USA Archive - Law Commentary

A medical professional working at a desk with a prescription bottle and syringe, highlighting issues related to healthcare practices.

Two Texas Doctors To Pay $3.9 Million After Issuing Unnecessary Urine Drug Testing

Two Texas pain management doctors have been charged with healthcare fraud and have agreed to a settlement totaling $3.9 million. Pain management physicians Robert Wills and Brannon Frank are accused of violating the False Claims Act after knowingly submitting false claims to federal healthcare programs including Medicaid, Medicare, and TRICARE.... Read More about Two Texas Doctors To Pay $3.9 Million After Issuing Unnecessary Urine Drug Testing

A close-up view of a white car's rear tire leaving smoke and debris on a racing surface during a drag race.

No-Prep Drag Racing on the Rise Across the Country, Kills Two and Injures Eight in Texas

A drag racer lost control of his car and sped into a group of spectators killing two young boys and injuring eight others. The Fort Worth, Texas, native Michael Gonzales was the driver participating in a no-prep drag race as a part of the Airport Race Wars 2 at Kerrville... Read More about No-Prep Drag Racing on the Rise Across the Country, Kills Two and Injures Eight in Texas

A wooden cross on an altar, with a blurred congregation in a church background.

CA Appeals Court Expands Duty of Church to Protect Children from Abuse by Priests

Since the 1950s, the Catholic Church has been aware that it has a problem with priests who sexually abuse children. After one of the victims sued a California archdiocese in 2017, a trial court found that since the priest’s Los Angeles Archdiocese had no direct knowledge of his sexual misconduct,... Read More about CA Appeals Court Expands Duty of Church to Protect Children from Abuse by Priests

Two individuals interact in a safe-injection site, with one person receiving supplies from a staff member while seated in a relaxed, supportive environment.

Rhode Island to Pilot ‘Safe-Injection Site’ Program for Safe Opioid Use

Rhode Island is set to become the first state to pilot a safe-injection site program. The program would create injection sites around the state where drug addicts can safely use illegal intravenous drugs. The state aims to codify the program in January and hopes to have its first sites up... Read More about Rhode Island to Pilot ‘Safe-Injection Site’ Program for Safe Opioid Use

Image of a yellow school bus with the words "Davis School District" displayed on the side.

Utah School District Settles With DOJ After Widespread Racial Harassment Toward Minority Students

Following an investigation into claims of racial harassment towards Black and Asian students, a school district in Utah has settled with the government to resolve shocking racist behaviors and practices. According to the Justice Department, the Davis School District in Utah routinely allowed and even perpetrated the mistreatment of its... Read More about Utah School District Settles With DOJ After Widespread Racial Harassment Toward Minority Students

Group of Afghan evacuees arriving at an airport, wearing masks and being escorted through the terminal.

Biggest Change to Refugee Resettlement Program Could Be the Answer to Biden’s Goal of 125,000 Refugee Admissions

The Biden Administration unveiled a new program for resettling evacuated Afghan refugees that includes private sponsorship by veterans and qualified individuals over 18. The program gets the thousands of Afghans still living on military bases into permanent homes and will initiate a system of support outside of the normal resettlement... Read More about Biggest Change to Refugee Resettlement Program Could Be the Answer to Biden’s Goal of 125,000 Refugee Admissions

Criminal and Civil Liabilities Loom in Alec Baldwin Movie-Set Shooting with Negligence & Prop Gun Fatality “Foreseeable”

The fatal shooting of a young cinematographer and secondary shooting of the director by actor and producer Alec Baldwin quickly morphed from a hit movie in the making to a supernova legal case, destined to become its own chart-topping film. The prop gun used by Baldwin in the death of... Read More about Criminal and Civil Liabilities Loom in Alec Baldwin Movie-Set Shooting with Negligence & Prop Gun Fatality “Foreseeable”

Robert Durst in court, wearing a mask and hospital gown, as he faces charges related to the murder of his first wife, Kathie Durst.

