Cadwalader Thinks It’s Outsmarted Trump On Their Pro Bono Tithe. We’ll See About That.

[In the span of a single day, Chief Justice Roberts continues his attempts at moderation for the sake of moderation without any actual reasoning.] At One First Street, life comes at you fast. On May 22 at 10:00 a.m., the Court 4-4'd in St. Isidore v. Drummond, letting the Oklahoma Supreme Court's decision stand. I wrote: Before the case was even argued, I made a crude prediction to several reporters that the Chief would take the easy-out, and just vote to 4-4 affirm. There would be no opinion, and the Court could focus on more important issues. The children of Oklahoma really didn't matter. What was that "more important issue"? Trump v. Wilcox. After 5:00 p.m. on May 22, after the markets closed, right before a holiday weekend, the Court issued a two-page per curiam opinion in the removal power case. (I'm sure Roberts was humming the Jimmy Buffet song when planning the release time.) The Court, by an (ostensible) 6-3 vote, stayed the lower…

Nicholas A. Caputo, Oxford Martin School, is publishing 'Quiet' Enjoyment: Uncovering the Hidden History of the Right to Attention in Private and Public in the Stanford Technology Law Review (forthcoming 2025). Here is the abstract. Legal scholars have largely neglected attention as a subject of legal rights, even as attention has become one of the most valuable economic resources of the modern era. This Article argues that a right to attention has existed implicitly in American law since the early twentieth century, emerging in response to technological, social, and economic changes in that period that made attention both increasingly valuable and increasingly impinged upon, as America shifted toward knowledge work and leisure activities that demanded sustained focus. By examining court decisions in private law doctrines around property and public law doctrines around speech that can only be explained by reference to an implicit right to attention, this Article…

Avoiding the illegal franchise What is an illegal franchise? An “illegal franchise” refers to a business relationship that meets the legal definition of a franchise but is being operated under a different label—often as a licensing, consulting, or distribution agreement—without complying with franchise laws.  The Legal Definition of a Franchise Under federal law, franchising occurs anytime the following three elements are present:Promise to Provide a Trademark: The buyer will obtain the right to operate a business that is identified or associated with the seller’s trademark, or to offer, sell, or distribute goods, services, or commodities that are identified or associated with the franchisor’s trademarkPromises to Excerise Significant Control or Provide Significant…

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.comBy: Madison Bruner Although the beauty industry thrives on creativity and artistry, few consumers would risk their lives or health for glamour. In early 2025, three hairstylists filed lawsuits in California against L’Oreal, Wella, Redken, and Paul Mitchell, alleging that these beauty giants and others sold products with carcinogenic chemicals that caused bladder cancer, without providing consumers any warning of the associated risks. The complaints for the lawsuits can be viewed below: Hector Corvera v. L’Oreal USA Inc. et al filed on February 13, 2025; Debra Matarazzo v. Henkel AG & Co. KGaA et al filed on March 6, 2025; and Sharon Mirtaheri v. L’Oreal USA Inc. et al filed on April 28, 2025. Breaking Down the Lawsuits Against L’Oreal, Wella, Redken, Paul Mitchell, and Procter & Gamble The primary health concern underpinning these lawsuits is an alleged increased risk of developing bladder…

Summary: Miami’s vibrant allure draws millions of tourists, but its congested roads pose significant risks for tourist car accidents. Visitors face unique challenges—unfamiliar laws for out-of-state drivers, language barriers for international travelers, and complex rental car insurance issues—making crashes especially daunting. After an accident, tourists should call 911, document the scene, and seek medical care, even if leaving soon. Legal hurdles like jurisdiction and insurance disputes can complicate claims, but Wolfson & Leon (call 305-285-1115) offers expert remote representation to ensure out-of-state and international visitors recover fair compensation. With a trusted Miami car accident lawyer, tourists can protect their rights and focus on enjoying their trip. Introduction: Miami’s Charm and Its Traffic Risks Miami’s sun-soaked beaches, lively nightlife, and cultural hotspots make it a top destination for millions of tourists…

Shocking May 2025 New Prairie High School Bus Crash Brings Hoosiers Together Hoosiers are still reeling from the recent tragedy suffered in the May 8th St. Joseph County’s New Prairie High School bus crash. Student athletes and their coaches suffered serious injuries in a pile up of two mini-buses and a tractor-trailer truck caused a box truck evading police on Fail Road in LaPorte County. The two school buses were carrying the junior varsity baseball team and coaching staff to an afternoon game in Hobart when the accident happened. The driver of the box truck, Shawn Wesly Russell Akison, now faces felony charges. Read, “Update #2 – US 20 at Fail Road / Arrest Made,” published by La Porte County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook, May 9, 2025, at 7:54 AM. Two coaches and seven students were hurt. Several victims were transported for emergency hospital treatment. Two face life-altering traumatic injuries. Coach Rich Shail suffered spinal injuries with…

