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Chicago woman Anna Cullen was stuck in a walk-in bathtub for more than 30 hours, and she isn’t happy about it. Spurred by her 30-hour dip in the tub, she’s filed a lawsuit against Premier Care, the tub’s manufacturer. Cullen fell into the bathtub when she was filling it up with water, and became wedged in the front of the tub. That’s when she says she tried to unplug the drain, but the chain broke, causing her to be submerged in bathwater for more than 30 hours, according to the Chicago Sun-Times....

Predatory lending is a form of financial lending that carries unreasonable fees, high interest rates, and unmanageable payment requirements. According to a new study published in the American Sociological Review, this practice, primarily aimed at minority groups in racially segregated neighborhoods, played a big factor in the U.S. housing crisis. The study looked at the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas. Reuters reports on the racial predatory lending problem, “By definition segregation creates minority dominant neighborhoods, which, given the legacy of redlining and institutional discrimination, continue to be undeserved by mainstream financial institutions....

A group of 6 tenants are suing their former landlord as well as Airbnb claiming that their evictions were illegal as a result of Los Angeles’s rent control laws. LA’s rent control law covers buildings built in 1978 and earlier, and, like other rent control laws across the country, it prohibits landlords from evicting tenants unless they have a statutorily permitted reason. The tenants in this lawsuit were evicted because the landlord claimed that the properties would be removed from the market for redevelopment....

The state has seen significant protests in response to potential legalization of same sex civil unions. The Hawaii House of Representatives voted 31-20 in favor of the legislation, which came as a bit of a surprise, as the bill had stalled and appeared it would not clear the House. It was unexpectedly revived on the last day of this year’s legislative session after all other items on the agenda had been covered....

With the holiday travel season at hand, millions of Americans will be hitting highways. Unfortunately, some of them may be involved in an accident. Not every car accident will result in a lawsuit. In many cases, vehicle damage and injuries may be covered by insurance claims. In some instances, however, a car accident lawsuit may be required to recover the full amount of your damages. When should you sue following a highway accident?...

You’re starting a business because you’ve got some great, new ideas. So how do you protect those ideas once you’re in business? From intellectual property laws to non-disclosure agreements, there are quite a few legal options for protecting trade secrets. Here’s how to know which is the right option for a particular product or idea, and which are right for your startup. Not everything unique to your startup falls under patent, trademark, or copyright laws....

Getting a refund from Disneyland may not be the happiest task on earth, especially if you’ve been evacuated from the park halfway through your first day. Mickey fans and Goofy lovers alike were in this predicament after a blast caused by a dry ice explosion caused the park to be shut down for two hours on Tuesday, reports The Associated Press. Two hours may not seem like an eternity, but when tickets run up to $100 per day, some families may be looking for a refund....

Last week, we wrote about Obama’s plan to seek changes in current overtime pay rules to allow more workers to get overtime pay. This week, President Obama has finally proposed a rule change. Here is what you need to know about the President’s proposed overtime rule: Currently, salaried workers who earn more than $455 a week, equivalent to $23,660 a year, are exempt from current overtime rules under the Fair Labor Standards Act....

Do employers never learn? Firing an employee solely because of the headscarf she is wearing as a part of her religious beliefs is just asking to be sued! Rotten Ralph’s, a bar in the Old City, Philadelphia, was happy to hire Tia Rollins when she wasn’t wearing a headscarf. But, a few days later, Rollins was out of a job because her manager didn’t like her headscarf. Now, the restaurant is being sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)....

After continuing speculation, the Justice Department has officially filed a lawsuit challenging SB 1070, Arizona’s new immigration law. The new law gives Arizona law enforcement the authority to check the legal status of people they stop and requires all legal immigrants to carry their papers. Under SB 1070, when an officer suspects that someone they stop is in Arizona illegally, they should question them. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer argues that the lawsuit against Arizona is misguided, because the Arizona immigration law mirrors a federal law requiring that legal immigrants carry immigration papers....

Summer is almost upon us. And with that comes new regulations regarding outdoor employees. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration is conducting a “Water Rest Shade” campaign to protect workers from sun and heat-induced illnesses, and new regulations went into effect on May 1. Here’s how to comply with the law and keep your employees safe this summer. Safe In the Shade Whether your business is in agriculture, landscaping, construction, or even recreation, you’ve had to comply with OSHA regulations before....

A federal lawsuit over three Ohio mugshots has resulted in a settlement with the owner of two major mugshot websites. The settlement between the parties was signed by a federal judge in late December. It calls for Citizens Information Associates LLC (the corporate owner of BustedMugshots.com and MugshotsOnline.com) to pay $7,500 and remove the offending mugshots for free, a lawyer for the company told The Plain Dealer. This lawsuit is one of many against mugshot sites around the country, so how is this one different?...

Like the zucchini and corn at your local farmers’ market, the rules governing farmers’ markets are highly local. For this reason, often the best place to start is the person called the “Market Manager” (or “Market Master”). This is the person who oversees operation of a specific farmers’ market, and who can point you toward that market’s rules and procedures. Usually, the Market Manager can be found at the market on its day of operation....

The Starbucks tips lawsuit, filed by five former assistant store managers from New York City and Long Island, has met its end. The court found in favor of the coffee chain, with Starbucks winning a dismissal of the lawsuit. The assistant managers had alleged that Starbucks corporate had coerced them into sharing tips, reports Reuters. They also alleged that Starbucks was in violation of New York’s state labor laws, since they performed similar duties as baristas and other workers who were given tips, Reuters reports....

Like millions of newly resolute Americans, you may be entering into a very important legal contract this week: a gym membership contract. It’s the new year, and joining a gym to shed a few extra pounds may be at the top of your New Year’s resolutions list. But gym membership contracts can be very tricky, and may include many provisions that have nothing to do with how long the pool is open or the type of free weights they use....

The current rate of unemployment in the United States has been pretty dismal. The Los Angeles Times reports that the rate of unemployment was steady at 10% last month, but that last year saw a loss of over 4 million jobs. The rate of unemployment would have been 10.4%, but the labor force was smaller due to people leaving the workforce for reasons besides layoffs, and others ceasing to search for work....

Waterparks can be a fun activity for kids in the summer, and even for adults sometimes. But, they also carry the risk of serious injury – from drowning to slip and fall injuries. While patrons at waterparks are usually required to sign a release of liability, there are times when a waterpark can be held liable for certain injuries suffered by its patrons. In fact, certain injuries may even result in criminal liability....

Everyone’s worried about the so-called “fiscal cliff” and potentially higher taxes for the middle class. But exactly how high are we talking? Unfortunately this isn’t another case of politicians yammering on about things that don’t affect most people. If a deal isn’t struck, you’ll surely notice it come January. If you want to lobby your local congressional delegation about the issue, it helps to know what to ask for. So here’s a crash course in how the fiscal cliff will affect most Americans....

You need in-house counsel when calling your outside counsel becomes inefficient. Maybe you are spending too much on fees and having an employee makes more sense. Or maybe your business is growing and you just need a trusted counselor to talk to whenever issues arise – say, someone who doesn’t charge you by the minute. There are many reasons that you might want a lawyer on hand. But of course hiring another employee is always a serious consideration and this one is particularly important....

If you have employees, chances are you have to pay state unemployment insurance taxes. Exactly how much you’ll pay will depend on where your business is located and how much you’re paying your employees. Penny pinching employers may be thinking they can reduce that tax burden by cutting back on their employees’ hours, but does it necessarily work out that way? Here’s a look. Unemployment Taxes Recent state unemployment tax numbers can show how much the amount can vary from state to state....