Recent events in Oklahoma are bringing the debate over the gender identity of children to a boil. With the investigation into the death of a transgender student at school last month and the separate ongoing litigation over an assault related to a different transgender student at another school, the state’s recent laws on restricting gender identity are being called into question more than ever. Oklahoma's Bathroom Bill Two years ago, Oklahoma signed into law SB 615, a bill that requires students at Oklahoma public schools to use restrooms that match the sex listed on their birth certificates ..read more

A recent food allergy lawsuit against Disney highlights how restaurants may be liable for personal injury or wrongful death claims as a result of a customer’s injury or death from a disclosed food allergy. A tragic event occurred in October, 2023 when Kanokporn Tangsuan and her husband ate at Raglan Road Irish Pub in Disney Spring, part of Florida’s Walt Disney Resort. She alerted the restaurant staff that she had an allergy to dairy and nuts, and the waitstaff assured her they could make her meal allergen-free. After the meal, Tangsuan went into anaphylactic shock and died as a resu ..read more

You don't have to be Kristen Bell to get a kick out of gossip. The grapevine has a grip on us all. It serves as an important tool in human societies everywhere for social bonding and the enforcement of norms. Research suggests that gossip is prevalent across genders and plays complex roles, many of them positive, in social dynamics and relationships. Of course, gossip can lead to negative consequences. Ruined reputations and burned bridges are one thing, but is there more at risk than just your social life? And with social media's growing usage in recent times, there's now more than ..read more

The "eggshell plaintiff rule" is a case every American law student studies in the course of learning about liability in battery. For those of you who didn’t have the misfortune of sitting through a semester of tort law, you may happen to encounter this phrase if you have the different misfortune of being in an accident that results in a civil lawsuit. Worry not, we’ve got you covered with a quick digest of the old but still relevant legal doctrine. Walking on Eggshells The eggshell plaintiff doctrine is also called by a variety of other colorful names, like the thin skull rule, the papier-mâch ..read more

Sexual assault is notoriously underreported in society in general, but this is even more true within insulated organizations such as militaries. In the United States, sexual assault cases within the armed forces have been on the rise for years. The Pentagon's 2022 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military showed that reported incidents of sexual assault rose 13% in the Air Force, 9% in the Navy, and 3.6% in the Marine Corps (they fell by 9% in the Army, but there were still 8,942 reported incidents across all branches). Congress has been making efforts to address this growing i ..read more

Spain has been on everyone's lips, and unfortunately, it is not only for winning the Women's Soccer World Cup. Another event during the medal ceremony has taken headlines: the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the mouth. While one kiss on each cheek is common practice in Spain, a kiss on the mouth certainly isn´t. The commotion caused by the kiss opened a worldwide debate. In response to the situation, Rubiales defended himself by arguing that the event occurred in a moment of "maximum effusiveness without any bad intentions" and ..read more

A Fourth of July celebration without fireworks is practically unpatriotic. But as eager as Americans are to express their love of country (and explosives), they often completely ignore basic safety precautions when handling fireworks. Every year thousands of Americans suffer serious injuries in fireworks-related accidents. Some suffer severe burns or other severe bodily injuries. If that doesn't sound bad enough, other people lose limbs; one man in Fargo even blew off his own head.  Apart from injuring yourself, you could hurt someone you love—or a complete s ..read more

In some limited situations, a person can sue someone else who yells at or insults them. While the threshold for when an insult crosses the line is rather hazy, there are some clearly defined lines that are helpful for determining the difference between a bad interaction and a legal issue. For instance, if the yelling is threatening violence, or is done in a way where the listener fears for their physical safety, there may be a case for legal action. Not only is the act of making a threat of violence illegal in every state, but it can also lead to civil torts. These torts include assault o ..read more

A Virginia teacher who was shot by her six-year-old student during school is seeking $40 million in damages from the school that employed her for failing to prevent the incident. Abigail Zwerner, 25, taught first grade at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia. Among her students was the first-grader that remains unnamed in the lawsuit, referred to as "John Doe." Zwerner was shot by Doe in early January and spent two weeks in the hospital, where she underwent four surgeries. On April 3, she filed a lawsuit against school administrators and the school board, alleging tha ..read more

Federal authorities recently announced charges against 25 people in the Southern District of Florida for their alleged participation in a wire fraud scheme that led to illegal licensing and employment of nurses. All face up to 20 years in prison.  The defendants allegedly engaged in a scheme to sell more than $100 million worth of fraudulent nursing degree diplomas and transcripts from accredited Florida-based nursing schools. People seeking licenses and jobs as registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs) would then purchase the diplomas. The purchasers wer ..read more