Teens usually start smoking by experimenting with fruit, candy, menthol or mint-flavored tobacco. They use e-cigarettes or vaping devices to inhale nicotine concentrations of up to 5%. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seen a “drastic increase” in the use of e-cigarettes by youths in recent years. On June... Read More »
During the pandemic, many people turned to Instacart for home delivery of their groceries so they wouldn’t have to risk exposure to COVID-19 at the market. Few, however, probably thought much about the shoppers who selected and delivered desired items to their homes. Were they Instacart employees entitled to minimum... Read More »
The goals of the criminal justice system are generally believed to be crime deterrence, punishment of the wrongdoer, and rehabilitation. Two men who accomplished all three of these desired outcomes were still punished after they were released. They challenged the constitutionality of their perpetual punishment. They lost. Dario Gurrola and... Read More »
Next fall, as Ohio teachers get ready for a new year, they might be bringing a different kind of school supply into the classroom. It’s a gun. The Governor of Ohio signed a law that lets them keep a firearm in the room where children are taught after they complete... Read More »
She is a convicted sex trafficker, sexual abuser of underage girls, and former partner to the infamous serial-pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Her crimes carry a maximum of 50 years in prison, but her lawyers are now trying to convince the judge to sentence her to just a bit over four years... Read More »
Since the pandemic began, the federal government has authorized approximately $5 trillion in COVID-19 relief funds. Sadly, as President Biden said in his 2022 State of the Union address, billions of dollars have been lost to fraud. But the government is fighting back. One New Jersey chemist is headed for... Read More »
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) knew what was going on. They knew that nearly 100 children and young women gymnasts were being sexually abused by their team doctor. Under the guise of medical treatment for their training injuries, he did unimaginable things to their bodies. Some reported him to... Read More »
One would think that indecent sexual conduct has disappeared from the entertainment industry in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandals. One would be wrong. Another Hollywood executive, who is also the heir to the Coca-Cola fortune, has demonstrated “highly reprehensible, degrading and outrageous behavior” toward a “low-wage industry worker.” ... Read More »
What did the Archdiocese know about child molestation by its priests, when did they know it, and what did they do about it? Seven plaintiffs sued the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for “vicarious liability” and negligence for failing to protect children from sexual harm they knew was occurring. The Church... Read More »
He was high on marijuana. He drove his Lexus at nearly 90 miles per hour and ran a red light. His car hit another and three people died. He was charged with and convicted on three counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to three concurrent prison terms of 15 years... Read More »
After a night of drinking and socializing, a popular way to get home safely is to call an Uber. On separate occasions, three women (collectively “the Jane Does”) used Uber apps for this purpose. But each was picked up, not by an Uber driver, but by an “imposter” with an... Read More »
In normal times, both the California Constitution and the United States Constitution give criminal defendants the right to a speedy trial. The pandemic’s impact on the courts has clearly demonstrated that these are not normal times. A man whose trial for a series of horrific domestic violence incidents was continued... Read More »
Electric scooters are the latest hot transportation trend, with ads promising they are “fast, fun, and easy to ride.” Their “micromobility” offers a “quick and cheap” alternative to cars that demand pricey gas. As a condition of renting a scooter, however, companies require riders to consent to having their routes... Read More »
COVID-19 has caused serious problems for every sector of the country. Governments are struggling to achieve a delicate balance between public health and public safety. Because of crowded prison conditions that contribute to COVID-19, one population group—inmates with underlying conditions—has been treated so generously that critics have labeled early release... Read More »
Next time you decide to fly on American Airlines, you might want to know that the Ninth Circuit has ruled that it owes passengers no duty of care. Passengers have no contractual right to bring a carry-on bag, change seats, or get a voucher for overnight accommodations if a flight... Read More »