You get a job offer—and then come the conditions. A required drug test. Maybe even random testing after you’re hired. You wonder: is this even legal in New York City? And what if you legally use marijuana during your time off? Employee drug testing is a complex—and often misunderstood—area of employment law in NYC. While employers do have the right to maintain a safe and drug-free workplace, there are strict limits on when and how they can test workers. If you’re an employee in New York, When Is Drug Testing Allowed in NYC? Drug testing isn’t illegal in New York City, but it’s far from a free-for-all. Employers can require pre-employment drug testing—usually after making a conditional offer. But even then, NYC places limits on what substances can be tested for and how the process is handled. Random drug testing of current employees is much more restricted. It’s generally allowed only in specific industries, such…

Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day(Opens in a new window).[Trump] will always stand for law and order. Leftist commencement speakers that ignored the previous administration’s egregious legal abuses against President Trump have no credibility today.— White House spokesperson Harrison Fields, in comments given to Reuters(Opens in a new window), concerning the overarching “rule of law” theme that has dominated law school commencement ceremonies this spring. Staci Zaretsky(Opens in a new window) is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky(Opens in a new window), X/Twitter(Opens in a new window), and Threads(Opens in a new window), or connect with her on LinkedIn(Opens in a new window). The post Trump Not Too Thrilled About…

The Relist Watch column examines cert petitions that the Supreme Court has “relisted” for its upcoming conference. A short explanation of relists is available here. There are 102 petitions and applications on the Supreme Court’s docket for this week’s conference. After several months of relisting cases at a slow rate, the court has picked up the pace: There are six newly relisted cases this week covering a wide range of subjects. Another commerce clause challenge to California’s Proposition 12 For the second time in as many years, the Supreme Court is once again considering a challenge to California’s Proposition 12, a voter-approved measure banning the in-state sale of pork from pigs confined in ways deemed cruel, such as cages denying them at least 24 square feet of space or the ability to turn around. In Iowa Pork Producers Association v. Bonta, pork producers argue that Proposition 12 violates the dormant commerce clause…

Sarah AbramsLitigation funding as a topic has been around for years, but it recently has been back in the headlines of the business pages. In light of the recent renewed focus on litigation funding, Sarah Abrams, Head of Claims Baleen Specialty, a division of Bowhead Specialty, explores the background regarding litigation finance and considers the implications for D&O insurers. I would like to thank Sarah for allowing me to publish her article as a guest post on this site. I welcome guest post submissions from responsible authors on topics of interest for this site’s readers. Please contact me directly if you would like to submit a guest post. Here is Sarah’s article. ***************** There has been significant press surrounding litigation finance as of late.  Particularly, litigation finance has been identified as causing a marked increase in lawsuits filed and increases in settlements in jury verdicts. To such an extent that a number of states…

Meet Abby Akins: Summer Law Clerk and Newest Member of the Vann Attorneys TeamBy Vann Attorneys, PLLCA North Carolina Law FirmWe’re excited to welcome Abby Akins to Vann Attorneys as our Summer Law Clerk! Abby joins us from Campbell University School of Law, where she’s wrapping up her 1L year. Originally from Holly Springs, she earned her B.A. in History at UNC Chapel Hill—making her the only Tar Heel in a family full of mostly NC State fans (we won’t hold that against her). When asked what drew her to Vann Attorneys, Abby said it was the chance to get hands-on experience in a variety of legal areas and work closely with attorneys who value mentorship. She’s jumping into everything with energy and curiosity, and we’re thrilled to have her here. Abby’s already shown a natural ability for connecting with people. Her previous internships in government and public service gave her a front-row seat to the importance of serving the local…

The latest issue of the Journal of International Humanitarian Legal Studies (Vol. 16, no. 1, 2025) is out. Contents include:Articles Aneta Peretko, States of Silence: The Growing Influence of Human Rights Courts in Interpreting International Humanitarian Law in the Absence of Opinio Juris Samuel Hartridge & Brendan Walker-Munro, Autonomous Weapons Systems and the ai Alignment Problem Mohammed R. M. Elshobake & Alaa Sakka, Forced Returns and Fragile LivesStrategies for Safeguarding Syrian Refugees and Ensuring Their Protection Caroline Sweeney, The International Response to the Humanitarian Crisis in Syria: A Socio Legal Critique Pratik Purswani & Adithi Rajesh, Beyond Bombs and Bullets: Natural Resource Management in the Indo-Naxalite Non-International Armed Conflict J. P. Vallejo, Manipur: a Genocide?      

