Lately, the news is filled with stories of people like Peter Sean Brown: Brown, born in Philadelphia and a resident of Florida, was detained after violating probation and told that he would be deported to Jamaica. The sheriff's office insisted that ... [Read more...]
Common Law Marriage: Uncommon Arrangement, Common Concerns
During the past decade, there has been a great deal of debate over what does, and does not, count as marriage in the eyes of the law. One arrangement that has become less ordinary, but that has managed to survive in a few states, is common law ... [Read more...]
New Revelations about Asbestos in Baby Powder
For years, mothers used talcum powder when changing their babies’ diapers. The sweet-smelling substance was supposed to keep babies dry and to prevent rashes. It was a staple in bathroom cabinets everywhere. Despite – or because of – the powder’s ... [Read more...]
Rethinking Marijuana-Related Crimes
In recent years, the way we have thought about marijuana, its use and its legality, have changed. Medical marijuana is now legal in more than thirty states, and recreational marijuana is legal in ten. Even as advocates for legalization have ... [Read more...]
What You Need to Know about Flood Insurance
In the past few years, cities have been battered by hurricanes and tropical storms, resulting in injuries and property loss to tens of thousands of Americans. Flooding, wind damage, and other problems have created financial difficulties for those who ... [Read more...]
Three Common Types of Temporary Visas
With all the controversy swirling around immigration these days, you’ve probably heard discussions about visas, how to obtain them, and what happens if you overstay them. Did you know, though, that there are dozens of different types of visas with ... [Read more...]
How One Child Changed an Outdated Law
When you think of being a kid at wintertime, what comes to mind? Holidays, certainly. Probably skating and sledding; maybe snowball fights…unless, of course, you grew up in Severance, Colorado. Until a few weeks ago, snowball fights were illegal in ... [Read more...]
Four Types of Professional Malpractice
When you hear the word “malpractice,” what’s the first image that comes to mind? A doctor performing surgery on the wrong limb or organ? A prescription for the wrong medication? Medical malpractice is a persistent issue in the legal landscape, but ... [Read more...]
Sacred Sites and Ski Resorts: The Hopi Tribe and Reclaimed Wastewater
What constitutes a “public nuisance”? And does an injury rooted in religious belief override general public concerns? Those questions arose in a recent Arizona lawsuit, Hopi Tribe v. Arizona Snowbowl Resort Limited Partnership, when the Hopi tribe ... [Read more...]
Field Test Fail: When Traffic Stops Go Wrong
Traffic stops on New Year’s Eve may be a good way of deterring drunk driving, but a pair of Georgia deputies got both less and much more than they expected when they pulled over one woman on New Year’s Eve 2016. The deputies initially claimed that ... [Read more...]