Tourkochoriti on Conscientious Objection to Anti-Discrimination Law

E. coli outbreak sickened more than 80 people, but details didn’t surface Food safety inspections are being scaled back and the public was not notified after an investigation into E. coli contamination. By Stephanie Armour Colton George felt sick. The 9-year-old Indiana boy told his parents his stomach hurt. He kept running to the bathroom and felt too ill to finish a basketball game. Days later, he lay in a hospital bed, fighting for his life. He had eaten tainted salad, according to a lawsuit against the lettuce grower filed by his parents on April 17 in federal court for the Southern District of Indiana. The E. coli bacteria that ravaged Colton’s kidneys was a genetic match to the strain that killed one person and sickened nearly 90 people in 15 states last fall. Federal health agencies investigated the cases and linked them to a farm that grew romaine lettuce. But most people have never heard about this outbreak, which…

If the police arrest you in Maryland, you need to seek legal representation immediately. While you aren’t guaranteed “one phone call,” you will often have an opportunity to make a call. You may want to use that call to seek a lawyer, but if you call a relative, have them start looking for a criminal defense lawyer who can represent you. Even before you secure a lawyer, appeal to your future lawyer by telling the police you don’t want to answer any questions without a lawyer. Your Miranda rights The 1966 Supreme Court case Miranda vs. Arizona established that the police must issue suspects Miranda warnings before conducting a custodial interrogation. Anyone who has ever watched a TV police drama has heard it before: “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you…” The right to remain silent You don’t have to answer any questions from the police. If you do answer any questions, you can be…

Tuoya Saren (Emory University School of Law) has posted Legal Challenges of AI in NEPA Environmental Impact Assessment: Regulatory Pathways and Judicial Review on SSRN. Here is the abstract: The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into the preparation of Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) marks a significant shift in federal environmental review processes. This article critically examines the legal challenges posed by AI-assisted EIS production, focusing on compliance with NEPA’s procedural obligations and the evolving standards of judicial review. It identifies key risks stemming from the opacity, bias, and limited explainability of AI systems, which could undermine the “hard look” standard traditionally enforced under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Furthermore, the paper analyzes regulatory gaps created by the limited authority of the Council on Environmental Quality…

Ed. Note: We’re starting a new feature, kicking off the week with a collection of top stories from the prior week. It’s like our daily See Also, but for the week. So… See Generally. Paul Weiss Lawyers Jump Ship Before It Becomes the S.S. Giuliani: Top litigators leaving to form new firm free of Trump entanglements. Elena Kagan Drops Brutal New Diss(ent) Track: “But then, today’s order poses a puzzle” is the constitutional “Not Like Us” we needed. Kim Kardashian Earns Right To Complain About The Cal Bar Exam Too: Her legal education is complete… on to the test. Moral Bankruptcy Loves Company: Kirkland tried to herd the rest of Biglaw into its Trumpian embrace. Habeas Corpus Hocus Pocus: Noem asked to define basic legal principle and managed to make Sarah Palin look knowledgeable in the process. Biglaw’s MAGA Pivot Gets 1 Star: “Would Not Recommend”: Survey finds legal industry…

The following article is part of a series of reflections on the 2025 New Directions in Environmental Law Conference, also known as NDEL. On February 15, 2025, scholars, practitioners, students, and policymakers convened at Yale Law School to analyze changes and emerging issues in environmental law. The series covers the keynote speaker and each panel from NDEL, and is written by Student Reporter attendees. Student Reporters were guided by Alysia LeComte and Julianne Frey, NDEL Committee Members and 2L students at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University.   Student reporters Maria Clara da Silva Fernandes and Shane Ardinger prepared this edited summary of the panel entitled ‘New Directions in the Law and Policy of Climate Migration’, featuring panelists Randall S. Abate, Assistant Dean for Environmental Law Studies & Professorial Lecturer in Law at George Washington University Law School; Monica Iyer, Assistant Professor of Law at Georgia…

Dentons Hong Kong has advised Xiamen Jihong Co., Ltd (SEHK: 02603) on its dual primary listing and the global offering of its H shares on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Xiamen Jihong

