USA Archive - Law Commentary

A group of protesters marches in downtown Portland, holding signs that read "Multnomah County vs Big Oil" as they advocate against oil and gas companies.

Oregon’s Multnomah County Sues Oil and Gas Leaders Exxon Mobil, Shell, and 15 Others Over 2021 Heat Dome

Leaders of Oregon’s Multnomah County have filed a lawsuit against 17 Oil and gas companies including Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron, BP, and other leading players. The county is the most populated in the state, is home to landmark destination Portland, and is known for having mild but rainy weather. After... Read More about Oregon’s Multnomah County Sues Oil and Gas Leaders Exxon Mobil, Shell, and 15 Others Over 2021 Heat Dome

California Supreme Court building with pedestrians in the foreground.

California Supreme Court Limits Police Immunity for Misconduct

The California Supreme Court ruled that police officers can be liable in civil court for misconduct that occurs during an investigation. The decision significantly broadens liability for law enforcement, rolling back years of decisions protecting the police from litigation. The case concerned the conduct of several sheriff’s deputies in Riverside... Read More about California Supreme Court Limits Police Immunity for Misconduct

California Highway Patrol vehicle at an intersection.

CHP Agrees to $7 Million Settlement in Officer-Involved Wrongful Death Lawsuit

The California Highway Patrol has agreed to pay $7 million to end a federal wrongful death lawsuit filed after a Sacramento man was shot to death by a CHP officer. The settlement came two months before the case was set to go to trial. Thirty-one-year-old Daniel Shaham was killed on... Read More about CHP Agrees to $7 Million Settlement in Officer-Involved Wrongful Death Lawsuit

A press conference featuring parents and an attorney discussing a lawsuit against a Detroit school district for alleged abuse of special needs children.

Detroit Parents to File Lawsuit Accusing School Staff of Abusing Their Special Needs Children

A small group of Detroit parents are planning to file a lawsuit against the Detroit Public Community School District after they say school leaders at Moses Field Elementary School physically and verbally abused students while attempting to cover up their actions. The elementary school serves children with disabilities, and the... Read More about Detroit Parents to File Lawsuit Accusing School Staff of Abusing Their Special Needs Children

Sign at the entrance of Whitworth University, with trees and campus buildings in the background.

Former Whitworth University Student Sues After Ransomware Attack Last Summer

A former student at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, has filed a lawsuit against the university after becoming the target of a ransomware attack discovered in July 2022. The lawsuit was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Spokane and accuses the university of negligence after hackers were able to... Read More about Former Whitworth University Student Sues After Ransomware Attack Last Summer

Image of the California Supreme Court building, showcasing its modern architecture against a clear blue sky.

California Supreme Court Approves State Bar’s “Snitch Rule”

In the wake of concerns about the lack of oversight about the ethics of some of its member-lawyers, the State Bar of California submitted a change to its Rules of Professional Conduct last year, which the California Supreme Court approved with minor changes on June 21. The new rule puts... Read More about California Supreme Court Approves State Bar’s “Snitch Rule”

Image of the U.S. Supreme Court building on a clear blue day.

Supreme Court Limits Post-Conviction Challenges Even on Claims of Actual Innocence

On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the conviction of a federal prisoner despite subsequent changes in the law rendering his conviction invalid. The ruling prevents inmates from seeking federal review of a conviction, even an unlawful conviction, if they already sought federal relief in the past. In 2000, Marcus... Read More about Supreme Court Limits Post-Conviction Challenges Even on Claims of Actual Innocence

Fire trucks responding to a construction fire in the Bronx.

Bronx Construction Fire Injures Three as Construction Fires on the Rise

Three construction workers were injured recently in a fire on a Bronx construction site which had been the subject of numerous safety violations. The recent fire is another data point in the country’s growing construction fire problem. The fire in question occurred while the three workers were conducting waterproofing. The... Read More about Bronx Construction Fire Injures Three as Construction Fires on the Rise

John Eastman during his disbarment hearing proceedings.

Media Has Only Limited Access to Eastman Disbarment Hearing

John Eastman, one of ex-President Donald Trump’s attorneys and the man accused of designing the legal strategy that sought to keep Trump in power after he lost the 2020 election, is currently embroiled in a disbarment hearing that could result in him losing his license to practice law in California. ... Read More about Media Has Only Limited Access to Eastman Disbarment Hearing

Birth certificates laid out with the title "Certificate of Live Birth."

Transgender Individuals Cannot Change ‘Sex’ on Birth Certificate, Rules Tennessee Judge

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit that pushed to reverse a Tennessee law prohibiting transgender individuals from changing the sex listed on their birth certificate. When the lawsuit was filed, Tennessee was one of only three states with such laws. The other states included Kansas and Ohio, both of which... Read More about Transgender Individuals Cannot Change ‘Sex’ on Birth Certificate, Rules Tennessee Judge

Document from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on discrimination and harassment in the construction industry, placed on a desk with a pen and notebooks.

EEOC Report Finds Significant Discrimination and Harassment in Construction Industry

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently issued a report on the state of discrimination and harassment in the construction industry. The report paints a stark picture of race- and gender-based discrimination and harassment on construction sites nationwide. Drawing on evidence presented at a May 2022 hearing, academic research,... Read More about EEOC Report Finds Significant Discrimination and Harassment in Construction Industry

A healthcare professional administering a COVID-19 vaccine to an individual.

Los Angeles’ COVID Vaccination Order for Employees Should Not Have Been Blocked

Striving to protect both its workers and the public they serve, the City of Los Angeles issued a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all its 100,000 employees in October 2021. Not everyone was happy about the mandate, and one non-profit organization called ”Firefighters4Freedom” (F4F) sued the City, arguing that getting vaccinated... Read More about Los Angeles’ COVID Vaccination Order for Employees Should Not Have Been Blocked

A trailer and submersible belonging to OceanGate Expeditions, highlighted in the context of the Titan submersible incident.

NTSB Joins Investigation Into Titan Submersible Implosion

The search for the missing OceanGate submersible which gripped the nation over the past week ended in tragedy when it was confirmed that the vehicle imploded roughly two hours after its descent to view the Titanic, killing all five crew members onboard. As questions and criticism continue to arise regarding... Read More about NTSB Joins Investigation Into Titan Submersible Implosion

U.S. Supreme Court building with columns and steps, reflecting the institution's significance in legal decisions.

Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Racial Gerrymandering

The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld a lower court decision prohibiting race-based gerrymandering. In a surprise 5-4 decision, the Court narrowly avoided a complete gutting of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Two of the Court’s conservative members, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, joined the liberal-leaning justices to... Read More about Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Racial Gerrymandering

Document titled "Independent Contractor Agreement" with a pen and calculator on a desk.

Supreme Court Lets California’s Independent Contractor Rule Stand

The U.S. Supreme Court declined the opportunity to review California’s test for determining whether a worker should be classified as an “employee” or as an “independent contractor.” The denial of certiorari comes as the National Labor Relations Board issues its own more stringent test for classifying workers. Originally signed into... Read More about Supreme Court Lets California’s Independent Contractor Rule Stand