Brianna Smith, Author at Legal Reader

Brianna Smith is a freelance writer and editor in Southwest Michigan. A graduate of Grand Valley State University, Brianna has a passion for politics, social issues, education, science, and more. When she’s not writing, she enjoys the simple life with her husband, daughter, and son.

The Verdict Is In: Bill Cosby Found Guilty of Sexual Assault

April 27, 2018

Yesterday, Bill Cosby was finally found guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault, bringing closure to dozens of women who claimed the comedian “drugged and sexually abused them.” Though the statue of limitations had ended for many of the women, the case the ended yesterday revolved around the “2004 assault of Andrea Costand, who said Cosby had given her pills in his suburban Pennsylvania home that left her incapacitated and then molested her.”

Image of a Disabled Individual in Wheelchair

Family of Abused Boy Recieves $450K Lawsuit Settlement

April 26, 2018

Three years ago a developmentally disabled teenager was allegedly abused at a Schenectady facility. As a result of the abuse, the child’s family filed a lawsuit against the Northeast Parent & Child Society, an organization whose parent company is the Northern Rivers Family of Services. Fortunately for the family, the lawsuit recently settled for $450,000. According to the settlement agreement, “$250,000 will be placed in a trust for the boy, while the remaining $150,000 will go toward attorney and medical fees.”

Settlement Reached in Mississippi Gulf Coast County Coroner Discrimination Lawsuit

April 26, 2018

A settlement has finally been reached between a Mississippi Gulf Coast county and its coroner and six black-owned funeral homes. The settlement brings an end to a racial discrimination lawsuit that shed light on allegations that county coroner Gary Hargrove “steered county business to two white-owned funeral homes to the detriment of the black-owned funeral homes, alleging federal civil rights and state law violations against a backdrop of a business that remains starkly segregated by race in the Deep South,” according to the lawsuit.

Macy’s Will Pay $75K to Settle Disability Discrimination Lawsuit

April 24, 2018

After experiencing disability discrimination, a former Macy’s employee was recently awarded $75,000 to settled the lawsuit they filed against the popular retailer. The lawsuit was originally filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and in it the federal agency “charged Macy’s with firing an asthmatic employee, rather than excuse a one-day absence the employee needed to address emergency complications arising from her disability.” As a result of Macy’s misconduct, the EEOC claimed the retailer “violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).”

Family Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit After Girl Dies in School Bus Fire

April 23, 2018

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed by the family of a girl “who died in a school bus fire” in Iowa. The suit itself was filed against the Riverside Community School District and alleges wrongful death and negligence. But what happened? Well, back on December 12, bus driver Donald Hendricks, 74, picked Megan Klindt, 16, up for school when the “bus backed into a ditch across from the girl’s home.” While trying to get out of the ditch, the bus caught fire.

Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed by Family of Boy Who Drowned at Camp

April 19, 2018

Losing a child before their time is something no parent should ever have to experience. Sadly, it happens often and just as often wrongful death lawsuits are filed as a result. For example, the family of a five-year-old boy who drowned while at a summer camp recently filed a wrongful death lawsuit. The tragic accident occurred in July 2017 at Camp Cricket at the Cochran Mill Nature Center. According to the lawsuit and police reports from the time, the boy, Benjamin ‘Kamau’ Hosch III, “was missing for 45 minutes before anyone realized he was gone.” His body was eventually found in a pond by police who had shown up to help search for him. An autopsy report revealed that he had drowned.

Wonderful Citrus Packing LLC Accused of Age Discrimination

April 18, 2018

Discrimination is an unpleasant experience that no one should ever have to endure. Unfortunately, it’s also a common occurrence, especially in the workplace. One man in Tulare County, James K. Jordan, recently had an experience with age discrimination and filed a lawsuit as a result. According to his lawsuit, Jordan alleges “he was terminated from his job at a citrus company because of his age after 30 years” with Wonderful Citrus Packing LLC, a citrus packing company. The lawsuit itself was filed late last month in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.

Image of a Pregnant Woman and Baby Shoes

New Lawsuit Accuses California Prison of Pregnancy Discrimination

April 17, 2018

A pregnancy discrimination lawsuit was recently filed against a California prison by a female correction officer. According to the lawsuit, the officer, Sarah Coogle, claimed “state prison officials wouldn’t provide reasonable accommodations when she was pregnant,” and as a result, she ended up falling “while responding to a fight between inmates at a maximum-security prison.” Unfortunately, the fall resulted in Coogle losing her unborn child and prompted her to file the pregnancy discrimination lawsuit in Kern County Superior Court.

Salmonella Concerns Prompt Massive Recall of More Than 200M Rose Acre Farms Eggs

April 16, 2018

If you haven’t heard already, more than 200 million eggs from an egg farm owned by Rose Acre Farms have been recalled over salmonella concerns. According to the recall notice, the eggs “from the affected farm were distributed to nine states, including Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.” From there, the affected eggs made their way to “restaurants and supermarkets under multiple brand names, including Coburn Farms, Country Daybreak, Food Lion, Glenview, Great Value, Nelms and Sunshine Farms.” So far 22 reported illnesses have been linked to the recalled eggs.

Lawsuit Claims Miccosukee Tribal Police Kidnapped Newborn Girl from Hospital

April 13, 2018

When most parents welcome the arrival of a new baby in the hospital, there’s a certain expectation that the hospital staff will help keep the child safe until the family leaves to go home. Unfortunately for one South Florida couple, this was not the case. According to a lawsuit filed earlier today, the couple’s “newborn baby girl was taken by Miccosukee tribe police officers from Baptist Hospital last month.” The lawsuit itself was filed against the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and Baptist Health.

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