a medical negligence lawsuit against a hospital and three of its providers after her son was discharged from the facility and found dead in a nearby wooded area, covered in snow. According to the lawsuit, 47-year-old Daniel Donovan checked himself into Beverly... Read More about A Massachusetts Hospital Faces Medical Negligence Lawsuit After Patient Found Dead in Nearby Woods

Four of the six South Dakota teens charged with sexual assault, featuring their booking photos.

Six South Dakota Teens Face Sexual Assault Charges After Alleged Hazing Ritual

The small town of Mitchell, South Dakota, has been the center of national attention after sexual assault allegations were made against members of the high school baseball team. The six boys involved range in ages 17 to 19 and are accused of raping two other players during a June tournament.... Read More about Six South Dakota Teens Face Sexual Assault Charges After Alleged Hazing Ritual

Two contestants interacting in individual pods on the reality show 'Love Is Blind.'

Hit Show ‘Love Is Blind’ Faces Sexual Assault Lawsuit

The hit reality TV show ‘Love Is Blind’ is facing a lawsuit filed by a former contestant who was on the show during the filming of season five. The season, which was filmed last year, began airing last month on the streaming platform, Netflix. The plaintiff, Tran Dang. filed her... Read More about Hit Show ‘Love Is Blind’ Faces Sexual Assault Lawsuit

A group of migrants resting on cots surrounded by blankets inside a busy terminal, with people walking past outside.

Chicago Residents File Lawsuit Over City’s Migrant Housing Plans

Chicago residents in the community of South Shore are banding together to stop city officials from allocating public resources to the influx of migrants that have been bussed to the city over the past year. According to the latest reports from city officials, since August 31, 2022, Chicago has received... Read More about Chicago Residents File Lawsuit Over City’s Migrant Housing Plans