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The University of Texas (UT) affirmative action policy has survived. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has declined to review an earlier decision by the court that upheld the existence of affirmative action at the University of Texas. The 5th Circuit’s denial was by a 9-7 vote, reports the Austin American-Statesman. The original lawsuit against the affirmative action policy was started in 2008 by two plaintiffs, Abigail Fisher and Rachel Michaelewicz....

Tiffany & Co. is being sued for alleged racial discrimination by an employee who claims that he is the only African-American at Tiffany in a management position. Michael McClure, a senior manager and employee at Tiffany for over two decades, claims that his long string of positive performance reviews came to an end after he was asked to send a new senior vice president his picture. According to The New York Times, this spring McClure received a warning for termination, despite positive numbers associated with his stores....

Airbnb, a home-sharing service, has struck start-up gold. However, the popular service has seen its share of home-rental horror stories, with some people renting out their beds to strangers… and coming home to disasters. Here are the top five Airbnb nightmares, and the lessons we can learn from them: Store personal valuables elsewhere. In San Francisco, a woman found her home trashed and vandalized. The renters smashed a hole through her locked closet door, and took her passport, cash, credit card and grandmother’s jewelry that she had hidden inside, ZDNet reports....

This week, two women filed a federal, class action lawsuit against AT&T ’s mobile phone subsidiary, AT&T Mobility, claiming the company’s attendance policy violates both the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act. The case could have national implications for employers and the legal boundaries of demerit-based attendance policies like AT&T’s. It can be difficult putting together family leave policies for employees in general, and especially for pregnant employees or those on maternity leave....

Elevators aren’t even a luxury anymore – they’re a necessity. From ferrying office folk to the top of skyscrapers to making the morning commute possible for people who use wheelchairs, some of us don’t go a day without using an elevator. And anything used with that much frequency is bound to see its share of accidents. So when can you sue if you’re injured in an elevator? Here’s what you need to know:...

Body camera footage has been a valuable asset in holding police officers accountable, for both unjustified shootings and planting evidence. (Some would also argue that when cops aren’t punished for misconduct caught on camera the footage only serves to demonstrate to the public what the police can get away with.) Whatever role body cam footage plays, it can’t accomplish much if people don’t see it. And people don’t see it if police departments don’t release it....

After a car accident, you’re probably most concerned with your health and safety, not necessarily with compensation for your whiplash injury. But injuries can be costly and you will need to act promptly to get the ball rolling with your insurance company to get help covering medical expenses. In many states, drivers are required to carry insurance and accident claims are settled under no-fault law, meaning that no one is blamed for the accident and compensation is unrelated to fault....

A New Jersey woman hit in the face by a baseball wants $500,000 from the then-11-year-old kid who threw the ball, according to the victim’s little league lawsuit. Elizabeth Lloyd, now 45, of Manchester Twp., N.J., was sitting at a picnic table five feet from a fenced-in bullpen when a baseball hit her in the face, the local Asbury Park Press reports. Lloyd suffered multiple fractures, underwent reconstructive surgery, and still suffers headaches two years later....

Over 22,000 “Bugaboo Bee” baby strollers are being recalled because of a brake defect that can cause the strollers to roll away. The affected “Bugaboo Bee” strollers were sold nationwide from August 2007 to April 2009 – in blue, dark khaki, pink, red, yellow, and black color options – for about $530. If you think you might own one of these strollers, here’s what to look for, according to the U....

If you are working for yourself already, or considering taking up freelance work, you’re probably concerned about projects and not the law. But the law is part of all we do, and one of the tough things about being in charge of your own employment is that you do have to consider some important legal requirements. Let’s consider these three legal issues for freelancers noted in Flexjobs. Tax Talk: You do not have to become a master of tax law, but you must understand that as a freelancer has additional payment and reporting obligations....

If you’re looking to buy or sell a home or other property, you’re probably already talking to a real estate broker and a mortgage lender. But what about a real estate lawyer? There are many parts of a typical real estate transaction that can use a real estate lawyer’s expertise. And if your real estate deal turns out to be atypical, having a real estate lawyer on your side can definitely pay off....

When an employee steps forward to complain about harassment, you’d better take that complaint seriously. If you don’t, you could find yourself in a tight spot, legally speaking. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, workplace discrimination and harassment are prohibited. Employers are urged to take swift action to respond to these complaints. As an employer, how do you conduct such an investigation? Here are five things to be aware of during an employee investigation:...

A garage is a wonderful addition to any home. Even for people who don’t drive or have cars, a garage can provide useful space for storage, creative pursuits, or even a home gym. In dense, urban environments, garages are often converted into separate apartment units, commonly referred to as “in-law” units. However, the many uses for garages can be limited by state and local laws, as well as home owners’ association bylaws....

Small businesses are always going to try and take advantage of world sporting events to boost their revenue or recognition. And the entities that put on those events will always try and protect their trademarks, allowing only official sponsors to use certain terms and images. Just like FIFA with the World Cup, and the NFL with the Super Bowl, the United States Olympic Committee is extremely protective over the use of Olympic trademarks and terminology....

Generally, injuries that occur at work during work hours are covered by worker’s compensation. But what about when you’re commuting to work? Are you covered then? Not usually. In most cases, the time spent commuting to and from work generally does not count as work, so injuries during that time are usually not considered work-related. This is called the portal-to-portal rule. Simple, right? Not really. There are exceptions to this rule....

Nothing in life is free. For some, the costs of court fines and fees hurt more because they’re poor. When Conner Comeau was convicted for graffiti, he was sentenced to two days in jail and a fine of $1,300 for restitution. Four years later, he was sentenced to 100 days in jail. His new crime? Not being able to pay his restitution debt. Is debtor’s prison back? Court Fines and Fees Getting convicted doesn’t just mean getting sentenced to jail....

A racially mixed couple from Connecticut are shocked because they recently found out that a complete stranger is the biological father of their twin girls. Now before this turns into a Maury Povich show special questioning the wife’s fidelity, it seems like the father could be the fertility doctor that the couple went to for artificial insemination. In a lawsuit filed back in 2005, the couple argued that Dr. Ben Ramaley used his own sperm to artificially inseminate the woman....

Divorce mediation can be a cheaper and overall more pleasant way to settle what is often an acrimonious and thoroughly uncomfortable situation. Mediation is rarely forced on divorcing couples, so it is up to the splitting spouses to determine whether to go at it in court or not. So how can you tell if divorce mediation is right for you? There’s no right or wrong answer to this. Some spouses may not want any kind of communication with their soon-to-be ex-spouse once the gauntlet of divorce has been thrown down....

A federal grand jury indicted Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspect accused of trying to blow up a Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines flight on Christmas Day. The Nigerian man was indicted on six charges including attempted murder and trying to use a weapon of mass destruction to kill nearly 300 people. He has pleaded guilty to six federal charges. The Nigerian national is on painkillers after having suffered second- and third-degree burns in the flight but told the judge he understands the charges....

DUIs are problematic, and affect so many facets of life. Once you’ve dealt with the legal ramifications, including the penalties, you may think it’s all behind you and look forward to a fresh start. But when does that freshness start? That depends on where you live. DUIs end up on all sorts of records, such as your driving record with the DMV, your criminal record with the state, and maybe even your employment record with your employer....