USA Archive - Law Commentary

Former respiratory therapist Jennifer Ann Hall, arrested on a murder charge linked to suspicious cardiac arrest incidents at a Missouri hospital.

20 Years After Missouri Hospital Cardiac Arrest Deaths, Former Employee Arrested on Murder Charge

Jennifer Ann Hall worked as a respiratory therapist in Hendrick Medical Center located in the rural northeast area of Missouri. Hall was employed at the hospital between December 2001 and May 2002. During her five months there, the hospital saw 18 “code blue” incidents. Staff at the hospital used “code... Read More about 20 Years After Missouri Hospital Cardiac Arrest Deaths, Former Employee Arrested on Murder Charge

A blurred image of a judge holding a gavel in a courtroom setting.

Supreme Court Limits Federal Court Jurisdiction on Immigration Appeals

Applicants for green cards can no longer appeal denials after the Supreme Court limited federal court involvement in immigration court proceedings because they “lack jurisdiction” over cases involving Immigration Judges' discretion. The Supreme Court ruled in a split 5-4 decision that federal immigration law “precludes court review of decisions in... Read More about Supreme Court Limits Federal Court Jurisdiction on Immigration Appeals

Image of a yellow school van on a tow truck, with police presence at the scene.

Family of Amherst Pedestrian Who Was Struck and Killed Sue Driver and Town in Civil Suit

The family of a pedestrian who was struck and killed while walking in her town of Amherst, Massachusetts, is suing the driver of the school van that struck and killed her along with the town of Amherst. The town served as the driver's employer at the time of the incident. ... Read More about Family of Amherst Pedestrian Who Was Struck and Killed Sue Driver and Town in Civil Suit

Document detailing a court case appearance, including notes on plea and attorney appointment.

Oregon Faces Lawsuit Over Possible Sixth Amendment Violations

A lawsuit filed earlier this week challenges the state of Oregon for its lack of access to legal counsel for criminal defendants across the state. The plaintiffs involved seek class-action status and allege that the state has violated the constitutional rights of criminal defendants who have no access to legal... Read More about Oregon Faces Lawsuit Over Possible Sixth Amendment Violations

People walking through a border checkpoint, some wearing masks, with a uniformed officer present.

Louisiana Judge Blocks Lifting Controversial Title 42 Border Policy Attempts by Biden Administration

On Friday, a federal judge stopped the Biden administration’s attempt to remove Title 42, which was created by former President Trump in March 2020 to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The pandemic health order was used to remove over a million migrants who were located at the border, since... Read More about Louisiana Judge Blocks Lifting Controversial Title 42 Border Policy Attempts by Biden Administration

Signage for Liberty University located at the campus entrance.

Liberty University Reaches Settlement With 12 Women Over Sexual Assault Policies

Virginia’s Christian private college, Liberty University, has reached a settlement in a federal lawsuit filed in New York by 12 women who alleged the university had a pattern of mishandling sexual assault and sexual harassment cases. The women accuse the campus of fostering an unsafe environment as a result of... Read More about Liberty University Reaches Settlement With 12 Women Over Sexual Assault Policies

Signage of Blue Cross Blue Shield in front of their office building.

Texas Hospital Sues Blue Cross Blue Shield for Wrongfully Denying Coverage for Emergency Care

A Texas hospital has filed a lawsuit against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBS) for wrongfully denying coverage for emergency services and post-stabilization care. According to Memorial Hermann Health System, BCBS instituted a policy of denying coverage for services that it unilaterally deemed non-emergency, despite its contractual and moral... Read More about Texas Hospital Sues Blue Cross Blue Shield for Wrongfully Denying Coverage for Emergency Care

Image of empty prison cells with bars in a correctional facility.

Nebraska and Family of Inmate Killed Behind Bars Agree to $479,000 Settlement

The family of a Nebraska man has reached a $479,000 settlement with the state after the man was killed while serving time in a state detention center in 2017. 22-year-old Terry Berry Jr. was an inmate in Tecumseh State Correctional Institution when he was killed by his cellmate, Patrick Schroeder.... Read More about Nebraska and Family of Inmate Killed Behind Bars Agree to $479,000 Settlement

Walgreens store front with prominent signage against a blue sky.

Walgreens Defending Its Role in Opioid Crisis in San Francisco Federal Court

All across America, thousands of localities have sued pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors for their roles in the deaths of nearly half a million people from opioid overdoses. A federal jury in Cleveland found Walgreen’s, CVS, and Walmart liable for contributing to the drug epidemic in two Ohio counties. Walgreens recently... Read More about Walgreens Defending Its Role in Opioid Crisis in San Francisco Federal Court

A line of people waiting outside a gun store, with signs indicating that they buy guns and collectibles.

Conservative Californians Gain a Win as Right to Bear Arms is Protected for Young Adults

The 9th Circuit federal appeals court struck down a California law that banned individuals under the age of 21 from purchasing centerfire semi-automatic guns. The 2-1 split decision stated the law was unconstitutional and called it a “severe burden” on Second Amendment rights of "self-defense in the home." Individuals over... Read More about Conservative Californians Gain a Win as Right to Bear Arms is Protected for Young Adults

Image of a smartphone displaying the TurboTax app alongside IRS tax forms, specifically the 1040 Individual Income Tax Return.

TurboTax Agrees to $141M Settlement for Deceptive Practices

Intuit, the company which makes TurboTax, has agreed to a $141 million settlement with all 50 states. The settlement stems from allegations that the popular self-filing tax software steered customers away from its free edition software and pushed them toward its paid services instead. Along with paying back millions of... Read More about TurboTax Agrees to $141M Settlement for Deceptive Practices

Two men engaged in a conversation, one gesturing while talking to the other.

Justice Dept. Sues Casino VIP Steve Wynn to Register as a Foreign Agent, After Being an Alleged Middleman for China Favors to Trump, and More

The Justice Department sued casino mogul Stephen Wynn on Tuesday, alleging he made requests from China’s government to then-president Trump, and that he must now register as a foreign agent. The suit claims that in 2017, Wynn shared a request from the Chinese government to deport a Chinese citizen who... Read More about Justice Dept. Sues Casino VIP Steve Wynn to Register as a Foreign Agent, After Being an Alleged Middleman for China Favors to Trump, and More

Exterior view of a Walgreens store with a drive-thru pharmacy sign.

Class Action Targets Walgreens for Selling Menthols

Health advocates have spent decades speaking out about the dangers of cigarettes. Smoking tobacco has been definitively linked to heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and cancer, among other debilitating and dangerous conditions. The tobacco lobby, on the other hand, has downplayed the dangers of cigarettes and continuously fought for the... Read More about Class Action Targets Walgreens for Selling Menthols

Plains All American Pipeline Reaches $230M Settlement Over 2015 California Oil Spill

A $230 million settlement has been reached in a lawsuit brought forward by fishermen and property owners in Southern California against a Houston-based oil pipeline. The Plains All American Pipeline was the subject of a lawsuit after thousands of barrels of crude oil spilled onto the beaches of Southern California... Read More about Plains All American Pipeline Reaches $230M Settlement Over 2015 California Oil Spill

Texas officials speaking at a podium with microphones in front of a large government building.

Appeals Court Allows Individual Texans to Put Restraints on Big Tech

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a preliminary injunction against a Texas social media law, allowing it to go into effect. The Court’s split 2-1 panel vote will allow private parties to sue tech platforms over allegations of censorship and put sizeable constraints on the country’s largest social media... Read More about Appeals Court Allows Individual Texans to Put Restraints on Big Tech