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This week a moderator for a major darkweb child pornography internet repository was sentenced to 20 years in prison, as well as lifetime monitoring upon release, for his involvement with the site, which is nothing less than shocking. David L. Browning, the convicted moderator, was required to delete anything from the site, Playpen, that did not relate to child pornography, including images, videos, and even discussions. Browning is not the first Playpen-related conviction....

The U.S. Department of Justice has tentatively reached a settlement with Adobe, Apple, Google, Intel, Intuit, and Disney’s Pixar unit. The big tech companies have agreed not have their employees enter into no solicitation agreements. The settlement will significantly open up competition to attract top talent. According to lawsuits filed by the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, the six companies entered into anti-competitive agreements with regard to their hiring practices in order to restrain competition for top employees....

Speaking of indictments, here is a Zahra baker update: Elisa Baker was indicated on charges of second-degree murder in the death of stepdaughter Zahra Baker, who was 10 at the time of her death in North Carolina. An indictment is a formal charge handed down by a grand jury that the accused has allegedly committed a crime. It is not the same as being convicted. At a grand jury proceeding, the defendant is not represented and does not get to introduce evidence, cross examine witnesses or challenge the evidence presented....

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to consumers and healthcare professionals on dangerous side effects associated with use of the cancer drug Fentora. FDA states that most recent adverse events and deaths associated with use of Fentora were caused by improper patient selection, incorrect dosing, and inappropriate substitution of Fentora for other pain medications. Fentora is used only for treatment of “breakthrough pain” in cancer patients, meaning intense increases in pain that occur with rapid onset....

Drivers have a First Amendment right to flash their headlights to warn others about an upcoming speed trap, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge Henry Autrey this week granted a preliminary injunction that bars the city of Ellisville, Missouri, from enforcing its ordinance against flashing headlights as a speed trap warning, The Wall Street Journal reports. Autrey ruled that even though the city claims to have stopped targeting headlight-flashing drivers, a preliminary injunction was needed to make sure the ticketing stops too....

If you’ve been falsely accused of domestic violence, the process can be frustrating – restraining orders, court dates, and attorneys’ fees, and that doesn’t even include a possible arrest or jail time. The process can also be frightening if you’re facing eviction, being forced to stay away from children, or facing long-term incarceration. So how can you get prosecutors to drop domestic violence charges? Generally that only happens if they don’t believe they can prosecute the case, and that decision will depend on two factors:...

Police reports contain important legal information for any criminal case, and they can help both victims and defendants find justice. They go by many names – such as offense report, incident report, or police report – but they all serve the same purpose. These reports memorialize an officer’s actions in investigating a crime and in making an arrest. Here are the basics on how to obtain a police report: Through Your Attorney Defendants who are in custody can obtain a copy of the police report related to their arrests through their defense attorneys....

A federal judge has ruled that the Batmobile is copyrightable. Yes, it’s that special. At least DC Comics thinks so. The company sued Mark Towle, owner of Gotham Garage. He builds and sells Batmobile replicas to comic book geeks with money. DC and its parent company Warner Bros. believe the replicas violate their Batmobile copyright and trademarks – that Towle is somehow making people think his cars are authorized replicas....

The nurse involved in a radio station’s Kate MIddleton prank call has apparently died in a suspected suicide. Jacintha Saldanha was found dead this morning near the UK hospital where Middleton was being treated for severe morning sickness, reports USA Today. Middleton was released from the hospital Thursday. A day earlier, Saldanha was the nurse on duty who answered a prank call by two Australian DJs. As a result of the prank, some medical information regarding the princess’ pregnancy was disclosed to the public....

Comedian and actor Katt Williams’ arrest involved some strange circumstances. The recipe for his most recent run-in with the law includes: Katt Williams, a tractor, and three women. Yes, a tractor was involved. Williams was arrested in Los Angeles. He had been staying at a house where a tractor operator was working outside on a neighbor’s home, reports Digital Spy. Three women then approached the tractor and the tractor operator, throwing dirt and rocks at the man....

