Case Studies

  • Did the Boston Strangler Get It Wrong? A Murderer’s Confession, DNA Twists, and a Case That Still Haunts Justice

    The Boston Strangler case has haunted American criminal justice history for over half a century. Between 1962 and 1964, thirteen women in the Boston area were murdered in chillingly similar circumstances . They were all sexually assaulted, strangled, and often left posed in their homes. The city spiraled into fear. Women double-locked doors and carried…

  • The Shocking Case of the Doctor Who Secretly Injected His Lover With HIV And Was Brought Down By Science

    By all accounts, Dr. Richard J. Schmidt was a trusted gastroenterologist. Respected. Experienced. But what happened in the sleepy town of Lafayette, Louisiana in the 1990s would turn him into the center of one of the most shocking and innovative criminal trials in American history. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill courtroom drama. No, the tale of…

  • The Coca-Cola Espionage Case: How Joya Williams’ Corporate Betrayal Led to Federal Prosecution

    In 2007, Joya Williams, a former Coca-Cola executive assistant, was convicted of conspiracy for attempting to sell the company’s trade secrets—specifically, its highly guarded formula—to rival PepsiCo. The case, which involved undercover investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), serves as a textbook example of corporate espionage, legal liability, and ethical business practices. Background…

  • Chimerism and the Law: Lydia Fairchild’s Case Challenges DNA Evidence in Court

    A legal battle over parental rights and DNA evidence took an unexpected turn when Lydia Fairchild, a Washington woman, was told she was not the biological mother of her own children—despite having given birth to them. The case, which initially led to suspicions of welfare fraud and illegal surrogacy, ultimately became a landmark example of…

  • Legal Case Study: The Limits of Executive Orders in the United States

    Introduction Executive orders are directives issued by the President of the United States to manage operations of the federal government. While they are a powerful tool for presidential action, their limits are often tested in the courts, particularly when they conflict with constitutional principles, statutory law, or the separation of powers. During his first week…

  • Case Study | Understanding the U.S. Presidency: Powers, Legal Challenges, and Constitutional Boundaries

    Introduction The office of the U.S. President is one of the most significant and powerful political roles in the world, serving as both the head of state and government. The constitutional framework governing the presidency is outlined in the U.S. Constitution, primarily in Article II, and has evolved over the years through legal precedents, legislative…

  • Case Study: The Landmark Case of ‘Brown v. Board of Education’ and Its Impact on Civil Rights Law

    Introduction Brown v. Board of Education (1954) is one of the most significant cases in the history of U.S. constitutional law. This landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the doctrine of “separate but equal” that had been established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and marked a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement.…

  • Case Study: Property Insurance Challenges and Legal Implications in the Aftermath of the L.A. Wildfires

    Introduction The recent wildfires in Los Angeles County, described as the most devastating fire seasons in recent history, have brought to light significant issues regarding property insurance coverage and the complexities of filing claims after natural disasters. In a 2023, a similar devastating fire hit L.A. and as the fires wreaked havoc on thousands of…

  • Buck v. Bell (1927): A Dark Chapter in U.S. Legal History

    In 1927, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a decision in Buck v. Bell that has since remained one of the most controversial in American legal history. The case centered around Carrie Buck, a young woman from Virginia who was forcibly sterilized after being diagnosed with “feeblemindedness.” The Case of Carrie Buck Carrie Buck’s story…

  • Major Cases Decided By The Supreme Court This Term

    The U.S. Supreme Court’s current term featured major decisions involving former President Donald Trump’s claim of immunity from prosecution and his ballot disqualification, abortion rights, gun rights, the power of federal agencies, social media regulation, Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy settlement, and others. Here are the rulings issued in various cases: TRUMP IMMUNITY CLAIM On July 1,…