Wednesday: What’s Hot on CanLII? – June 2025

DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford Motor Company is recalling 171 SUVs from its Ford and Lincoln lines over a defect that could cause the passenger-side airbag to deploy with excessive force, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash. The recall affects select 2025 model-year vehicles, specifically certain Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. According to documents submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issue stems from airbag inflators that a supplier improperly manufactured. The defect may cause the airbag to deploy with greater force than intended. Contact The Ammons Law Firm if You Were Injured in a Defective Vehicle If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a vehicle accident, the Ammons Law Firm is here to help. Our dedicated, experienced vehicle defect attorneys understand the devastating impact of these tragic accidents on families, and we have a proven track record of holding automotive…

Photo Credit: The Degrees Initiative/Sasika Wegner (CC BY 4.0)I post periodically about developments in the debate over solar geoengineering (SRM) and its potential role in response to climate change. News accounts may suggest that this debate moves fast, but it has three enduring, large-scale themes. First, SRM presents high stakes for climate risks and response – which most governments thus far have been reluctant to acknowledge. Second, it is crucial to build effective and legitimate capacity for global governance of these capabilities, including how they may interact with efforts to cut emissions and adapt to climate change. And third, nations of the Global South are likely to play an influential, perhaps crucial, role in developing this governance, for both politically pragmatic reasons and moral ones. Touching on all these themes, a recent meeting in South Africa – the Degrees Global Forum, held in Cape Town from May 12 to 16 – was a crucial landmark in…

Darion Pharr Shooting Stonecrest. Justice for Family? Our firm has over 25 years of experience representing victims of security failures across Georgia, and we have secured nearly $250 million dollars for our Clients.  Read Our Legal Take below to find out what legal options are available to the family of Darion Phar. Darion Pharr Killed in Stonecrest, GA Apartment Complex Shooting. (11Alive.com) Stonecrest, GA – Gunfire rang out in the vicinity of an apartment complex Wednesday afternoon, July 2, 2025, leaving one man dead. As reported by AtlantaNewsFirst.com, “DeKalb County Police are investigating who gunned down 22-year-old Darion Phar in Stonecrest on Wednesday.” 11Alive.com is reporting, “officers responded to the 30 block of Tree View Drive…around 12:20 p.m.” According to the report, “[w]hen officers arrived, they said they found a man who had been shot multiple times. He died from his injuries.” Fox5.com has…

Ho Chi Minh City (or “Saigon” as many of the locals still call it) has its own rhythms. Walkable in a way that doesn’t exist stateside, an American can stroll for hours in the oppressive afternoon heat. One might make it only two or three blocks at a time, drawn in to a local bar to punctuate each short jaunt with an ice-cold beer that can be had for the equivalent of a fistful of pennies. The non-suicidal Westerner will necessarily get around mostly on foot. Vietnam is worth visiting for the traffic alone. The streets buzz day and night with the whine of little 100cc and 125cc motorcycles. I have my motorcycle license endorsement, and I rode bikes – mainly big, American-made cruisers – for a decade. I wouldn’t dare to enter the stream of traffic in Saigon on a motorcycle. As a pedestrian, the American style of street-crossing (to wait for the directions of a traffic light or to pause until a sufficient gap in the traffic presents…

Understanding the “Interest of R.O.M.” Case: Key Insights for Dallas Custody Disputes Navigating child custody disputes can be emotionally and legally complex, especially when modifications to existing arrangements are sought. The 2024 Texas appellate case, In the Interest of R.O.M., M.C.M., and E.S.M., provides critical insights into how courts prioritize the best interests of children when modifying parent-child relationships. This case, decided by the Dallas Court of Appeals, underscores the discretion trial courts have in custody matters and the importance of sufficient evidence in supporting modifications. As a Dallas custody lawyer at the Law Office of Michael P. Granata, I’ll break down the case’s key elements, its implications for custody disputes, and what parents in similar situations should consider when seeking legal representation. Case Overview The Interest of R.O.M. case arose from a father’s appeal of a trial court’s June 8,…

WARD COUNTY, N.D. – A 51-year-old Minot man was killed in a single-vehicle crash Friday morning along U.S. Highway 2. The incident occurred when the driver heading east in a Chevrolet Silverado left the roadway, entered the ditch, and overturned. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Did the vehicle protect the motorist from serious injury? When a rollover accident occurs, it is natural to focus on what caused the crash. But we also need to ask an even more critical question: Did the vehicle provide adequate protection? Rollovers can happen for many reasons – road conditions, weather, or driver actions. But once a rollover starts, the vehicle should protect its occupants. This doesn’t always happen. Some vehicles have design flaws that make rollovers more dangerous than they should be. Weak roof structures can collapse, failing to maintain a survivable space inside. Seatbelts might not hold people securely, or airbags could fail to deploy. These…

