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The California Supreme Court has opened the door for more lawsuits targeting teacher sex abuse. The court has unanimously reinstated a suit against the William S. Hart Union High School District, which has been accused of negligently hiring, retaining and supervising a counselor who sexually abused a 15-year-old student. District lawyers pointed to a state law limiting the tort liability of public entities. They argued that it does not permit such lawsuits....

Gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson is recalling two of its popular pistol models due to a worst-case-scenario kind of defect: one that could cause the guns to go off without the trigger being pulled. According to a Smith & Wesson Safety Recall Notice, the company has identified a defect in certain Walther PPK and PPK/S pistols that could cause a chambered round to fire when the pistol’s hammer is lowered, even without the trigger being pulled....

“The Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Teresa Giudice began serving her 15-month federal prison sentence on Monday. Giudice arrived at the Federal Correctional Institute in Danbury, Connecticut, just before 3 a.m., reports E! Online. Giudice and her husband Joe Giudice both pleaded guilty to bankruptcy fraud charges in 2014. Teresa was facing as much as 27 months in prison for her role in the fraud scheme, which included as much as $5 million in fraudulent mortgage loans....

Some convicts and people who get arrested (especially celebrities) are placed in a sort of “protective custody” in jail or prison, segregated from the general population. But it’s not just TV and movie stars who get this kind of treatment. Often a person is placed in protective custody because of an increased risk of harm or death from other inmates. In some cases, it is a measure to prevent potential self-harm or suicide....

Are we really surprised that Willie Nelson smokes marijuana? Thankfully for the country music legend, the Willie Nelson marijuana case seems to be about over, as the singer has agreed to a plea deal. Though there were reports that the Texas prosecutor was willing to let him go for a little song and dance, it looks like he’ll actually be paying a $500 fine and acting like a law-abiding citizen for 30 days in exchange for the charges being dismissed....

One of the features that distinguishes a cop from a regular civilian is a badge, but on-duty cops may not necessarily be required to wear them. Critics of police misconduct often point to plainclothed officers who never produce a badge but still impose their authority. Case in point: Keeshan Harley, 19, of Brooklyn, who claims he was arrested for riding his bike on the sidewalk last year by two NYPD officers who “never produced badges but proceeded to try and intimidate [him],” reports The Huffington Post....

Philadelphia is adding increased penalties for hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity after a gay couple was attacked in September. According to The Associated Press, prosecutors claim they couldn’t charge the three assailants with a hate crime because “sexual orientation isn’t covered in the state’s hate crime law.” So Philly’s city council moved quickly and passed a new bill authorizing added penalties for hate crimes left out of Pennsylvania’s law....

Maybe Smokey The Bear would like to add a Kevlar vest to his park ranger uniform, because things might be getting even more wild in our national parks. The Los Angeles Times reports today that under a federal law that took effect Monday, February 22, Americans may now bring firearms into every national park in the country, provided they comply with the firearms laws of the park’s home state. The law permitting this change was attached as an amendment to credit-card legislation....

Actor and comedian Chris Kattan was sentenced to three years probation, a $500 fine, restitution, and drug and alcohol classes after being convicted of driving under the influence. The actor, best known for his stint on “Saturday Night Live,” was involved in a crash earlier this year on a Los Angeles freeway when his Mercedes Benz collided with a parked vehicle, reports TMZ. At the time, Kattan was taking the prescription sleep drug Ambien....

Many doubts about the brutal killing of three Texans, including two local district attorneys, were removed this week as Kim Williams allegedly confessed to the murders on Wednesday. Kim Williams is the wife of former Justice of the Peace Eric Williams, who was arrested and held in custody earlier this month on charges of sending an anonymous threat via email. Now with Kim Williams and Eric Williams in custody, prosecutors can begin to build a case for capital murder against the couple for the three victims....

