Plaintiff May Move Ahead with Claim That Iowa RFRA Protects His Religious Use of Cannabis

Surrogacy can be a beautiful path to parenthood, but it also comes with intricate legal challenges, especially when undertaken overseas. In a recent and cautionary case from Queensland, Australia, a couple’s journey to parenthood through commercial surrogacy in North Cyprus ended not with joy alone, but with legal turmoil and potential criminal charges. This video unpacks the complexities of the Lloyd and Compton case, highlighting critical lessons for anyone considering surrogacy abroad. Drawing on decades of experience advising over 2,000 surrogacy journeys worldwide, Stephen Page from Page Provan Family and Fertility Lawyers sheds light on the pitfalls of overseas commercial surrogacy and the importance of expert legal guidance. The Lloyd and Compton Case: A Surrogacy Journey Gone Wrong The case of Lloyd and Compton, decided by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in January, involved a Queensland couple who sought surrogacy services in North Cyprus.…

Dentons has become the first large law firm in Australia to announce they have achieved a 0% median gender gay gap, after just completing the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) Compliance reporti

When parents part ways, establishing clear custody agreements becomes a significant task. These agreements not only set the groundwork for each parent’s legal responsibilities but also provide stability and assurance for children involved. Without a clear plan, misunderstandings and conflicts can arise, causing stress for everyone. A well-thought-out custody agreement can help reduce these issues, ensuring that both the children’s and parents’ needs are met satisfactorily. Clear custody agreements offer guidelines on important matters such as visitation rights, holiday schedules, and parental responsibilities. They help to avoid confusion and create a structured environment where children can thrive. By taking the time to develop a comprehensive agreement, parents can ensure smoother transitions and more peaceful co-parenting experiences. It’s like setting up the rules for a game; everyone knows what to expect, which makes for a more enjoyable and…

Medical malpractice cases are inherently complex, often involving intricate medical evidence and legal principles. One of the most critical aspects of medical malpractice in Pennsylvania is comparative negligence. Understanding how comparative negligence influences compensation and liability in medical malpractice cases is crucial for both patients and healthcare providers. In Pennsylvania, the law recognizes that sometimes, both the patient and the healthcare provider may share fault in causing an injury. This article will explore the nuances of comparative negligence in Pennsylvania medical malpractice cases, including how fault is determined, how damages are calculated, and how both patients and healthcare professionals can protect their interests.   What is Comparative Negligence? Definition of Comparative Negligence Comparative negligence is a legal doctrine that allows for the allocation of fault when more than one party is responsible for an injury. In medical…

On May 14, 2025, Lee Zeldin, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, announced the agency will retain its current National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for two of the most studied per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). With this announcement, the agency provided a roadmap as to its intention to continue protecting public health from these so called “forever chemicals” while introducing new regulatory flexibility aimed at the compliance burden for drinking water systems, particularly small and rural water systems. While some have mischaracterized this as a roll back from what the Biden Administration had announced, most in the environmental industrial complex have commended the agency for balancing science based health protections with regulatory pragmatism. The EPA’s decision reflects a reprioritized agency commitment to safeguarding drinking water, honoring the…

[Legal scholar Rebecca Ingber offers some strong arguments against deference in this context.] A prison guard transfers Alien Enemies Act deportees from the U.S., alleged to be Venezuelan gang members, to the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador. Mar. 16, 2025 (El Salvador Presidential Press Office)  President Trump has been trying use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 as a tool for mass deportation. The AEA allows detention and deportation of foreign citizens of relevant states (including legal immigrants, as well as illegal ones) "[w]henever there is a declared war between the United States and any foreign nation or government, or any invasion or predatory incursion is perpetrated, attempted, or threatened against the territory of the United States by any foreign nation or government." Multiple federal courts have ruled against Trump on the grounds that his invocation of the AEA is illegal because there is no declared war, and the activities…

Ward Law Office LLC | Registered Patent Attorneys is pleased to announce that Fernando Alberdi, Ph.D. has joined the firm as a Managing Attorney.“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Alberdi to Ward Law Office LLC as a Managing Attorney,” said Jake Ward, Founding Member. “His exceptional expertise in life sciences intellectual property and proven track record counseling both public and private sector clients will be invaluable as we expand our intellectual property practice. Fernando’s unique combination of scientific and legal acumen positions us perfectly to serve the growing needs of our clients in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.” Dr. Alberdi focuses his practice on patent preparation and prosecution in life science, chemical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnological arts. He counsels public and private companies as well as non-profit institutions including hospitals, research institutions and universities on the full spectrum of…

