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More parents than ever are not vaccinating their children against common childhood diseases, citing both religious and medical reasons. But that choice not to vaccinate could make those parents liable if their unvaccinated child makes someone else sick. This may sound like a remote possibility but there is already a relevant law on the books. Courts have punished people for spreading STDs without notifying their sex partner and in the past we’re punished people who spread infectious diseases that should be quarantined....

Assault is not an acceptable way to deal with a situation especially if you’re a cop. A Philadelphia officer learned this lesson last week. Lieutenant Jonathan Josey received a 30-day suspension with intent to fire after an incident that took place on Sunday. A video captured Josey hitting a woman in the face during the Puerto Rican Day Parade. At the time he suspected her of throwing liquid on him although it later became clear she wasn’t the one who did it....

Police brutality is both ugly and widespread, but there is some hope in knowing that Section 1983 of Civil Rights Act exists to protect victims from police attacks on their constitutional rights. Congress enacted 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in order to protect the rights guaranteed to all Americans by the 14th Amendment. Under Section 1983, a victim can file a lawsuit in federal court for police brutality. How exactly does this work?...

The San Francisco sheriff is looking to opt out of the Secure Communities program and says the city should honor its sanctuary city policy. The federal program scheduled to begin on June 1, which uses the fingerprints of arrestees to check their immigration status, undermines San Francisco’s long-standing sanctuary city policy, the Associated Press reports. San Francisco’s sanctuary city policy has been in place since 1989. As a result, the sheriff sent a letter to the California attorney general requesting that the state Department of Justice not share the city’s fingerprint data with federal immigration authorities....

The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (the “CARD Act”) went into effect on March 22, 2009, but Congress exempted business credit cards. This new consumer protection law changed the game for credit card companies and consumers, as we blogged about in 2009. So two years into application of the new law, business credit card users remain at risk for many of the dangers Congress targeted with the CARD Act, reports the Pew Charitable Trust....

Today a judge in Rochester, New York convicted recreational softball player Sean Sanders of negligent homicide relating to the death of an opponent. Sanders purportedly punched the other man after the end of a contentious game. Sanders’ conviction by a judge, rather than a jury, illustrates the choice between being tried by a jury of your peers or by a judge. The incident occurred last June. From all accounts, the softball game was heated....

Trusts are created to distribute property. They can be used to supplement or replace a will. But that is, of course, not their sole purpose, and many people contemplate and create trusts long before they expect to pass. There are different types of trusts, all used for different purposes. Generally speaking, however, creating trusts allows you to manage and distribute assets. Also, and importantly, a trustor can impose conditions on receipt....

You’ve got your big idea, now you just need the space to execute it. And even in today’s market of online retail, sales, and social media, the right brick and mortar office or storefront can make all the difference. So how do you know which is the right spot for you? And more importantly, how do you make sure you’re getting the best lease for the space? Here’s a handy guide for negotiating a commercial lease:...

Personal injury cases are among the most frequently handled cases by private attorneys for individuals. Injury cases are more challenging for unrepresented parties because they usually do not have the experience of dealing with the big insurance companies or the big insurance company’s attorneys to know how to negotiate the best deal. Below are 5 of the most common questions people ask about personal injury cases, ranging from the most basic to the most important....

Small business owners may already use ride-sharing apps instead of taxicabs to travel from place to place. But should your company use such apps for deliveries or for other business purposes? MELT Pizza, a restaurant in Melbourne, Australia, plans to use Uber’s ride-sharing service UberX to deliver woodfired pizzas to hungry customers. Dynamic Business reports that customers will get free delivery if they live within 3 kilometers of the store and spend more than $35....

Although science tells us that hugging and the human touch are essential for proper human development, in the workplace, supervisors, managers, and even co-workers that give hugs are playing with fire. This is due to the fact that employees may be too timid, or even just afraid, of telling a superior that a hug, or other form of touching, like a pat on the back, is unwanted. Whether a hug will constitute sexual harassment really depends on the circumstances....

Nobody really wants to file for bankruptcy. But being in financial dire straits can be a truly frightening experience for anyone, and one to be avoided at all costs. Many people who might qualify for bankruptcy try to put off filing for as long as possible, perhaps out of an innate optimism about their financial future or due to the stigma attached to declaring bankruptcy. But putting off bankruptcy may actually be more fiscally risky than filing, so when is it too late for you to file for bankruptcy?...

Ellie Sand died in October 2007 as a result of an accident that threw her from a Yamaha Rhino ATV. The Sands filed a wrongful death suit against the company, alleging that the Rhino ATV is defective and has caused 94 deaths in addition to their daughter’s. After 12 hours of deliberation last week, the jury found that Yamaha is not responsible for the death of Ellie Sand even though the Rhino ATV is defective....

The “Cigarette Man,” who reportedly gave away cigarettes to black children decades ago, has spoken from beyond the grave and helped lead to a landmark tobacco verdict. It seems that a jury sought to send a message to cigarette maker Lorillard Inc. The Suffolk Superior Court tobacco verdict included the jury awarding $81 million in punitive damages and $71 million in compensatory damages to the son and estate of a woman who died after smoking Newport cigarettes for decades, Reuters reports....

Moving to the Golden State? Just visiting? Or maybe you’ve been a California native all your life. California has a rich legal history, and because of it, the state has a unique set of laws. So before you decide to join the Raider Nation and grab some In-N-Out on the way to the beach, check out these 10 laws you’ll want to know if you’re in California: DUI threshold. Like in every other state, the “per se” blood alcohol concentration limit for drivers is 0....

Volkswagen had just begun to dig itself out of a public perception hole that its cars were unreliable and expensive to fix throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. The German automaker’s latest scandal may bury it for good. VW was caught cheating on emissions tests, polluting the environment, and trying to cover the whole thing up, the trifecta of business scandals. So what can Volkswagen’s implosion teach small business owners?...

When it comes to taxes, self-employed consultants take the good with the bad. And in this, the first year under the 2018 Tax Reform Act, you may not know if being a consultant was a good thing or not until the final tax bill comes due. When fleshing out your final tax bill for the 2018 tax year, keep these three tips in mind. However, just because you or the company you perform work for calls you a contractor doesn’t mean that the IRS agrees....

When you go into business for yourself, there is a lot to think about. It is doubtful that even the savviest entrepreneur has the energy, attention, knowledge, and time to handle every aspect of operations. So you focus on the things that seem most important at first, prioritizing wisely as all the business gurus advise. But it would also be wise to keep in mind the things that cannot be put off or ignored....

Getting married is a big step, and you shouldn’t go into it blindly assuming that everything will work out according to your fairytale vision. If you’re preparing to get married, I’m sure you’ve already had many discussions about your hopes, your dreams, and the wedding cake. However, there are some necessary uncomfortable questions that should be asked as well. Here are five legal questions you and your future spouse should ask each other before getting married:...

What can a disability lawyer do for you that you can’t do on your own? Let us count the ways. When your disability claim has been rejected and you’re drowning in medical bills, of if you’re just confused about the entire process, you’ll want to hire a qualified disability attorney to help you sort out your claims. Not convinced you need help? Here are five things your disability attorney can do that you (probably) can’t:...