Image: Shutterstock (with AI assist) It is well known that when AI applications can’t respond to a query, instead of admitting they don’t know the answer, they often resort to “making stuff up”—a phenomenon commonly called “hallucination” but which should more accurately be called for what it is, total fabrication. This was one of the legal issues raised by the New York Times in its lawsuit against OpenAI, with the Times complaining, among other things, that false information attributed to the journal by OpenAI’s bot undermined the credibility of Times journalism and diminished its value, leading to trademark dilution. According to a recent article in the Times, the incidence of hallucination is growing, not shrinking, as AI models develop. One would have thought that as the models ingest more material, including huge swathes of copyrighted and curated material such as content from reputable journals like the Times…

By Andrew J. Hull & JP Ellison —At our webinar earlier this month, we talked about Administration priorities as they relate to the FDC Act and noted that we expect much to remain the same with respect to enforcement.  One notable exception has been the Administration’s targeting of certain surgical procedures and the use of certain drugs for a particular intended purpose.  Specifically, these are procedures and drugs used in providing what HHS had, until recently, referred to as gender-affirming care.  The gray box at the top of the document at this link shows the change in position. We’re not trying to bury the lead here, but the battle of labeling these surgical and drug treatments is a political one.  The political battle went into gear on January 28, 2025, with an Executive Order titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation.”  That EO contained instructions to the Department of Justice,…

Mental health injuries are becoming a growing concern in workplaces, including those in Southern Minnesota. Stress, anxiety, and other psychological challenges can have a significant impact on workers’ well-being, sometimes leading to conditions that qualify as workplace injuries. However, navigating workers’ compensation claims for mental health injuries is often complex. Understanding your rights and the legal framework specific to Minnesota is crucial in securing fair benefits. This guide will explore the key steps to filing a claim, common challenges workers face, and the resources available to assist you. Whether you’re an employee seeking support or an employer aiming to foster a healthier workplace, addressing mental health injuries is a vital step toward creating a more inclusive and supportive work environment. Overview Southern Minnesota’s Workers’ Compensation System Minnesota’s workers’ compensation system is designed to…

Understanding Your Rights After Unnecessary Surgery Undergoing surgery is a serious decision, often made with the belief that the procedure is necessary to improve your health. However, what happens when that surgery turns out to be unnecessary? Unfortunately, some patients in Pennsylvania fall victim to unnecessary surgical procedures, leading to physical, emotional, and financial hardships. Why Do Unnecessary Surgeries Happen? Unnecessary surgeries can occur for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, they result from a misdiagnosis or lack of thorough diagnostic testing. In other cases, medical professionals may recommend surgery without adequately considering non-surgical alternatives. There are even instances where unethical practices or financial incentives drive the decision to operate. The Impact on Your Life The consequences of unnecessary surgery can be profound. Physically, patients may suffer from surgical complications, infections, or long-term disabilities. Emotionally,…

[The move may be a pretext for blocking the church's plan to build a homeless shelter. If the town proceeds, it will face near-certain litigation under the federal and state constitutions.] Christ Episcopal Church, Toms River, NJ. (Christ Episcopal Church)  The New York Times reports that the town of Toms River, New Jersey is planning to use eminent domain to condemn a church, raze it, and build a park and pickleball courts on the spot. The planned condemnation may be motivated by a desire to prevent the church from opening a small homeless shelter on part of its land: Leaders of Christ Episcopal Church in Toms River, N.J., were preparing for a Cinco de Mayo festival late one night when the news began to spread: The mayor planned to use eminent domain to seize their church and its 11 acres of land. Under his plan, the church, which was founded in 1865, would be replaced by 10 pickleball courts, a soccer field and a playground with a nautical theme, according…

