Microsoft has agreed to pay $14.4 million to resolve allegations by the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) that the company penalized employees for taking legally protected forms of leave. The settlement follows a multi-year investigation into the tech giant's employment practices. The CRD accused Microsoft of retaliating against and discriminating... Read More »
The state of Hawaii has reached a settlement with a group of young people who sued the state over its greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. This marks the first time such a youth-led climate change lawsuit has been settled in the United States. The 2022 lawsuit was filed... Read More »
Anderson Lee Aldrich, the shooter responsible for the horrific attack at an LGBTQ+ club in Colorado Springs, was sentenced to 55 life terms in prison on Tuesday. Aldrich's attack, which killed five people and injured 19 others, was prosecuted as a federal hate crime, highlighting the severity and motivation behind... Read More »
A federal appeals court has ruled that a Massachusetts public middle school did not violate a student's First Amendment rights by requiring him to stop wearing a T-shirt that stated, "There are only two genders." The decision, issued on Sunday by the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, sided... Read More »
Legal challenges surrounding generative artificial intelligence (AI) is increasing as actors prepare to join artists, authors, and publications in claiming AI firms' use of copyrighted works and personal data. This week, actress Scarlett Johansson threatened to sue OpenAI, accusing the company of imitating her voice without permission. On Monday, Johansson... Read More »
The California Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Tuesday (May 21) in a critical case challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 22, a ballot measure that allows app-based services like Uber and Lyft to classify their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and... Read More »
On Friday (May 3), a federal jury in Delaware ruled that gaming giant Activision Blizzard must pay $23.4 million in damages for infringing on patents related to the multiplayer features in some of its most popular video games, including "World of Warcraft" and two "Call of Duty" titles. The verdict... Read More »
Massachusetts is set to be a key arena in the continuing national discussion on whether ride-share drivers should be classified as independent contractors or employees with full employment benefits. The state's Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on two opposing ballot measures that could profoundly change the operational dynamics... Read More »
In a significant move, the Senate Banking Committee has approved the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation Banking Act (SAFER), a landmark bill aimed at providing legal protection to banks that offer financial services to cannabis companies. The bill now heads to the Senate floor for further deliberation. While the cannabis... Read More »
U.S. District Judge David Hittner struck down a Texas law many LGBTQ proponents feared would criminalize drag performances in the state. The law, known as Senate Bill 12, was signed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott in June and aimed to prevent children from exposure to sexually explicit performances. While the... Read More »
