Scammers have taken advantage of the coronavirus pandemic from the start, but the recent surge of the highly infectious omicron variant is providing them with more opportunities to fleece the public. Omicron’s rapid spread means that those who suspect they’ve …
Is Photographing Abandoned Buildings Legal?
The COVID-19 pandemic has prodded Americans to discover new outdoor activities that don’t involve crowds. Many of these activities focus on exercise, like hiking and biking. But Americans have also rediscovered the joys of the good, old-fashioned afternoon drive. And …
Can You Sue a Business You Never Went Into for Catching COVID-19?
The omicron variant of COVID-19 is rampaging across the country. At the same time, it is apparent that Americans have no appetite for more harsh restrictions and mitigations. In short, that means you have a pretty high chance of catching …
Should Vaccine-Resistant Workers Who Leave Their Jobs Receive Unemployment?
If an employee is fired for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, in most cases they do not qualify for state unemployment compensation. Employers have broad latitude in setting work requirements for employees, and mandating vaccination is one of them. …
Book Banning Efforts Are on the Rise. What Does the Law Say?
Efforts to ban books in school libraries are nothing new. But recently, the drive to remove certain books from school library shelves is gaining unusual momentum in several parts of the country. What began as a debate last year over …
What Immigration-Related Questions Can You Ask a Job Candidate?
In this tight job market, you probably do not want to spend time going through the interviewing and hiring process with a candidate who cannot legally work in the U.S. Those who do not know much about immigration law may …
America's Shadow Foster Care System: A Call to Reform
A recent article in The New York Times Magazine tells a harrowing story, which raises a hypothetical. Suppose a state child protection agency gets a call that a child may be abused or neglected. The caseworker investigates and determines that …
What New Laws Are on Tap for 2022?
Happy 2022! We hope that you had a relaxing and reinvigorating holiday season. In the midst of our revelry, thousands of new laws went into effect across the country. Here is a roundup of some of the bigger ones. California …
What Rights Do Workers Have When Tornadoes Are Approaching?
At least 15 of the nearly 100 people who died when powerful tornadoes struck six states on Dec. 10 were workers who were ordered to keep working despite the known threat. The most tragic of the incidents occurred at Mayfield …
What Is 'Rolling Coal' and Is It Legal?
At one time or another, you may have witnessed a pickup blowing out thick clouds of black exhaust smoke, apparently on purpose, and wondered if it’s legal. It’s called “rolling coal,” and it is indeed a thing. Coal rollers are …