Airports Nationwide Attempt Balance Between Federal and State Marijuana Laws Is air travel about to reach all new heights? Los Angeles International Airport recently announced policy changes which permit passengers to pack pot into their carry-ons. However, in what continues to be a hazy line between federal and state marijuana laws, bringing a … [Read more...]
About Scott Berls
The Missing Language from Trump’s Affordable Clean Energy Plan
A New Draft of the Affordable Clean Energy Plan Notably Omits Any Mention of Climate Change Will climate change simply go away if it’s ignored? The Trump Administration sure seems to think so. For almost a year now, the White House has been aggressively dismantling Obama-era environmental regulations, often with questionable justifications for … [Read more...]
$250 Million Settlement Reached in Hale v State Farm
Decades of Auto-Insurance-Related Legal Drama Now Resolved After almost 20 years of litigation, State Farm’s ongoing legal woes came to an end last week with the surprise announcement of a $250 million settlement in a class action suit related to vehicle repairs in the 1980s and 90s. The announcement of the settlement – literally minutes before … [Read more...]
In Depth: Trump Wants to Lengthen Detainment of Immigrant Minors
Move by DHS and HHS Could Increase Confinement Times for Migrant Children The Trump administration recently signaled its intention to expand federal detention facilities and increase custody times for migrant children. In the process, a decades-old settlement regarding the treatment of unaccompanied immigrant minors could be eliminated. What … [Read more...]
History of Invasive Searches by Customs Officers Emerges
Multiple Women Allege Full-Body Searches, Forced Medical Exams and more by CBP Officials Passing through a port of entry into the United States can be a tedious, frustrating and overly bureaucratic process – but it should be safe. Unfortunately, an investigation from the Center for Public Integrity and the Washington Post details a disturbing … [Read more...]
The End of Federal Marijuana Prohibition?
Schumer Introduces Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act “The time to decriminalize marijuana is now,” said U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer. In early August, the Democratic Senator from New York introduced the Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act. With marijuana in a sort of legal limbo throughout many states, Schumer’s bill would result in the … [Read more...]
Major Shift in Government Surveillance Tactics?
Recent Supreme Court Ruling and NYPD Lawsuit Settlement Suggest Change is in the Air Has the government gone too far when surveilling Muslim communities? Two recent legal developments are causing a look back at previous surveillance programs and tactics, while also creating uncertainty regarding their use in the future. A recent Supreme Court … [Read more...]
NRA Claims Financial Crisis, Blames Cuomo and NY State
NRA Claims Financial Hardship - Latest Twist in Murder Insurance Lawsuit Is the NRA going broke? The National Rifle Association is often called the most powerful lobby in the United States but, in a recently amended lawsuit, they allege they’re facing unprecedented financial hardship – and they place the blame squarely on the state of New York … [Read more...]
Black Lung Disease Returns in a Big Way
U.S. Miners Face Increasing Health Risks from Disease Once Thought Nearly Eradicated As a major component of his Presidential campaign, Donald Trump made numerous promises to people in “coal country”. He wanted to increase coal production, open coal mines and put coal miners back to work. While these campaign promises appealed to those connected … [Read more...]
Court Rejects McDonald’s Proposed Settlement in On-Going Labor Relations Case
Fast-Food Giant Wants to Avoid “Joint Ownership” Label with Franchisees McDonald’s relationship with their franchisees has been an integral part of the fast-food giant’s success – but a recent ruling in a major case is putting those relationships in jeopardy, and McDonald’s is definitely not lovin’ it. Although the Big Macs and the other menu … [Read more...]
