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A Starbucks poisoning suspect was arrested Monday on allegations that she attempted to plant tainted bottles of orange juice at a coffeehouse in San Jose, California. Ramineh Behbehanian, 50, faces poisoning and attempted murder charges after a customer saw her allegedly take two bottles from a bag and place them in a display case alongside other refrigerated items, the San Jose Mercury News reports. The bottles contained a concoction of orange juice and rubbing alcohol....

Nobody wants to see a credit report error, but if there is a mistake, do you know how to fix your credit report? Credit reports are important for consumers because the information contained on the report can have a dramatic impact on an individual’s daily life. A bad credit report can be a factor in a bank denying you a loan, or could be a reason for a higher interest rate....

Did A&E make a bad call with its “Duck Dynasty” novelty shirts? A federal lawsuit, filed Tuesday, asserts the cable TV network is running afoul of the law by infringing on another company’s registered trademark. Hajn LLC, based in Florida, claims it’s been selling shirts with the slogan “My Favorite Color’s Camo” since 2011, and registered the slogan with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, according to The Hollywood Reporter. But then along came A&E with its “Duck Dynasty”-branded clothes – some featuring the nearly identical phrase “My Favorite Color Is Camo,” which “Uncle Si” Robertson once uttered on the popular show....

Just days before the trial was to start, Apartment Investment and Management Company (Aimco) and Airbnb settled their pending lawsuit in Florida state court. Specific causes of action included tortious interference with lease agreements, trespass and aiding and abetting trespass, and deceptive and unfair trade practices. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but both sides appear to be content with the settlement, and possibly willing to look for ways in which they can work together....

Many fans saddened by the recent death of comedian and actor Robin Williams turned to the Internet for information. This curiosity, however, has turned into an opportunity for online scammers. Internet users who’ve attempted to watch the dramatically titled “Robin Williams Goodbye Video,” purporting to have been filmed by the actor before his death, have instead found themselves victims of an online scam, reports Wichita, Kansas’ KAKE-TV. Scam Targets Your Personal Data, Facebook Profile Despite what your Facebook news feed may say, it turns out there is no “Robin Williams Goodbye Video....

Most of us know we have the right to a speedy jury trial. But many of us don’t know that we can waive that right, if we choose. Criminal defendants can choose to have what is known as a bench trial, where a judge takes on the role of the jury. Why would you choose a bench trial instead of a jury trial? And what are the pros and cons of either option?...

Police in Denver are warning parents about the potential for trick-or-treaters to get tricked into consuming pot-laced candy this Halloween. With the passage of Colorado’s marijuana legalization law, the state’s marijuana dispensaries have begun selling pot-infused candy that often times looks nearly identical to regular candy, reports ABC News. Edibles such as marijuana-infused candies account for as much as 30 percent of sales at some of Colorado’s legal dispensaries. Now police are trying to get the word out to parents about the potential for children to be exposed to marijuana by inadvertently eating these marijuana-laced treats....

According to an ACLU press statement released November 30, ordained Pentecostal preacher and life-time guest of the New Jersey penal system, Howard Thompson, Jr., can once again minister to his flock. The ACLU and prison officials reached an agreement which restores the First Amendment rights of the prison preacher – specifically, his right to preach, teach bible classes and lead the choir as he has done for so many years. Thompson began serving his 30 years to life sentence for murder in 1986....

Dr. Bumbum, a famous Brazilian plastic surgeon with several hundred thousand social media followers, has been caught after being on the run from authorities for four days. Last month, he and his mother, who practices with him, were arrested after one of their patients, Lilian Calixto, fell fatally ill after a buttock enhancement surgery they performed in his Rio de Janeiro apartment. Furtado had performed over 9,000 of these operations successfully, and was a fixture on local television shows promoting this surgery....

They may not be able to agree on health care, but they all agree on this. Last Wednesday, the House of Representatives, in a 416-0 vote, passed a bill that would ban mailings from other groups designed to look like they are actual census forms sent by the Census Bureau. As noted in a recent post, ProPublica reported on mailings marked “census” that were actually fund raising circulars from the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee....

