Posted inLawsuits

An Airtight Argument?

Blurred background of a cityscape with cloudy sky, viewed through a close-up of a metal chain-link fence.
Confined to isolation

For the sake of public health and to prevent the potential negative long-term effects, a class action lawsuit has been filed to end the practice of solitary confinement in certain cases in Pennsylvania.  According to the federal lawsuit, which was filed in March, solitary confinement compromises the mental health of those incarcerated.  On behalf of six incarcerated individuals, legal counsel from the Abolitionist Law Center, the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project, and the law firm Dechert LLP filed the lawsuit against the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.  The general argument focuses on humanity and the end to cruel punishment.

2 minutes
Posted inSettlements

Dressing Up a New Code

Three hands holding different beverages: two cups of latte with leaf patterns in the foam, and a glass of iced coffee. They are clinking their drinks together over a wooden table. Black saucers are visible in the background.
Coffee code

Nashville hot chicken, New Orleans beignets, Chicago deep-dish pizza, and Seattle coffee are some of the most well known regionally accredited delicacies in the United States. The method of delivery or presentation is often synonymous with its consumable counterpart. About a half hour from Seattle, a town called Everett, Washington is known for its drive-up coffee shacks, as well as a recent court ruling that admonishes a dress code impacting these establishments. In response to the 2017 passing of the code, employees, referred to as bikini baristas, filed a lawsuit, citing constitutional violations and an attack on women’s rights.

2 minutes
Posted inSettlements

Christmas Decision in April

A festive street lamp adorned with a large red bow and green pine garland illuminates a winter scene. Blurred lights and bare tree branches are visible in the background.
Holiday solution

Although the Christmas season ended several months ago, the spirit is still alive in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Towards the middle of this month, news spread of a settlement to a yearlong lawsuit, which involved the dispute over the legal right of a private organization to display a Nativity scene on municipal property. During the December 2018 to January 2019 holiday season, city workers asked that St. Edmond Catholic Church remove the wooden stable with surrounding religious statues. This Nativity scene was positioned near the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand, which serves as a popular area and focal point to the city.

2 minutes
Posted inLawsuits

(School) Grounds for a Lawsuit

A yellow school bus travels on a rural road with a scenic landscape of fields and distant hills under a partly cloudy blue sky.
No child left behind

The parents of a 7-year-old student in Texas are taking legal action against the Teravista Elementary School District for violating their daughter’s constitutional rights of “life, liberty, privacy, bodily integrity and happiness.” On more than one occasion, the safety of the child was placed at risk when she was wrongfully placed on a school bus instead of being taken to an after-school program.  The parents of the child, naturally concerned that something like this could happen more than once, filed a lawsuit after not resolving anything in administrative meetings with the school.  It is not publicly known how much the family is suing for, but the family hopes a court of law will accurately award them fair compensation.

3 minutes
Posted inLawsuits

Racing for a Win in the Courtroom

Horses with jockeys in colorful uniforms race on a sandy track, leaving a trail of dust. The riders lean forward, urging their horses to run faster as they approach a bend, surrounded by a backdrop of trees and spectators.
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 145th Kentucky 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.

2 minutes