USA Archive - Law Commentary

A person standing near a window, smiling while using a tablet, with plants visible in the foreground.

(When) Will Massachusetts and Oklahoma Join the Growing List of RUFADAA States?

Legislators introduce measures to control access in probate to the digital assets that were held by a deceased individual. By now, almost every state in the country has adopted the Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (UFADAA) or its successor revised version (RUFADAA). Louisiana, Oklahoma and Massachusetts seem to... Read More about (When) Will Massachusetts and Oklahoma Join the Growing List of RUFADAA States?

IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig speaking during a Senate Finance Committee hearing.

IRS Says $1 Trillion in Taxes Are Left Uncollected Annually

IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig announced on April 13, 2021, that the U.S. government is losing $1 Trillion in unpaid taxes annually. He claims the IRS needs more and consistent funding to hunt down tax cheats. He further told the Senate Finance Committee that the difference between taxes legally owed and... Read More about IRS Says $1 Trillion in Taxes Are Left Uncollected Annually

A bartender serving a drink at a bar, with blurred background elements suggesting a lively bar atmosphere.

Dram Shop and Social Host Liability in New York

Special state laws give personal injury victims an extra means of compensation after a drunk driving car accident. Drunk driving accidents can be violent and destructive. The victims of these accidents can be left with exorbitant costs, sometimes suffering a permanent loss of physical mobility or even a traumatic brain... Read More about Dram Shop and Social Host Liability in New York

A man standing in a wooded area, wearing a blue jacket and looking directly at the camera.

NJ Man Sues Feds for Right To Sell His Organs

John Bellocchio is looking to sell some of his possessions, which happen to be his organs. In early April, Bellocchio filed a lawsuit in a Manhattan federal court against U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland for the legal right to sell his organs. The Oakland, New Jersey, resident said he discovered... Read More about NJ Man Sues Feds for Right To Sell His Organs

People wearing masks stand near the iconic Olympic rings in Tokyo, Japan.

Class-Action Suit by Olympic Spectators Seeks Full Refunds for Cancelled Games

Americans love the Summer Olympics. The long-limbed runners, twisting high divers, beach volleyball spikers, equestrian jumpers, and all the others who perform superhuman feats. The Games are arguably the only event that unites everyone, regardless of where they live, whom they vote for, or which team is playing. Many were... Read More about Class-Action Suit by Olympic Spectators Seeks Full Refunds for Cancelled Games

Exterior view of a Food 4 Less store, showing a clearance sale sign.

Hero to Zero: Stores in California Choose to Close Rather Than Pony up Additional “Hero Pay”

Long Beach, California, passed an ordinance in January for “hero pay” which would require people who work in pharmacies and retail stores with 300 or more employees to receive a $4 per hour increase in pay for having to face more hazards during the COVID-19 pandemic. Los Angeles passed a... Read More about Hero to Zero: Stores in California Choose to Close Rather Than Pony up Additional “Hero Pay”

An American flag partially obscured by barbed wire, symbolizing border security and immigration issues.

Arizona Declares State of Emergency Amid Surge in Border Crossings

The state of Arizona has declared a state of emergency as migrants continue to flock to the southern border. The state is the first in the nation to declare a state of emergency because of the border crossing surge this year. Governor Doug Ducey is sending 250 National Guard members... Read More about Arizona Declares State of Emergency Amid Surge in Border Crossings

A workplace accident scene with two safety personnel attending to an injured worker on the floor.

The Who, What, When, and How of Punitive Damages in California Lawsuits

Defendants can face exceedingly high damages for conduct that goes beyond negligence and shows a conscious disregard for other’s safety. Punitive damages are one of several forms of relief available to plaintiffs in California, but only certain types of cases and certain plaintiffs are eligible to seek and receive this... Read More about The Who, What, When, and How of Punitive Damages in California Lawsuits

Sign indicating temporary closure of a Kaiser Permanente location due to COVID-19.

Court Decisions Differ on Insurance Policy Coverage of COVID-Related Business Interruption Losses

As the Eighth Circuit hears oral argument, the country is teeming with court cases and related legislation at all levels of government. While the nation’s death toll has reached over 567,000, another frightening statistic demonstrates that human lives are not COVID-19’s only casualties. Small businesses are also dying at estimated... Read More about Court Decisions Differ on Insurance Policy Coverage of COVID-Related Business Interruption Losses

A group of motorcyclists riding on a highway during sunset with a cloudy sky.

Motorcycles Crashes From Coast Have Common Element - Riding in Groups

On the evening of April 17, a crash involving a group of motorcyclists and a Mercedes sedan took place on I-264 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. According to Virginia State Police reports, a group of eight motorcyclists was traveling on the highway and weaving in and out of traffic. One of... Read More about Motorcycles Crashes From Coast Have Common Element - Riding in Groups

A graphic representation of a credit card with a ladder and coins, symbolizing financial schemes or fraud.

Fraudster Pleads Guilty to $7 Million Covid Relief Fraud Scheme

A 24-year-old Taiwanese native has been arrested and charged with several counts of fraud after he applied for over $7 million in relief aid that was intended for businesses and individuals impacted by the pandemic. Sheng-Wen Cheng, who also goes by the names Justin Cheng and Justin Jung, was a... Read More about Fraudster Pleads Guilty to $7 Million Covid Relief Fraud Scheme

A close-up of hands typing on a laptop keyboard.

NYC Settles Suit to Give Free Internet to School Kids

When coronavirus forced most schools across the country to shut down, nearly all of them made rapid plans to convert from in-person learning to virtual. Kids with internet access still missed out on many important schoolroom features, but kids without internet access missed out on everything. A new settlement with... Read More about NYC Settles Suit to Give Free Internet to School Kids

Exterior view of a Winn-Dixie supermarket building with shopping carts outside.

11th Circuit Vacates Title III Fed Decision for ADA Access on Screen-Reader Software in Supermarkets & May Lead to Supreme Court Showdown

A split panel of the 11th Circuit in Atlanta recently ruled that online sites for businesses offering website services to the public are not considered "places of accommodation" under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). This ruling has been expected for four years since the plaintiffs in Gil v. Winn-Dixie... Read More about 11th Circuit Vacates Title III Fed Decision for ADA Access on Screen-Reader Software in Supermarkets & May Lead to Supreme Court Showdown

Derek Chauvin during the trial for the death of George Floyd, wearing a mask and hearing the verdict.

Derek Chauvin Guilty in George Floyd Death - Faces Minimum of Ten Years and Maximum of Forty Years in Prison

As church bells rang throughout downtown Minneapolis, the news spread that the jury in the death of George Floyd found Derek Chauvin guilty on all three charges: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. The reaction of protesters around the nation was one of bittersweet happiness, as the former... Read More about Derek Chauvin Guilty in George Floyd Death - Faces Minimum of Ten Years and Maximum of Forty Years in Prison

Handcuffs resting on a 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return form, symbolizing tax fraud and legal repercussions.

Sarasota Tax Preparation Business Attempts $4 Million CARES Act Fraud

Authorities in Sarasota, Florida, have cracked down on a tax preparation business that attempted to defraud the county of funding intended for small businesses and individuals under the CARES Act. The investigation has resulted in the arrest of eight individuals who secured $319,000 that was meant to be used as... Read More about Sarasota Tax Preparation Business Attempts $4 Million CARES Act Fraud