Monthly Archives: May 2019

A Laced Latte in Lethbridge, Canada

One contaminated latte, coming up!

Accidents can happen anywhere, even in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, where one 32-week pregnant woman purchased a laced latte at McDonald’s in August 2018. Sarah Douglas allowed it to cool before taking a sip. She detected a strange taste to the latte and is now considering filing a lawsuit against McDonald’s for what was later discovered floating around in her beverage. Available in Small, Medium, and Large, McDonald’s advertises their 140 calorie lattes as a “treat” customized with “steamed whole or nonfat milk” with “your favorite flavor, including a rich vanilla latte, a toasty caramel latte, or a sweet, earthy hazelnut latte.” In this case, Sarah Douglas purchased a latte steamed with a chemical flavor. Continue reading →

Employees Gain Support in Casino Discrimination Claim

Weighing the evidence

A lawsuit ten years in the making, five former Atlantic City Borgata Casino cocktail waitresses finally have the chance to speak at trial in defense of their gender discrimination claim. In their argument, the christened “Borgata Babes” faced a hostile work environment, in which they were forced to adhere to certain weight requirements. In the event of pregnancies or adverse health conditions, the women were either suspended for their weight gain or were pressured into ceasing medications that contributed to the weight gain. As part of their job, the cocktail waitresses were subjected to routine weigh-ins, and were forbidden to gain more than 7% of their weight from when they started working as a Babe. While some contend that this policy is discriminatory to women, others believe these employees were fully aware of the policies before commencing employment. A jury will be left to decide their fate. Continue reading →

Racing for a Win in the Courtroom

They’re not horsing around

In the aftermath of perhaps one of the largest upsets in horse racing history, the owners of the would-be triumphant horse, Maximum Security, filed a lawsuit in the US District Court in Frankfort, KY. Those who did not tune into the 145^thKentucky Derby on May 4 missed a historically controversial event. Maximum Security allegedly interfered with other horses during part of the race, and as a result, two jockeys challenged the victory. After a prolonged and careful review of the entire race, the three stewards decided that Maximum Security did impede the momentum of other horses. With Maximum Security’s disqualification, the second place finisher, Country House, was announced as the winner of the Derby. Although this was a heartbreaking loss for the otherwise undefeated Maximum Security, his owners, Gary and Mary West, are not accepting the defeat without a fight. Continue reading →

Veterans Battle Against Earplug Company

Their voices will be heard

If you are a veteran who wore 3M Combat Arms earplugs from 2003 to 2015, then you may be entitled to receive compensation for this defective product. According to lawsuits filed by hundreds of military vets, the earplugs were not manufactured properly to prevent harmful sounds from entering their ears. As a result, veterans are now suffering from tinnitus, hearing loss, and balance issues. 3M failed to disclose any defects associated with the dual-sided earplugs. In an attempt to overcome the accusation against the company, 3M offered to settle a lawsuit filed by the US government for $9.1 million in July 2018. This payout did not prove 3M’s guilt or responsibility, but rather served as a remedy for the allegation against the company for making false claims about the use of the product. Injured veterans are now holding the Saint Paul, MN-based 3M directly responsible for negligence. Continue reading →

Figuring out a Virginia Statue Dispute

Erasing history?

In February 2017, the Charlottesville, VA City Council voted in favor of removing the statues of General Robert E. Lee and General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson from public parks in the city. Prevalent characters in any American history book, these two men served as leaders of the Confederate military. For their integral roles in the Civil War, they were honored with statues, erected in Charlottesville public parks in the early 1920’s. Due to the sensitive nature of what these statues may represent, the Council agreed to have them taken down. Supporters of preserving the historical significance of the statues, however, disagreed with the Council’s decision, and filed a lawsuit against the city in March 2017. Continue reading →