In November 1928, Walt Disney revolutionized the animation industry with the release of "Steamboat Willie," a cartoon that showcased synchronized sound and introduced the world to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Mickey Mouse, in particular, evolved into an emblematic figure for Disney, permeating every facet of its branding, from theme parks... Read More »
In a significant development for public health and tobacco regulation, the U.S. Supreme Court, on Monday, January 7, 2024, decided not to review a challenge against California's ban on flavored tobacco products. This decision effectively upholds the voter-approved measure, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle over tobacco product... Read More »
The pandemic may be over, but the legal cases deciding what business losses must be covered by insurance policies linger on. Unfortunately for plaintiffs across the board, no matter what creative arguments they come up with, their cases nearly always fail due to express exclusions in the policy. One of... Read More »
Drones are changing the way police respond to 911 calls, but like all new technologies, courts are being challenged by how to respond to their use. The city of Chula Vista, California, is conducting a first-in-the-nation pilot program that uses drones as first responders to emergency calls for help. The... Read More »
A Minnesota woman says that a visit to her dentist was nothing short of a nightmare in her lawsuit filed on Dec. 21 in Hennepin County District Court, according to a recent report by the Star Tribune. Minnesota resident Kathleen Wilson says Dr. Kevin Molldrem of Molldrem Family Dentistry in... Read More »
Under California law, parties engaged in litigation are not liable for communications made during “planned or pending court actions.” However, a State appellate court has ruled that comments on defendant’s blog and Yelp are “akin to press releases,’ and therefore not immunized by California’s litigation privilege. Vanessa Hamilton, the defendant,... Read More »
The rights of sperm donors in child custody cases have prompted many states to create laws that seek to clarify who has the right to raise the child. In 2022, California enacted Family Code §7613 (b)(1) that says, “The donor of semen…is treated in law as if the donor is... Read More »
In a renewed effort to control the recent surge in illegal border crossings, Texas Governor Greg Abbot has passed a new law that would allow police officers to arrest any migrants who illegally cross into the state from the southern border. The new law would also allow local judges to... Read More »
A series of personal squabbles between a firefighter and his supervisor led to a $5 million-plus payout because of the severe due process violations that occurred during his firing. The defendant, the county fire protection district, tried to argue that the plaintiff was not entitled to damages because he failed... Read More »
A Georgia gift card maker is facing a lawsuit in California after users said the gift cards they purchased were drained of their funds in a scam that has been all too popular this holiday season. The lawsuit was filed by San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu against InComm Financial... Read More »
When Spencer Elden was just four months old, the “grunge rock band” Nirvana used a nude picture of him, which prominently showed his genitals, on the cover of their 1991 album Nevermind. The album went platinum, sold 30 million copies, and generated a host of album cover copies on merchandise... Read More »
A spiritual adviser to death row inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith has filed a lawsuit against the state of Alabama over plans to use nitrogen gas to execute the condemned prisoner. The lawsuit was filed by Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Hood nearly a month before Smith is set to be executed On... Read More »
Humana, an industry leader providing healthcare plans for over 5.1 million eligible American seniors, is facing a new class action lawsuit over its claims process. The lawsuit was filed by Medicare Advantage beneficiaries earlier this month in the U.S. District Court in Western Kentucky. The class action lawsuit names two... Read More »
The judge in the “second degree implied malice murder” trial of an inebriated man, who hit and killed a six-year-old girl, did not have to instruct the jury to consider a lesser related offense such as “gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.” The driver was convicted and sentenced to 15 years... Read More »
Defendant/Appellant Christopher Esqueda was a felon who tried to sell methamphetamines (meth) and a loaded .22 caliber revolver from his Anaheim hotel room in January 2020. Unfortunately for him, the potential buyers were two undercover law enforcement agents, one from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and... Read More »