Justice for Family? Jaykavion Gary Shooting Remerton. We have over 25 years of experience representing victims of security failures across the United States, and we have recovered nearly $250 million dollars for our Clients.  Read Our Legal Take below to find out what legal options are available to the family of Jaykavion Gary. Jaykavion Gary Killed in Remerton, GA Parking Lot Shooting. (Stock Photo: MurrayLegal.com) Remerton, GA – One teen is dead after a shooting at a parking early Saturday morning, July 5, 2025.   As reported by WCTV.tv, “[t]he shooting happened near the 1900 block of Baytree Place just after midnight Saturday. Officials said many of the bars were still open, but there was also a large crowd in the parking lot.” According to the report, “[t]he GBI reported a ‘dispute’ happening between multiple people before gunshots rang out. The 16-year old was taken to the hospital, but he [sadly] did not…

TYLER, Texas — Emergency crews responded Saturday afternoon to a serious crash involving a passenger vehicle and a tanker truck on U.S. Highway 271 near the Interstate 20 interchange. The crash involved a Nissan Altima and a commercial tanker truck. First responders arrived to find three individuals in the Nissan with severe or life-threatening injuries. All three had to be extricated from the vehicle before being transported to a local hospital for emergency care. No further information is currently available. Those affected by this crash deserve answers and accountability from those at fault Although not enough details about this incident have been released to draw definitive conclusions, it is known that most roadway accidents are entirely avoidable. Yet, these preventable accidents continue to happen. To determine all the factors that contributed to this incident, we must look beyond the initial police report. Dashcam footage and the truck’s speed and braking…

On Monday, June 30, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law two bills, AB 130 and SB 131, which provide new exemptions from, and streamlines the process, under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). AB 130 creates a statutory exemption for qualifying infill housing projects, streamlines the CEQA review process for residential projects in the coastal zone, and provides procedural changes to the administrative review process to prevent unnecessary delays for new development projects. SB 131 focuses on accelerating public interest projects, such as clean water infrastructure, park and trail projects, and community support facility projects, by creating new exemption categories and streamlines processes for projects that would otherwise be CEQA-exempt but for a single condition. Both bills also include non-CEQA related provisions which seek to further support infill and public interest development. Together, AB 130 and SB 131 mark a significant shift in the…

It’s common for companies in all industries to use social media “influencers” to promote their goods and services online. Influencer advertising in the cannabis industry is a particularly risky idea, because paid advertisers need to comply with all cannabis marketing and advertising rules. These rules are beasts of the applicable state regulations on cannabis products and advertising. It goes without saying that social media influencers generally don’t spend a great amount of time learning complicated cannabis regulations and Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) guidelines, so without solid contracts in place that dictate what an influencer can say and how they can say it, cannabis companies could risk penalties, false advertisement lawsuits, or potentially even face licensing fines or worse. For starters, the FTC issued guidelines for using endorsements or testimonials in advertising. The guidelines are complicated, but some of the key points…

2025 Awards Will Be Presented in a Live Ceremony Wednesday, Sept. 10 in San Francisco SAN FRANCISCO—The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is honored to announce that Just Futures Law, Erie Meyer, and Software Freedom Law Center, India will receive the 2025 EFF Awards for their vital work in ensuring that technology supports privacy, freedom, justice, and innovation for all people.   The EFF Awards recognize specific and substantial technical, social, economic, or cultural contributions in diverse fields including journalism, art, digital access, legislation, tech development, and law.    The EFF Awards ceremony will start at 6 p.m. PT on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025 at the San Francisco Design Center Galleria, 101 Henry Adams St. in San Francisco. Guests can register at http://www.eff.org/effawards. The ceremony will be recorded and shared online on Sept. 12.  For the past 30 years, the EFF Awards—previously known as the Pioneer…

