Democrats Urge FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to Curb Straight-to-Voicemail Practices from Telemarketers, Debt Collectors

Democratic Senators are urging Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to curb the practice of telemarketers using straight-to-voicemail technology to bypass consumers’ ringtones. The Hill reports that Senators Ed Markey and Richard Blumenthal, both of Connecticut, penned a letter together with Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and other legislators, requesting Pai not permit companies to ‘leave messages


Pakistan Counter-Terror Court Sentences 30-Year Old Man to Death Over Blasphemous Materials Posted on Facebook

A court in Pakistan sentenced a man to death over allegedly blasphemous materials posted on Facebook. Government prosecutors announced the verdict Sunday, the latest development in a social media crackdown spearheaded by Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The conviction of 30-year old Taimoor Raza marks the first time in the history of the populous South



The Honest Company Settles Second Lawsuit In Two Weeks

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.”


Rolling Stone Magazine Settles Defamation Lawsuit

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.


Would Forests Die Without Businesses?

Last week the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands heard testimony from four expert witnesses regarding ways that Congress could shape policy for our national forests. If you don’t watch Congressional subcommittee meetings on YouTube for fun, you’re missing out on seeing the sausage grinder of law formation in action.