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A number of same-sex spouses and widows who were legally married in Massachusetts have filed a lawsuit against the federal government, claiming that a 1996 federal law discriminates against married same-sex couples by limiting certain protections and benefits that are normally provided to married couples of the opposite sex. The lawsuit was filed in Massachusetts federal court on Tuesday, by the Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD), on behalf of eight same-sex couples and three surviving spouses who are (or were) legally married under a Massachusetts law that has been in place since 2004....

In a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit regarding first amendment rights on Thursday, outed spy Valerie Plame Wilson received one more “assist” from the government. Upholding the lower court’s decision, the Court of Appeals found Ms. Plame would not be allowed to disclose “classified information” in her memoir relating to her pre-2002 service with the CIA. Plame and her publisher, Simon & Schuster, argued that since the the dates of her pre-2002 employment were not only disclosed by the CIA, but also widely known to the public, that it amounted to infringement on her 1st Amendment right of free speech not to allow her to include that information in her book....

Oh, the coveted little blue box. But is it the real deal? According to an on-going case in New York, that Tiffany item you got for a steal on eBay? Sometimes, a big fake. On April 1, the 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has found eBay is not liable for the trademark infringement and trademark dilution claims made by the historic jeweler. However, the court has not yet decided whether eBay is liable for false advertising claims over the fake Tiffany products that allegedly abound on the auction site....

Celebrities in legal trouble are all the rage these days. Whether a nasty divorce, an embarrassing DUI, or anything Mel Gibson, the escapades of some stars provide more than juicy gossip, but can also serve as a window into the legal system (kinda). Here are some celebrities that have an easier time getting into legal trouble than getting a role, a nomination, or a hole in one…. Celebrity Justice is a blog dedicated to the intersection of celebrities and the law....

For the most part, public defenders are to be admired – they work long hours at a largely thankless job with very little resources. But, as with any other profession, not all public defenders are great at what they do, they may not agree with every defendant they represent, and even a good public defender can have a bad day. So if you’re not happy with your public defender, what can you do about it?...

What’s the statute of limitations for theft? The answer depends on many factors, such as the value of what was stolen, and of course the laws in your jurisdiction. For example, the statute of limitations period may be three years in California for a felony theft. However, if the crime is considered a misdemeanor, the statute may only be one year. However, the limitations period would be different if you lived in Arizona or New Jersey....

Faye Dunaway evicted? Isn’t she a famous actress or something? You may be baffled by the situation, but the potential eviction of Faye Dunaway actually has nothing to do with the actress’ failure to pay rent or poor residential behavior. No, it has to do with New York City’s rent stabilization laws, which have allowed Dunaway to pay $1,048.72 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. That’s about half of current market value....

Zocor’s risks at high doses may post an increased risk of muscle injury, the FDA reports. Patients on the highest dose of Zocor (simvastatin) seem to be at an elevated risk of this side effect, so doctors should stop prescribing that dose for most people, the FDA has advised.An 80-milligram dose of Zocor (or similar drugs Vytorin and Simcor) should continue to be taken only by patients who have taken it for at least 12 months without muscle injury, the agency said Wednesday in a safety announcement....

“The Good Wife” took a turn for the confusing and complicated this week when it tackled the trendy issue of Internet service providers’ liability for user-uploaded content. Here’s a rundown of the legal issues Florrick & Agos took on in “Whack-a-Mole”: In the case of the week, Alicia and Cary try to hold a website accountable for defamation when its users accuse their client, a college professor named Zayeed Shaheed, of being linked to domestic terrorism....

Nearly twenty former and current LA County Sheriff’s Department officials were charged on Monday, in connection with allegations of of abuse and misconduct inside the county’s jails. The eighteen federal indictments were delivered as the result of a year-long FBI investigation into complaints of beatings and unlawful detainment in Los Angeles jails, as well as accusations that the Sheriff’s Department conspired to “obstruct a federal investigation into misconduct at the Men’s Central Jail,” reports the Los Angeles Times....

