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In a move that has disappointed reproductive rights advocates, the Justice Department is challenging a federal judge’s order requiring the government to make the “Plan B” emergency birth-control pill available over the counter to women of all ages. The Justice Department’s decision came just hours after the Food and Drug Administration last week approved over-the-counter sales of Plan B to women 15 and older. The FDA’s approval was unrelated to the judge’s order....

After Tuesday’s highly publicized runaway Prius in San Diego, who knew we’d see another related incident so soon? This time, it’s in New York. In San Diego, California Highway Patrol officers were needed to slow down a runaway Prius on the Interstate. Tuesday’s runaway Prius incident was allegedly caused by the same unintended acceleration problem that’s been plaguing the auto-maker and was the subject of several recalls as well as a major Congressional hearing....

Ski injuries are more prevalent during the winter, but there are a few factors that can affect the outcome of a potential lawsuit. Case in point: world champion Formula One driver Michael Schumacher, who suffered a brain injury last weekend while skiing in France, according to Reuters. Authorities say Schumacher was skiing off-piste – in an ungroomed area of a ski resort – which could potentially affect any injury-related legal claims against the resort’s owner....

Divorce season is upon us. And tax season is right behind. And if you thought extricating yourself from your marriage was tricky, just wait until you have to file your tax return, both this year and next. Tax filings can bring out the worst in all of us, but filing taxes with an ex can be even more of a headache. So here are six quick tips for filing your taxes after a divorce....

Most of us aren’t employed as lawyers, but that doesn’t mean employment laws don’t impact our jobs every day. And while you don’t have to be a legal expert in order to protect your rights at work, it does help to know a few basics. Here are seven of the most important employment laws that can affect your day-to-day work. Pretty good information to have before you start work, but understanding your employment contract, as well as local minimum wage laws, is essential even if you’ve already accepted a job....

The legal issues swirling around driver pay for ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft normally centered around whether those drivers were classified as employees or contractors. State and federal minimum wage, overtime, and unemployment laws generally only apply to employees, so as long as drivers were independent contractors, the companies could pay what they wanted. That was until the New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission stepped in and set a new wage floor for Uber and Lyft drivers in the city....

When the Trump administration announced its ‘zero tolerance’ policy on illegal border crossings, it explicitly acknowledged it may separate immigrant children from their parents. And when those separations started, the outrage and lawsuits soon followed. Since then, immigration officials have begun the process of re-uniting families in response to several court orders requiring reunification and the release of children from detention within 20 days. It may be hard to keep up with all the latest legal developments and policy reversals, so here are three recent updates on reunification efforts for immigrant families....

A convicted killer, sentenced to death in Utah will be shot, by his own request. Ronnie Lee Gardner, 49 was convicted of capital murder in the 1985 killing of attorney Michael J. Burdell during an escape attempt at a courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. On Friday, Gardner stood before a Utah Judge and expressed his desire to be shot. “I would like the firing squad, please.” In 1985, while at a Utah courthouse, a female acquaintance provided Gardner with a loaded ....

Now that the Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex couples have the right to be married, many are wondering what that will mean for small businesses. The big question being whether businesses can discriminate against same-sex couples in terms of providing wedding services, etc. Last week, an Oregon bakery that refused to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple was fined $135,000, and this week another baker argued before the Colorado Court of Appeals, defending his refusal to make a cake for a gay couple....

Walking down the drink aisle of the supermarket can be a daunting experience as the number of options seem to increase every day. One drink you won’t see on the shelf …. Purple Drank (no, that is not a typo) also known as Sizzurp, among other names. Sizzurp, which is actually a form of codeine cough syrup, is all over the news these days. Rapper T.I. was believed to be sipping on the substance when he got pulled over this week, football player JaMarcus Russell was quenching his thirst with the concoction when he was arrested over fourth of July weekend – the drink has about as many celebrity fans as it does names....

