Marijuana is now legal in some U.S. states but the issue of enforcing pot-DUI cases is proving a legal minefield.
Recently the Wall Street Journal reported on how lawmakers are “struggling to create rules” for how to identify drivers who are under the influence of pot.
It seems identifying pot impairment is not as easy or straightforward as testing for alcohol. “There is no broad agreement over what blood level of THC – marijuana’s psychoactive ingredient – impairs driving,” stated the Wall St...
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Lawsuits Often Follow America’s Mass Shootings
By David Macaulay, Veritas Legal Media
America is once again gripped by the enormity of another shooting tragedy : this time the massacre of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
Over the next few days and weeks, the shooter’s motive will be carefully examined. So too will the question of whether school authorities could have done more to avert this tragedy.
In the wake of mass shootings lawyers often step in, although the enormity of the tragedy ...
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Court Rules Marijuana Use is Not Protected Under the Americans with Disabilities Act
By David Macaulay, Veritas Legal Media
Recently voters in Colorado and Washington State voted to legalize marijuana for recreational use. The two states are also among 18 that allow the use of the drug for medical use, as well as Washington DC.
But if you are a federal or any other employee you may not be entitled to protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act, even if you live in a state that allows marijuana use, a recent court case has ruled.
While Colorado and Washington passe...
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Why a Day Spa Visit Can Lead to Months of Misery
By David Macaulay, Veritas Legal Media
Spending a few hours at a day spa may seem like a relaxing way to unwind but recent lawsuits have revealed a your day out may lead to months if not years of misery.
Although accidents at day spas remain rare, a rapid growth in both the number of day spas and the range of treatments available has increased the risk factor.
In a disturbing recent case in Florida Edna Viviana Ayala, the 39-year-old owner of a day spa, the Viviana’s Body Secrets Sp...
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A Guide to Herniated Disc Injuries
By David Macaulay, Veritas Legal Media - veritaslegalmedia@hotmail.com
Many back injuries sustained in car crashes will clear up over time, with the exception of severe spinal injuries caused by high impact crashes.
But herniated disc injuries can be caused by low speed rear-end crashes as well as high speed wrecks. They can cause the victim serious pain and may require costly surgery in some cases.
The discs are round cushions that separate the vertebrae of the spinal column. They act like...
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Disneyland Segway Ruling May Have Implications for Disabled Access to Businesses
By David Macaulay - veritaslegalmedia@hotmail.com
A court ruling in California tackles head on the question about how far a theme park must go to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and could have wider implications for businesses.
The issue at stake was Disneyland’s prohibition on the use of Segway scooters. The answer given by the court suggests equal access doesn’t go far enough.
"Technological advances didn't end with the powered wheelchair," the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of A...
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A History of Workers’ Compensation
David Macaulay - veritaslegalmedia@hotmail.com
We tend to think of workers' compensation as a 20th Century safeguard that only applies to industrialized nations.
But there are precedents for the present systems going back thousands of years. Some of the oldest societies had primitive forms of workers’ compensation. An article in the Iowa Orthopaedic Journal refers to the idea of money for injuries in ancient Sumeria, one of the world’s earliest civilizations in modern day Iraq.
The Nippur T...
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How the Google algorithm change “Penguin” could affect your law firm
By David Macaulay
Vertaslegalmedia@hotmail.com
It’s affectionately known as “Penguin” but Google’s new algorithm change has left some businesses wondering if they are going to be left in unfamiliar waters.
As a legal writer, blogger and marketer, the recent tweak has led me to ask some fundamental questions about whether the SEO techniques I have picked up over 18 intensive months no longer hold good or at least need to be amended.
There are no easy answers from the outset. Google doesn’t ...
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How the Google algorithm change “Penguin” could affect your law firm
By David Macaulay
Vertaslegalmedia@hotmail.com
It’s affectionately known as “Penguin” but Google’s new algorithm change has left some businesses wondering if they are going to be left in unfamiliar waters.
As a legal writer, blogger and marketer, the recent tweak has led me to ask some fundamental questions about whether the SEO techniques I have picked up over 18 intensive months no longer hold good or at least need to be amended.
There are no easy answers from the outset. Google doesn’t ...
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Study Questions Claims Texas Malpractice Cap Brought in More Doctors
Caps on what a medical malpractice victim can claim remain controversial because they can mean it's not worth lawyers taking on som cases in states that have a cap, even when a patient has suffered considerable harm.
Texas imposed one of the most severe caps on what a victim of medical malpractice can claim in the country in 2003, following claims lawsuits were leading doctors to quit the profession in the state.
And while supporters of the reform have pointed to an influx of doctors into th...
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