Cases of Note

California Governor Gavin Newsom signs bills into laws. California Assembly Bill 48 or Nursing Facility Resident Informed Consent Protection Act of 2023 was recently signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. Among the changes made by this law is the resident shall have the right to be free from 'psychotherapeutic' drugs used for the purpose of resident discipline or convenience. It also provides for informed consent for a class of drugs called psychotropics and soft restraints. What does this mean for the 97,749 California nursing home residents it is meant to protect? What are psychotherapeutic medications? Psychotherapeutic means relating to psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is an approach for treating mental health issues by talking with a mental health provider. Psychotropic drug, is what must have been meant in the overall language of the law. A psychotropic drug is a chemical substance that changes the function of the nervous system and results in alterations of perception, m

President Joe Biden signed the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act , or H.R. 4445 into law on March 3, 2022 at a White House ceremony. The law amends the Federal Arbitration Act and allows employees subject to pre-dispute mandatory arbitration agreements to pursue their claims in court related to sexual assault or sexual harassment.  As the #MeToo movement brought to light, in the worst cases, arbitration and nondisclosure agreements can shield serial harassers from accountability and allow them to habitually abuse employees. Court decisions and orders make the identity of violators of the law and their conduct public, which can serve to influence behavior and deter sexual harassment and assault from occurring in the first place. Some of America’s most prominent employers have already voluntarily discontinued mandatory arbitration for sexual harassment claims, and several states have passed laws directed at restricting mandatory arbitration of harassm

What To Do When You Hit a Parked Car Every state has its own unique set of laws regarding a driver's duty and responsibilities after a collision. For example, failure to follow these duties in North Carolina may result in civil liability or criminal penalties such as a misdemeanor. It’s estimated that more than 50,000 accidents a year involve a parked car. Unfortunately, just because the car wasn’t moving doesn’t mean the accident won’t hit your driving record or raise your insurance rates. While any accident can be stressful, handling a minor auto collision doesn't need to be complicated. This article explains what to do if you hit a parked car. Liability in General Generally, the driver who was moving is liable for damages suffered by the owner or occupants of the parked car, as long as the non-moving vehicle was legally parked or stopped. If a parked car is easy to spot for drivers, anyone who strikes that car is responsible for the accident. However, if the parked car was p