With Mother’s Day approaching, we want to remind readers that moms behind bars have legal rights, too. But what are those rights, and are they being enforced? A report by the National Women’s Law Center and the Rebecca Project for Human Rights explored a range of important issues affecting pregnant and parenting women who are in prison. Though the study was conducted a few years ago, the issues addressed are still important....

The pigeons at Burbank’s airports are about to go on a forced diet. California resident Charles Douglas, local business owner and bird enthusiast, was arrested for creating a public nuisance by feeding pigeons. Douglas, 59, is the owner of Precise Roofing Co. in Burbank. He’s been feeding pigeons since at least September 2010, according to authorities. Douglas was arrested after two court citations. A court then gave a bench warrant for his arrest....

Sometimes, dates don’t end well. One unlucky 35-year-old woman’s date with Florida man Michael Pratt is especially illustrative of this point. Pratt asked his date for her keys, then left in middle of a movie to steal her car. Pratt, 27, originally told the woman that he needed something from the vehicle, according to the miffed date. Except, he never came back. When she called him, Pratt laughed and told her that he stole her car....

Amy’s Kitchen, Wegmans Food Market, and Carmel Food Group all issued recalls of their products containing organic frozen spinach after a spinach supplier issued its own recall for fear of possible listeria contamination. Here is what you need to know: Amy’s Kitchen Recall Amy’s Kitchen recalled over 73k packages of frozen foods that may contain contaminated spinach. Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria commonly found in soil and water. It can contaminate raw meats, vegetables, and cooked and processed foods....

With California’s Proposition 19, which would legalize cultivation and possession of marijuana for personal use, coming up for a vote, the Drug Policy Alliance teamed with the NAACP to release a report calling the equitability of California drug policy into question. According to the report, blacks are arrested for marijuana possession at far higher rates than whites in California. For example, according to the racial bias report, blacks are arrested for marijuana possession in Pasadena at 12 and a half times the rate of whites....

On Monday April 26, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to hear a case it had been holding for months. The Court will hear the case of Schwarzenegger v. Video Software Dealers Association which concerns a California law banning the sale of violent video games to minors. The Court may have been waiting to decide whether to hear the appeal from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision striking down the law until it had decided the outcome of a case with similar First Amendment concerns, U....

Today the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in the case of Philip Morris USA v. Williams (case number 05-1256). In its 5 - 4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned an Oregon Supreme Court ruling and dismissed a $79.5 million punitive damages award to Mayola Williams, the widow of Jesse Williams, a heavy cigarette smoker. To learn more: U.S. Supreme Court ruling: Philip Morris USA v. Williams U.S. Supreme Court case docket (includes legal briefs filed in the case): Philip Morris USA v....

The Fourth of July commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but it also provides a timely reason to learn some trivia about America’s other foundational legal document, the Constitution. Although not our first governing document (see the Articles of Confederation), the Constitution set up our three branches of government, the balance of powers, and the doctrine of federalism which governs the relationship between the states and the federal government....

Needless to say, it wasn’t a great year for Hollywood in the press, as headlines were dominated by the biggest names in acting and producing being facing numerous allegations of sexual harassment and assault. From Harvey Weinstein to Kevin Spacey and even KISS front man Gene Simmons, the entertainment industry was rocked with civil lawsuits, and quite a few celebrities faced criminal charges this year as well. Here are the major legal stories involving celebrities from 2017:...

Former “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Adrienne Maloof threw a Christmas party that was spreading so much yuletide cheer that it got shut down by Beverly Hills police. But why the ho-ho po-pos bust her bash? Maloof’s star-studded holiday bash involved a little too much merriment for her neighbors’ taste. They ended up calling the cops on her shindig for excessive noise and out-of-control lines. Soon after the party was dead, reports TMZ....