Owning private beachfront property is a dream for many and attainable for only a lucky few. But those who don’t live the dream can still enjoy private beaches. In fact, many states encourage property owners to allow recreational use of private lands by limiting liability. State statutes vary and the specifics are important, so do check local law before making any assumptions about going to the beach. In the interim, let’s consider some general principles....

A Maine jury ruled against Anne Mozingo, who had alleged that doctors harvested her husband’s brain without her consent. Mozingo’s husband passed away from a brain aneurism in 2000. She said she consented to donate a small brain tissue sample. Instead, she says she learned five years later that her husband’s entire brain had been removed, along with his brain lining, liver, spleen and pituitary gland. All of the organs were packed up and sent to the Stanley Medical Research Institute....

Winter isn’t just coming, it’s already here in many places, and drivers aren’t taking too much time to appreciate the change in seasons. AAA reports that as we reach the end of 2014, national gas prices have dipped below $3 per gallon for the first time since December 2010, and drivers are taking advantage of the low prices to continue hitting the road. We heartily support Americans exploring our country in winter, but drivers should probably put these five things in their cars first:...

When first responders come to the rescue, yet only make matters worse, can you sue them for your injuries? In many states, first responders are protected by sovereign immunity. In jurisdictions where it is possible to sue a first responder, the right is typically limited. All in all, suing a first responder for a rescue gone awry is no easy feat. Sovereign immunity is a legal doctrine that says that the government and its employees cannot be sued without its permission....

Police often step up their drunk driving enforcement around holidays. That only makes sense – more people tend to drink before, during, and after holiday celebrations, and keeping them off the road keeps everyone safe. One tactic is scaring people off drunk driving before they get behind the wheel. So police departments nationwide are announcing their Halloween drunk driving task forces. “As always, the best choice someone can make, should they plan on consuming alcoholic beverages, is to find some other form of transportation that does not involve them operating a motor vehicle,” according to a statement from five Arizona law enforcement agencies teaming up to catch drunk drivers over the next week....

While there were a few twists and turns, it appears that the saga of the El Chapo trial is over for now. After about 34 hours of deliberation, a jury found El Chapo guilty of all 10 federal criminal counts against him. The federal criminal charges included the use of firearms, international distribution of drugs, money laundering, and engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. While all of these are serious charges, he’s facing a mandatory life sentence for his criminal enterprise conviction....

A customer’s Dunkin’ Donuts rant over the store’s “receipt guarantee” has gone viral, and raises the question of whether such policies are worth the trouble. If you haven’t already seen it, check out how Taylor Chapman goes (do)nuts trying to take advantage of the franchisee’s policy of giving customers their orders for free if they don’t get a receipt at the time of purchase. Business owners often implement receipt guarantees as a mechanism to prevent cashiers from skimming cash at the register....

Unless you work at Facebook, should you be on the social media website during your work hours? Survey seems to say no. In a study conducted in June 2009 by online security firm, Proofpoint, it appears that Facebook-inspired dismissals have officially made the map. The study, of more than 200 email decision makers at U.S. companies with more than 1000 employees, found that 8% of those surveyed reported terminating an employee for Facebook use during company time....

It’s not every day that the federal government issues guidelines to small businesses in preparation for flu season. But then again, not every flu season carries with it the danger of extending the reach of a world pandemic. Through the website appropriately labeled, Flu.gov, the federal government is offering guidance to businesses and employers in anticipation of the 2009-2010 flu season. Below are highlights from the small business guidance offered by the U....

A new FindLaw.com survey reveals nearly one in 12 parents say their children have felt the effects of cyberbullying. In a survey that polled hundreds of adults, FindLaw.com found that 7 percent said their children had experienced some form of cyberbullying. That suggests millions of children have dealt with the pervasive issue. Still, many more parents may not be aware of how cyberbullying may be affecting their child. Here’s a general overview of what parents need to know about cyberbullying and how to deal with it:...