Robert Durst Charged With 1982 Murder of First Wife, Kathie Durst

The notorious real estate scion, Robert Durst, 78, is facing charges related to the death of his first wife, Kathie Durst. This latest turn of events in the Durst saga comes after State Police investigator Joseph Becerra filed a complaint charging Robert Durst with the death of his first wife.... Read More about Robert Durst Charged With 1982 Murder of First Wife, Kathie Durst

People walking with luggage towards an immigration checkpoint.

Trump-Era Immigration Judge Quotas Eliminated, Critics Still Cautious of New Standards

Earlier this week, the Department of Justice said they would be easing quotas for immigration judges that were set during the Trump Administration. The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is currently developing new performance measures to replace the previous administration’s metrics that “will accurately reflect the reality of an... Read More about Trump-Era Immigration Judge Quotas Eliminated, Critics Still Cautious of New Standards

Bottles of prescription opioid medications with tablets scattered on a surface.

Tennessee Doc Sentenced to 20 Years in Opioid Overdose Death

A Texas medical doctor has been sentenced to 20 years behind bars after he unlawfully prescribed an opioid to a patient who later died. 63-year-old Thomas K. Ballard was the owner and operator of the Ballard Clinic in Jackson, Tennessee, a family medicine facility. Officials explain that Ballard prescribed highly... Read More about Tennessee Doc Sentenced to 20 Years in Opioid Overdose Death

A group of individuals, including Lev Parnas, exiting a courthouse following a trial related to campaign finance law violations.

Ex-Giuliani Associates Convicted of Campaign Finance Law Violations

The wise Watergate advice to “follow the money” has now led to the convictions of two former associates of Rudolph W. Giuliani for campaign finance violations during the ill-fated campaign to re-elect ex-President Donald Trump. Lev Parnas, a Russian-born Florida businessman, and one of his business partners were convicted of... Read More about Ex-Giuliani Associates Convicted of Campaign Finance Law Violations

A group of Chicago police officials and city leaders during a press conference addressing vaccine mandate tensions.

21 Chicago Police Dep. Employees On ‘No-Pay Status’ After Vaccine Mandate Tensions Continue

The tension between Chicago police and city officials continues after some police officers have failed to comply with the mayor’s vaccine mandate for all city employees. The backlash began in late August when mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that all city employees would be required to get vaccinated or submit to... Read More about 21 Chicago Police Dep. Employees On ‘No-Pay Status’ After Vaccine Mandate Tensions Continue

A young man sitting by the water, smiling and wearing a patterned shirt.

FBI Confirms Skeletal Remains Belong to Brian Laundrie, Questions Mount Against Laundrie Family

Dental records of skeletal remains found at the Carlton Reserve are those of Brian Laundrie, the FBI announced late Thursday. The search for Laundrie sparked national and global attention after the 23-year-old was named a person of interest in the disappearance and later death of his 22-year-old fiancée Gabby Petito.... Read More about FBI Confirms Skeletal Remains Belong to Brian Laundrie, Questions Mount Against Laundrie Family

Texas Man Sentenced to 23 Years for Violent Crimes After Luring Men Through Dating App, Grindr

A Dallas man has been sentenced to 23 years and four months behind bars for his role in a hate crime that targeted gay men for violent crimes. Twenty-two-year-old Daniel Jenkins was the last of four individuals to be sentenced for their role in violent hate crimes. Jenkins was accused... Read More about Texas Man Sentenced to 23 Years for Violent Crimes After Luring Men Through Dating App, Grindr

A warehouse employee in a red shirt organizing products on a shelf in a supermarket distribution center.

Subpar Performance by Probationary Employee Permits Dismissal after Medical Leave

A supermarket warehouse employee who claimed employment discrimination lost his appeal when the court ruled he was not entitled to more time to improve his “subpar” performance after he returned to work following medical leave. In an opinion by Orange County Superior Court Judge James L. Crandall issued on September... Read More about Subpar Performance by Probationary Employee Permits Dismissal after Medical Leave