Blog Post: Lex Machina 2025 Legal Analytics Survey: From Important to Essential

SPEARFISH, S.D. – Three people from Rapid City were seriously injured Wednesday morning in a rollover crash on Interstate 90 just east of Spearfish. Officials say the crash occurred when the front tire of a westbound 2002 Ford F-150 failed. The driver, a 30-year-old man, lost control of the vehicle, which struck a cable guard rail, went airborne, and rolled. All three occupants were transported to a nearby hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. No further information is currently available. The tire in this crash has to be examined for possible defects Sudden tire failure is a frightening experience for any driver. These crashes happen without warning, and in seconds, the person can lose control of their vehicle. What’s even more frightening is the fact that some tires should never have made it on our roadways. Not all tire failures are due to poor maintenance or bad road conditions. Sometimes, they’re caused by a defective tire. This is why,…

PACCAR Inc. has issued a recall for more than 55,000 of its Kenworth and Peterbilt commercial trucks due to safety concerns related to headlight performance and lift axle behavior. The recall affects various models from the 2023 to 2026 model years. Federal safety officials report that the headlights on some of these vehicles may fail to turn on or operate inconsistently, reducing road visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, the lift axles on certain trucks may shift unexpectedly, posing a potential risk of injury. NHTSA warned that poor illumination at night or in low-visibility conditions could impair a driver’s ability to detect hazards. Unexpected axle movement could also affect vehicle handling or put individuals at risk during inspection or maintenance. Affected Models Include: Kenworth: L770 (2025–2026) T160 (2025) T280 (2025–2026) T380 (2023–2026) T480 (2024–2026) T680 (2023–2026) T880 (2023–2026) W990…

AirLife and manufacturer Vyaire Medical have issued a recall of specific infant heated wire breathing circuits due to a risk that certain accessory adapters may disconnect unintentionally during use, posing a serious safety hazard to neonatal and infant patients. The affected devices, identified as AirLife Infant Heated Wire Circuit dual-limb dual-heat, high-flow circuits (model AH165), are used to warm and deliver breathing gases from ventilators to infants requiring respiratory support. The recall includes units distributed under both the AirLife and Vyaire brands. According to the manufacturer, the problem occurs when the breathing circuit reaches operating temperature, potentially causing the accessory adapter to detach from the system during setup or use. This disconnection can interrupt the flow of respiratory gas to the patient. Use of the recalled product may lead to life-threatening complications, including insufficient oxygen (hypoxia), elevated carbon dioxide levels…

Google’s latest core algorithm update began on June 30th, and as of the writing of this blog, is still rolling out, with Google predicting it would take approximately three weeks to complete. Each time a core algorithm update is announced, websites of all types take notice. This is especially true of law firm websites, where search engine rankings and visibility are keys to success. At PaperStreet, we understand the importance of ranking on Google, and our SEO services are designed to help our clients compete in their given area of legal expertise and remain visible to potential new clients who may be searching for an attorney. With any Google core update, there are a few important things to keep in mind to ensure continued growth and success within the search engine rankings. Don’t Panic The first, and perhaps most important, thing to remember is don’t panic! It’s easy to react abruptly to a Google core algorithm update, especially since it’s…

Disability A Clarion Call for Public Health: Sustain Non-Partisan Federal Service My fourth guide dog, Izzie, was the final dog partner in my particular federal agency’s building when I recently retired from service as a health care lawyer with expertise in public health. Published July 17, 2025 Author Gary Norman Share Share on LinkedIn Share on X Share on Facebook Share on Reddit My fourth guide dog, Izzie, was the final dog partner in my particular federal agency’s building when I recently retired from service as a health care lawyer with expertise in public health. As I review my career, from my start as a Presidential Management Fellow (PMF) at the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), to what I have observed since the winter of 2025, including the termination of the PMF program, I am deeply troubled. As a lawyer and law professor with a…

Trump is on a rampage. He has big plans for a mass repeal of existing regulations; he’s trying to use emergency declarations to short circuit normal environmental protections; and he’s savaging environmental agencies. He’s also at war with the rule of law, dodging court orders, ignoring statutes, and punishing lawyers and law firms that have dared to challenge him. In area after area, Trump has tried to sweep aside legal constraints.  Part of the point of Trump’s “shock and awe” campaign has been to overwhelm the ability of opponents and the courts to keep up with his legally questionable actions. Trump’s attack on the bureaucracy is also an attack on the rule of law, because one of the key functions of bureaucrats is to ensure that the government follows the rules. Trump has also tried to impede access to the courts by demanding that opponents of Administration decisions provide expensive bonds to get injunctions.  Judges who…

