On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that employers need only prove by a “preponderance of the evidence” that workers are exempt from overtime pay and other protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The decision, authored by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, overturns a higher standard set by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of…
Unique Legal Doctrine in California Benefits Victims Victims of the Los Angeles wildfires, potentially the most expensive in U.S. history, are leveraging a unique California legal doctrine to seek compensation from Southern California Edison (SCE). This doctrine, known as “inverse condemnation,” allows victims to claim damages from the utility company even if it followed all…
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Philadelphia, reaffirmed its stance on Monday that Pennsylvania’s laws prohibiting 18- to 20-year-olds from carrying firearms in public during a state of emergency violate the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment. This decision comes even after the U.S. Supreme Court ordered a reconsideration of the ruling. Supreme Court…
Court Sidesteps Appeals on Delaware and Maryland Gun Laws The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to hear two significant gun rights cases, avoiding direct involvement in the ongoing debate over firearm regulations. The justices rejected an appeal challenging Delaware’s prohibition on assault-style rifles and large-capacity ammunition magazines, as well as an appeal against Maryland’s…
Smith Details Evidence in Final Report Former President Donald Trump has not been exonerated for his “unprecedented criminal effort” to subvert the 2020 election and remain in power despite losing to Joe Biden, according to special counsel Jack Smith. In his final report, Smith outlined the evidence he believes would have led to Trump’s conviction,…
State Accuses Allstate of Unauthorized Data Collection The state of Texas has launched a lawsuit against Allstate (ALL.N), accusing the insurance giant of illegally tracking drivers through their cell phones without consent. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton claims that Allstate, starting in 2015, secretly embedded tracking software in various mobile apps to monitor driving behavior.…
The lawyer for TikTok and its parent company ByteDance warned the Supreme Court that if Congress forces the sale or ban of TikTok, it could set a precedent that allows similar actions against other companies. During Friday’s arguments, the court examined a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok by January 19 or face a ban…
Background on the Borrower Defense Rule The Supreme Court has agreed to review a decision from a lower court that blocked a Biden administration rule aimed at simplifying loan forgiveness for students defrauded by their colleges. Since April, the Biden administration has forgiven over $17 billion in student loans under the borrower defense rule, which…
Smith Completes Investigations and Steps Down Jack Smith, the special counsel appointed to investigate two criminal cases involving President-elect Donald Trump, officially resigned from the Justice Department on Friday. His resignation came after completing his work on the investigations, marking the end of a significant chapter in the department’s history. Justice Department officials announced Smith’s…