Nov 17, 2024
A wooden gavel and a balanced scale symbolizing justice on a desk with a blurred urban background.
Lawyers’ Fees Reduced Due to Minimal Class Action Reward

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 »

Construction workers in safety vests and hard hats walking on a busy New York City street.
Does the Department of Buildings Do Enough?

A recent fatal construction accident serves as a tragic reminder that the New York Department of Buildings must continue amplifying its efforts to keep New York construction workers and civilians safe from the risks of building collapse. Last March, the back wall of a three-story building under demolition in Lower... Read More »

A woman speaks at a podium during a press conference addressing criminal charges against contractors involved in a fatal construction site accident.
Contractors Face Criminal Charges After Fatal Collapse in The Bronx

Four contractors are now facing criminal charges after a collapse at a Bronx construction site killed a worker. Three of the individuals are facing homicide charges, an extremely rare result following a fatal workplace accident. Construction is a dangerous industry. Every year, nearly one in five workplace deaths happen in... Read More »

San Bernardino County Government Center, featuring palm trees and a modern architectural design.
One-Year Term Limit for County Supervisors is Constitutional

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 »

Image of the rubble and debris from the collapsed apartment building in Davenport, Iowa.
First Lawsuits Filed Following Davenport, Iowa, Building Collapse

The first lawsuits have begun following the Davenport, Iowa, apartment collapse on May 28. Hours after the collapse, nine residents were rescued, and search efforts were subsequently called off as plans for demolition moved forward. Demolition plans were then scrapped after 52-year-old resident Lisa Brooks appeared in a sixth-story window... Read More »