USA Archive - Law Commentary

Assorted jars of baby food in various colors and textures.

Judge Orders Walmart, Gerber, Beech-Nut, and Others to Face National Lawsuit Over Alleged Heavy Metal Contamination in Baby Foods

Over 20 lawsuits have recently been consolidated into a national, multi-state lawsuit against major retailers and baby-food manufacturers, including Walmart, Gerber, Beech-Nut, and Campbell Soup Co. Parents allege that heavy metal contamination in these companies' products caused their children to develop autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). U.S. District... Read More about Judge Orders Walmart, Gerber, Beech-Nut, and Others to Face National Lawsuit Over Alleged Heavy Metal Contamination in Baby Foods

Image of Anthony Paredes with visible injuries to the face and neck, lying in a hospital setting.

$1.6 Million Settlement Approved in San Jose Police K-9 Excessive Force Case

On March 25, the San Jose City Council unanimously approved a $1.6 million settlement to Anthony Paredes, a resident of Santa Clara, following a severe attack by a police dog named Tex. The lawsuit, filed by Paredes, accused the city, the San Jose Police Department, canine officers Michael Jeffrey and... Read More about $1.6 Million Settlement Approved in San Jose Police K-9 Excessive Force Case

A person holding a yellow e-cigarette device.

Supreme Court Overturns Lower Court’s Ruling That FDA Can’t Block Vape Makers From Selling Flavored Products

The FDA enjoyed a win last week when the Supreme Court agreed with the agency’s refusal to approve the use of sweet-flavored e-cigarettes. The High Court unanimously struck down a lower court’s ruling that the FDA was wrong to block vape manufacturers, Triton Distribution and Vapetasia, from selling their flavored... Read More about Supreme Court Overturns Lower Court’s Ruling That FDA Can’t Block Vape Makers From Selling Flavored Products

Image depicting Taylor Swift and Kanye West, highlighting their ongoing legal dispute.

Taylor Swift Issues Cease-and-Desist to Kanye West Over Sexually Explicit Online Allegations

Taylor Swift has initiated legal action against Kanye West following a barrage of explicit and defamatory social media posts by the rapper, who alleged—without evidence—that the pop star engaged in sexual activity with fellow musicians Justin Bieber and Harry Styles. The claims, described in graphic detail by West, prompted Swift... Read More about Taylor Swift Issues Cease-and-Desist to Kanye West Over Sexually Explicit Online Allegations

A smartphone displaying various social media app icons, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and others, arranged in a folder labeled "Social."

Zuckerberg Testifies as FTC’s Landmark Antitrust Trial Against Meta Threatens to Break Up Instagram and WhatsApp

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand in a Washington, D.C., courtroom Monday, facing federal antitrust allegations that could dismantle core pillars of his social media empire. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is seeking to force Meta Platforms Inc. to divest Instagram and WhatsApp, arguing that Facebook’s acquisitions of the... Read More about Zuckerberg Testifies as FTC’s Landmark Antitrust Trial Against Meta Threatens to Break Up Instagram and WhatsApp

Courtroom sketch depicting legal proceedings related to the defamation trial involving Sarah Palin and The New York Times.

Palin v. New York Times Returns to Court as Defamation Trial Resurfaces in Shifting Media Landscape

The long-running legal saga between former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and The New York Times returns to federal court this week, as a retrial begins in a defamation case that has grown into a litmus test for the First Amendment in an era of widespread distrust in the media. Originally... Read More about Palin v. New York Times Returns to Court as Defamation Trial Resurfaces in Shifting Media Landscape

A group of women outdoors, with one woman in the foreground appearing confident and composed, while two others stand slightly behind her.

The Orgasms Were Real, but the Evidence Was Fake. Judge Dismisses Case Against “Orgasmic Meditation” Founder and Former Sales Head Due to Unreal Evidence

When federal prosecutors charged a popular sexual wellness company with forced labor conspiracy in 2023, following a Netflix “true crime” documentary, little did they know that almost two years later their case would be thrown out of court. The 2023 federal indictment accused founder and former One Taste CEO Nicole... Read More about The Orgasms Were Real, but the Evidence Was Fake. Judge Dismisses Case Against “Orgasmic Meditation” Founder and Former Sales Head Due to Unreal Evidence

Signage of a Burger King restaurant illuminated at night.