It’s interesting how often there is a disparity between the things we fear and the actual risks. We often hear about parents that are scared to death of having a stranger kidnap their child. However, as it turns out, a more serious risk often exists right in your nursery. 10,000 babies suffer crib injuries every year. In fact, according to a recent study, crib-related accidents send 26 children to U.S. emergency rooms daily and result in more than 110 deaths annually, Reuters reports....

A grand jury has indicted former North Charleston police officer Michael Slager for the murder of Walter Scott. Slager shot Scott in the back as he ran from the officer, while a bystander recorded the incident. While the indictment is just one small step on the path to trial, it is nonetheless noteworthy in comparison to other cases of police officer shootings, most notably Michael Brown’s, which failed to clear the indictment hurdle....

Weapons dealer Badger Guns was found liable for the shooting of two police officers. Relying on an exception to a federal law – which generally does not hold gun shops liable for weapons used in crime – a Milwaukee jury awarded a $5 million judgment for the officers. Weapons dealers are not liable for guns sold that are then used to commit crimes. But this case was based on a carve-out that says if the seller knew or should have known the guns were being used to commit crimes it can be held responsible for the sale....

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that immigrants can’t avoid deportation for criminal activities based on how long their parents have been in the country. Under federal law, immigrants who’ve been in America continuously for seven years are given leniency in deportation hearings. They must also be legally registered for at least five years. The Court’s latest decision makes it so that immigrants can’t tack on their parents’ residency years to reach the seven year minimum, Reuters reports....

There’s a case in Massachusetts juvenile criminal court that’s creepier than most horror movies. It’s the bizarre story of a suicidal teenager and his girlfriend who texted encouragement while he killed himself. She is 17-year-old Michelle Carter, and she faces involuntary manslaughter charges for her electronic missives, telling Conrad Roy III, “The time is right and you’re ready.” The case is alarming for what it may say about communication today but also, reports Vice, because of the legal issues it raises....

It’s been about six months since James Holmes was arrested for the Aurora, Colorado, movie theater shooting, but the preliminary hearing starts this week. The legal system is not often known for its speediness, and this case is no different. It took prosecutors time to prepare the case against Holmes, and the preliminary hearing is only the beginning of what could be a very long trial. In the months since the July shooting, lawyers on both sides of the case have been hard at work....

Former adult film star Jenna Jameson was arrested early Friday morning on misdemeanor suspicion of driving under the influence. Jameson’s DUI made for an interesting arrest. The 38-year-old porn legend allegedly ran her car into a light pole in Westminster, Calif., the Associated Press reports. The single car accident occurred around 1:30 a.m. Jameson appeared to show signs of intoxication, according to sources. Police officers reportedly administered a field sobriety test....

Katt Williams was arrested following a bar fight in Seattle. The Katt Williams fight is just the latest in a series of bizarre incidents involving the comic as he seems to be going through his Charlie Sheen meltdown moment. On Sunday afternoon, Williams allegedly exchanged words with some patrons at the World Sports Grille in Seattle. During the fight, the comic is said to have brandished a pool cue at the bar’s manager and refused orders to leave the bar, reports The Post-Standard....

How does an apparently routine traffic stop turn into an $85,000 settlement? When an arresting officer allegedly forcibly removes a Muslim woman’s hijab, requiring her to have her head exposed overnight in a jail cell, in plain view of other male officers and dozens of inmates, and have her publicly available booking photo taken without her head covered. “I would never want anyone to go through what I felt from this experience, it was horrible,” Kirsty Powell said when she filed her lawsuit against the city of Long Beach, Police Chief Robert Luna, and six Long Beach Police officers....

Socialite Paris Hilton’s house is quite the break-in target these days. A jewel heist that caused the celebrity to lose almost $2 million in high-end jewelry in 2008, and now an unidentified man has been arrested trying to break into the 29 year-old’s Hollywood Hills mansion. People Magazine quotes Hilton’s rep: “In the early hours of this morning an armed man with two kitchen knives attempted to break into Paris Hilton’s home when she was sleeping....