A Broward County Circuit Court’s recent ruling may mean that Banner Supply Co., a supplier of Chinese drywall, will soon face more lawsuits from Florida homeowners. Banner originally settled its original drywall class action suit in June for $54 million. This settlement only covers 2,000 homeowners in Florida. Now, the Circuit Court judge has ruled that homeowners can choose to “opt out” of the settlement and file their own separate lawsuits against the company, according to Reuters....

A financial report released today shows that Americans are falling delinquent on all kinds of loans – mortgages, car loans, and credit card payments – in record numbers. There is legitimate help available, including credit counseling and debt management plans, and there are also steps you can take to protect yourself from falling victim to scams aimed at financially strapped consumers. A report from the American Bankers Association illustrates that more borrowers have fallen behind on their loan obligations than ever before, with “rising delinquencies in almost every loan category,” including home loans and credit cards....

A new law in Louisiana makes it a hate crime to target law enforcement and emergency personnel. The bill making these professions a protected class – dubbed Blue Lives Matter – was reportedly proposed in response to the Black Lives Matter movement criticizing police brutality in the black community. It is the first of its kind in the country. Hate crime legislation makes punishments more severe when crimes target a protected class, such as age, race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability....

The CPSC has issued a warning to parents about the dangers of baby sling infant carriers. The sack shaped slings can cause a risk of suffocation, especially in very small infants. The warning does not single out any particular makers of slings, but was prompted by 14 deaths the CPSC has identified as associated with baby slings over the last 20 years, including three in 2009. “We know of too many deaths in these slings and we now know the hazard scenarios for very small babies,” said CPSC Chairwoman Inez Tenenbaum....

2010 saw a keen interest in mandatory curfew laws, landing “curfew” on the list of top legal search terms on FindLaw.com. With curfew laws popping up across the country, it’s important to understand the categories of curfew law and their exceptions. Juvenile Curfew Laws Most likely driving the search for information on curfews are juvenile curfew laws. Nearly every major city in the United States has a mandatory curfew for persons under the age of 18....

A home day care owner in California is under arrest after a toddler in her care was hospitalized for allegedly ingesting pot. Bina’s Family Child Care in Glendale was shut down and tagged as uninhabitable after code enforcement officials found marijuana pipes, mouse droppings and a host of other unsafe conditions. The day care owner, Roubena Hartounian, is now facing charges of child neglect and endangerment, reports Los Angeles’ KNBC-TV....

DMX was arrested early this morning, apparently on suspicion of a DUI. But despite widespread media reports, that’s not what DMX was actually charged with, his publicist claims. The rapper was pulled over in South Carolina about 3 a.m. and taken into custody. He was released about an hour later. According to the DMX’s publicist, however, there was no drunken driving charge. “Allegations about DMX being arrested for drunk driving are false....

Jury selection began today in the criminal case of controversial abortion figure Dr. George Tiller, the AP reports. Dr. Tiller is “one of the nation’s few late-term abortion providers” and has been charged with “19 misdemeanors alleging he failed to obtain a second opinion for late-term abortions from an independent physician, as required by Kansas law. If convicted, the Wichita doctor could face a year in county jail or a fine of $2,500 for each misdemeanor charge....

Just as the term “drugs” refers to an extremely varied list of prohibited natural and synthetic substances, drug possession is a crime that encompasses a wide spectrum of possible violations and potential punishments. Each state has its own laws regarding what constitutes drug possession and the potential penalties and sentences that a conviction can bring. But there are a few general principles that apply in most states. So what can you expect if you’re facing a drug possession charge?...

The nationwide jump in foreclosures and mortgage defaults has triggered a corresponding rise in the number of predatory scams targeting financially-strapped homeowners. The federal government is announcing a crackdown on loan modification and foreclosure rescue scams. Learn more about the crackdown and things to be on the lookout for. The Problem: Promises of “Foreclosure Relief Now!” and “Save Your Home!” are skyrocketing along with national foreclosure figures, with the FBI currently targeting more than 2,000 companies allegedly scamming troubled homeowners with “rescue” offers – up 400% from five years ago, according to the Los Angeles Times....