[While there is no constitutional right to receive grants, the Constitution does bar grant conditions that undermine constitutional rights.] (Photo 181642336 © Zimmytws | Dreamstime.com)The Trump Administration has been trying to leverage federal grants in ways that force various people and organizations to give up their constitutional rights or submit to constraints that go beyond the constitutional authority of the federal government. A standard response to criticisms of such policies that people have no right to these grants in the first place. Receiving federal grants and other government benefits, it is said, is a "privilege, not a right." Thus, the federal government can impose whatever conditions it wants on recipients. In an excellent recent Washington Post article, University of Pennsylvania law Prof. Mitchell Berman has a great explanation of why such reasoning is badly wrong: Universities refuse to fully dismantle their DEI programs? The Trump…

Being accused of a sex crime is a life-altering event. In New Jersey, these charges carry serious legal penalties and lasting social consequences. Whether the allegation stems from a misunderstanding, mistaken identity, or false accusation, your next steps are critical to your future. Here’s a practical guide on what to do if you’re facing a sex crime allegation in New Jersey. 1. Do Not Attempt to Explain Yourself to Police One of the biggest mistakes people make after being accused of a sex offense is trying to “clear things up” with law enforcement. You might believe that if you just explain your side of the story, everything will work out. Unfortunately, anything you say can and will be used against you. Even innocent-sounding statements may be misinterpreted or taken out of context later. Instead, politely invoke your right to remain silent and state that you will not speak without an attorney present. 2. Do Not Contact the Alleged Victim Even if you…

Accidents can happen anywhere, especially with young children who are naturally curious and active. At daycare, a scrape from a fall or a small bump from playtime might be expected. But what if your child’s injury goes beyond the occasional tumble? What if you suspect the injury was caused by negligence? Navigating this situation can be overwhelming for any parent, but knowing what steps to take is key to ensuring your child’s safety and well-being. At Saavedra Law Firm, we have been handling situations like this for years, and are ready to guide you. Here are the essential steps you can take if your child is injured at daycare: Get medical attention immediately.   Document the incident and injury.   Contact the daycare center’s management and preserve evidence.   Understand what constitutes daycare negligence.   Explore legal options for recovering losses or damages.   Below, we’ll walk you through each…

A tragic pedestrian-truck collision fatality occurred early Friday morning on eastbound Highway 37 in Vallejo, claiming the life of a 37-year-old Sacramento woman. The incident is a stark reminder of the dangers pedestrians face on California’s busy highways and the importance of understanding legal rights following such devastating accidents. Details of the Highway 37 Fatal Accident According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the fatal collision occurred at approximately 3:18 a.m. on May 23, 2025, east of the Sacramento Street overcrossing on eastbound Highway 37. Officers initially responded to reports of a pedestrian walking in the highway’s eastbound lane. However, while emergency responders were en route, they received notification that a 2017 Peterbilt tractor-trailer combination had already struck the pedestrian. The woman sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver, a 54-year-old man from San Pablo, was not injured…

Last month, the California Lawyers Association Nonprofit Organizations Committee hosted Audrey Rowe from the State of California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) to discuss updates to the FTB’s system and processes affecting tax-exempt organizations. This post captures some of the highlights. Beginning in 2024 the FTB began a major systems update to myFTB, a website that gives individuals, business representatives, and tax professionals online access to tax account information and online services. These updates have affected both the internal and external processes, including: In October 2024, a pilot program was rolled out to certain users to test functionality and features.  The FTB anticipates these online services will be ready to be rolled out to all users by January 2026. Ms. Rowe acknowledged that FTB staff is still learning the system. The FTB encourages users of the site to send feedback so it can incorporate user experiences and…

