The texting fountain lady has filed suit in court, but this isn’t the first time she’s been in a court of law, CBS reports. Cathy Cruz Marrero, now known throughout the internet at the “fountain lady,” was texting and walking during her break at a Pennsylvania mall when she walked right into a fountain. Video of the incident has been seen by nearly 2 million people online and now Marrero has sued....
You’ve got questions … we’ve got answers. If you have not yet asked or answered a question in FindLaw’s Answers community, what are you waiting for? This amazing free resource supports a dynamic community of legal consumers and attorneys helping each other out. Simple as that. My friend was arrested for shoplifting after she was chased out of a store by the police and they discovered a stolen laptop. I was waiting in the car when this happened but had no idea that was what she was planning on doing....
The check is (almost) in the mail. The U.S. Congress has approved an extension of jobless benefits. The six-month extension of emergency benefits passed the House 272-152. The Senate passed the bill Wednesday. President Obama quickly signed it into law on Thursday. Emergency jobless benefits are part of a federal program that provides extended unemployment insurance benefits to certain individuals during heavy periods of unemployment as established by the Federal Government....
After being forced to model in skimpy employee uniforms, fifteen middle-aged cocktail waitresses were fired from Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City for not projecting the right image. In other words, they were no longer sexy enough. If you don’t like the way an employee looks, can you fire her too? Prior to being fired, the Resorts casino waitresses were asked to take photos in the employee uniforms, which are part of a new, sexier theme at the casino, reports the Associated Press....
Qualified immunity shields public officials from damages for civil liability so long as they did not violate an individual’s “clearly established” statutory or constitutional rights. The immunity is available to state or federal employees, including law enforcement officers, who are performing their jobs. As a result, if a state or federal employee violates an individual’s federal constitutional rights, that employee is protected from liability if he or she did not violate rights spelled out by a “clearly established” law....
Hey, you kids! Get off my lawn! Actually, you don’t have to be plagued by neighbors’ baseballs in order to sue for trespass to property. As it turns out, anytime anyone, or anything, ends up on your property without your permission, it’s technically a trespass. Whether you can legally recover anything for that trespass, though, is a different question. What are the elements of trespass, and when does it make sense to go to court?...
The latest Time Magazine cover is stirring up some controversy over breastfeeding. While it’s a practice that has gone on for ages, it hasn’t always been on the right side of the law. The cover shows a woman breastfeeding her almost 4-year-old son. While the photo was no doubt meant to provoke, the article is actually about attachment parenting. A movement inspired by Dr. William Sears. He wrote a book about the subject 20 years ago....
The TLC reality show Sister Wives put bigamy back into the spotlight. The stars, including Kody Brown and his four wives, even filed a lawsuit in federal court last July. The suit is still working its way through the system. The Browns essentially seek to challenge Utah’s bigamy law. The law criminalizes marrying more than one individual. It also criminalizes cohabitation. Brown is only legally married to one of his wives....
The Lakers NBA Championship win over the Boston Celtics not only brought out adoring fans but vandals too, as many were charged in LA riot violence. Charges were filed by the Los Angeles city attorney’s office against 10 people for their role in the violence and vandalism after the Lakers team victory, the Associated Press reports. inciting a riot unlawful assembly after being told to disperse; and throwing flammable objects and assault All of the charges are misdemeanors....
Twitter’s IPO is the talk of Wall Street today, but many small businesses are still on the fence about Twitter’s effectiveness. According to The Wall Street Journal, even Twitter executives have noted that creating an effective Twitter strategy can “require more time and effort than many small-business owners feel they can afford.” But despite the extra work, some 4.5 million small businesses have signed up for the social media service....
It’s every small business owner’s nightmare: your business has been sued. Someone showed up at your office and served you papers for a lawsuit. Or a former employee or client called and told you to expect the suit in the mail. It’s not a good start to your day. But after you get over the shock and anger that someone would do this to you and your company, it’s time to make a game plan....
Thanksgiving travel means air travel for many Americans, and air travel means abiding by the somewhat opaque rules set up by the TSA. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) still requires that many items must either be shipped or placed in checked baggage in order to make it to your final holiday destination. This leaves many Turkey Day travelers wondering: Can I bring my special pie/gravy/sauce/turkey in my carry on? Your experience may vary, but here are five Thanksgiving foods and gifts the TSA may not let you on board with:...
Obergefell and Adoption It used to be the case that states could implement laws which banned LGBT adoption altogether. And they did. But after Obergefell v. Hodges– the Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide – courts ruled that these statewide bans were unconstitutional. However, certain agencies who are licensed by the state and receive state or federal funds argue that they should not be forced to place children with same-sex or transgender parents because of their religious and moral convictions....
We knew the drill in grade school: You say you’re sick, then you hand over a doctor’s note. The grow-up world isn’t all that different, as employers commonly ask employees to verify sick leave with a note from a doctor. Sure, asking for a doctor’s note is, for the most part, legal – but demanding a prying doctor’s note isn’t. Requiring too much information from employees for sick leave can land employers in legal trouble....
Employees should theoretically love overtime. They get paid time and a half or even double for the same amount of work. However, people have lives outside of work, so even the most loyal employees may be hesitant to commit to extra work. If an employee refuses to work more than the standard eight hour day, do you have any recourse? Can you fire an employee who refuses to work overtime?...
Don’t get mad, as the saying goes, get even. That sounds like great personal advice right after a nasty breakup, but it’s not always great legal advice. While you may want to put your ex on blast on social media, putting personal information out there could be illegal. So what kind of secrets can you reveal on social media, and which might get you into trouble? Just because you know something about your ex, doesn’t mean the whole world should....
Entrepreneurs are an optimistic sort, so it may be hard to admit that your small business needs to file for bankruptcy. But even the best of us go bankrupt, just ask 50 Cent, Kodak, and the company that makes Twinkies. There are a few options for small business bankruptcy, and here’s what you can expect if you file for Chapter 11 or “reorganization” bankruptcy. Chapter 11 Filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy is an attempt to allow your business to reorganize and create a plan to repay debts to creditors....
Hazel Park, Michigan has lifted its ban on pit bulls based on the heroic efforts of a dog who saved her owner during a domestic abuse altercation. The ban was lifted after a two-year battle between dog owners and town authorities, according to Petcha. In 2013, Jamie Kraczowski was being beaten up by her boyfriend when her dog jumped in to save her. Despite the dog’s bravery, the owner was told that she must leave Hazel City as pit bulls are a banned breed....
Pilots are being urged to opt out of the new body scanners at the airports due to radiation concerns. Should frequent travelers be concerned, as well? Civilian civil rights and privacy groups have already been upset about the new TSA screening procedures and body scanners. Captain Mike Cleary, has told pilots not to submit to the new Advanced Imaging Technology screening because the USAPA believes that it may subject pilots to significant health risks....
Maybe it was nice having your recent college graduate back home for a little. (Or maybe your child didn’t go away to school.) And maybe the job market really is that rough out there. (Or maybe you’re wondering if your son or daughter is even looking.) Either way, if it’s three years later and junior is still ensconced in his child bedroom, playing video games all day, coming home late at night, and eating all the Hot Pockets, you might be wondering if there’s any way to get your kid out of your house....
