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.

7M Pounds of Hot Dogs and Sausages Recalled After Consumers Find Bone Fragments

July 26, 2017

Summer time is grilling time, which means families all across the country will likely grill up a few hot dogs and sausages before fall arrives. Unfortunately, a recall has been issued for certain brands of hot dogs and sausages. Marathon Enterprises, Inc, a meat processor based in Bronx, New York, is recalling more than “seven million pounds of beef and pork hot dogs and sausages” over numerous consumer complaints. What has so many consumers up in arms? Well, it turns out quite a few have found small bone fragments in their hot dogs and sausages. In one report, a consumer actually got a “minor oral injury” from biting down on a bone fragment.

Bush Brothers & Company Recalls Baked Beans Over Defective Cans

July 26, 2017

For many people in the US, baked beans are the perfect accompaniment to a summer cook out. Unfortunately, one popular brand of baked beans has issued a recall due to defective cans. The recall was issued by Bush’s Beans and “applies to certain 28-ounce cans of Bush’s Brown Sugar Hickory Baked Beans, Country Style Baked Beans, and Original Baked Beans.”

Image of The Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Top Scientists Accuse the Salk Institute of Gender Discrimination

July 25, 2017

Gender discrimination is back in the news. This time two top scientists have decided to sue their employer, the Salk Institute, because they believe that “they and other women have suffered long-term gender discrimination at the renowned California research center.” According to Vicki Lundblad and Katherine Jones, the two women suing the institute, the California research center “has long been an “old boys club.” The women described the culture at the Salk Institute as “a culture where women are paid less, not promoted and denied opportunities and benefits simply because they are women.”

Image of a Page from City of Battle Creek vs. Alonso and Saylor Lawsuit

City of Battle Creek Agrees to $161K Settlement With Former BCPD Employees

July 24, 2017

Two former employees of the Battle Creek police department have agreed to a $161,000 settlement with the city of Battle Creek. The announcement was made only three days before a trial in federal court was supposed to begin regarding the “former employees’ claims of breach of an employment contract” after they were fired for partaking in what the city called an inappropriate relationship.

Custom Culinary, Inc. Issues Recall Over Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens

July 24, 2017

More products are being recalled due to misbranding and undeclared allergens. This time, Custom Culinary, Inc., based in Oswego, Illinois, is recalling an estimated “9,444 pounds of chicken and beef base products” because the “products’ labels incorrectly identified the products as chicken, but may contain beef.” According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the products might also “contain soy, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.”

Image of a Red Light Camera Warning Sign

Red Light Camera Dispute Settled for $39M

July 24, 2017

A multi-million dollar settlement has been reached between the city of Chicago and “motorists who received tickets from the city’s controversial red light camera system.” Though the settlement is still awaiting final approval from city council, it is expected to pay out “$39 million to people who received and/or paid red light camera tickets.” According to the settlement, $27 million will be issued in the form of refunds, while the other $12 million will be in the form of “debt forgiveness for those who did not pay the ticket.”

Whistleblower Sounds the Alarm on Cockroach Problem at Phoenix VA Medical Center

July 24, 2017

Imagine visiting the VA as a veteran for any reason, and seeing cockroaches running about all over the place. The sight probably wouldn’t sit well with you. Unfortunately for many veterans in Phoenix, Arizona, this was their reality, according to one VA whistleblower. According to the whistleblower, they have video evidence of “cockroaches scurrying around the pharmacy room” at the Veteran Affairs (VA) medical center in Phoenix.

$11.2M Settlement Awarded to Parents of Camera Assistant Killed While Filming Movie

July 18, 2017

Sarah Jones was a camera assistant who lost her life in a tragic accident while filming a movie back in 2014. As a result of the accident, Sarah’s parents, Richard and Elizabeth Jones, filed a lawsuit against the parties they felt were responsible for their daughter’s death. Now, just this past Monday, a court awarded Sarah’s family $11.2 million in damages. But what transpired, exactly? Who was responsible for the accident?

Image of Brian Lee and Jessica Alba, Co-Founders of the Honest Co.

Honest Co. Agrees to $7.35M Settlement Over Fraudulent Labeling

July 17, 2017

Details surrounding the settlement that the Honest Co. agreed to earlier last month have been released. It turns out that Jessica Alba’s company will pay $7.35 million “in a marketing fraud lawsuit that alleged the company fraudulently labeled products as natural, plant-based or chemical-free.”

Sol Andino Import & Export Recalls Cumin Due to Lead Contamination

July 17, 2017

Who doesn’t like a bit of cumin in their food? Unfortunately, an “undisclosed volume of ground cumin” is being recalled by Sol Andino Import & Export, an import-export company in Jackson Heights, NY. It was recalled because it was “contaminated with lead.” This is a big deal because the contaminated product has been distributed “to

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