Bradley Birkenfeld – the American former UBS banker who played a central role in breaking the Swiss bank’s secrecy and confidentiality in trying to protect its U.S. clients from evading payment of their U.S. taxes – was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison today. Birkenfeld helped turn Swiss Bank account secrecy’s cachet – at least for U.S. clients – into ‘cachet-less accounts,’ the likes of which heads of state, terrorist leaders, and reputed drug traffickers have benefited from over the years....

Bell Sports is recalling about 33,600 youth-size bicycle helmets because of a problem with the chin strap buckle that could lead to the helmet coming off, which would pose a head injury hazard. Bell Sports, along with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, said Tuesday that the recall includes about 31,100 full-face helmets in the U.S. and approximately 2,500 in Canada. The company received one report of a buckle failing during an accident, resulting in an injury that required stitches below the wearer’s eye, according to the U....

Chris Brown and Drake are off the hook for a lawsuit filed by a nightclub that was the unexpected host to the two brawling in June 2012. The $16 million lawsuit brought by the trademark holder of NYC’s Greenhouse nightclub was thrown out of court Monday. A judge stated that Brown and Drake had “no duty to the club to behave,” especially since the fight occurred at the adjacent W.i.P nightclub, reports TMZ....

Future and Ciara are celebrities, so naturally they are involved in lawsuits. The couple is public about their spats, airing grievances on social media that then spawn more lawsuits. But this week joint custody was awarded to the two, reports The BoomBox, despite mom’s efforts to obtain sole custody of their young son. A defamation suit Ciara filed against Future, based on his insulting tweets and demanding $15 million, has yet to be resolved....

When you’re facing a DUI charge, you won’t feel like you have many options. But in most places, you have at least two: a private attorney or a public defender. Which is the best choice for you? It may depend on your situation and whether (or how much) you’re willing or able to pay. Here are a few pros and cons to consider when deciding between a private DUI attorney versus a public defender for your drunken driving case:...

Should electronic cigarettes be sold to children? The Food and Drug Administration says no and has announced historic rules to ban sales of the popular devices to minors and require warning labels. The FDA wants to regulate more than the booming electronic cigarette market. It is seizing on this opportunity to also restrict sales of cigars, hookahs, water pipes and dissolvable tobacco products. The proposed rules (attached below) would be the first restrictions on e-cigarettes, a nearly $2 billion industry that for years has operated outside the reach of federal regulators....

The video game industry is sure to take notice after a federal appeals court ruled that Electronic Arts can be sued by a former college quarterback who alleges EA stole his likeness for its popular “NCAA Football” game. Ryan Hart, who played for Rutgers from 2002 to 2005, may pursue his lawsuit against EA on allegations that the video game giant misappropriated his likeness for the popular video game. The 2-1 decision (attached below) was delivered Tuesday by a panel of the U....

A federal appeals court on Tuesday struck down the FCC’s open Internet rules, in a ruling that could give broadband providers more room to charge content companies for faster speeds. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled (see full opinion below) that the FCC lacked the authority to impose anti-discrimination rules because it had failed to classify broadband Internet as a common-carrier service. The ruling is a blow to the concept of net neutrality, and opens the door for Verizon (and other Internet service providers) to offer managed services or other arrangements where content providers could pay to increase the speed to their content....

On Tuesday, CNN reported that 21st Century Fox (Fox News) will pay Gretchen Carlson $20,000,000 in settlement for the sexual harassment and retaliation she suffered at the hands of Roger Ailes. While the large dollar amount Fox paid may shock many, legal professionals are more shocked about the public apology 21st Century Fox made Tuesday morning. Also, CNN reported other victims of Ailes agreed to settle their claims. It is exceedingly rare that a single plaintiff sexual harassment suit gets an eight figure settlement, and even rarer to see a defendant issue a public apology to the plaintiff....

Halloween apps give parents a way to keep an eye on their kids’ whereabouts without getting in the way of their trick-or-treat rounds. An especially sweet treat, much of this temporary location-sharing technology is available for free. Here are a few Halloween apps parents may want to check out: Track n Treat. With the free iPhone app Track n Treat, children send a time-limited link of their location via a phone number or email....