A child bicycle accident in Oakland has left a young child hospitalized with severe head trauma. The collision on Monday, May 19, 2025, has raised renewed concerns about bicycle safety in the Oakland area, particularly for vulnerable young riders. Details of the Oakland Bicycle Accident According to fire department officials, the incident occurred at approximately 4:00 p.m. on Monday afternoon at the intersection of Nicol and Coolidge avenues in Oakland. Emergency crews promptly responded to the scene and transported the injured child to a nearby hospital for urgent medical care. The child sustained severe head trauma in the collision, though authorities have not yet released specific details about their current condition. It remains unclear whether the driver involved in the accident remained at the scene or if they are cooperating with the ongoing investigation. Understanding Bicycle Accident Risks for Children Children are particularly vulnerable to bicycle accidents due to…

 Pix credit hereOn the basis of Resolution 26/9 (2014), the Human Rights Council established an open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights. The mandate for the OEIGWG, buttressed by a cohesive and like minded group of supporters, was to elaborate an "international legally binding instrument to regulate, in international human rights law, the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises." This OEIGWG has sought to do with great vigor, in the process putting together an international network of people who, believing the necessity for legalizing a system of public mandatory human rights due diligence systems, have labored for more than a decade to produce a draft of something that appeals to them and their supporters. Having come close to something that appears to have the characteristics of a finalized draft, the OEIGWG has been engaged through a…

A significant traffic collision involving multiple vehicles occurred on northbound US-101 just south of Moffett Boulevard in Mountain View on May 21, 2025, at approximately 2:34 PM. The crash involved a white box truck, a gray Tesla Model Y, a Toyota Tacoma, and another sedan, resulting in the blockage of lanes 1, 2, and 3. Emergency services were promptly dispatched to the scene to manage the situation and assist those involved. The collision led to a SigAlert being issued, with lanes 1 and 2 remaining blocked for an extended period, causing substantial traffic delays in the area. The box truck, which was carrying construction debris, sustained major front-end damage, while the other vehicles also suffered significant damage. Tow services were called to clear the vehicles from the roadway, and efforts were made to move the vehicles out of the lanes to alleviate traffic congestion. Motorists are advised to expect delays and consider alternate routes while the cleanup and…

At first, it sounds like a dream: hiring your cousin to help with marketing, bringing your sister on as a partner, or giving your son-in-law a “small stake” in the business. It feels easy, natural, and trust-based. But working with family without clear documentation can turn a warm gesture into a legal headache. Here’s why: Misaligned Expectations Relatives might (wrongfully?) assume the workplace rules don’t apply to or that they’ll be taken care of long-term. But without a written agreement covering responsibilities, pay, equity, and termination or severance provisions, those assumptions can turn into full-blown disputes. And yes, they can sue you, even if you’re related. The Lines Between “Employee” and “Contractor” Get Blurry When a relative starts helping out, it’s easy to start casually and think that you’ll figure it out as you go along. Maybe they start as a contractor and if…

In a recent decision with important implications for artificial intelligence (AI) driven innovation, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) denied a patent for an AI-based medical tool.[1] The refusal was not because the invention was not new or inventive. Rather, the refusal was because the invention did not meet a fundamental rule of U.S. patent law. In Ex parte Michalek, the PTAB specifically acknowledged that the patent claims at issue recited new information about the nexus between certain biomarkers and the development of lung cancer as facilitated by machine learning. In fact, prior to appeal, the applicant had successfully refuted all arguments raised by the patent examiner that the invention was not new or nonobvious. That said, based on U.S. Patent Office guidance and a related example from that guidance, the PTAB still determined the claims were flawed based on the legal principle of subject matter eligibility. Although the facts in this decision concern…

In North Carolina, the legal obligation to register as a sex offender does not apply to every offense that involves sexual behavior. Instead, the state defines a specific group of criminal convictions, called “reportable convictions,” that trigger mandatory registration. Understanding who must register, how the law defines qualifying offenses, and how long those obligations last is essential for anyone facing charges that might carry these consequences. This post explains the legal framework for sex offender registration in North Carolina, including how reportable convictions are defined, how aggravated status or recidivism affects the rules, and how long a person remains on the registry after registration. It also addresses related factors such as offense dates, eligibility for termination, and legal distinctions between standard and aggravated registration programs. If you’re facing serious criminal charges in Mecklenburg, Union, Iredell, Gaston, or Lincoln…