The European Accessibility Act (“EAA”) (Directive (EU) 2019/882) introduces new accessibility requirements that will apply to a wide range of products and services when they are accessible in the EU, aiming to enhance access for persons with disabilities and improve the functioning of the EU single market. What Does the EAA Seek to Achieve?The EAA recognizes that the demand for accessible products and services is high, and that the number of persons with disabilities is increasing. An environment where products and services are more accessible has a number of key advantages, not least allowing for a more inclusive society and facilitating independent living for persons with disabilities. Until now, accessibility rules varied across Member States, creating legal fragmentation and increased compliance burdens for businesses operating cross-border. The EAA seeks to address this by establishing consistent requirements across the EU, allowing companies to scale…

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor On Tuesday the Justice Department filed a writ of Quo Warranto against three individuals having served as board members of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting who were fired by President Trump yet allegedly continued to hold and exercise their office. The complaint states “[s]ince April 28, 2025, Defendants Laura G. Ross, Thomas E. Rothman, and Diane Kaplan have been usurping and purporting to exercise unlawfully the office of board member of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (the “CPB”)… President Donald J. Trump lawfully removed each Defendant from office on April 28, 2025. As recent Supreme Court orders have recognized, the President cannot meaningfully exercise his executive power under Article II of the Constitution without the power to select—and, when necessary, remove—those who hold federal office. Personnel is policy, after all.” According to Defendants, they “received an…

Content Reviewed by: Michael F. Bonamarte, IV Content Reviewed by: Michael F. Bonamarte, IV display:none; Accordion Content READ BIO Since 2005, Michael Bonamarte IV has been a passionate advocate for victims of negligent conduct, corporate malfeasance, and medical malpractice. He has won numerous awards and recognitions, including Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers’ Rising Star. He has presented for the American Association for Justice, the AAJ Nursing Home Litigation Group, the John Marshall Law School, and numerous other legal associations. He regularly lectures at Chicago-area aging organizations about nursing home abuse. His writings have been published by the American…

A lot of people want to save a buck during contract negotiations. These folks usually do not not use a lawyer for drafting term sheets or other initial matters. Sometimes, this can work out well. For bigger or more complicated deals, or for deals with a difficult opponent, this can be a bad idea. Let’s look at why. What is the point of a cannabis deal term sheet? A term sheet (also referred to as a letter of intent or LOI) is an outline of key deal points that the parties sign before negotiating a final contract. You won’t see them in all deals. They are used frequently in bigger, more complex deals like M&A or finance transactions. They can be binding contracts, but this is usually a very bad idea. A non-binding document can be very useful, as the parties will have a roadmap for the deal and will have hammered out key points before undertaking the expense of diligence and drafting. Why do people try to draft term sheets without a lawyer? Money is the #1 answer.…

This is the second in a series of blog posts designed to provide a deeper dive into the provisions of the 2025 Reconciliation Law (Informally called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act). An earlier installment discussed the impact of the law on reproductive rights and gender affirming care. This installment discusses the impact on the Medicare program. Of the two primary Federal health care programs, Medicaid experienced the most significant changes in the final version of H.R. 1, the 2025 Reconciliation Law. But Medicare did not go unscathed. In fact, the impact to Medicare will be substantial—both in terms of the law’s express provisions and the broader implications regarding future Medicare payment levels. What was carved out of the law during the Senate amendment process may be just as important as what was left in, as that Senate carve-out process reflects legislative changes to the Medicare program that were a high enough priority to make it into a House bill…

by NALC Senior Staff Attorney Elizabeth Rumley Last week, the Trump administration reignited the legal fight over farm animal confinement laws,...

