UN experts condemn Thailand for using lèse-majesté laws against pro-democracy activists

The Download of the Week is Personhood as Participation by James Toomey. Here is the abstract: “Legal personhood” is thought to be a concept of foundational and systemic importance to the legal system, encompassing all living human beings, born alive, and certain collectivities called corporations. The problem is that the more one tries to square these uncontroversial intuitions with one another, the less the concept hangs together. Many things that we do not call “legal persons” are treated in legally identical ways to entities that we do call “legal persons”—and entities within the class of “legal persons” are treated in radically different ways among themselves. To be sure, we can call anything we want “legal persons”—but not without trivializing the concept. This Chapter makes two claims. First, I argue that the concept of legal personhood, as currently understood, is not doing the work…

Courts have tools—from noncustodial sanctions to judicial deputies—to enforce their orders. David L. Noll When the federal executive branch defies the courts, are the courts powerless to compel compliance? Many observers assume courts depend entirely on executive cooperation for enforcement, given that the U.S. Marshals Service is an executive branch agency. But, as I argue in this new Lawfare research report, this overlooks enforcement mechanisms that, as either a legal or practical matter, operate independently of the executive branch. Before ordering the arrest of executive branch officials, courts can make use of powerful non-custodial sanctions: stripping officials of immunity, imposing substantial personal fines, and levying professional sanctions. If those fail, courts’ arrest powers are stronger than commonly appreciated. Though located within the executive branch, the marshals operate under a statutory duty to enforce all lawful court…

Israel-Hamas War Our Duty to Explain Israel’s Operation to “Concentrate and Move Population” in Gaza is a Manifest War Crime by Eyal Benvenisti and Chaim Gans Manifestly Illegal: Israeli International Law Scholars on the Stated Plan to “Concentrate” the Palestinian Population in South Gaza by Eliav Lieblich and Tamar Megiddo Srebrenica Genocide Thirty Years After the Srebrenica Genocide: Remembrance and the Global Fight Against Denial by Sead Turčalo Afghanistan / Press Freedom The Taliban’s Slow Dismantling of Afghan Media by Olof Blomqvist International Justice Rethinking ICC Reform: Politics, Legitimacy, and the Perils of Expansion Without Consolidation by Nema Milaninia The Lost Archive: France’s Highest Court Should Follow WWII-Era Rejection of Head of State Immunity by Dan Plesch and Steve Kostas U.S. Diplomacy Trump Administration’s Proposed Cuts to Accountability for Mass Atrocities Undermine Its Own Strategic Goals…

In Indiana, the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim arising from a car accident is generally two years from the date of the crash. While that two-year deadline may seem straightforward, it is one of the most critical and complex aspects of your case, containing hidden exceptions and unforgiving consequences that can determine the entire course of your physical and financial recovery. Insurance companies are keenly aware of this deadline. They know that every day that passes can make your case harder to prove. They know that if you miss this window of opportunity, your right to seek justice can be extinguished forever. That’s why it’s so important, after an accident, to act quickly to ensure you don’t miss the statute of limitations for car accident claims in Indiana. An experienced Indianapolis car accident attorney can help you file on time, preserve evidence, and protect your rights every step of the way. GET A FREE CASE EVALUATION Why Do…

One of the topics we have discussed regularly on this blog is the right of social tenants to buy their homes—and the long-term problems this has caused. The most recent post being our June 2024 post on why the housing crisis cannot be solved without reforming Right to Buy. The Problem Councils/Local Authorities have had the ability to sell council houses to their tenants since 1936.  However, this was rare until Mrs Thatcher’s government passed the Housing Act 1980. This act gave council tenants the right to buy at a substantial discount. Subject to certain conditions, including a qualifying period of residence. This proved to be a very popular policy, and since that time, millions of council tenants have purchased their council homes. However, in the long term, it has been very bad for the country and our housing. The main problem is that councils were not able to use the proceeds of sale to build new homes. Which meant that the number of properties in council…

