Once again, Minneapolis streets are filled with protesters over the killing of a Black man by police. Less than two years ago, police practices there came under heavy attack after an officer killed George Floyd by pinning him to the asphalt with his knee. This time, the issue is the department’s extensive use of “no-knock” warrants of the type that resulted […]
When Can Police Use No-Knock Warrants?
Crypto and Taxes: 7 Important Questions and Answers
Surprise, surprise, it’s tax time again. There’s nothing better than having to gather piles of paperwork and getting confused by needlessly complex government forms. Even more exciting: if you make any errors, you may have to pay penalties! And if you are one of the new arrivals on the cryptocurrency scene, there are steps you will need to take to […]
Is Photographing Abandoned Buildings Legal?
The COVID-19 pandemic has prodded Americans to discover new outdoor activities that don’t involve crowds. Many of these activities focus on exercise, like hiking and biking. But Americans have also rediscovered the joys of the good, old-fashioned afternoon drive. And as they motor along, they’ve rediscovered other good, old-fashioned things — like abandoned buildings. If Facebook, Instagram, and Flickr are […]
No More Secret Arbitrations of Workplace Sexual Misconduct Disputes
Chalk one up to the #MeToo movement. On February 10, the U.S. Senate approved the End Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (“abbreviated” as the “EFASASHA”), which President Biden is expected to sign into law. This statute fundamentally transforms how most employers will have to resolve workplace disputes involving sexual harassment and sexual assault claims. ‘Forced Arbitration’ […]
Can Ghislaine Maxwell Get a New Trial for Child Sex Trafficking?
In December 2021, after a trial in the U.S. court for the Southern District of New York, a jury convicted British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell of child sex trafficking and other crimes related to her relationship with American financier Jeffrey Epstein. A few days later, a juror known as Scotty David revealed that he had been a victim of sexual abuse and shared […]
When Is a Facebook Page a Public Forum? … and Other Legal News You May Have Missed
Is an office holder’s personal Facebook page a public forum with implied guarantees of public access and free speech? On Feb. 25 a federal appeals court said no. Jeff Swanson, chairman of the Otero County Democratic Party in New Mexico, sued Couy Griffin, a county commissioner and co-founder of Cowboys for Trump, for blocking Swanson from his private Facebook page. Facebook […]