The plaintiff in this case is Nikko D’Ambrosio. He recently served time in prison for tax issues. Separately, he brought a lawsuit over the “Are We Dating the Same Guy?” Facebook group, run by Spill the Tea, “where women can empower each other and keep each other safe from toxic men.” (You can see the group here, but it appears that the group moderation has broken down, so recent posts are garbage). Abbigail Rajala made the following post about D’Ambrosio to the Chicago subboard, with 100k+ members: We met organically in Chicago two and a half months ago. Very clingy and very fast. Flaunted money very awkwardly and kept talking about how I don’t want to see his bad side, especially when he was on business calls. He came to see me yesterday and I explained how I didn’t really want to stay the night. I just wanted to spend the day together, and this was his response… [followed by screenshots with unkind remarks…

Introduction American law students learn about formalism and instrumentalism early on—although those particular terms may not be introduced explicitly in classroom discussion. Many law students hunger for “black letter law": they are looking for legal rules that can be memorized and applied to the facts in a more or less determinate (or even "mechanical") fashion. But in most law school classrooms, this hunger is not satisfied.  Instead, the discussion is likely to focus on another set of questions: What should the rule be? What is the purpose of the rule? Would the application of the rule to these facts serve its purpose? Does that rule make sense? And so on. Of course, different professors have different ideas about what makes for a good legal rule. Some emphasize good consequences—perhaps as defined by the economic concept of efficiency. Others might emphasize considerations of fairness or distributive justice.  Many are progressive…

The Guide to Molds and Tooling in International Manufacturing A manufacturer our law firm recently represented paid $200,000 to retrieve molds they had purchased for just $80,000 eight months earlier. The reason? A lack of a formal tooling agreement. These disputes aren’t rare—in fact, they’re becoming increasingly common. With tariffs now exceeding 50% on many imported goods and tooling conflicts on the rise, owning your molds and tooling isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. While many companies emphasize pricing, lead times, and quality control, they often overlook one of the most critical risks in manufacturing: tooling ownership. Without clear ownership, you expose your business to hidden costs, inflated tariffs, production delays, and the very real possibility of being held hostage by your own supplier. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about molds, tooling, and the contracts that protect them—along with…

Five years ago today, George Floyd died. Contrary to many who knew little about issues of police racism, abuse and violence, and criminal law reform, this one death gave rise to a movement that seized the nation as if there were no serious, meaningful, intelligent efforts to make change. Instead, the mantra of Black Lives Matter appeared ubiquitous and progressives in government began reinventing our socio-economic-legal processes around the “marginalized” at the willing expense of the “privileged.” Before George Floyd was a household name, I spent a good deal of time discussing how the system could be changed to simultaneously reform what was wrong and bad, without causing unnecessary harm to the majority of America that sought to enjoy the blessings of liberty without suffering the ravages of a new world order that left them and their progeny out and put them at risk. It cost me some dear friends, from Radley Balko who drank the woke Kool-Aid to…

While waiting for the much delayed fourth edition of the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence, you may want to take a look at a recent law review issue on expert witnesses issues. Back in November 2024, the Columbia Science & Technology Law Review held its symposium at the Columbia Law Review on “Judging Science.” The symposium explored current judicial practice for, and treatment of, scientific expert witness testimony in the United States. Because the symposium took place at Columbia, we can expect any number of antic proposals for reform, as well. Among the commentators on the presentations were Hon. Jed S. Rakoff, Judge on the Southern District of New York,[1] and the notorious Provost David Madigan, from Northeastern University.[2] The current issue (vol. 26, no.2) of the Columbia Science and Technology Law Review, released on May 23, 2025, contains papers originally presented at the symposium: Edith Beerdsen, “Unsticking Litigation Science.”…

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday urged the US to offer to return and hear the asylum claims of approximately 200 third-country nationals, including children, who were expelled to Costa Rica in February without due process. The rights group also urged Costa Rica to refuse future transfers. According to a detailed report, US immigration authorities flew these individuals, primarily from Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and other Latin American countries, to Costa Rica after they sought asylum at the US-Mexico border. Many had travelled through the Darien Gap and presented themselves to US Border Patrol agents near San Diego, California. The rights group alleged that US officials processed these asylum seekers under an opaque legal mechanism, providing no clear explanation of the process and denying them access to legal representation. The expulsions, HRW said, were carried out under a little-known agreement with Costa Rica that has not been made public and appears to lack key…