American Airlines stopped a boy with Down syndrome from boarding a flight on Sunday, which his family says was discrimination. Robert and Joan Vanderhorst and their son Bede, 16, were flying from Newark, N.J., to Los Angeles over the holiday weekend. They upgraded their tickets to first class but when it came time to board, they were told they couldn’t get on the plane. The airline says the decision was made based on safety concerns....
Amanda Knox will appeal her slander conviction in Italy. Knox’s attorney has filed the appropriate documents abroad. What many may not realize is that slander in Italy is often prosecuted as a crime. Knox currently resides in Seattle. She spent several years abroad – and in an Italian jail cell – accused of killing her roommate Meredith Kercher while studying in Perugia, Italy. Knox’s slander conviction arises out of her statements to the police....
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ruled that unsolicited automated text messages and political spam are against the law. Yet voters in Virginia are reportedly still receiving text messages that aren’t really text messages. They are seemingly from Democratic candidate Tim Kaine, but not really from Tim Kaine, reports the Los Angeles Times. Confused? You’re not alone. Even more confusing: These “text messages” may be perfectly legal. Some voters received a text message that read, “Tim Kaine calls for radical new tax on all Americans....
Teen drivers are not among the most careful or accident-averse drivers on the road. Statistically speaking, young drivers are more likely to get in an accident during their formative years behind the wheel. But should those driving mistakes be paid for by the teen driver, the car’s owner, or the teen’s parents? Here are a few scenarios to consider when it comes to teen driver liability for car accidents: More likely than not, a teen driver is going to get in an accident in a “family car” – one that’s owned by the teen’s parent or guardian....
When it comes to motivating employees to perform, businesses frequently need to look beyond direct compensation. While the wages being offered may be competitive, in the market, other factors such as benefits, and even those pesky intangibles, can be critical to attracting and retaining top talent. Apart from high salaries, high quality health insurance, good retirement benefits, large bonuses, and consistent merit raises, some employers wonder: what else can I do to attract and retain top talent....
A 12-year-old victim of bullying has died after his family took him off life support. Could the bullied boy’s family potentially sue his alleged attackers, or possibly even the school, for his death? So far, the perpetrators who allegedly bullied and beat sixth grader Bailey O’Neill of Pennsylvania have not faced any criminal charges. And given their ages, they may be able to avoid criminal penalties completely. However, O’Neill’s family may still seek some redress for their tragic loss by seeking civil penalties against the bullies....
What would you do if a police officer conducted a cell phone search without a warrant? While that should not happen in states like Ohio, it is completely within the bounds of California law. The ABA Journal reports that the California Supreme Court recently ruled 5-4 that police can conduct a cell phone search on a suspect’s cell phone without a warrant. The ruling states that police had the authority to look at text messages on a cell phone in the pocket of Gregory Diaz....
If you’re under orders to pay child support, can you automatically stop paying when your child turns 18? This question has come up recently in our FindLaw Answers family law discussion forum. The answer isn’t as simple as it may seem. In fact, before going any further you may want to download FindLaw’s free guide to getting child support payments. State laws determine when a parent or guardian can automatically stop paying child support....
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the lower Missouri River basin, the Ohio River basin, and parts of western New York and eastern New England may face floods this spring. The National Flood Insurance Program warns that just a few inches of flood water can cause thousands of dollars in damage. Is your business protected in case of a flood? If a flood damages not only your building but also your supplies and products, do you have the money to cover the costs?...
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth surrendered this morning in a Miami courtroom on charges of DUI manslaughter. His case illustrates the potential implications, beyond getting a DUI, of driving under the influence. In particular, it highlights the criminal culpability attached when someone dies as a result of a DUI. Florida prosecutors charged Stallworth yesterday afternoon. As the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported, early in the morning of March 14th, after honking his horn and flashing his lights, Stallworth allegedly hit and killed 59 year old Mario Reyes with his Bentley while Reyes crossed a Miami Beach street to catch a bus home after his night shift as a crane operator....
Parents with teething babies have sought a myriad of remedies to soothe their children’s pain and discomfort (and their own ears as well, no doubt). One remedy which many found effective was the use of dissolving homeopathic tablets and gels that claimed to ease pain and reduce irritability associated with teething. But last fall, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that the tablets and gels could pose a health risk to children and recommended that parents stop using them....
When married couples buy a house, typically both names are put on the title, or deed, and both are considered the legal co-owners of the home. However, that is not the only way to legally co-own a home. In fact, many people that only own half a duplex actually co-own a home and don’t even realize it. Also, it is not too uncommon for friends and non-married couples to buy homes together, and this can be where things get more complicated....
The technological innovations in video recording and streaming have made home surveillance and security simpler and more secret. But can you take in-home surveillance too far? Between nanny cams and monitoring your vacation or Airbnb rental, there are legitimate reasons for wanting to have a surveillance camera in your guest room. But there also may be legal issues with recording someone without their knowledge. The first thing to understand when talking about surveillance is that different rules apply to police officers and private citizens....
At least 50 percent of marriages end in divorce – or at least, that’s what most Americans still think. But according to data from University of Michigan economist Justin Wolfers, more than half of marriages that began in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s are still going strong. The New York Times’ Claire Cain Miller urges the uninformed to realize that divorce rates have been dropping over the last few decades....
You hate filing taxes. It’s okay. Most people hate filing taxes. This is why we hire accountants to do our taxes for us. They’re the experts. They have the training. We trust them to do a good job. But, what happens when you get audited and assessed a penalty by the IRS? Can you sue your accountant? Your Tax Return, Your Responsibility The IRS doesn’t care if your accountant made a mistake....
A sluggish economy and an increasingly diverse workforce led to a record number of EEOC job-discrimination complaints last year. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received 99,947 workplace-discrimination complaints in fiscal year 2011, the agency reported Tuesday. That’s up slightly over 2010. The uptick in overall discrimination claims may correspond with a weak job market, an EEOC spokesman told MSNBC. And the trend may continue, the agency suggests in a new draft planning document that’s up for public review....
Syed Muzaffar plowed into three members of the Liu family on New Year’s Eve in San Francisco in 2013. Sophia, age six at the time, was killed, and her mother and three-year-old brother were seriously injured as they crossed the street in the crosswalk. There was no passenger in Muzaffar’s vehicle at the time, but he was logged into the app during the accident. Sophia’s family sued Uber, and settled that lawsuit for an undisclosed amount in 2015....
In a historic move, the Los Angeles City Council voted to legalize street vending, starting in the year 2020. The premise for this change ranges from immigration to health issues. The hope is that through regulation, buyers and sellers alike will benefit, while managing the costs to nearby neighbors. Los Angeles now joins the ranks of other major metropolitan areas to legalize street vendors, including New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Philadelphia....
Mobile Tuesday, the newest addition to the series of post-Thanksgiving holiday shopping days, is a testament to how much smartphone shopping has grown. More than two-thirds of Americans own smartphones or other mobile devices, and the vast majority of those people use their smartphones to make purchases. That means retailers who make their products available for purchase online – and via smartphone-friendly websites and apps – have an advantage. For retailers in cities where mobile shopping has taken off, that competitive edge is even more important....
It’s really no surprise that motorcycle crashes are deadlier and cost more than crashes involving other types of motor vehicles. After all, there is nothing protecting a rider except what he’s wearing on his body. So if a motorcycle hits something or something hits a motorcycle, the consequences are often dire. However, when a new study came out that quantified the costs of motorcycle accidents, it was surprising to learn just how much deadlier (and costlier) motorcycle accidents are, reports Autoblog....
