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.

Dog Owners File Lawsuit Against Evanger’s, Nutripack Amid Recall Concerns

June 22, 2017

Nearly 40 different pet food and treat items are or have been recalled this year, leaving pet owners feeling a bit uncertain about the safety of the dog or cat food they’re buying for their furry friends. But why were they recalled? In many cases, three brands of dog food, in particular, were recalled “because they contained the euthanasia drug pentobarbital.” Now, the company linked to the three brands of dog food is facing multiple lawsuits, “including a $5 million suit brought by the family that had four dogs fall ill, and one die, after eating food made by Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Co Inc. and Nutripack., LLC.”

Image of a San Jose Fire Department fire truck

Two Female Firefighters Sue San Jose for Gender Discrimination

June 22, 2017

The San Jose Fire Department is under fire for the second time in five years for gender discrimination. Two female firefighters, Chief Patricia Tapia and retired Battalion Chief Debra Ward, are suing the city “for gender discrimination, retaliation and harassment saying they were passed up for promotions because they are women.” Both women claim in the lawsuit that they are “fighting to change the culture of exclusion at the fire department.”

Runaway Beverage Cart Blamed for Causing Brain Injury In Negligence Lawsuit

June 22, 2017

America’s airlines are not having a good year so far. A negligence lawsuit has been filed against American Airlines Group Inc after a plane “flew to its destination rather than make an emergency landing after a runaway beverage cart struck a passenger’s head during takeoff.” Unfortunately for the passenger, Charles Johnson, the injury left him with a “severe brain injury,” which is why Johnson and his wife are suing the airline for “at least $10 million in damages” over what they’re calling “gross negligence” and “reckless disregard” for their well-being, according to a complaint filed in the federal court in White Plains, New York.

Harris Teeter Recalls Certain Tubs of Hummus Over Listeria Concerns

June 21, 2017

Fresh Foods Market Artisan Pine Nuts Hummus has been voluntarily recalled by Harris Teeter over concerns of potential listeria contamination. But how was the problem discovered? What should customers do if they have a container of potentially contaminated hummus sitting in their refrigerator?

New York State Division of Human Rights Set to Investigate Fox News

June 21, 2017

Fox News just can’t catch a break. Not only have they been knee deep in discrimination and sexual harassment lawsuits, but now the conservative news network is the “subject of an investigation by the New York State Division of Human Rights.” Why? Well, according to Lisa Bloom, an attorney and a spokesperson for the agency, the investigation is going to look into the “numerous and very public sexual harassment complaints that have been plaguing the company for well over a year.”

Image of the Texas Chemical Plant that Exploded, Killing 15

EPA Delays Obama-Era Chemical Safety Rule Until 2019

June 20, 2017

The Trump administration seems to be delaying a lot of Obama-era things lately. Not only will has the FDA decided to delay an Obama-era rule that would require manufacturers to “update nutritional facts labels on processed foods,” a move the agency claims is necessary because “manufacturers need additional time beyond the July 26, 2018, compliance date to complete and print new labels for their products,” but now the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is set to delay a “chemical safety rule for nearly two years while it reassesses the necessity of the regulation.”

Image of Bill Cosby Outside the Montgomery County Courthouse

Bill Cosby Case Declared a Mistrial

June 20, 2017

After a week of deliberations, the jury in the Bill Cosby sexual assault trial remained deadlocked on “whether to convict the comedian on any of the three counts of felony aggravated indecent assault.” As a result, Judge Steve T. O’Neill, the judge in the case, “declared a mistrial Saturday morning,” putting an end to the

After 52 Hours of Deliberations, Bill Cosby Trial To Continue Through Saturday

June 16, 2017

It looks like the Bill Cosby trial will continue for at least another day. Over the course of five days, the jury has deliberated for nearly 52 hours and has yet to reach a verdict. During that time, the jury has asked a total of 12 questions “of the court during deliberations, essentially asking to hear the evidence for a second time.” By continually asking questions, one can’t help but wonder if the jury will “remain deadlocked and unable to reach a unanimous verdict on any of the three counts of aggravated indecent assault that Cosby faces.”

Image of the inside of an Honest Company store

The Honest Company Settles Second Lawsuit In Two Weeks

June 15, 2017

The Honest Company is back in the news, this time over news that the company has “settled a lawsuit in New York claiming it fraudulently labeled dozens of home and personal care products as natural, plant-based or chemical-free.” Though the terms of the class action lawsuit settlement have yet to be disclosed, lawyers for both the company and the plaintiffs have said that “they expect to seek preliminary approval shortly.”

Image of the Cover of 'A Rape On Campus' Article

Rolling Stone Magazine Settles Defamation Lawsuit

June 15, 2017

Rolling Stone Magazine has finally agreed to pay $1.65 million to a University of Virginia fraternity to “settle a defamation lawsuit.” What was the defamation lawsuit for? It turns out, back in 2014 the magazine published a story written by Sabrina Rubin Erdely titled, “A Rape on Campus.” The story was about “a woman identified only as Jackie who claimed to be raped by members of the school’s Phi Kappa Psi fraternity as part of an initiation rite.” The problem with the story was that it never happened, which led Phi Kappa Psi to file a defamation lawsuit against the magazine.

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