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You may have seen the recent headlines about Johnson & Johnson being sued over claims that its baby powder and talcum-based products cause cancer, even getting hit with a $72 million judgment in one case. These lawsuits claim that the use of talcum powder for feminine hygiene increases the risk of ovarian cancer, and that Johnson & Johnson knew of the risk yet failed to warn consumers. So can you get cancer from using baby powder or talcum powder?...

This is another in our series on car accident claims. So many of us experience an accident, but do we really know what do to, how to get help, or what our rights are? This series can help. If you’ve been in a car accident, especially a serious one involving extensive damage or injuries, there will probably be an investigation that follows. Whether it’s the police, insurance companies, or even private investigators, someone is going to be looking into the accident....

On most days I’m an optimist. But on some days I can’t help but say, “It’s a very very, mad world.” What’s the cause of my discontent? Police in Georgia have filed charges against a women who is accused of hoarding dogs and cats in a strange animal hording case. How many dogs and cats? 20? 50? 100? How about 130 dogs and cats in her home in rural Cherokee County....

Though residential real estate markets figured largely in our economic woes, it looks like commercial real estate has begun, and will continue to suffer a wave of foreclosures. If your small business has been trying to meet its mortgage while income has slowed, this is not news to you. However, many small businesses who lease their space need to be aware of what happens to commercial leases when the property goes into foreclosure....

Are you thinking of starting a new business but have no clue where to begin? Running a successful business can be an art form. It’s not easy and you might find yourself jumping through several hoops when trying to launch your brainchild. That’s where FindLaw comes in. We have a free mini-guide to help you navigate through the entrepreneurial waters. This free download is loaded with valuable information. Drafting a business plan....

President Obama has signed an executive order creating a new group to oversee the interrogation of high value detainees. The High-value Detainee Interrogation Group will be housed within the FBI and will be overseen by the National Security Administration. Back in January, President Obama signed an important executive order. Most importantly, it mandated that the interrogation of all detainees held by the US Government must follow the U.S. Army Field Manual....

Home Depot announced a data breach earlier this month but provided few details. On Thursday, the company announced the breach may have affected as many as 56 million payment cards. The breach is being blamed on malware that was present in the store’s registers from April to September, though the malicious software was confirmed as eliminated on Thursday, reports Business Insider. During these five vulnerable months, tens of millions of unique payment card credentials were at risk, and the customers holding those cards may want answers....

Taylor Swift is trademarking her lyrics. A bunch of athletes are trademarking their names and catch phrases. Maybe you’ve wondered whether your business needs to register a trademark. If your answer to that question is yes, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a quick guide on how to register a business trademark. Use It or Lose It In fact, you may not need to register your trademark at all. Under common law, trademark protections commence once the trademark is used in commerce....

Is Internet poker legal? Is it illegal? Will we ever get an answer? Well, we might have just gotten one and it comes in the form of an opinion released by the Justice Department. In a response to a request by Illinois and New York, the agency explained its take on the Wire Act of 1961 – the federal law that purports to ban online poker. And for some online poker players, the opinion seems to be a good thing....

Happy “Love Your Pet” Day! To mark this special occasion, pet lovers and annoyed drivers alike may be wondering: Is it legal to drive with pets in your lap? The answer depends on your state’s traffic laws. At least one state has an explicit statute that prohibits you from holding your pet while driving; in other states, drivers with animals in their laps can potentially be ticketed under distracted driving laws, according to USA Today....

For bar and restaurant owners who employ minors, it may be crucial to know if workers under 21 can also serve alcohol. While those under 21 years of age typically can’t drink alcohol, in many situations they can legally serve it. Here’s what employers need to know: Although some bars and restaurants have taken the unorthodox approach of raising the drinking age for their establishment to 25, almost all private businesses will serve alcohol to those 21 and older....

If a new lawsuit filed in St. Louis is any indication, things aren’t looking too good for televangelist Joyce Meyer. Sued in May for the wrongful death of her former bodyguard Sheri Coleman, Meyer is now party to a federal suit filed by her insurer. The company is asking a judge to affirm its denial of coverage, allowing it to skirt any responsibility for the payment of legal bills Meyer acquires while defending the wrongful death suit....

No one wants to be called a busybody and most of us try to mind our own business. But there are times when minding your own business is illegal. That is true when it comes to child abuse reporting. A story out of Indiana last week highlights this, as five Indianapolis School District employees were publicly criticized by the Schools Superintendent, Lewis Ferebee, for failure to promptly report child abuse, according to The Indy Star....

Restaurants banning tips? This is apparently the norm in many other countries, and now a New York City restaurant is taking up the same model. Sushi Yasuda, in Midtown Manhattan, is no longer allowing workers to collect tips, and has opted to pay their workers a set salary instead. So instead of a blank line on the bill where the customer would normally leave a tip, there is a note about the restaurant’s unconventional tipping policy....

They say all they wanted to do was track down missing or stolen laptops. And possibly, make student Blake Robbins kick that vicious Mike & Ike habit. However, the much reported on (and much blogged about) Lower Merion School District spy case has had numerous unforeseen consequences, (lawsuit, FBI probe) and here is one more. Ars Technica reports on March 29, that the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee of Crime and Drugs hauled its members from the comfort of Capital Hill to Philadelphia for a hearing on possible changes to the Federal Wiretap Act, precipitated by this case....

Residents of Lake County in Northern California have been chased out of their homes by an inferno that has blazed for days and continues to threaten the region. As flames raged, people were forced to abandon their most precious possessions – and even pets – in fear for their lives. Meanwhile, local vineyards and farms went up in smoke, leaving some without homes and even without jobs. The destruction wrought by wildfires in Northern California is impossible to calculate emotionally and difficult to put a dollar sign on....

The divorce proceedings between Dodger’s owner Frank McCourt and his soon to be ex wife Jamie McCourt have been… well, dodgy. There are reports that Frank has fired his wife and called her an adulteress while she has claimed rights for spousal support that are worth more than some of the team’s star players. Jamie McCourt filed for divorce proceedings shortly after her husband Frank McCourt fired her from her post as Chief Executive of the team under the accusation of insubordinate behavior....

A Texas family is suing an indoor trampoline park after their teenage son was seriously hurt while using its trampolines. Cosmic Jump, a business in Houston, is being sued over a head injury suffered by then 16-year-old Max Menchaca, who allegedly “fell through a hole or a rip in the trampoline canvas” and hit the concrete floor below, his lawyer told Houston’s KRIV-TV. Trampolines are often magnets for injuries, but what are the specifics of Menchaca’s lawsuit?...

Custody Battle Between Two Gay Couples Raises Questions About Sperm Donors, Birth Certificates and Contracts Remember back in the day when marriage was between a man and a woman, divorce wasn’t that common, and children generally grew up with a mom and dad… yeah, neither do we really. Luckily we adapt to the changes and just roll with the punches. And this is one unique punch to roll with. Being recorded as a parent on a birth certificate opens the door to claims for rights or custody in the future....

As previously discussed in this blog, many unemployed Americans have been assisted in affording healthcare insurance by the federal Cobra subsidies which began last February. Yesterday, a House vote passed the defense spending bill which includes a COBRA extension, adding another six months onto the original nine month limit for the 65% subsidy. The bill now goes to the Senate for approval, which is expected to vote this week. Under the 1986 Cobra law, workers who lose their jobs can continue to receive the health insurance provided by their former employers, but must pay the premiums themselves....