Ten years ago, photo editor Robert Stevens died after inhaling anthrax sent through the mail to American Media in Florida, the publisher of tabloids such as the Sun and the National Enquirer. He was the first of about 17 different anthrax victims. Four others died, while the rest were sickened. The FBI later connected the attacks to a government scientist who committed suicide when investigators began closing in. The family has now settled with the U....
A spouse’s emotional abuse can be psychologically and physically damaging, and may be the reason you’re seeking a divorce. But will a judge look less favorably on your abuser if your divorce goes to court? Perhaps not when deciding how to split the marital assets. Thanks to the concept of “no-fault” divorce, now available in all 50 states, that allows either spouse to pursue a divorce for any reason, it doesn’t much matter who’s at fault in the split....
Cesarean births, or C-sections, as they are commonly knows, are increasing at an alarming rate in the United States, up from 23 percent of all births in 2000 to 32 percent in 2015. To put these percentages in perspective, in 1985 the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that there was “no justification for any region to have a caesarean section rate higher than 10-15 percent.” Let’s assume that all emergency C-sections are necessary, since considering anything else requires too many factual discussions about the birth and the doctor....
While President Barrack Obama was intent on expanding civil rights and pro-employee labor laws, President-elect Donald Trump is expected to be pro-business. As such, many expect Trump to rollback a significant number of the labor and employment law changes made by the Obama Administration, and to take a step further by implementing more pro-business policies. While campaigning, Trump was rather vocal about repealing the Affordable Care Act. Additionally, the new overtime regulations slated to go into effect may be a prime target for an early Trump executive order....
The heat is on for former Vice President Al Gore as the Portland police are re-opening an investigation into allegations by his massage therapist, Molly Hagerty, that he groped her. Although the Portland Police Bureau did not say why they have decided to reopen the Al Gore investigation, it is department policy not to comment on specifics of the case, the Washington Post reports. As previously discussed, Gore’s massage therapist contacted police in late 2006, after her alleged “unwanted sexual contact” with the former vice president who was in Portland, OR to deliver a speech on climate change....
Talcum powder used to seem soft and sweet and clean and was associated with good things, like newborn babies. But today the powder, which has made its way into countless cosmetic and other products, is associated with ovarian cancer. Now, women all over the country are suing Johnson and Johnson, the premiere talcum powder purveyor, for fraud, negligence, and failure to warn of the risk of ovarian cancer created by use of the stuff....
In a move that is being applauded, Ikea has announced that all US employees will now be eligible for paid parental leave after one year with the company. Ikea employees at every level, from entry level hourly store employees to those in the US corporate offices, will now receive paid maternity/paternity leave for up to three months, with the first half at full pay and second half at 50 percent of their pay....
Jefferson County, Alabama, has filed for Chapter 9 protection in the biggest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. Jefferson County is the most populous county in the state, with 660,000 residents. It’s also home to the state’s economic powerhouse, Birmingham. County commissioners voted 4-1 for the bankruptcy after a September deal over the $3.14 billion deficit fell apart. The commission says it was because creditors refused to agree to economic concessions. The effects of the Chapter 9 filing may be felt by ordinary consumers....
Jon and Kate Gosselin have lived critical moments of their marriage, parenthood of 8 children, separation, and pending divorce in front of millions of television viewers. The widespread curiosity and interest with the couple, beyond subjecting them to the unrelenting glare of the spotlight, have also brought attention to issues surrounding marriage and post-marriage legal procedure. One such issue is alimony. Kate Gosselin has reportedly filed for both child support and alimony earlier this month....
As you take off for a long-awaited summer vacation, you may want to know how to sublet your apartment. Renting out your place is a great way to shoulder costs and, in some cases, meet new folks. But the subletting process can be daunting – and in some jurisdictions, it may even be unlawful, depending on the circumstances. Thankfully, there are certain steps you can take for a smooth(er) subletting process....
A Michigan man is suing his shrink for medical malpractice. But this isn’t the usual malpractice case. It doesn’t involve a bad choice of medication or a faulty diagnosis. Rather, the man is suing his psychiatrist for dating his ex-wife. The patient, Steven Kay, was being treated by Harvey Rosenberg. Kay claims that he was seeing Rosenberg for treatment during his difficult breakup with his ex-wife, whom he claimed he still loved....
We recently wrote that it looked as if the Obama administration is planning to gut the Small Business Administration. We now know that President Obama does in fact intend to make dramatic cuts to the SBA budget, after the President released his budget proposal. “We have to tighten our belt, too, and we have to make tough choices,” SBA Administrator Karen Mills said in a conference call with reporters, CNN Money reports....
President Obama’s new gun control proposals don’t just focus on guns. They also call for improvements in mental health care. The national discussion on gun control has been punctuated by the idea that mental health care is also an important part of the equation. That’s why, in addition to asking Congress to pass tougher gun control laws, the president today also announced 23 executive actions related to curbing gun violence. Several of those executive actions focus on mental health, according to Fox News, namely:...
An office romance could cost you your job if you happen to work for the Putnam County Sheriff’s office in Tennessee. But is this new policy legal? Several employees at the Sheriff’s office are already in relationships that are now in violation of the new policy. Those employees may challenge the policy in court, according to Herald Citizen. But in a statement, Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Jacky Farley said he believes the policy is legally acceptable....
Patient safety in hospitals is not improving. That is the conclusion of recent study, conducted from 2002-2007 that looked at 10 North Carolina hospitals – a sample that researchers believe is accurately indicative of a national problem. The main issue when with patient safety involves complications from medical procedures, drugs and hospital-related infections. The study also found that although the majority of the problems were preventable, there did not seem to be a change over time....
Drug abuse isn’t just occurring in crack houses and celebrities’ trailers, it’s happening in the homes of a quarter of Americans. According to a new survey by FindLaw.com, 24 percent of Americans admit to abusing prescription drugs in one fashion or another. The National Center for Disease Control (CDC) called the rise in prescription drug abuse as an “epidemic,” so what can Americans do to stem this tide? Here are a few more revelations about prescription drug abuse and how Americans are using the law to fight back:...
When you get in a car accident and are injured, you probably don’t think about work first thing. But work is how you earn your living, and if you don’t go, depending on your employment set-up, then the hit you feel after a car accident can be financial as well as physical. Typically, people who are injured in a car accident can recover lost wages. How they recover and how much depends on a number of factors, including the nature of their employment, state laws, the specifics of the accident and how it happened, and whether they seek recovery by making an insurance claim or filing a negligence suit....
Adequately staffing a small business requires careful consideration by an employer on a host of potential legal issues. Our Free Enterprise series on Starting Your Own Business is here to clarify some of the most common concerns. For starters, business owners should focus on the nuts and bolts of staffing, such as hiring, salary, benefits, conflict management, and termination. To begin thinking about these issues, ask yourself the following three questions:...
The ride-hailing service that disrupted the taxi industry is now facing the cost of doing business that the taxi industry dealt with before it. Accessibility for disabled individuals is a requirement under federal and state law across the country. A new lawsuit filed against Uber in the Federal Court in Washington D.C. alleges violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as the District’s own Human Rights Act. While Uber does have an option for wheelchair users, the lawsuit asserts that the company’s vehicle selection criterion systematically discriminates against wheelchair users....
University of Georgia athletic director Damon Evans, who is one of the youngest athletic directors in the nation, was arrested and charged for driving under the influence of alcohol. A Georgia State Patrol trooper stopped Damon Evans while he was driving a 2009 BMW, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports. The trooper detected an odor of alcohol and gave Evans a field sobriety test, but he later refused to take a breathalyzer test....
