STAFF WRITER

Beer Shipping Dispute Pits Commerce Clause Against 21st Amendment

Beer Shipping Dispute Pits Commerce Clause Against 21st Amendment

Judge Says More Evidence Needed Before Ruling BALTIMORE — A federal lawsuit in Maryland could change how residents get their favorite beers. The case centers on whether breweries outside the state should be allowed to ship directly to Maryland customers. On Aug. 4, U.S. District Court Judge Richard D. Bennett

Wrongful-Death Lawsuit Over Migrant Shooting in West Texas Heads to Trial

Wrongful-Death Lawsuit Over Migrant Shooting in West Texas Heads to Trial

Case Heads to Federal Court in El Paso EL PASO, Texas — A wrongful-death lawsuit tied to the fatal 2022 shooting of a Mexican migrant in the West Texas desert is set to go before a jury this week. Federal court records show that the family of 22-year-old Jesús Iván Sepúlveda

Judge Dismisses Parents’ Constitutional Challenge to New Jersey’s Retention of Newborn Blood Samples

Judge Dismisses Parents’ Constitutional Challenge to New Jersey’s Retention of Newborn Blood Samples

Court rules storage of “blood spots” does not violate parental rights TRENTON, N.J. — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by New Jersey parents who claimed the state’s practice of keeping leftover blood samples from mandatory newborn disease screenings violates their constitutional rights. U.S. District Court

Federal Appeals Court Revives Fed Employee’s Religious Accommodation Claim

Federal Appeals Court Revives Fed Employee’s Religious Accommodation Claim

Court Allows Catholic-Based Objection Case to Proceed NEW YORK — A federal appellate court has revived part of a lawsuit brought by a Federal Reserve Bank of New York employee who claimed she was unlawfully fired for refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccination on religious grounds. In a unanimous decision Monday,

Wholesalers Sue Oregon Over New Statewide Recycling Law

Wholesalers Sue Oregon Over New Statewide Recycling Law

Industry Group Challenges Constitutionality of Fee Program PORTLAND, Ore. — A trade group representing the $8.2 trillion wholesale distribution industry has filed a federal lawsuit against Oregon, aiming to halt a new statewide recycling law that took effect last month. The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors sued the state July 30

Busta Rhymes Faces Federal Lawsuit Alleging Workplace Abuse

Busta Rhymes Faces Federal Lawsuit Alleging Workplace Abuse

Former Assistant Claims Assault, Wage Violations BROOKLYN, NY —Hip-hop star Busta Rhymes is facing a federal lawsuit from his former assistant, who accuses the rapper of physical assault, workplace abuse, and labor law violations. Dashiel Gables filed the suit on Aug. 4 in the Eastern District of New York, alleging

Town Tax Collector Sues Over Records Request Dispute in Maine

Town Tax Collector Sues Over Records Request Dispute in Maine

SOMERVILLE, Maine — The town’s tax collector has filed a lawsuit against two local broadband officials, alleging they failed to provide public records related to Somerville’s multimillion-dollar broadband network. Jon Amirault, who also serves as Somerville’s emergency management director, filed the complaint on June 5 in Lincoln County