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The Obama administration has filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of prayer at public meetings. Perhaps surprisingly, the Obama administration and Republican lawmakers are on the same side of this issue. Both sides have filed amicus briefs with the Court supporting the town of Greece, New York. Here’s what they’re arguing and how it could affect our laws on religion: Last year, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the town of Greece crossed the line and violated the First Amendment’s prohibition on an “establishment of religion....

You may already be dealing with the problem of preventing employee turnover. What can you do to stop it? Even with the job market still struggling, more than 2 million Americans are voluntarily quitting their jobs every month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That translates into big headaches for business owners, who have to recruit and train replacements for these workers. So why are employees voluntarily quitting, and what can you do about it?...

What will make your business green and sustainable depends on what your business does. Food service will have different requirements than a cleaning supply or service company, of course. But there are some general things every business must do in order to improve sustainability. For example, you must first figure out your current environmental footprint to know how to improve it. So, here is a quick guide, adapted from the Massachusetts Food Association Member Green Guidelines....

Red Bull is being sued in an alleged case of wrongful death. A Brooklyn man’s heart allegedly stopped after he polished off a can of the energy drink, the New York Daily News reports. Cory Terry was 33 when he died of a heart attack in 2011, allegedly after drinking Red Bull during a basketball game. His relatives are now suing the drink company for $85 million in what’s believed to be the first wrongful death suit against Red Bull....

The world is talking about Mark Zuckerberg’s prenup – or the lack of one, as the Facebook creator’s spokesperson has declined to comment about its existence. The multi-billionaire wed his longtime girlfriend Priscilla Chan Saturday soon after becoming one of the 25 richest people in the world. As the media continues to speculate about whether such a document exists, we here at FindLaw are going to consider a different question....

A federal study released this week took a look at student abuse through restraint and seclusion at schools across the nation. The report found hundreds of cases of school children being abused through these questionable practices, but also noted a wide disparity in laws that might have prevented student mistreatment, injuries, and even deaths. Among the student abuse cases examined by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) for the report:...

Some older stimulant-based drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in kids may cause rare cases of sudden cardiac death, according to a new study. But the FDA is telling parents not to stop their children’s ADHD stimulant medication, in part because the study’s limitations may not significantly affect the overall risk-benefit analysis tied to the medications. The researchers’ key finding on the death risks associated with ADHD drugs was based on a comparison of 564 children who died of sudden unexplained causes, and another 564 children who were killed in motor vehicle accidents....

Unpaid internships are a fact of small business life. And for startups just getting off the ground, interns can be an incredibly valuable resource. Unfortunately, they can also be an incredible legal headache, costing you more in court than you would’ve spent on paid employees. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are five ways to avoid legal trouble if your startup is hiring unpaid interns: 1. Offering Unpaid Internships?...

If there’s one thing that court watchers are agreeing on after the first day of oral arguments in the health care challenge, it’s that the Supreme Court will ultimately decide whether Obamacare is constitutional.Though this seems like an obvious outcome, it’s not. Courts cannot rule on any question they so desire. Instead, their power is governed by a set of legal principles and statutory law. In this particular instance, there has been some question as to whether the Anti-Injunction Act (AIA) prevents the states from bringing the health care challenge before April 2015....

It’s time to update, so you’re considering a brand overhaul and a business name change. Many companies do it, both big and small. Blackberry used to be Research in Motion until it named itself after its most popular product, while Apple Computers simply streamlined by turning into Apple. Recently, the tech giant Google grew too big for one name, adding Alphabet. So it is common and can prove profitable to change your business name....

Buying a franchise may be a great way to start your own business. You have the advantages of starting a business with a recognizable name and built-in customer base. However, there may also be a lot of downside and risk with purchasing a franchise. This can start with the franchise fee and all the restrictions stated in the franchise agreement. Before rushing out and buying a franchise, you may want to keep these five legal tips handy:...

Congratulations on your new eBay business! I hope the money is flowing in. But, to ensure you get to keep the money, make sure your business isn’t skirting the law in any way. Take these five steps to keep your eBay business legal: Think very carefully about what you want to name your business. Once you’ve picked a moniker for your business, check with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s website to make sure the name has not been registered by someone else already....

All of us are far too familiar with the scourge of email spammers. Being on the receiving end of email spam is one thing, but to dole it out is nearly a personal affront. It’s a sure-fire way to draw the ire of your customers and ultimately alienate them. Here are seven ways to avoid being an email spammer: A great way to improve your system is to ask for feedback – just not in a spammy way....

Same-sex married couples can file as “married” on their federal taxes no matter what state they live in, the IRS and U.S. Treasury Department clarified on Thursday. This official announcement was prompted by the recent U.S. Supreme Court opinion that struck down a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The ruling requires the federal government to recognize legally married same-sex couples as married for taxes and other federal benefits, reports The Huffington Post....

As previously discussed, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn suspended the state’s second early release program, acknowledging that many of the freed inmates were back behind bars. What he didn’t mention was that several of those early release inmates had allegations of violent crimes including an attempted murder charge. Of the 56 of freed inmates back behind bars - 48 of them for violating rules of their parole. Gov. Quinn recently appointed Michael McCotter chief public safety officer at the Illinois Department of Corrections to oversee release programs....

If you’ve been injured in an accident, you may be thinking of filing a lawsuit. And few things are as important to a lawsuit as your lawyer. Finding and hiring the right attorney can seem like a daunting task, especially if you don’t know where to look or what you’re looking for. If you’re starting here, rest assured you’re looking at the best directory for personal injury lawyers. And with a few tips on what makes a good personal injury lawyer, you can find the right one for your situation....

After marathon efforts to renegotiate its debts, Chrysler declared bankruptcy today. Though their reorganizations don’t garner massive government or media attention, many small businesses use Chapter 11 in attempts to become viable after tough times. Some small businesses receive different treatment under our bankruptcy procedures. Knowing the differences can factor into an evaluation of whether reorganization through bankruptcy might benefit a small business. Reuters reports that Chrysler’s Chapter 11 filing is the first bankruptcy by a major U....

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has agreed to settle a lawsuit for wrongful death brought by the parents of a boy who died while in custody at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall. Despite complaining of fevers, headaches and toothaches for at least five days in a row, he was not treated in a clinic until days after his symptoms began. He was finally admitted to the County-USC Medical Center hospital, where he died of meningitis....

Plastic surgeon to the stars, Frank Ryan was discovered to be text messaging just before his fatal car crash on Monday. Ryan died after he drove his Jeep Wrangler off Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California. The 50 year-old Ryan has performed plastic surgery on celebrities like Heidi Montag, Lisa Rinna, and Joan Rivers Plastic Surgeon Frank Ryan Texted Just Before Crash (USA Today) Distracted Driving (FindLaw) Texting While Driving (FindLaw) Driving While Texting and Vehicular Manslaughter (FindLaw’s Blotter) Legislature Considers Increased Fines for Distracted Driving (provided by Rosenstock & Azran) Texting while Driving (provided by Carman & Bevington, P....

No employer wants to log onto the Internet and find a “loyal” employee criticizing the workplace on Facebook. That’s why many employers have instituted Facebook policies. But many employers are surprised to find that in certain situations they cannot fire employees over their Facebook rants. Why? Federal law protects “concerted activity” by employees. “Concerted activity” is an employee action or complaint to another employee about working conditions. You may not know it, but firing employees over this protected activity is illegal....