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While sexual abuse is often the subject of criminal punishments, the emotional and psychological damage of child sexual abuse can also lead to a civil lawsuit against the abuser, assuming the time limit for filing a suit has not passed. The insidious nature of child sex abuse often keeps victims from discovering the cause of their trauma for years after the incident – sometimes, after the general statute of limitations has expired for a civil lawsuit....

After much debate for the past three days, the Senate has finally voted yes for a healthcare bill amendment that would require insurance companies to offer healthcare services for women (such as mammograms) for free. The New York Times reports that the vote was 61 to 39. 3 Republican senators voted in favor of the amendment. Senator Barbara Mikulski (MD, Dem.) introduced this healthcare bill amendment. She claims that insurance companies treat services for women as treatment for pre-existing conditions....

Attacks against the homeless are no different than racially or ethnically motivated crimes and should be added to hate crime laws, carrying with them stiffer prison terms. That’s what California homeless advocates argue and they are seeking ways to protect homeless from crime by supporting a new state bill, the Associated Press reports. A new Assembly bill would give homeless people or public interest groups on their behalf, the right to seek redress by suing their attackers for civil rights violations....

Amicable divorces, though they do exist, may be the exception rather than the rule, especially when issues like alimony and spousal support are in play. Separating couples rarely agree on the amount one spouse owes another, and where there are disputes regarding responsibilities, disputes regarding payment soon follow. Whether you’re trying to collect from your ex or trying to adjust the amount you owe, you could go back to the court that issued the spousal support order in the first place....

“Guilt for being rich, and guilt thinking that perhaps love and peace isn’t enough and you have to go and get shot or something.” - John Lennon The man who shot and killed John Lennon has been denied parole for the sixth time. The New York State Division of Parole, by way of a three member panel, rejected the parole application of Mark David Chapman. The hearing was conducted with Chapman via a live video conference....

President Obama marked the 1-year anniversary of the Startup America Partnership on Tuesday by announcing his legislative plans for the program. The so-called Startup America Legislative Agenda is designed to increase innovation in regions and sectors where entrepreneurship is lagging behind. It includes a wide-range of bills that target taxes, immigration, federal programs and initial public offerings. Startup America chairman Steve Case believes the following measures will reinvigorate America’s entrepreneurs....

A Papa John’s racist voicemail has moved the company’s CEO to issue a public apology. A delivery man, who accidentally “butt-dialed” a Sanford, Florida couple, left a message full of racial slurs as he complained about his tip — even though the couple tipped 21 percent, reports ABC News. A fellow delivery man can be heard laughing as the Papa John’s employee turns his complaint about the $5 tip into a racist ditty, including the N-word and other racial expletives, about the customer....

When Washington resident Mica Craig headed to the Clarkston Walmart on Friday, he was only looking to pick up some mulch for his medical marijuana growing business. Unfortunately, he also ended up leaving with a rattlesnake bite. The 47-year-old was out in the parking lot garden center when he came upon the Walmart rattlesnake, according to KIRO radio. He bent down to pick up a stick, but when that stick bit his hand, he realized it was a snake....

Family issues often come to a head around the holidays, and Christmas may have you mulling over the possibility of divorce. And you’re not alone. According to The New York Times, there is a “significant rise” in Google searches for “divorce” in the 10 days following Christmas. Times opinion contributor Seth Stephens-Davidowitz attributes this to holiday reflection on dysfunctional facets of family life and our tendency to put off unpleasant events until after the holidays....

Small business regulations have gone up during President Obama’s administration, a new report finds. What does that mean for small businesses, and why should business owners care? On one hand, compliance with all the regulations can place a big burden on small businesses. On the other hand, many of the regulations are aimed at leveling the playing field for workers. According to Forbes, some 854 new rules were approved in 2012....

The big homebuilders are lining up for their tax refund, thanks to an expansion of stimulus legislation. Toll Brothers announced that it will be receiving a 2009 tax refund of $162 million. Lennar estimates a whopping $320 million anticipated tax refund! But here’s the good news for your business – you don’t need to be a massive corporation with a powerful Washington DC lobby to get your own little bailout package!...

Where is the best place to start your business? Business regulations, costs, and the labor pool are all factors that need to be considered before a company puts down its roots. Look no further, as Forbes has released its annual list of the best states for businesses and careers. Are you wondering where your state ranks? Here are the top ten states for business, as ranked by the magazine: Utah Virginia North Carolina North Dakota Colorado Texas Washington Nebraska Oregon Iowa Forbes came up with the list by analyzing certain aspects of each state including its business cost, labor supply, regulatory environment, economic climate, growth prospects, and quality of life....

The verdict is in for last year’s deadly Mohegan Sun Casino bus crash. Jurors found the bus driver not guilty of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Ophadell Williams was driving the bus when it hit a guardrail, killing 15 passengers. Williams cried when he heard the news but he wasn’t entirely acquitted. Williams was found guilty of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a much less serious charge. Williams’ criminal case is decided, but his legal ordeal isn’t over yet....

Ohio Police say Patricia Dye “looks just like a boy” and in fact it was her impersonation of a 14-year-old boy in order to seduce a teenage girl she had a crush on which led to her arrest. Patricia Dye, 31, is accused of dressing like a boy and using the alias Matt Abrams in order to have a relationship with a teenage girl, the New York Daily News reports....

Military mortuary staffers cremated the partial remains of at least 274 U.S. troops and dumped them in a landfill. Relatives of the fallen soldiers were reportedly not informed. The secret practice ended three years ago, reports The Washington Post, which first uncovered the landfill story last month. The Post initially reported just one incident in which a soldier’s ashes were sent from Dover Air Base in Maryland to a landfill in Virginia....

Researchers have uncovered a jaw-dropping (and deeply disturbing) database containing 2 million stolen login credentials – both usernames and passwords – associated with Facebook, Twitter, Google, Yahoo, LinkedIn, and other online services. Even more troubling, many of the victims had the worst passwords ever, such as “123456” and “password.” (Seriously, people?) Here’s what happened, why it happened, and how you can prevent it from happening to you: A botnet called “Pony” collected sensitive information from users in as many as 102 countries, with folks in the Netherlands being targeted the most, reports CNET....

There’s a lot you need to worry about as an entrepreneur. Can you hire the right team and get the equipment, materials, or data to execute your vision? Is it scalable? Is it even really that good of an idea in the first place? Your nascent business may be the victim of a supply shortage, bear market, or plain old fashioned bad luck, but the last thing you’re probably worrying about is your startup being a victim of fraud....

October is National Women’s Small Business Month, and at a time when the news concerning women employees getting equal pay might be depressing, the news concerning women entrepreneurs and small business owners is a bit more hopeful. “National Women’s Small Business Month is a time to recognize and applaud the talented, dedicated and driven women whose entrepreneurial spirit helps drive our nation’s economy forward,” said National Women’s Business Council Chair Carla Harris....

With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, many business owners – especially retail business owners swamped by holiday shoppers – may have more important things to do than worry about than the weather. But when cold weather hits, a little preventative maintenance and forethought can save you from an unwelcome holiday surprise, such as a flooded building or a personal injury lawsuit. What can you do to (legally) protect your business during a cold snap?...

What factors will CPS consider when determining child safety? According to the Larimer County Child Protection website the local CPS investigates allegations of child abuse and neglect. A team of caseworkers responds to reports of possible child abuse, which can be referred by law enforcement, schools, medical providers, or any concerned citizen. What could that mean for the Heene family? Referrals to the local Larimer County CPS have the potential to lead to temporary placement of children in foster or kinship care....