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A Florida judge has ruled the state’s ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional, but it doesn’t mean same-sex nuptials can occur in the Sunshine State just yet. Monroe County Circuit Judge Luis M. Garcia on Thursday ruled in favor of Aaron R. Huntsman and William Lee Jones after they applied for and were denied a marriage license in April. Judge Garcia’s ruling overturned the state’s prohibition on gay marriage, but it may not take effect until Tuesday, reports the Orlando Sentinel....

Scoring a business contract with the government can not only lend stability to a small business but can also lead to future federal contract opportunities. It is no wonder, then, that small businesses are always actively seeking ways to become more successful in contracting with Uncle Sam. In its latest contribution to supporting small business, the Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering the ‘inside track’ to federal contract awards. The SBA this week released a new online training video entitled “Recovery Act Opportunities: How to Win Federal Contracts” as part of the federal government’s focus on supporting small business....

A federal judge partially blocked a controversial Georgia immigration law from coming into effect on Monday, a move that civil rights and pro-immigrant groups are hailing as a success. The ruling, which is the fourth time in the last year a federal court has halted a state-backed immigration bill, will prevent what are the law’s most arguably contentious provisions from going into effect until a full trial can be had at some point in the next year....

Thinking about going up against a big law firm on your own (aka going pro se)? If so, you’ll probably want some tips on how to deal with your opposing party’s legal representatives. Few things in life are certain, but in addition to death and taxes, you can add “litigation is costly.” If you’re in the unfortunate position of getting sued, or if want to take on the man, there’s no way of getting around the courtroom....

Maybe you took a civics class in high school, maybe you didn’t. And maybe you paid attention in that class, and maybe you stared out the window, wondering why it wasn’t snowing yet and trying to will the clock to move faster with your mind. And now all of a sudden you’re reading “Supreme Court Says This” and “Supreme Court Strikes Down That,” and you’re wondering, wait, why did they decide that, and how did that case go to the Supreme Court?...

Divorce can be a long and arduous process. However, eligible couples may be able to take advantage of “summary dissolution” for a simpler and faster divorce. Summary dissolution can be used to end a marriage or a domestic partnership. It is a less formal divorce process that includes less paperwork, fewer court appearances, and less negotiations and dispute. Here is what you need to know about filing for summary dissolution:...

The impermanence of seasons can often remind us of the impermanence of relationships. Whether it’s the heightened stress of the holidays straining a marriage or the optimism of a new year that shows unhappy spouses a way out, online searches for divorce attorneys and in-court filings of divorce papers spike following the holiday season. Divorce is not something to take lightly, however, and even if you’ve already decided to get a divorce, there may be good reasons to delay that decision and better ways to prepare for a divorce once it comes time to file....

Distracted driving car accidents are common occurrences, but when it comes to suing the driver for your injuries, you may need to provide evidence that the driver wasn’t paying attention to the road. Beyond texting while driving, distracted driving can include things like applying makeup, eating while driving, or driving with pets in your lap. So how can you show that another driver was distracted at the time of your accident?...

About 220,000 infant travel beds have been recalled following a child’s death and reports of others getting trapped. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the recall in cooperation with the travel beds’ manufacturer KidCo Inc. Along with the infant’s death, there were reports of nine other children being entrapped or distressed inside KidCo’s Pea Pod Travel Crib portable sleep tents, reports the Associated Press. The recalled infant travel beds have been on the market since 2005, and it’s believed there are about 220,000 of these beds in people’s homes nationwide....

Formal negotiations to settle a civil law suit officially broke down between lawyers for Massachusetts prison officials and the Disability Law Center. Apparently, negotiations fell a part after stalled plans to build special treatment units for hundreds of seriously mentally ill inmates. This suit is similar to the kind that has led other states to improve their prison mental health care. In California, prison officials recently announced a five-year plan to add beds to treat the state’s 2,600 mentally ill inmates, the San Francisco Chronicle reports....

Women’s equality has come a long way in the United States, but military women still cannot be assigned to combat units. That could change if a new lawsuit against Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is successful, Stars and Stripes reports. The suit was filed by four women who served in Afghanistan or Iraq. They’re joined by the Service Women’s Action Network and are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union as well as a private law firm....

Yes, it’s almost that time of year again: Time to gear up and get ready for your small business’s tax filings. But this year could be a little different, thanks to a few new tax laws going into effect. Here are a few of those new laws and how they could impact your small business. Writing off Property Add-Ons Section 179 of the tax code allows you to deduct the cost of added property or equipment instead of recovering the costs through depreciation deductions....

Forget the street corners. Forget those dark back rooms. Hell, forget that sketchy friend of a friend. WeedMaps.com has just ushered in a new era of pot shopping, and it begins with medical marijuana coupons. At first glance, WeedMaps.com looks like a Yelp.com for pot shopping. Limited to states that have legalized medical marijuana, a user can search via his zip code or for a specific “menu” item. The site then shows a map listing the corresponding dispensaries, all of which have been rated by users....

It’s been proven that motorcycle helmets do save lives and help prevent catastrophic injuries–even if some riders still resist wearing them. Despite the opposition, a number of states have passed mandatory motorcycle helmet laws. These safety regulations have also been consistently upheld in the face of constitutional challenges. But there’s actually another reason you should consider wearing a motorcycle helmet: it could cost you a lot of money if you’re ever in an accident....

Today, President Obama met with top credit card executives regarding protections for cardholders. Small businesses hope that customers can keep paying with plastic, but also need to consider data safety when accepting payment. In addition to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) applicable to all who accept credit cards, Minnesota has enacted, and more states are considering laws making retailers liable to financial institutions for data security foul-ups....

The University of Idaho has settled a class action lawsuit filed by 250 retired employees over changes the university made to their insurance benefits. The employees took early retirement buyouts in 1998 and 2002 that came with certain ongoing health benefits. In 2007, in a cost cutting measure, the university changed the plan, forcing the retirees to pay for part of their premiums. The retirees sued and gained class action status....

It’s unfortunate when someone dies as a result of an accident. But, it’s even more tragic when it seems like the accident could’ve been prevented. For example, when a 7-year-old girl was killed by a driver who had a valid driver’s license despite also having a visual handicap, it would seem like the license issuing authority should be held responsible. Well, according to the Wyoming Supreme Court, the state transportation department is exempt from being sued for wrongful death....

Religion clashing with school…an always popular topic that seems to find new twists every academic year. Freedom of Religion and the Establishment Clause seem to have an especially hard time in the classroom setting. The latest conflict comes out of North Carolina where a 14 year-old student was suspended for nose piercing. And now the American Civil Liberties Union sues. Ariana Lacono has a nose piercing as part of a small religion known as the Church of Body Modification....

A new report has come out that comes to a somewhat surprising conclusion: when it comes wheels on vehicles, two is better than four. According to the study, presented at the 2010 Annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons, riders of all-terrain vehicles (ATV) are far more likely to die or suffer serious trauma than motorcyclists after an accident. According to researchers from Johns Hopkins Center for Surgery Trials and Outcomes Research, while the initial injuries was similar for both groups, those injured on ATV suffered far worse fates....

State and local governments create laws on public health, including regulations meant to improve home safety. Those laws don’t just apply to businesses and public spaces. They can also affect your home or the residential buildings you own as a landlord. Not following those rules can result in a hefty fine or a lawsuit if an injury results from lack of safety equipment. Never mind the legal ramifications, not having these devices puts you and your family at risk every day....