If you were recently arrested for prostitution or solicitation in Houston, one of the first questions you’re probably asking is: Will I go to jail for this? The good news is that in Harris County, it’s extremely rare for someone to serve jail time for a first-time prostitution offense. But that doesn’t mean you should take the charge lightly. A conviction—even without jail—can carry long-term consequences for your reputation, immigration status, employment, and future opportunities. This blog will explain what to expect if you’re facing a first-time prostitution charge in Houston, the possible penalties, and the most common ways these cases are resolved. Overview of Prostitution and Solicitation Charges in Texas Texas law defines prostitution under Texas Penal Code §43.02 as knowingly offering or agreeing to receive a fee in exchange for sexual conduct. A solicitation of prostitution charge applies to the buyer—the person…

Disbarred lawyer who disappeared is sentenced for stealing client money, including funds for woman’s care

Birth injuries are life-altering events. In a moment that should bring joy, families may instead face fear, confusion, and long-term medical challenges. While some injuries are unavoidable, others happen because of mistakes made before, during, or shortly after delivery. When that occurs, it is natural for parents to ask who may be legally responsible. Identifying who can be held liable is a critical step toward seeking justice and financial support for the child’s care. The Role of Medical Providers in Preventable Birth Injuries In many cases, doctors and other healthcare providers may be the first individuals examined when a birth injury is suspected. Obstetricians, nurses, anesthesiologists, and hospital staff all play key roles during pregnancy and delivery. If one or more of these professionals failed to follow the accepted medical standards for care, they could be liable. Examples include: Failing to monitor the baby’s oxygen levels Misreading test results…

Safety Failure? Ryan Starnes Work Accident. We have over 25 years of experience representing victims of work accidents and safety failures across the United States, and we have recovered nearly $250 million dollars for our Clients.  Read Our Legal Take below to find out what legal options are available to the family of Ryan Starnes. Ryan Starnes Dies in Brighton, MI Work Accident. (Stock Photo: MurrayLegal.com) Brighton, MI News – A man tragically lost his life after a work related incident Monday afternoon, June 30, 2025. ClickonDetroit.com is reporting, “[a] road crew worker was struck and killed by an excavator while working on a job site in Livingston County. The incident occurred on Monday (June 30) at 3:15 p.m. when Michigan State Police were dispatched to the area of Grand River Avenue near I-96 in Brighton Township.” According to the report, “[u]pon the Trooper’s arrival on the scene, officers from the Brighton City Police…

The US Supreme Court on Tuesday lifted an injunction that had blocked President Donald Trump from implementing sweeping reforms aimed at restructuring the federal government. The case centers on Executive Order 14210, signed in February, which directs federal agencies to undertake “large-scale reductions in force” and submit reorganization plans that could eliminate or consolidate existing agencies. In April, Federal labor unions and advocacy groups challenged the order, arguing it amounted to an unprecedented unilateral dismantling of the federal government in the absence of required congressional authorization. The following month, Judge Susan Illston of the US District Court for the Northern District of California granted the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction, reasoning: The President has the authority to seek changes to executive branch agencies, but he must do so in lawful ways and, in the case of large-scale reorganizations, with the…

When the intersection of law and technology presents seemingly intractable new challenges, policy makers often bet on technology itself to solve the problem. Whether countering copyright infringement with digital locks, limiting access to unregulated services with website blocking, or deploying artificial intelligence to facilitate content moderation, there is a recurring hope the answer to the policy dilemma lies in better technology. While technology frequently does play a role, experience suggests that the reality is far more complicated as new technologies also create new risks and bring unforeseen consequences. So too with the emphasis on age verification technologies as a magical solution to limiting under-age access to adult content online. These technologies offer some promise, but the significant privacy and accuracy risks that could inhibit freedom of expression are too great to ignore. The Hub runs a debate today on the mandated use of age verification technologies.…

Case Citation: Sqimnga (Nig.) Ltd v. Systems Applications Products (Nig.) Ltd [2025] 2 NWLR 423 (Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, Nigeria) The dispute in this case arose between two Nigerian companies, Sqimnga Nigeria Ltd (the appellant) and Systems Applications Products Nigeria Ltd (the respondent). Both parties had entered into a Master Service Agreement in Nigeria, relating specifically to software solutions. A critical provision of this agreement stipulated that the laws of South Africa would govern any disputes, and further, that South African courts would possess exclusive jurisdiction to hear any matters arising from the agreement. When a disagreement emerged between the parties, Sqimnga Nigeria Ltd initiated legal proceedings at the Lagos State High Court. The respondent immediately contested the jurisdiction of the Nigerian court, relying on the contractual clause mandating the use of South African law and courts. At the High Court level, the court declined…