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The idea of internet privacy seems to take one of two forms: outrage that web browsers, email providers, and ISPs have nearly unfettered access to your information on the one hand, and on the other a shrug of the shoulders and a “you put your info on the internet, what did you expect?” The law has tried to find a balance between these two poles, weighing an individual’s privacy interests against the public nature of the web, all while dealing with statutes that become antiquated in just a few years....

In the down economy, stick-ups and burglaries at work are on the rise. Many thieves have become more brazen in their attempts at high stakes burglaries. They have now set their sights on stealing from corporate offices and workplaces, instead of residential burglary or robbing convenience stores. At first glance office thieves may be hard to detect. In most cases, intruders enter a building during normal business hours. Sometimes the perpetrators are armed, heightening fear among office workers who thought they were safe....

Starting up a new business takes creativity, determination, and sacrifice. But all your efforts could go to waste if you fail to address certain legal issues that can doom a small business from the start. Start-up owners may be able to handle a few of these legal issues on their own, but some may require a local business attorney’s experience and know-how. It all depends on your specific situation. In general, here are three legal issues that can doom a small business startup:...

Love may be blooming at your workplace as Valentine’s Day approaches. For savvy business owners, this may be a good time to review (or draft) your “no fraternization” policy. While The Beatles may have sang “All You Need Is Love,” an office romance may be the last thing you business needs. It can lead to tension in the office and at times, lawsuits. Having a “no fraternization” policy in place may help avoid personal and legal drama in the workplace....

It’s great that there are more people getting more exercise, and easing pollution and traffic by getting on a bicycle rather than in a car. But with more cyclists on the road, there are bound to be more cycling accidents. With bike laws and some traffic laws, states and cities are trying to protect bicyclists on the road. But does that include absolving them from responsibility in collisions? Are traffic accidents always the car’s fault or can bicyclists be held liable?...

Savana Redding was a 13-year-old eighth grade honor student at Safford Middle School in Arizona when the school’s principal pulled her out of class and took her to his office. Lying open on a desk in his office was Savana’s planner (which she claimed to have let another student borrow), and some prescription-strength ibuprofen pills, as well. Possession of these pills on campus was prohibited by a school rule, but Savana denied having anything to do with them....

Perhaps smokers see them as a healthier option to regular tobacco, or maybe they’re allowed in more places than your classic Marlboros. But for whatever reason, the use of e-cigarettes, vape pens, and other electronic smoking devices has exploded over the last decade. And the batteries for those devices have apparently been exploding as well, according to recent lawsuits. Over 120 lawsuits alleging injuries from explosions and fires caused by e-cigarette batteries were filed last year alone....

Do business owners have the right to monitor employee’s internet or phone usage? Employee privacy rights in the workplace need to be weighed against your desire to control business operations. Here are some basic rights to know in some of the more popular privacy-related areas. Email: A valid business purpose. If you are able to connect your review of employee emails with a business purpose then there is no invasion of privacy....

Another day, another Facebook and Google privacy policy change. Facebook is axing its privacy option that enables users to be unsearchable. Not to be outdone, Google plans to sell users’ endorsements as a social marketing tool. In a nutshell: Get ready for less privacy and more ads – the best of both worlds! (Sigh.) If you’ve hidden yourself from being searchable on Facebook, get ready to come out of hiding....

Alaska has become the latest state to have its gay marriage ban overturned by a federal judge, following a major decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. On Sunday, U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Burgess found that Alaska’s gay marriage ban violated the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution, and ordered all state agents to not enforce the law. CNN reports that Alaska Gov....

But blood clot filters can also be dangerous. An IVC filter left in too long can perforate the vein or detach from the vein and migrate elsewhere, causing unintended blockages or damage. So how long is too long when it comes to leaving in blood clot filters? Blood Clot Filter Risk Both the Food and Drug Administration and the Journal of the American Medical Association have studied the adverse health effects associated with long-term use of an IVC filter....

Ah, the annual office party. It’s a time to celebrate the end of another successful year with co-workers. The problem? The relaxed atmosphere of an office party combined with alcohol can often be a recipe for sexual harassment. Avoiding office party sexual harassment complaints is both simple and obvious. At least while sober. To begin, keep alcohol consumption to a minimum. If creating alcohol-free “mocktails” is not an option, then be aware of the potential for alcohol-induced problems ranging from inappropriate comments to even more inappropriate behavior....

Though sexual harassment in the workplace may be an uncomfortable subject to discuss, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides federal protection against the harassment on the basis of sex. Here are six facts on identifying sexual harassment in the workplace, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): The victim or harasser may be a woman or man. The victim does not have to be of the opposite sex....

Who’s in Huguette Clark’s will? The reclusive copper heiress died on Tuesday in the Manhattan hospital she’s been calling home, leaving people to wonder about the fate of her estimated $500 million fortune. With questions about her mental health and an ongoing investigation into the attorney and accountant that have been handling her affairs, the answer to the above question can mean the difference between a drawn out court battle and a quiet ending....

Court appointed trustee fees continue to add up as lawyers and consultants try to unravel Bernard Madoff’s massive fraud. The Associated Press reports a judge approved payment of $22.1 million in legal fees. The legal tab adds up to about $40 million for the first 10 months of the Madoff liquidation. Lawyers say they’re following a complex paper trail while trying to process 16,239 claims and seeking to recover billions of dollars in loses....

In 2009, there was hope. Despite the fact that motorcycle deaths had been on the rise for 12 straight years, the number of fatalities had dropped by 16%. But now that hope has been squashed, as the number of motorcycle deaths has stagnated and shown no improvement in 2 years. In 2011, the number of motorcycle deaths increased in 26 states. The number also decreased in 23 states and remained the same in Louisiana....

The North Carolina House of Representatives has voted to override the Governor’s veto of an abortion law that requires women to wait 24 hours and be shown an ultrasound prior to getting an abortion. In refusing to sign the North Carolina ultrasound law late last month, Democratic Governor Beverly Perdue cited her belief that it invades a woman’s right to privacy and to consent to medical treatment. While some echoed similar sentiments during this week’s House debate, others argued that the law, known as the Abortion-Woman’s Right to Know Act, is intended to help women make informed decisions....

New Jersey’s high court has shot down two N.J. towns’ ordinances which placed limits on where certain sex offenders can live, reports the AP. The decision addresses sex offender residency laws passed by the New Jersey towns of Galloway and Cherry Hill, but as will be discussed below, could have a far more wide-reaching impact. For a little background about these laws and the case, Galloway’s sex offender residency laws prohibited certain sex offenders whose victims were children from “living within 2500 feet of any school, park, playground, or daycare center” in the city....

People 21 and older will no longer need a concealed weapons permit in Arizona. Arizona has now become the third state, joining Alaska and Vermont, to allow people to carry concealed weapons without a permit, the Associated Press reports. The measure will likely take effect sometime in July or August and allows people 21 or older to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. Under the Arizona legislation people 21 and older would be allowed to forego background checks and classes when buying guns from individuals who aren’t dealers....

For people starting a new business venture with others, one huge question that comes up at the early stage is the structure of the relationship and how to structure the partnership. In a previous post, we discussed the idea of dividing your shares equally between founders. This assumes that you’ve all decided to be partners or shareholders in the same entity. But there are other options if you want to join forces with other parties when launching a new idea....