Editor’s Note: As we move toward the midpoint of 2025, the themes shaping this month’s Five Great Reads reflect a maturing yet increasingly turbulent digital landscape. The rise of generative AI continues to push boundaries—not only in what’s possible, but also in what must now be safeguarded. From the unsettling security disparities among top LLM providers to the growing weight of transparency obligations at the highest levels of governance, the stories we feature this month reinforce a common thread: trust, once assumed, must now be earned and continually maintained. The EU’s operationalization of the European Vulnerability Database signals a welcome step toward coordinated cybersecurity resilience, while Estonia’s bold declarations at Latitude59 remind us that digital leadership is no longer measured solely by economic size, but by strategic clarity and speed. At the same time, our industry research reveals how core processes like data…

Sick leave has become more than just a workplace benefit—it’s a critical protection for public health and worker well-being. In 2020, New York State passed a comprehensive sick leave law that applies to most private-sector employers and employees across the state.  Whether you’re an employee trying to understand your rights or an employer looking to stay compliant, this guide breaks down the essentials. Who Is Covered Under the Law? The New York State Sick Leave Law applies to the vast majority of private-sector workers. That includes: Full-time, part-time, seasonal, and temporary employees Hourly and salaried workers Undocumented workers, who are protected under labor law regardless of immigration status A few groups are exempt, such as federal employees and certain city employees covered under different systems. However, most workers in New York are entitled to some form of sick leave, and every employer is expected to comply,…

Photo by Kristu00f3f Sass-Kovan on Pexels.comBy Teagan Raffenbeul Light & Wonder, a manufacturer of automated card-shuffling machines, recently found itself at the center of high-stakes antitrust disputes. With active cases in both New York and Chicago, these proceedings have the potential to reshape the antitrust and arbitration landscape. Class Arbitration Approved in Case Against Light & Wonder In 2021, more than 100 casinos filed claims alleging Light & Wonder attempted to monopolize the automated card shuffling market. The casinos allege Light & Wonder used fraudulent patent claims to establish a monopoly on automated card shufflers, thereby excluding competitors and maintaining market dominance. Since these casinos have arbitration agreements with Light & Wonder, they are required to resolve any disputes exclusively through arbitration.  In a landmark decision, John Wilkinson, an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association,…

Sigrid Vendrell-Polanco (St. Mary's University Law School) has posted Puerto Rican Presidential Voting Rights: Why Precedent Should Be Overturned, and Other Options for Suffrage (89 Brook. L. Rev. 563 (2024)) on SSRN. Here is the abstract: The United States has continued to hold Puerto Rico as a colony, much like the British empire did the US colonies, and has given it no clear path to incorporation, statehood, or independent sovereignty. It has also denied its citizens the right to vote for their president and have voting representation in Congress. Current case law regarding Puerto Rican presidential voting rights and voting representation in Congress rests on precedent that dates almost as far back as its acquisition—the infamous Insular Cases. This case law is inconsistent with prior precedent, constitutional principles, and does not account for Puerto Rico’s contributions and deep entanglement with the United States. Neither does it account for the…

Learn how to use a Miller Trust (Qualified Income Trust) in Florida to maintain Medicaid eligibility. Discover permitted expenses, legal requirements, and how an elder law attorney can help.

For the moment, in the American legal academy, there seems to be a fair amount of support for the idea that the burden of proof in fact-finding is centered around a vigorous contest between the plausibility of competing stories advanced by the litigants. Professors Ronald Allen and Alex Stein, two well-respected evidence law scholars have written widely about this “relative plausibility” theory of adjudication and the burden of proof.[1] They claim to “demonstrate that factfinders decide cases predominantly by applying the relative plausibility criterion guided by inference to the best explanation … .”[2] As they see American courtroom practice, the norm is “the relative plausibility mode of factfinding involving a rigorous comparison between the parties’ stories about the individual event.”[3] They insist that their “theory aligns with ordinary people’s natural reasoning.”[4] I am not so sure. Semantically, the…

Traffic stops are among the most common interactions between citizens and law enforcement in Florida. While most traffic stops end with a warning or citation, some escalate to vehicle searches that can lead to serious criminal charges. Our Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyers believe that understanding when police can legally search your vehicle is essential knowledge for every driver in Broward County. The Legal Framework for Vehicle Searches The Fourth Amendment Protection The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides the fundamental protection against unreasonable searches and seizures: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” While this protection…