2017 - Page 157 of 166 - Legal Reader

Michigan Environmental Officials Accused of Racial Discrimination

Brianna Smith - January 27, 2017

Another instance of racial discrimination has been uncovered, this time by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s civil-rights office. It’s been discovered that the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) discriminated against African American’s residing in Flint “during the permitting of a power plant” in Genesee County more than two decades ago. Since it’s construction, the Genesee Power Plant burned “wood waste and other debris from 1992 through 1994.”

On Producing and Consuming Democracy

Dawn Allen - January 27, 2017

A week ago today, thousands of women and their allies were preparing to protest. Some were putting the finishing touches on their signs. Some were already on board buses headed across the country. The next day, from Washington D.C. to Antarctica, women marched peacefully, to show their solidarity with each other. They marched to show their disdain for misogyny. They marched to be counted and heard. But will their efforts amount to real change? It depends upon what happens after the march. While many people perceive protest marches as an exercise in democracy, that may be the wrong way to think about them. Protests are about consuming democracy. What matters more is the production of democracy.

Cheerleader Sues for Conspiracy and Discrimination

Sara E. Teller - January 27, 2017

A cheerleader has filed a lawsuit for conspiracy and discrimination, claiming officials covered up an episode of teammates filming her in the shower.

Nebraska Lawmakers to Take on Debt Collectors

Ryan J. Farrick - January 27, 2017

After years of being allowed to run rampant, a bill was proposed which would Nebraska lawmakers to take on debt collectors and put a hold on their practically punitive powers. In a small state with a population just under two-million, nearly 79,000 lawsuits were filed in 2013 against individuals struggling not to let their bank

No Additional Penalties for Wal-Mart in Trucking Suit

Ryan J. Farrick - January 27, 2017

A federal judge announced there would be no additional penalties for Wal-Mart in a long-lasting lawsuit. In November of 2016, a jury had awarded hundreds of truck drivers $54 million in back pay. The plaintiffs had contested that the Arkansas-based retailer hadn’t fairly compensated its over-the-road employees for doing certain tasks. A California jury found

$1.25M Awarded To Student Forced To Urinate In Bucket

Brianna Smith - January 26, 2017

Schools and especially teachers should be two things that students can count on to make them feel safe and comfortable. Unfortunately for one student in the San Diego Unified School District, this wasn’t the case. What happened, you ask? Well, the former student was “forced to urinate in a bucket after her request for a bathroom break was denied.” After years of battling depression, having to put up with gossip and “lewd texts,” and suffering from a suicide attempt, the student has finally been granted justice after winning a lawsuit against the San Diego Unified School District, who has been “ordered to pay more than $1.25 million in damages.” The settlement comes after her initial claim seeking $25,000 was denied by San Diego Unified.

Illinois Passes Bill to Protect Temporary Workers

Sara E. Teller - January 26, 2017

However, an Illinois lawmaker is hoping to change this by instituting a bill designed to increase protections for temporary workers.

Big Pharma Thinks Ad Campaign Makes Drug Prices Palatable

Jay W. Belle Isle - January 26, 2017

Now that the post-inauguration dust has mostly settled, the new Commander-in-Chief is setting about the task of fulfilling his promise to “Make America Great Again.” One of his targets is Big Pharma and the industry’s fondness for jacking drug prices so high you almost need the Hubble telescope to see them. Of course, the industry is not about to take this without fighting back. Even Martin Shkreli, Big Pharma’s former bad boy, has some things to say about it (and not what you’d expect). I’m glad I’m sitting down to write this because I’m about to say something I never imagined: I agree with both of these gentlemen, Trump and Shkreli, on this issue.

Hart Island To Increase Access for Families of the Deceased

Brianna Smith - January 26, 2017

Relatives of family members buried on Hart Island will soon enjoy “increased access to the cemetery under a modified lawsuit settlement.” Under the new settlement agreement between the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) and New York City, “the number of monthly visitors allowed at the site will increase to 70 from 50” and relatives will be allowed to visit graves once a month. Additionally, the city, which actually owns the island, will offer photographs of grave sites to visiting relatives and mourners. All of this is part of a “three-month pilot program” under the agreed upon settlement.

Are School Vouchers Really the Ticket?

Drew Hardin - January 26, 2017

We all know that the Texas legislature is back in session. The demonstrators are in front of the capitol and we have dusted off the same arguments that come up every session but rarely see the light of day with Texas’ super conservative majority: gambling, marijuana, and of course, school vouchers. Recently, Governor Abbott appeared at one of the rallies and announced that this would be the year that school vouchers would finally pass, despite the inability of the bill to make it out of the state house committee in 2015.

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