The Porter Law Group is pursuing a $3.1 million settlement in a significant medical malpractice case involving a radiologist's alleged failure to properly diagnose ovarian cancer, resulting in a nearly one-year delay in treatment and severely diminished survival prospects for the client. Was Your Ovarian Cancer Diagnosed Late? Connect with us for a non-obligatory free consultation. Contact Us The case centers on events that began in March 2018, when the client underwent a CT scan of her abdomen and pelvis at a diagnostic imaging facility after reporting abdominal pain. The radiologist identified a small ovarian cyst and what were described as "unusual appearing radiopaque densities" in the lower pelvis, which he concluded were "probably postoperative calcifications associated with scarring." Despite noting these…

As artificial intelligence (AI) technology advances, algorithmic pricing is transforming how firms interact and compete in the marketplace. The increased use of sophisticated algorithms to set prices in real time based on user data  raises important and urgent concerns about fairness, transparency, and market power. Many scholars warn that algorithmic pricing tools will facilitate unlawful cooperation between firms that may lead to unsustainably high prices, harming consumers. Since their passage over a century ago, the Sherman Act and the Clayton Act still offer the main statutory tools for addressing anti-competitive behavior in the United States. These laws are enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which independently investigate and prosecute cases involving monopolization, price-fixing, and other forms of collusion. While the Justice Department, which has exclusive jurisdiction on certain industries, focuses on civil and…

Most trade secret disputes arise intrastate or interstate. However, trade secret lawsuits are not limited actions occurring within a particular state or the United States. A trade secret plaintiff can assert a misappropriation claim for acts occurring outside the United Stated under certain conditions pursuant to the federal trade secret act known as the Defend Trade Secrets Act, or DTSA for short. In fact, DTSA creates a private cause of action for trade secret misappropriation when the “trade secret is related to a product or service used in, or intended for use in, interstate or foreign commerce.” 18 U.S.C. § 1836. The Miami business litigation attorneys of the Mavrick Law Firm represent businesses and their owners in breach of contract litigation and related claims of fraud, non-compete agreement litigation, trade secret litigation, trademark infringement litigation, employment litigation, and other legal disputes in federal and state courts and in…

By Stephanie Everett At Lawyerist—and our sister company ,Affinity Consulting—we closed the company for an entire week. Again.  No Teams. […] The post It’s Not a Luxury—It’s Leadership: Why We Closed Our Company for a Week  appeared first on Lawyerist. News Articles, Healthy Team

You Can Only Bite Your Colleagues So Many Times: Summer associate fired for repeatedly biting her co-workers. Not making this up. A Few Good Blondes: This Legally Blonde x A Few Good Men mashup is the video you didn’t know you needed. Looking Back, The Bar Exam Was A Wreck: It looked that way back then too! This Firm Must Not Know About The Streisand Effect: You should definitely go read the thing they don’t want you to see. MAGA Desperate To Prove LITERAL ALIEN Isn’t An Illegal Immigrant: Hard to argue with folks that haven’t done the reading. The post Keep Your Mouth To Yourself — See Also appeared first on Above the Law.

Spousal maintenance can be a contentious issue in some Washington divorces.  In Washington, a court may order spousal maintenance in a divorce case in the amount and for the amount of time “as the court deems just,” after it considers the relevant factors. RCW 26.09.090 sets forth a non-exhaustive list of factors, including the financial of the party who is requesting maintenance; how long it would take them to obtain education or training to find appropriate employment; their standard of living while married; the length of the marriage; their physical and emotional condition, age, and financial obligations; and the other party’s ability to meet their own financial obligations. In a recent unpublished case, a former wife appealed an order awarding the husband spousal maintenance after he alleged he was medically unable to work. The parties got married in September 2015 and the wife filed for divorce in July 2022.  They settled the property division,…

Defendants in criminal cases typically have four options for resolving their case if the charges are not dismissed: Plea negotiation, where the defendant agrees to plead guilty (or no contest) to one or more charges in exchange for a concession from the prosecution. Plead guilty/no contest with an agreed-upon disposition (outcome). Plead guilty/no contest without an agreed-upon disposition. The State and the defense present arguments for the appropriate sentence, which the court will decide upon. Proceed to a trial, where a judge or jury will decide guilt or innocence and, if convicted, a sentence will be imposed. In Maine, a fifth option is deferred disposition. Let’s take a look at what this is, who it may be available to, and how it works in practice across the state. Call 207-571-8146 or contact us online to schedule a consult with one of our highly skilled criminal defense & OUI lawyers, serving Southern Maine, today. …

