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The FDA is now investigating birth control pills (like Yaz) and blood clot risks. The new investigation was issued after two recently published studies showed that women who used birth control that contain drospirenone were more at risk for blood clots. So far, the FDA is not recommending women who are taking birth control pills that contain drospirenone, like Yasmin and Yaz, to stop taking the pills. The FDA is instead advising that women should talk to their healthcare providers first before they make any changes to their birth control....

Guest post by Jennifer K. Halford, Esq. I was recently preparing a presentation for my local Small Business Development Center about the steps a small business owner should take to ensure the next generation is ready to continue the family business. I find that most small business owners underestimate the time it takes to continue the family business. They are busy and find it difficult to talk about what will happen when you pass away....

Here at FindLaw, we talk a lot about suing for damages after an injury. However, it’s not the only way to get compensation. Whether you’re trying to avoid attorney’s fees or you dislike confrontation, here are a few ways you can try to get money for your injury without suing: 1. Make a Complaint or Claim Did you get injured at a store? Talk to the manager. Some stores will have claims procedures where you can file a complaint and request compensation....

Oracle CEO Larry Ellison’s tree lawsuit finally came to an end on Wednesday, settling a years-long battle between the eccentric multi-millionaire and his downhill neighbors who have allowed their trees to block his view. Larry Ellison’s tree lawsuit began when his new downhill neighbors allowed their monstrous trees to grow so high that they partially impeded his view of the San Francisco Bay, reports The Wall Street Journal. Though a huge joke amongst San Francisco natives, the tree lawsuit poses an interesting question:...

A jury determined that football helmet manufacturer Riddell was not responsible for a stroke suffered by a Mississippi high school football player. In 2006, a ninth grade student suffered the stroke at a school-sponsored ninth-grade football practice. In the lawsuit, it was claimed that the helmet pushed on the student’s neck, causing damage to an artery, which led to the stroke, reports The Associated Press. After a five-day trial, the Mississippi jury unanimously held that Riddell was not liable for the student’s injuries....

As officials continue to investigate Sunday’s fatal Bronx Zoo crash, startling information about the crash site is surfacing. Amongst that information is the fact that the small stretch of the Bronx River Parkway, which runs nearly six stories above a ravine, has been listed as one of New York’s most dangerous roads. The elevated roadway has been the site of numerous crashes in the past three decades, including one earlier this year....

There will be fewer Los Angeles courtrooms operating next month as the state copes with its budget deficit. According to the Los Angeles Times, a total of 17 courtrooms countywide are being closed over the next six months. The state is facing a $79 million budget shortfall. As a result, this will mean massive layoffs and service reductions. About 329 people are expected to get layoff notices. The Los Angeles Superior Court is the country’s largest trial court system, with 600 courtrooms in 50 courthouses throughout the county....

When relationships get frayed, tempers can flare. And we can do and say some things that we regret. But when the things we regret become part of our criminal record, is there any way to get it off? Some convictions can be expunged from your criminal record. Is domestic violence one of them? As a general rule, expungement eligibility is generally determined by the severity of the crime and your criminal record....

Damages, in general, refer to the money awarded in a successful civil case. In personal injury cases, compensatory damages are designed to put the aggrieved party in the same financial condition – or as close to it as possible – as he or she was before the injury. You may have also heard the term “special damages,” which are a subset of compensatory damages. Here’s a breakdown of what special damages are and how to recover them after a car accident....

The American automaker Chrysler Fiat, which claims to be America’s Import, has unintentionally followed the lead of an actual popular import, Volkswagen. Unfortunately for the US automaker, the lead they are following isn’t related to German driving culture. Instead, it’s getting busted by the Environmental Protection Agency for deceptive diesel engine emissions. Hidden Software Found in Diesel Vehicles The EPA announced yesterday that an investigation into Chrysler Fiat’s diesel engines has revealed that the automaker’s vehicles contain software and devices that change the way the vehicle operates when it is being tested for emissions....

“Natalie started to eat hers and as she cut the chicken the chicken oozed red blood to which point I commented it looked bloody.” Not the start you want to a meal while on vacation. That was widower Stewart Rawnsley, describing food from a restaurant buffet in Corfu, Greece. His late wife, Natalie, immediately returned the chicken for another piece, but not before consuming a bite. That bite would turn out to be deadly, as Natalie’s condition deteriorated from food poisoning to fatal over the course of that night....

A federal court in Michigan ruled in favor of a funeral home that fired a transgender employee, saying the home is protected by religious freedom laws. While conceding the transitioning employee could file a gender discrimination lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the judge in charge of the suit said the funeral home, which also operates as a ministry, is protected under the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)....

Last month, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a ‘zero-tolerance policy’ for illegal entry into the United States, under which immigration enforcement officials would forcibly separate immigrant children from their parents. “If you are smuggling a child, then we will prosecute you and that child will be separated from you as required by law,” Sessions said at the time. “If you don’t like that, then don’t smuggle children over our border.”...

So here’s the scenario: a worker is fired or quits for no reason and then a few weeks later you are asked to approve their application for unemployment benefits. You deny it, thinking your worries are over. Then another notice states your former employee is now contesting the denial and taking his or her case before an unemployment judge. From an employer’s standpoint, the real issue is not whether or not they deserve unemployment (you made that decision already) but whether you should handle the hearing yourself or hire counsel....

Changing Careers, Going Back to School, etc. A big question that comes up often in the context of divorcing couples with children is how child support will be calculated in their case. This may be particularly the case in the midst of difficult economic times, with homes and assets losing value, and job loss often a concern. Unfortunately, and perhaps particularly so when calculating child support in the recession, the answer is sometimes not as straightforward as one might think, and multiple factors and decisions could come into play....

If you’re wondering how to sell at farmers’ markets, you’re at the right place. With increasing popularity and markets moving beyond produce to include vendors selling pre-packaged and hot foods, services and crafts, selling your product at a year round or seasonal market could be just the thing your business needs. But before you jump in and approach your local market manager, you will first need to ensure that you have all your ducks in a row....

While we all know that lying is wrong, most lies don’t become court cases. Judges aren’t keen on resolving a spouse’s unfulfilled promise of washing the dishes, for example. Even claims – all evidence to the contrary – that there will be a Broadway play and feature film about your life, complete with Angelina Jolie in the starring role and Steven Spielberg directing, are probably not going to get you into legal trouble....

The smoke has died down on California Proposition 19 for now. The controversial California proposition was on the most recent ballot and would have legalized marijuana in the Golden State. If the measure had passed, California would have been the first state in the nation to legalize the use of marijuana for purposes other than medical reasons. The proposition’s failing was the product of low voter turnout by many of the young voters that would have approved the measure....

In July, the New Yorker published allegations against CBS CEO Leslie Moonves, with six women claiming Moonves subjected them to sexual harassment, including “forcible touching or kissing during business meetings.” Moonves admitted in a statement that he “may have made some women uncomfortable by making advances,” but asserted: “I always understood and respected – and abided by the principle – that ’no’ means ’no,’ and I have never misused my position to harm or hinder anyone’s career....

A new Massachusetts alimony law will go into effect early next year, changing the way in which judges order payments. Judges will now apply a strict formula, which bases the number of payment years on the length of the marriage. Alimony will also end when the payer retires, or when the recipient moves in with a new partner. Only marriages of considerable length can result in lifetime alimony. Though strict, the new law seems to represent a trend in divorce settlement....