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ProtectMarriage, proponents and defenders of California’s same-sex marriage ban, have filed a motion requesting that the District Court set aside the ruling that found the law unconstitutional. The reason? The group claims that Judge Vaughn Walker should have recused himself because he is a gay man who has been in a relationship for 10 years. The filed motion argues that judicial ethics rules required Vaughn Walker to disclose his relationship and sexual orientation prior to the Prop 8 case, as his status creates the impression that he was unable to rule impartially....

Adopted and searching for your birth mother? Saturday is National Birth Mother’s Day, and it is a great time to reflect on the woman who gave you or your baby life. But before you go looking for your birth mother, here are three legal rights you should know: 1. Adoption Records May Be Sealed. When parents choose to go through a closed adoption, adoption records may be sealed until a child is a certain age....

Hosting a reality show just became a bigger deal– in fact, the biggest of its kind. Ryan Seacrest– host of the wildly popular singing showdown American Idol reportedly signed a $45 million, three-year contract to stay on in his role in the show. This would make him the highest paid reality host on television. And while Seacrest may be a fan favorite, the spotlight is now on the remaining American Idol judges....

Back-to-school lists just got a little longer. The U.S. anticipates the first batch of swine flu vaccine, projected to be over 100 million doses, to be ready for release in late October and to be earmarked for school-aged children. That is, of course, pending final tests on the effectiveness of the vaccine. Clinical trials for swine flu vaccines are being rush-ordered by pharmaceutical companies. The first trials in the U.S. will begin in August with 2400 volunteers being tested in a compressed two-month time-frame....

A TSA agent allegedly goofing off on the job accidentally pepper-sprayed his co-workers at New York’s JFK airport. In total, six TSA agents had to be taken to a hospital for treatment. No passengers were hurt. TSA agent Chris Yves Dabel was “playing around” with a pepper-spray container – which he apparently thought was a laser pointer – when it fired off liquid at five fellow TSA agents, reports the New York Post....

Besides home offices, perhaps the most-asked question about small business tax deductions is whether or not you can deduct your personal car. The short answer is yes, there is a car tax deduction for small businesses. However, it requires a bit of recordkeeping and calculations on your part. You also actually have to use your vehicle for business (that darn pesky IRS Code). It goes without saying that if a vehicle is used both for personal matters and business, you’re going to have to keep track of business-related mileage and car expenses in order to take a car tax deduction....

Guns can do a lot of damage. Whether unintentional or intentional, gunshot wounds can be catastrophic. And while the criminal justice system can punish some people for purposefully or recklessly shooting another person, that may not cover accidental shootings and may not cover the true cost of gunshot injuries. In order to hold someone responsible for a shooting, you may need to turn to a civil lawsuit, but against whom? And what are the legal theories for liability in gunshot injury cases?...

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker showed up for jury duty this week and was selected to hear a personal injury case. But he was dismissed from the jury before deliberations began. Gov. Walker, otherwise known as Juror 20, listened to two days of testimony in a case involving a car crash. But he didn’t get to participate in deliberations after it came to light that he had a financial tie to one of the parties....

As the new year approaches, hiring new independent contractors may be an attractive option. A smart employer will be able to do without getting ensnared in the various legal quagmires that surround independent contractors. To start off the fiscal year right, here are three tips you may want to consider when hiring independent contractors: The IRS requires that every business report expenses paid to independent contractors who are paid more than $600 in that tax year via a 1099 MISC form....

Employer negligence is often alleged in injury cases, typically when an employee is hurt or causes harm to someone else. But how can you prove employer negligence in court? To prove a “basic” negligence case, you must identify a duty, a breach of that duty, and a cognizable injury that was caused by that breach. But how does a negligence case work in the employment context? Here are four potential ways to prove employer negligence:...

From babysitters using babies as decoys to steal booze to driving with babies in truck beds, it’s pretty clear babysitters can use a few legal tips. At the end of the day, the goal should be to keep the child occupied, happy, and above all, safe. At the same time, you’ll also want to keep yourself away from any potential legal trouble. Here are five legal tips for all the babysitters out there:...

Summer is on, and for many Americans that means heading to the beach. The next few months may dissolve much like a Corona ad, with a cold drink sweating in your hand and the surf gently lapping against the shore. But don’t run out the door with your flip-flops just yet. All beach bums will want to check out these eight great legal tips for staying safe this summer: Wear (legally approved) sunscreen....

Apple is launching a new series of workshops for women, called “Entrepreneur Camp.” These are two-week programs which give female app developers coding tips, app design, and marketing ideas, as well as the opportunity to receive ongoing mentoring from an Apple representative. Sounds like a great asset when trying to start an app business. But what about the legal side of developing an app? In case Apple’s legal team doesn’t make it to camp, here are a few legal tips for any app entrepreneur....

Just getting you and your ex to agree to the terms of your divorce settlement was tough enough. And you thought once that was finished, you were done dealing with the divorce. But life happens, circumstances change, and now one of you wants to go back and change the terms of your divorce agreement. As unappealing as it may sound, those changes may be necessary. But the process for making those changes may differ, depending on whether you’re altering the terms of spousal support, child support, or child custody....

Most entrepreneurs understand the legal risks they are taking when starting a new business. First off, you’re probably taking on some loans that you’ll be responsible for paying back. You’re walking into a morass of federal, state, and local employment statutes. And contracts with customers, clients, and suppliers can always go sideways. Few startups are expecting a full-blown class action lawsuit alleging violations of federal consumer protection laws. Small business can face setbacks for a million different reasons, but a large enough lawsuit could prove fatal....

During child custody disputes, it’s common for parents to fight over who is the better parent and who should have custody. Unfortunately, all too frequently the fight is not contained in the courtroom, and parents act out in ways that can have permanent effects. Recently, two news stories are garnering attention for this very reason. Last week, a New Jersey father was sentenced to 23 years after murdering another man during an argument over a child custody dispute....

The family of a Deanna Cook has brought a lawsuit against the City of Dallas and its police department for the alleged mishandling of a 911 call and the ultimate death of the woman. Cook called 911 screaming for help. Instead of immediate assistance, it’s claimed that Cook’s call went to a holding queue, and that once it was answered, a 911 operator took 10 minutes to file a dispatch request, reports CBS....

Some famous California chefs have taken to the street, or rather the kitchen, to fight the state’s upcoming foie gras ban. Several high-profile chefs have held foie gras events at their restaurants, CBS Los Angeles reports. They showcased special menus featuring the soon-to-be-outlawed ingredient. However, animal rights activists haven’t found their actions amusing. Many have fought back by protesting outside some of the restaurants. The law banning foie gras goes into effect on July 1 in California....

Annulling a marriage. This is not a legal procedure only for nutty celebrities who go crazy in Vegas one weekend. This is a valid civil legal procedure that nullifies a marriage. An annulment is different than a divorce. A divorce dissolves a valid marriage; an annulment says that no valid marriage ever occurred. Some people choose to annul a marriage for religious reasons so they may have the chance to re-marry under the laws of their church....

According to a report by the Society of Human Resources, 69 percent of employers conduct criminal background checks on all job candidates. However, since there is no licensing requirement for background checking companies, errors occur all too often. Stories of people losing their job offers because of faulty background checks are not rare. In many of these cases, your rights as a job applicant are being violated. So, what can you do if there are errors on your background check?...