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 »
In the country’s first ruling on the constitutionality of a controversial “gender transition” law, a U.S. District Court Judge in Arkansas has ruled that a state law that prohibits medical professionals from providing “gender transition” care to youths is unconstitutional. In 2021, Arkansas passed a law that prohibited medical professionals... Read More »
Those who receive a gift card are no doubt excited to redeem it. California Civil Code Section 1745(a) guarantees that all cards are valid until redeemed or replaced, unless their value is under $5 or if the card was not used for 24 months. Taco Bell ignored the law and,... Read More »
Greenwashing is a relatively new deceptive marketing practice that companies use to mislead consumers about the positive environmental benefits of their products. One consumer claimed he was hoodwinked by a hair conditioner label that pictured an avocado on a leaf on its label, under the words “Natural Fusion.” When he... Read More »
The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA or the Act) was enacted in 1978 to stop what supporters called “the devastating impact” caused by removing Native American children from their parents, families and communities. The State of Texas and three private parties challenged the Act, arguing that Congress had no authority... Read More »
Ruling that “the benefit to the class was minimal,” an appellate court reduced a $1.7 million attorneys’ fees reward in a copyright infringement class action case because it was based on hypothetical, not actual, monetary relief. Lowrey et. al. v Rhapsody International, Inc. began when a group of copyright holders... Read More »
Term limits restrict the number of times an elected official may be re-elected. They date back to ancient Greece and Rome and were enacted throughout history to prevent power monopolies and abuses. When one California county passed a measure that limited its supervisors to a single, four-year term, opponents sued,... Read More »
Sadly, it is unusual these days for a week to pass by without news of yet another mass shooting in America. While the news media cover every detail about the shooters, they also often seek to provide information about the lives and deaths of the victims. The families of those... Read More »
America is facing what Publishers Weekly calls “an unprecedented surge in book bans and censorship efforts being pushed by right-wing groups in communities across the nation.” This week, the White House moved to reverse the trend by appointing a new coordinator in the Department of Education to “spearhead a response... Read More »
In a strongly worded, 70-page defense of the First Amendment, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Parker of the Western District of Tennessee ruled that a State law that limits public drag shows was unconstitutional. Parker found the bill overbroad, too vague, and not narrowly tailored enough to achieve the compelling... Read More »
Among its endless controversies, the 2020 election is likely to be most remembered for its contentious debates over the legality and accuracy of ballots. A recent ruling by a California Court of Appeal could help prevent pouring more fuel onto the fire over the legitimacy of votes. This time it’s... Read More »
When she was 19, Leslie Van Houten became a member of the notorious Manson Family. After a year of living under the drug-fueled and manipulative influence of their cult leader, she and three other Family members murdered Rosemary and Leno LaBianca. She was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder... Read More »
In most cases, a fired employee can collect wages for work performed prior to termination. But if that employee is enrolled in the company’s profit-sharing plan, no payment needs to be made. An appeal by a scientist at Mad Science Laboratories affirmed the trial court’s decision that the man will... Read More »
A Colorado school district told a high school senior that she could not wear a sash that displayed both the Mexican and American flags to her graduation. She sued. A federal judge agreed with the school district. On May 27, she wore it anyway. And no one tried to stop... Read More »
It’s 6:00 in the morning. Your phone rings and wakes you up. You answer it because you think anyone who calls you at that hour needs to speak with you urgently about something important. The caller, however, asks you if you want to buy a new warranty on your car. ... Read More »