The U.S. State Department has now declassified (from the level of “confidential”) and publicly released the text of three documents pertaining to the “dirty deal” between the United States and El Salvador for the transfer and indefinite detention of alleged members of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and the Salvadoran gang MS-13. The following analysis of these documents is informed by my time as a State Department lawyer, beginning in the treaty office and involving many years working on diplomatic assurances—including with respect to detainee treatment. I focus on two aspects of the diplomatic notes: what they tell us about a weak legal cover for potential U.S. complicity in the abuse of detainees renditioned to El Salvador, and about the continuing U.S. control over these detainees. These documents have been the subject of requests by ranking members of Congress and litigants following the rendition of hundreds of Venezuelans and a small number…

* DOJ fires Epstein and Diddy prosecutor. So… did Trump go to some freak offs? It also happens to be James Comey’s daughter so watch your seashells! [CNN] * ICE lawyers refusing to be identified in public proceedings. Everyone wants to be the secret police as long as they get to stay secret. [The Intercept] * Schulte’s COVID rent case rejected. [Reuters] * Who, What, When, Where… but WHY?!? Why did was it crossing the road? [WKRC] * Jane’s Addiction move fight to courtroom. [Law360] * Meta board tried to keep Zuck shielded in the metaverse during privacy scandals. [National Law Journal] * “What AI Is Already Doing to the Legal Industry.” Yeah, we know, we have a lot of stories about fake cases and sanctions. [Bloomberg] The post Morning Docket: 07.17.25 appeared first on Above the Law.

Yesterday, Mike wrote a poignant tribute to Professor Richard H. Fallon, Jr., a legendary law professor at Harvard Law School. Dick was a brilliant scholar and wonderful human being. Our paths crossed numerous times over the years, and he was always incredibly generous both to me and my work, whether he agreed with what I was saying or not. That is just who he was, and I can't add anything of personal value to Mike's wonderful post.Instead, and maybe selfishly, I want to honor Dick in a different way. I have spent much of my academic career reading, writing, and talking about originalism, culminating but not ending in my book "Originalism as Faith." Subsequent to the publication of that book, Dick wrote what I think is one of the finest articles ever written on the subject, "The Chimerical Concept of Original Public Meaning."Please don't let the term "chimerical" distract from the thesis of this piece, which is that for the…

We are thrilled to announce that longtime Just Security contributor Mark Nevitt is now joining Just Security’s Editorial Board. Nevitt, Commander, JAGC (ret.), is an Associate Professor of Law at Emory University School of Law. He was previously the Class of 1971 Distinguished Military Professor of Leadership & Law at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Associate Professor at Syracuse University College of Law, and the Sharswood Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Prior to law school, Nevitt served as an accomplished naval tactical jet aviator and was awarded the Air Medal. After completing a J.D. and LL.M. with distinction from Georgetown, his Navy JAG assignments included serving as criminal defense counsel in Lemoore, California; international law and ethics attorney with the U.S. Navy’s Sixth Fleet in Naples, Italy; Deputy Director for Administrative Law for the Office of the Judge Advocate General at the Pentagon; and…

Here is my recent Daily Record column. My past Daily Record articles can be accessed here. **** Ethical Jury Selection in the AI Era Choosing jurors is a complex undertaking that requires focused attention, strong people skills, and the ability to think on your feet. Based on finite information, you’re required to make swift decisions that will significantly impact the course of the trial–and your client’s life.  Fortunately, technology is available that can simplify the voir dire process and assist you in choosing a jury panel that is (hopefully) receptive to your client’s position.  But what if the technology you rely on is based on biased programming, leading you to unknowingly exercise peremptory challenges grounded in discrimination? Are you ethically required to prevent that from happening?  With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), including generative AI, this issue is all the more pressing. AI technology…

The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision [DOCCS] issued a notice of suspension and discipline to one of its employees [Petitioner] alleging that, among other things, Petitioner falsely held herself out as a police officer, executed an unauthorized traffic stop and arrested a motorist without cause. Petitioner grieved the 15 charges of misconduct DOCCS filed against her in accordance with the terms of the relevant collective bargaining agreement between DOCCS and the Public Employees Federation, Petitioner's collective bargaining unit representative. Following an arbitration hearing, the arbitrator rejected Petitioner's version of the incident as not credible, found Petitioner guilty of seven misconduct charges arising from the "motorist incident" but declined to decide the remaining eight charges, Charges 8 through and including Charge 15, stemming from allegedly inaccurate timesheets and vehicle logs. After reviewing…