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 »
Johnny Depp won his historic defamation case against his ex-wife Amber Heard after a seven-person jury found she defamed him in her 2018 Washington Post op-ed essay about domestic abuse. The dramatic six-week trial captured the world’s attention, with salacious, conflicting stories told by both Depp and Heard. When Depp... Read More »
The Biden administration campaigned heavily on student loan forgiveness. While these campaign promises have not yet come to fruition, the administration has announced the largest one-time debt cancellation ever made by the Department of Education. This massive discharge will total $5.8 billion and will impact roughly 560,000 borrowers. Unlike the... 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 »
Two Alabama public school workers are suing their employer after being asked to pay back over $55,000 in accidental overpayment. The school system is asking for the money back as a result of overpayment in salary that school administrators say the workers were not entitled to. The lawsuit was filed... 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 »
The New York Giants and the New York Jets are known for their ride-or-die fans. But at least two major fans are suing the teams, since both play their home games in New Jersey, and not in New York. The fans are seeking $6 billion, including $2 billion in monetary... 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 »
Almost a week after the school shooting that rocked the close-knit community of Uvalde, Texas, residents, survivors, and the families of the 19 slain students and two teachers are taking their first steps in what will be a drawn-out and difficult recovery process. For many, these early stages of the... Read More »
After a contentious divorce and “intense litigation” leading to a support agreement, an unemployed but financially secure Certified Public Accountant (CPA) filed for changes in his monthly obligations. The trial court found that the husband’s assets, professional degree, and experience make him capable of continuing the agreed-upon payments. The appellate... Read More »
Wells Fargo has faced its share of scandals in recent years. They’ve been accused of fraudulent behavior, such as creating millions of fake accounts in customers’ names, as well as discriminatory conduct such as disproportionately denying mortgage refinancing to black homeowners. In past years the financial institution has paid millions... Read More »
There’s been a battle brewing in recent decades between proponents of anti-discrimination protections and advocates for ostensible religious freedoms. Religious organizations and religious parties claim they should have the freedom to operate businesses in line with their religious views, even if that means turning away customers or employees that have... Read More »
A South Carolina woman shopping in a local Walmart stepped on a rusty nail and then lost a major part of her leg due to her injuries. She sued Walmart in 2017 after the 2015 incident, and in December 2021 a jury in Florence County, South Carolina, finally awarded $10... Read More »
Twitter is in the news nearly every day these days. In what some have called the “biggest tech story ever,” the media are closely following each new development in Elon Musk’s efforts to buy the hottest “public conversation” website in the world. Now there is good news for Musk or... Read More »
A new law created in 2021 in Texas that controls moderation in social media is now legal. This new state law places major constraints upon tech platforms that moderate social media posts, such as violent images, racist rants and extremist content. Tech giants are now strongly protesting the Texas law,... Read More »
