USA Archive - Law Commentary

Industrial smokestacks emitting smoke under a clear blue sky, with power lines in the foreground.

Vietnam Violates Climate Deal Worth $15.5 Billion, Months After Signing With US and Others, by Arresting Four Climate Leaders

A $15.5 billion agreement between the US and other partners with Vietnam may be in danger, just months after the two countries signed a landmark environmental contract. The money was pledged to Vietnam as a result of the country’s willingness to stop or offset carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. The... Read More about Vietnam Violates Climate Deal Worth $15.5 Billion, Months After Signing With US and Others, by Arresting Four Climate Leaders

A person using a laptop displaying the ChatGPT interface.

Open AI, Makers of ChatGPT, Accused of Using Private User Data to Build AI Tools

The era of artificial intelligence is here. And while developers and tech leaders have only scratched the surface of what’s possible, legal obstacles continue to pop up forcing AI leaders to reexamine their operating procedures. The most recent legal challenge targets OpenAI, the makers of what’s undoubtedly been the face... Read More about Open AI, Makers of ChatGPT, Accused of Using Private User Data to Build AI Tools

Sign on the exterior wall of a building that reads "Department of Justice."

Georgia-Based Urgent Care Chain to Pay $1.6M in Whistleblower False Claims Act Lawsuit

A Georgia urgent care center has agreed to pay $1.6 million to end a lawsuit that accuses them of violating the False Claims Act after the defendants submitted Medicare claims that were improperly coded according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia. In a release issued... Read More about Georgia-Based Urgent Care Chain to Pay $1.6M in Whistleblower False Claims Act Lawsuit

A woman in a pink coat addresses a crowd with balloons in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building.

Supreme Court Rules Religious Web Designer Can Refuse to Work on Same-Sex Weddings

On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a Christian web designer has the legal right to turn away same-sex couples. The landmark decision is controversial not only because it opens the door for future “religious” objections to working with marginalized classes of people, but also because the case itself... Read More about Supreme Court Rules Religious Web Designer Can Refuse to Work on Same-Sex Weddings

Plaintiffs Can Sue Facebook for Discriminatory Ad Platform

George Orwell’s 1984 warned that “Big Brother is Watching You.” It’s 2023 now, and every Facebook user knows that the internet giant is the modern-day equivalent of Big Brother. Facebook knows the location, sex, ethnicity, religion, political leanings, lifestyle choices and number of children every subscriber has. Each click adds... Read More about Plaintiffs Can Sue Facebook for Discriminatory Ad Platform

A scenic view of a university campus with greenery and buildings under a bright sky.

University Janitor Destroys Over 20 Years of Scientific Research After Turning Off Freezer, Lawsuit Claims

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a private research university in upstate New York, has filed a lawsuit after a janitor unknowingly cost the institute over $1 million in destroyed scientific research. Joseph Harrington, a janitor contracted to clean the university’s Cogswell Building from August 2020 through to November 2020 unknowingly destroyed more... Read More about University Janitor Destroys Over 20 Years of Scientific Research After Turning Off Freezer, Lawsuit Claims

New York Attorney General Letitia James speaking at a press conference.

New York AG Lawsuit Claims Nursing Home Owners Stole $83M While Neglecting Residents

Nursing home operator Centers Health Care and its owners are facing a lawsuit filed in state court by New York State Attorney General Letitia James. James filed the suit accusing Centers Health Care and its owners of stealing $83 million in government funding. Meanwhile, facilities remained understaffed, resulting in widespread... Read More about New York AG Lawsuit Claims Nursing Home Owners Stole $83M While Neglecting Residents

Demonstrators holding signs that say "People Over Politics" outside the U.S. Supreme Court building.

Supreme Court Rejects Independent State Legislature Theory

On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court repudiated a legal theory that threatened to radically reshape the way elections are conducted in the country. If allowed to proceed unchecked, the controversial legal doctrine would have granted state lawmakers carte blanche to control state and federal elections without judicial review. The so-called... Read More about Supreme Court Rejects Independent State Legislature Theory

Menu board and kitchen area of Taqueria Garibaldi, a California-based taqueria.

Confessions of a Taco Maker: DOL Orders Cali Chain to Pay $140,000 Back Wages and Damages for Fake Priest Confessional

The Department of Labor (DOL) ordered Taqueria Garibaldi, a taqueria in California, to pay $140,000 in back wages plus damages for infractions. The owners of the restaurant, which has locations in Sacramento and Roseville, are charged with unique infractions, including allegedly hiring a “fake” priest to take confessions of employees... Read More about Confessions of a Taco Maker: DOL Orders Cali Chain to Pay $140,000 Back Wages and Damages for Fake Priest Confessional

A group of protesters marches in downtown Portland, holding signs that read "Multnomah County vs Big Oil" as they advocate against oil and gas companies.

Oregon’s Multnomah County Sues Oil and Gas Leaders Exxon Mobil, Shell, and 15 Others Over 2021 Heat Dome

Leaders of Oregon’s Multnomah County have filed a lawsuit against 17 Oil and gas companies including Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron, BP, and other leading players. The county is the most populated in the state, is home to landmark destination Portland, and is known for having mild but rainy weather. After... Read More about Oregon’s Multnomah County Sues Oil and Gas Leaders Exxon Mobil, Shell, and 15 Others Over 2021 Heat Dome

California Supreme Court building with pedestrians in the foreground.

California Supreme Court Limits Police Immunity for Misconduct

The California Supreme Court ruled that police officers can be liable in civil court for misconduct that occurs during an investigation. The decision significantly broadens liability for law enforcement, rolling back years of decisions protecting the police from litigation. The case concerned the conduct of several sheriff’s deputies in Riverside... Read More about California Supreme Court Limits Police Immunity for Misconduct

California Highway Patrol vehicle at an intersection.

CHP Agrees to $7 Million Settlement in Officer-Involved Wrongful Death Lawsuit

The California Highway Patrol has agreed to pay $7 million to end a federal wrongful death lawsuit filed after a Sacramento man was shot to death by a CHP officer. The settlement came two months before the case was set to go to trial. Thirty-one-year-old Daniel Shaham was killed on... Read More about CHP Agrees to $7 Million Settlement in Officer-Involved Wrongful Death Lawsuit

A press conference featuring parents and an attorney discussing a lawsuit against a Detroit school district for alleged abuse of special needs children.

Detroit Parents to File Lawsuit Accusing School Staff of Abusing Their Special Needs Children

A small group of Detroit parents are planning to file a lawsuit against the Detroit Public Community School District after they say school leaders at Moses Field Elementary School physically and verbally abused students while attempting to cover up their actions. The elementary school serves children with disabilities, and the... Read More about Detroit Parents to File Lawsuit Accusing School Staff of Abusing Their Special Needs Children

Sign at the entrance of Whitworth University, with trees and campus buildings in the background.

Former Whitworth University Student Sues After Ransomware Attack Last Summer

A former student at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, has filed a lawsuit against the university after becoming the target of a ransomware attack discovered in July 2022. The lawsuit was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Spokane and accuses the university of negligence after hackers were able to... Read More about Former Whitworth University Student Sues After Ransomware Attack Last Summer

Image of the California Supreme Court building, showcasing its modern architecture against a clear blue sky.

California Supreme Court Approves State Bar’s “Snitch Rule”

In the wake of concerns about the lack of oversight about the ethics of some of its member-lawyers, the State Bar of California submitted a change to its Rules of Professional Conduct last year, which the California Supreme Court approved with minor changes on June 21. The new rule puts... Read More about California Supreme Court Approves State Bar’s “Snitch Rule”