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Investigations into the cause of the Kleen Energy plant explosion in Middletown, Connecticut, and the level of worker safety at the plant are beginning, according to a report by the Hartford Courant. Officials currently believe a welder’s torch in the vicinity of the natural gas being purged from the underground pipeline could have caused the blast. The purging operation requires that the accumulated gas be vented from buildings and enclosures before combustible elements like a welder’s torch can be safety introduced....

On Monday, June 21, a settlement in a sad lawsuit was reached in Dubuque, Iowa. The Community School District and the city of Dubuque have agreed to pay $170,000 to the family of a student who died in a traffic accident in front of Hempstead High School in September, 2007. The family of 15 year-old high school student Lauren Schmidt will receive a settlement in the wrongful death suit they filed after she was killed in front of the school in a traffic accident....

Lexmark International is a worldwide laser printer and imaging company with over $3.7 billion in annual revenue. Impression Products, on the other hand, has 25 employees and less than $15 million in annual sales. Yet this small business David took a Goliath to the Supreme Court, and won. In what could be a big win for small businesses nationwide, the Court held that subsequently purchasing an already-sold and patented item does not violate patent law....

The U.S. Supreme Court returns from its winter break to hear 10 cases in January, starting today. Many of the High Court’s cases this month will deal with statutory interpretation, but a few deal with polemical issues like free speech, housing discrimination, and unlawful searches. Here’s what Court watchers have to look forward to this month: Reed v. Town of Gilbert (January 12) – Is it constitutional for a law in Gilbert, Arizona, to favor outdoor political signs over signs advertising a church service?...

Ever swap spit with a Taco Bell employee? Think twice before answering – especially if you’ve had food from the restaurant recently. Taco Bell is now investigating a photo that was posted to the fast food chain’s Facebook page of an employee licking a stack of taco shells. Many comments on the Facebook page are defending the employee, and even Taco Bell itself has said the likelihood that this is just a prank....

A new tax goes into effect this week that will have an effect on one sector of small businesses: the tanning salon. Those businesses that offer both spray-on tanning as well may be less affected, but those that only offer indoor tanning beds may see a drop in profits. The tanning tax, implemented as a way to help off-set costs of the health care reform bill begins July 1, in all 50 states....

Don’t short-change your hourly employees. Not only is it unfair to your workers, but an employer could also face hefty fines and other legal consequences for failing to comply with federal wage laws. Because the laws can be confusing, employers are often uncertain about when hourly employees must be paid, according to a recent article in Inside Counsel, a magazine for corporate attorneys. Small business owners can also take advantage of the article’s warnings and advice....

In that case, you may be considering a medical malpractice lawsuit. Here are five questions, and answers, that can help: 1. Can I Sue a Nurse for Medical Malpractice? The classic case that most people think of as medical malpractice is a botched or wrong-site surgery, where a surgeon is sued for operating on a body part he or she shouldn’t. But malpractice liability can extend to staff who make errors in medical treatment as well....

What can you do to get back on dry ground if your home value is underwater? Refinancing is usually not an option since lenders are looking for a chunk of equity to secure the loan. One good option is the federal government’s Making Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). MSN writes that HARP can be a good option for struggling homeowners, but not everyone is elibible. To get help under the HARP program you must 1) not be heading to foreclosure – any delinquent mortgage payments in the past 12 months will disqualify a homeowner; and 2) your mortgage must be owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac....

We often don’t think of golf as a dangerous sport, at least not in the actual playing of it. Sure, you could tweak your back trying to reach a par 5 green in two. And yes, there could be the wayward drive coming from a nearby tee box. But, for the most part, we expect to finish our rounds with our physical health relatively unscathed, if not our handicap as well....

An 11 year-old babysitter has been charged with murder and child cruelty in the death of a 2 year-old baby in Atlanta, Georgia. Zyda White died while under the care and supervision of the unidentified girl. The babysitter was the daughter of a co-worker of Zyda’s mother. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that Zyda White died as a result of head injury and blunt force trauma to her head and buttocks....

In our modern times of cellular telephones, energy drinks, and the World Wide Web, divorce is both easier and more complex all at the same time. Modern conveniences make contacting lawyers and gathering evidence and information quite a bit simpler. But divorce is adversarial, and gathering evidence is now equally convenient for your ex. When it comes to divorce proceedings, matters often become contentious due to the strained relationship that is legally being dissolved....

With so much technology at our fingertips, more employees are working from home (and anywhere with WiFi) than ever before. But what if you’re thinking of taking telecommuting to the next level, and starting your own business out of your home? Seems simple enough, right? Not so fast, my friend. Between neighborhood zoning laws and tax deductions, there are quite a few legal considerations to take into account before your home business takes flight....

Who would have guessed that it is such a cutthroat, hardball industry? After all, we are talking muffins here. But to former Thomas’ English Muffins exec, Chris Botticella, it is down and dirty and threatening his new employment opportunity over at rival baking giant, Hostess. According to the Associated Press, the intriguingly named Grupo Bimbo SAB, owners of the Thomas’ English Muffins brand, sued Botticella to prevent him from taking his knowledge of a trade secret to a new position at a rival company....

The distracted pilots for NWA who overshot their destination by over 100 miles are now blaming the air traffic controllers for their alleged pilot negligence. CNN reports that the pilots now claim that air traffic control rules were not followed when they missed their destination. Their response to the administrative judge handling case was quoted by CNN as saying, “The air traffic controller(s) did not comply with the requirements of the air traffic control manual and other relevant orders, rules, procedures, policies and practices with respect to Northwest Flight 188, nor coordinate effectively with Northwest dispatch, and such failure was a causal or contributing factor in the incident....

Every employer has their own particular style when it comes to interviewing. But some business leaders think that “fun” interview brainteasers have no value at all in selecting new employees. Google’s Senior VP of Operations, Laszlo Bock, found that asking things like “how many golf balls can you fit into an airplane” is a “complete waste of time” and not a good predictor of anything other than how smug the interviewer is, reports The New York Times....

Divorce can be difficult, both legally and emotionally, which is why you may wonder if there’s a legal alternative to divorce. Although there is the option of a legal separation, which outlines the rights and duties of a couple who is still married, divorce is the only way to legally end a marriage. There are, however, alternatives on how to divorce. These alternatives include mediation, collaborative divorce, and traditional divorce....

The California State Assembly approved a bill to combat hate-based violence against the homeless. The legislation would increase civil rights protections for the homeless by allowing the homeless to sue for larger sums of damages if they are targeted in an attack, the Associated Press reports. But as previously discussed, homeless advocates argue attacks against the homeless are no different than racially or ethnically motivated crimes and should be added to hate crime laws, carrying with them stiffer prison terms....

Christmas was costly and now there is no money for the mortgage. Can you dip into your kids’ financial gifts to pay? Yes you can, and apparently you will be one of many parents who indulge in the practice. About one-third to one-half of parents surveyed in polls in 2014 took money from their children’s piggy banks and savings accounts to pay for routine monthly expenses and even extras like vacation, according to Time magazine....

The Supreme Court has struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). It’s a major victory for the gay rights movement, as legally married same-sex couples are now entitled to certain federal benefits. But what does this mean for small business owners? If your company hasn’t done so already, your employee benefits package may need to be updated to include married gay or lesbian employees who are eligible for federal benefits....