USA Archive - Law Commentary

A hospital corridor with a medical stretcher in the foreground and healthcare workers in the background.

NJ Wrongful Death Suit Alleges Healthcare Facility Failed to Provide Employees With PPE and Misled Them About the Presence of COVID-19 Among Patients

New Jersey nursing assistant Cheryl Roberts worked at Hilton Park Healthcare, now owned by Alaris Health, LLC, since the early 1990s. When the pandemic hit, she continued to work at the facility, where they restricted visitations by families due to COVID-19. After her death from COVID-19 in March 2020, her... Read More about NJ Wrongful Death Suit Alleges Healthcare Facility Failed to Provide Employees With PPE and Misled Them About the Presence of COVID-19 Among Patients

Two soldiers in military uniforms stand with an American flag at a public event.

Military University Student Sues to End HIV Discrimination in the Armed Forces

A student at Norwich University, a military college, is suing the Vermont National Guard after he was declared to be unfit for service because he tested positive for HIV. The student is identified only as John Doe in the lawsuit. He was a sophomore at the Northfield, Vermont, military college... Read More about Military University Student Sues to End HIV Discrimination in the Armed Forces

Mugshot of former Colorado police officer Austin Hopp, sentenced for assaulting an elderly woman with dementia.

Former Colo. Police Officer Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Assaulting 73-year-old Woman With Dementia

It took almost two years, but a former police officer from Colorado who assaulted an elderly woman with dementia has been sentenced to five years in prison for his rough arrest. The former officer, Austin Hopp, agreed to a plea deal to reduce his jail time. In 2020, Hopp pleaded... Read More about Former Colo. Police Officer Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Assaulting 73-year-old Woman With Dementia

Boston City Hall with three flagpoles displaying the U.S. flag, Massachusetts state flag, and a third empty flagpole.

Two Clauses of the First Amendment Go Head-to-Head in the Fight Over Private Speech in Boston

Two clauses of the First Amendment went head-to-head in the fight over private versus government speech this past week, as the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Boston violated the U.S. Constitution when it did not allow a group to fly a Christian flag over the Boston City Hall. However, the... Read More about Two Clauses of the First Amendment Go Head-to-Head in the Fight Over Private Speech in Boston

A homeless man sits on the street with his head in his hands, while a woman walking with a walker observes nearby, highlighting the struggles of the Tenderloin neighborhood in San Francisco.

San Francisco Can’t Ban Drug Dealers From High Crime Neighborhoods

San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood is comprised of 50 square blocks that have a reputation for fostering illegal drug dealing, prostitution, strip clubs and homelessness. The City Attorney tried to ban four drug dealers from the area because they were public nuisances, but an appellate court said the requested relief was... Read More about San Francisco Can’t Ban Drug Dealers From High Crime Neighborhoods

Meta Fights to Use the Infinity Symbol as Their Logo and Define the Future of the Internet

Two companies have gone head-to-head over who has the right to use a logo they both see as defining the future of the internet. Meta Platforms Inc., formerly Facebook Inc., was sued by a nonprofit blockchain developer, Dfinity Foundation, over a new logo Meta adopted after rebranding late last year. ... Read More about Meta Fights to Use the Infinity Symbol as Their Logo and Define the Future of the Internet

Bumble Moves to Dismiss False Advertising Complaint as Courts Grapple with Nuances of Deceit

An ongoing lawsuit against Bumble Holding Limited and Bumble Inc. (Bumble) is now bringing up new questions about liability and deceit as the company moves to dismiss the complaint. The suit, filed in January, was brought by a Bumble user who alleges the dating app purposefully misrepresented some of its... Read More about Bumble Moves to Dismiss False Advertising Complaint as Courts Grapple with Nuances of Deceit

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee speaking at an event.

New Tennessee Bill Will Require Drunk Drivers to Pay Child Support for Killing Parents of Minors

A new bill targeting drunk drivers is gaining momentum throughout Tennessee and across the nation. The bill aims to help tackle drunk driving by implementing a unique financial penalty, child support payments. House Bill 1834, otherwise known as Ethan's, Haley's, and Bentley's Law was the product of three children who... Read More about New Tennessee Bill Will Require Drunk Drivers to Pay Child Support for Killing Parents of Minors

Teen Girl Bring Class Lawsuit Against Snapchat for Sexual Exploitation

A 12-year-old girl on Snapchat shared nude photos with a stranger, who told her she was pretty and also her friend. She believed him, and also believed Snapchat that the photos and videos on the app would disappear, leaving no trace. She was wrong on both counts. After being complimented... Read More about Teen Girl Bring Class Lawsuit Against Snapchat for Sexual Exploitation

Hollywood Studios Win Piracy Battle Against PrimeWire

The battle between intellectual property owners and software piracy is as old as the internet. Streaming websites and peer-to-peer file sharing applications such as Napster, LimeWire, Kazaa, and DC++ have allowed consumers to acquire music, television shows, video games, movies, and other content for free, to the chagrin of movie... Read More about Hollywood Studios Win Piracy Battle Against PrimeWire

A magnifying glass on a laptop keyboard, symbolizing online searches for personal information.

Class Action Suit Filed Against Websites for Using Names and Identities Without Permission

Instead of hiring a private eye to discover information about a person of interest, several websites offer users the chance to click on a name and discover all sorts of background information. The basics, like age and city of residence, are free, but a hefty subscription fee is required to... Read More about Class Action Suit Filed Against Websites for Using Names and Identities Without Permission

Zoom Agrees to $85M Settlement Over Privacy and Data User Violations

Video conferencing company Zoom Video Communications has agreed to an $85 million settlement following a class action lawsuit. The tech company became a staple in American and global households during the pandemic. While the software helped connect students, workers, and families, users claim that the company violated user privacy rights... Read More about Zoom Agrees to $85M Settlement Over Privacy and Data User Violations

A pack of menthol cigarettes labeled "Menthol Extra Slim" surrounded by white cigarette filters.

FDA Issues Draft of Plan to Ban Menthol Cigarette -- Big Tobacco Fights Back

Before the government banned cigarette advertising on radio and television in 1971, the airwaves were filled with messages that menthol cigarettes were smoother, more refreshing, and capable of delivering “extra coolness in your throat.” After the ban, Big Tobacco swiftly shifted its marketing strategies to print media and fought back... Read More about FDA Issues Draft of Plan to Ban Menthol Cigarette -- Big Tobacco Fights Back

Entrance of St. Anthony's Hospital in Florida at dusk.

DOJ Settles Medicaid Fraud Claims With Florida’s BayCare Health for $20 Million

The Department of Justice has demonstrated a renewed vigor in pursuing healthcare fraud investigations in recent years. The DOJ boasts that it has recovered more than $149 million in 2022 just in COVID-19-related fraud actions. In 2021, they pursued actions totaling more than $1.4 billion in alleged losses. The DOJ’s... Read More about DOJ Settles Medicaid Fraud Claims With Florida’s BayCare Health for $20 Million

California Governor speaking at a podium with California state flags in the background.

California Court Strikes Down Law Requiring Diversity on Corporate Boards

Corporate diversity, like diversity in education and other arenas, is an ongoing issue. Certain communities are underrepresented in corporate management and, in particular, on corporate boards around the country. The homogeneity at the top trickles down into corporate culture and many other areas, creating a vicious cycle that perpetuates the... Read More about California Court Strikes Down Law Requiring Diversity on Corporate Boards