For most legal marketing professionals, the AI era has seen growing budgets, according to a new report by the Legal Marketing Association and Above the Law.  When adjusting for inflation, 54% of respondents to the 2025 Legal Marketing Decision-Makers Survey report “slightly” or “significantly” increased budgets in recent years, while only 14% say their budgets have slightly or significantly decreased.  A number of respondents noted that their marketing department is often at the “forefront of new technology and innovation that impact the legal industry,” according to the report, since they’re “able to identify the technologies that will best work to make their firm successful.”  The 2025 Legal Marketing Decision-Makers Survey draws on data from nearly 100 top legal marketing and business development professionals, who weigh in on everything from technology best practices to specific advice for…

2nd Circuit decision upholding New York’s gun liability law is ‘massive victory,’ state AG says

Law360 (July 10, 2025, 5:41 PM EDT) — The Second Circuit refused to upend part of a lower court’s ruling that former Morgan Stanley financial advisers’ deferred compensation fell within the reach of federal benefits law, saying the financial firm couldn’t clear the high bar necessary to undo the decision. In an order issued Wednesday, a unanimous three-judge panel denied Morgan Stanley’s petition for a writ of mandamus to nullify part of U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe’s November 2023 decision finding, in part, that the deferred compensation plans were subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Morgan Stanley argued Judge Gardephe didn’t need to find the plans were subject to ERISA when he granted the company’s motion to compel individual arbitration of the proposed class action. In doing so, the company said, the district court undermined the company’s right to arbitrate because its defenses rely on the…

Join me with guests Laurice Rutledge Lambert and Jennifer Whitton, founders of Aligned Health Law. Discover their unique journey from Biglaw to founding a boutique health law firm. Explore their mission-driven approach and the challenges they face in healthcare regulation. Perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs and legal enthusiasts Highlights Jennifer’s journey: from international relations to law. Laurice’s shift from medicine ambitions to health law. Misconceptions about lawyers and real pathway insights. Importance of persistence in career focus. Jennifer’s mentor-driven transition to actual healthcare law. Challenges and implications of starting their own firm. Biglaw vs. entrepreneurship: Laurice’s turning point. Values-driven alignment in forming their firm. Organic growth and values attract talent. Overcoming misconceptions about small firms lacking sophistication. Team strength and client faith as major successes.…

Many people start their own law firms because they want to enjoy the freedom and flexibility afforded by self-employment.  Indeed, self-employment can be extremely rewarding and can permit lawyers to practice law the way they want to without the hassle of having a law firm boss.  Although attorneys may not think about long-term career consequences associated with opening a practice, starting a firm can have negative career consequences that lawyers should consider. Difficulty Leaving It is difficult to close a law practice and accept other career opportunities once a lawyer opens up a law firm.  If a lawyer handles litigation matters, they cannot be discharged from those matters without court approval.  This can be time-intensive, and some courts take every excuse they can to keep lawyers assigned to cases.  Even if a lawyer handles non-litigation matters, it might be difficult for the lawyer to withdraw from a representation in the middle of a…

The Impact of a Claim of Lien on Property Owners and General Contractors in North CarolinaBy Anna RodriguezAttorney at LawConstruction projects in North Carolina involve multiple layers of contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers. When payment disputes arise, mechanic’s liens—known in North Carolina as claims of lien on real property—are among the most powerful legal remedies available to those who furnish labor or materials. While liens can protect contractors and suppliers, they also create significant challenges for property owners and general contractors. Below is an overview of how a claim of lien can affect your project, your property, and your bottom line. What Is a Claim of Lien in North Carolina? Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 44A, a claim of lien is a statutory right that allows parties who improve real property to secure payment by placing a lien against the property itself. This right applies whether you are a general contractor, subcontractor, or…