Fast Food Giant Burger King Will Face Lawsuit Over No-Hire Agreement

Burger King will face a lawsuit brought by current and former Burger King employees who say the restaurant franchise violated antitrust laws. Miami U.S. District Judge Jose Martinez ruled that workers in the proposed class action lawsuit have provided enough factual details to support their claims and that the case... Read More about Fast Food Giant Burger King Will Face Lawsuit Over No-Hire Agreement

A law professor standing in a courtroom setting with arms crossed, wearing a purple dress.

Conservative Group Sues University for Access to Private Emails of Law Professor Who Authored a New Legal Strategy for Forcing Fossil Fuel Companies to Pay for Climate Damage

A law professor who helped draft legislation to force oil, gas, and coal companies to pay for harm done to the climate due to their work is now being pressured by a conservative group through a lawsuit against her University. Rachel Rothschild, an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan... Read More about Conservative Group Sues University for Access to Private Emails of Law Professor Who Authored a New Legal Strategy for Forcing Fossil Fuel Companies to Pay for Climate Damage

Bayer Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Block State Lawsuits Over Roundup Cancer Lawsuits

Global agrochemical manufacturer Bayer is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to block thousands of lawsuits it is facing across the nation which allege the company failed to warn consumers about the cancer-causing dangers of its popular weed-killing product, Roundup. This latest request from Bayer comes at a time when it's... Read More about Bayer Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Block State Lawsuits Over Roundup Cancer Lawsuits

Close-up of brain scan images displayed in a medical setting.

Diagnostic Firm Executive Pleads Guilty to Kickback Scheme With Doctors Writing Orders for Unnecessary Brain Scans

A national sales director for a New York healthcare company pleaded guilty recently in a Boston federal court. David Fuhrmann of Port Jefferson, N.Y., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS). The federal law prohibits soliciting paying or receiving any remuneration of any value... Read More about Diagnostic Firm Executive Pleads Guilty to Kickback Scheme With Doctors Writing Orders for Unnecessary Brain Scans

Mariah Carey performing in a festive setting with holiday decorations.

Mariah Carey Wins Copyright Infringement Suit for Global Holiday Hit Song "All I Want for Christmas Is You"

Since 2019, billions of people know it’s Christmas when they hear the now-classic Mariah Carey megahit song "All I Want for Christmas Is You." The song that dominates the holidays is the top-selling holiday single by a female artist with two billion streams on Spotify and over 16 million copies... Read More about Mariah Carey Wins Copyright Infringement Suit for Global Holiday Hit Song "All I Want for Christmas Is You"

Courtroom sketch of Sean Combs standing with legal counsel as he faces charges in a federal case.

Sean Combs Faces Expanded Federal Charges in Sex Trafficking and Racketeering Case

Federal prosecutors have filed an updated indictment against Sean Combs, bringing new charges of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. The revised indictment, filed on Thursday, expands the charges against the music mogul, who already faced allegations related to managing an extensive criminal operation that prosecutors say involved... Read More about Sean Combs Faces Expanded Federal Charges in Sex Trafficking and Racketeering Case

A line of migrants walking in a desert landscape, partially obscured by a waving European Union flag.

Supreme Court Backs Trump’s Use of Wartime Deportation Law, Insists on Due Process

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday allowed former President Donald Trump to move forward with deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members using a controversial wartime law from 1798, marking a significant legal victory for Trump's aggressive immigration policies, albeit with key limitations. In an unsigned 5-4 decision divided along ideological... Read More about Supreme Court Backs Trump’s Use of Wartime Deportation Law, Insists on Due Process

A smiling couple poses for a selfie at the beach.

An Anesthesiologist Is Accused of Trying to Murder His Wife During an Oahu Hike. His Wife Survived and Detailed the Attempt in a Restraining Order Application

The wife of anesthesiologist Gerhardt Konig, 46, detailed her husband’s alleged murder attempt against her in great detail in a restraining order petition filed in the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney’s office in March. The couple are Maui residents who were visiting Oahu to celebrate the wife’s birthday. In the legal document,... Read More about An Anesthesiologist Is Accused of Trying to Murder His Wife During an Oahu Hike. His Wife Survived and Detailed the Attempt in a Restraining Order Application