Nov 01, 2024
Members of Congress raising their hands to vote during a legislative session.
Can Congress Shield Businesses from Liability to Workers?

America is watching the lawmaking process with the same attention as would ordinarily be dedicated to the sports that have long been absent from the country under the weight of the coronavirus pandemic. On July 27, 2020, Republican Texas Senator John Cornyn introduced the newest effort to provide comprehensive federal... Read More »

A line of police in riot gear holding shields during a protest.
State versus Federal Police Power

In May, President Trump threatened to deploy the U.S. military in response to protests roiling the country. However, it's not clear that he has the power to do so. American law prohibits the use of the military on domestic soil except in very specific circumstances. To order troops into a... Read More »

Image of a smartphone screen displaying the emergency number 911 on the dialing interface.
Kari’s Law and the Complexities of Dialing 911

In 2013, in a motel room in Marshall, Texas, Kari Hunt was murdered by her estranged husband with her three children just a few feet away. Her oldest, Breonna Hunt, picked up the room phone to call the police in an attempt to save her mother’s life. The nine-year-old dialed... Read More »

A person holding a cardboard sign that reads "WE WON'T WEAR MASKS" in front of a cityscape background.
Individual Rights and the Pandemic

To combat the COVID-19 pandemic raging across the country, 34 states now require face masks in public. These mandates join social distancing measures such as mandatory business closures and limitations on the number of people allowed to congregate in an area. Public response to these health regulations has been mixed.... Read More »

A group of women participating in a protest, holding signs and raising their fists in solidarity.
Individual right to protest

Seventy-four days after George Floyd was killed by a police officer kneeling on his neck, demonstrations continue to erupt in cities across the U.S. The turbulence brings police officers, lawmakers, and protesters into conflict. What right, if any, does the government have to regulate civil dissent? The First Amendment protects... Read More »

A healthcare worker wearing a mask and face shield stands in front of a COVID-19 safety tunnel.
COVID-19 Liability for Businesses

Are business owners liable to employees or customers who get COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus, if the business was not complying with government requirements or best safety practices? The short answer is yes. Every state has different rules, but the general rule is that a business can be... Read More »

A magnifying glass and a clipboard positioned over an employment contract document, highlighting the text.
Mandatory Arbitration Ban in California Remains in Limbo

Mandatory arbitration clauses in employment contracts have long been a topic of controversy. Private employers often include such provisions, and estimates suggest that around 60 million people in the United States have signed these clauses. California recently banned mandatory arbitration clauses in employment contracts. However, rather than going into effect... Read More »

A person holding a sign that reads "LIVING WITHOUT A LIVING WAGE" at a protest or demonstration.
Los Angeles County Minimum Wage Overview

As of July 1, 2020, the new minimum wage in Los Angeles County is now $14.25 per hour for businesses with 25 or fewer employees and $15.00 per hour for businesses with 26 or more employees. Steady increases have been taking place every year since July 1, 2016. By July... Read More »

Colorful letters spelling "DREAMERS" next to a U.S. passport and a certificate on a background resembling the American flag.
Supreme Court Keeps Hopes of Dreamers Alive, but for How Long?

In its ruling in Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California in June, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's bid to remove the protections shielding more than 650,000 undocumented immigrants from deportation. The court determined in a 5-4 vote that the White House failed... Read More »