USA Archive - Law Commentary

A man standing with his arms crossed next to a "Private Property No Trespassing" sign in a wooded area.

Virginian Homeowner Sues Wildlife Officials After Agent Trespassed and Stole Hunting Camera

A Virginia homeowner has filed a lawsuit against state game wardens accusing them of trespassing on his private property and stealing his hunting camera without a warrant. Josh Highlander owns nearly 30 acres of land in New Kent County, Virginia. His expansive land is outfitted with no trespassing signs surrounding... Read More about Virginian Homeowner Sues Wildlife Officials After Agent Trespassed and Stole Hunting Camera

A person navigating the Amazon Prime Day webpage on a laptop, with an Amazon package in the background.

FTC Files Lawsuit Against Amazon’s Deceptive Prime Membership Enrollment Tactics

The Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit against online mega-retailer Amazon, accusing it of intentionally misleading consumers into signing up for its Prime membership program and making it difficult for customers to cancel the membership. Under these intentionally deceptive practices, or “dark patterns” as the governing agency describes them,... Read More about FTC Files Lawsuit Against Amazon’s Deceptive Prime Membership Enrollment Tactics

Signage for the University at Albany, State University of New York, with the campus buildings visible in the background.

New York State University and Several Libraries Are Accused of Racial Discrimination for Allegedly Offering Internships Solely to Black Students

A non-profit organization located in Barrington, Rhode Island, the Equal Protection Project of the Legal Insurrection Foundation, alleges that the State University of New York (SUNY) and numerous public libraries located in upstate New York in Albany practiced racial discrimination when they only allowed black students to participate in the... Read More about New York State University and Several Libraries Are Accused of Racial Discrimination for Allegedly Offering Internships Solely to Black Students

Exterior of a Taco Bell restaurant showcasing its distinctive branding and design.

Taco Bell Must Pay Over $85,000 for Refusing to Honor Gift Cards With Low Balances

Those who receive a gift card are no doubt excited to redeem it. California Civil Code Section 1745(a) guarantees that all cards are valid until redeemed or replaced, unless their value is under $5 or if the card was not used for 24 months. Taco Bell ignored the law and,... Read More about Taco Bell Must Pay Over $85,000 for Refusing to Honor Gift Cards With Low Balances

Greg Norman and his wife, Kirsten Kutner, at a public event.

LIV Golf Leader Greg Norman and His Wife Sued After Teenage Girl Sexually Assaulted in Their Florida Home

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman and his wife are at the center of a lawsuit filed by a high school student who says she was the victim of a sexual assault at the couple’s South Florida home during a house party where she was allegedly served alcohol along with other... Read More about LIV Golf Leader Greg Norman and His Wife Sued After Teenage Girl Sexually Assaulted in Their Florida Home

A group of young plaintiffs and their attorney walking together, advocating for climate rights in Montana.

Landmark Environmental Case Launched by Sixteen Young People, Ages Five to Twenty-Two

A new landmark climate case in Montana proves that youth is NOT wasted on the young. This is the first constitutional climate trial in the United States. The sixteen young people filed their lawsuit, Held v Montana, in 2020. The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys for Our Children’s Trust, an... Read More about Landmark Environmental Case Launched by Sixteen Young People, Ages Five to Twenty-Two

A group of three people posing outdoors, smiling, at a social gathering.

Federal Prosecutors Charge Nine PA. Men in 20-years-plus Crime Spree Targeting Halls of Fame, Museums and Others

For over two decades, from 1999 to 2019, merciless thieves targeted numerous Halls of Fame, museums and businesses, stealing precious mementos of beloved athletes such as Yogi Berra. But, as Yogi famously said, "It ain't over 'til it's over.” Federal prosecutors have brought charges against nine people for allegedly organizing... Read More about Federal Prosecutors Charge Nine PA. Men in 20-years-plus Crime Spree Targeting Halls of Fame, Museums and Others

Illustration showing hands using markers to paint over smokestacks, symbolizing the concept of greenwashing and misleading environmental claims.

Labeling Products With Synthetic Ingredients as “Natural” May Be Legal

Greenwashing is a relatively new deceptive marketing practice that companies use to mislead consumers about the positive environmental benefits of their products. One consumer claimed he was hoodwinked by a hair conditioner label that pictured an avocado on a leaf on its label, under the words “Natural Fusion.” When he... Read More about Labeling Products With Synthetic Ingredients as “Natural” May Be Legal

A group of people holding signs in support of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building.

Supreme Court Says Native Americans Can Get Priority in Adoptions of Native American Kids

The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA or the Act) was enacted in 1978 to stop what supporters called “the devastating impact” caused by removing Native American children from their parents, families and communities. The State of Texas and three private parties challenged the Act, arguing that Congress had no authority... Read More about Supreme Court Says Native Americans Can Get Priority in Adoptions of Native American Kids

PacifiCorp's Penstock Substation, an energy facility linked to the liability ruling in wildfires.

Oregon Energy Company PacifiCorp Found Liable in 2020 Wildfires Lawsuit

An Oregon jury has found PacifiCorp liable for causing Oregon wildfires that ravaged parts of the state during Labor Day weekend in 2020. The decision came on June 12th in the Multnomah County Circuit Court, where jurors ruled that the energy provider had played a major role in causing wildfires... Read More about Oregon Energy Company PacifiCorp Found Liable in 2020 Wildfires Lawsuit

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 about Lawyers’ Fees Reduced Due to Minimal Class Action Reward

Prudential Financial building with an American flag displayed on top.

Prudential Illegally Denied Hundreds of Life Insurance Claims, Federal Investigation Finds

According to federal investigators, Prudential Financial unlawfully rejected more than 200 life insurance claims over a recent three-year period. Prudential denied the payouts based on a missing form from the application, despite happily collecting premiums for years. Prudential’s unlawful practices concerned supplemental life insurance policies offered as an employee benefit.... Read More about Prudential Illegally Denied Hundreds of Life Insurance Claims, Federal Investigation Finds

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 about Does the Department of Buildings Do Enough?

U.S. Army Sgt. Angela Sutton Washington in military uniform during her service in Operation Desert Storm.

Second Suspect, 15-year old, Charged With Murder of Desert Storm Veteran, Who Also Turned Out to be His Grandmother

An Orlando teenager was arrested and charged on Friday for the murder of his grandmother, US Army Sgt. Angela Sutton Washington, who served in Operation Desert Storm. The authorities will not release the name of the alleged fifteen-year-old shooter because he is a minor. The teenager was charged with first-degree... Read More about Second Suspect, 15-year old, Charged With Murder of Desert Storm Veteran, Who Also Turned Out to be His Grandmother

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 about Contractors Face Criminal Charges After Fatal Collapse in The Bronx