The United States’ policies on gun ownership have been called into question in the wake of several mass shootings occurring across the country. The calls for action to stop gun violence have been varied, spanning from efforts to ban all weapons and firearm confiscation to mental health background checks on gun purchasers. Approximately eighteen (18) states in the U.S. have implemented red flag legislation which allows law enforcement or family members to seek a court order to, for the short term, take away firearms if they feel a gun owner is at high risk of harming themselves and others.
The Supreme Court has dealt a major blow to public sector unions in the name of protecting Americans’ First Amendment rights. In its ruling in Janus v. AFSCME on June 27, 2018, the Court held that public sector workers cannot be forced to pay dues to unions if they do not join one. The Court argues that forcing individuals to subsidize unions that may endorse positions with which the workers themselves disagree constitutes a violation of the workers’ First Amendment rights, essentially placing the burden of keeping unions afloat onto nonmember workers. The immediate effect of this decision is that nonmember workers can now choose whether to voluntarily contribute to a union.
Even savvy shoppers can fall victim to a Cyber Attack. By following our tips below you can avoid worrying about identity safety and focus on calculating how much you saved!
In light of recent events in the United States, it’s important to understand the laws around secure ammunition and firearm sales. Below is a summary of the “NYS SAFE Act” which can be used as a basis to understand the legal limits around owning and operating a firearm.
The recent security breach at the Equifax credit reporting agency exposed extensive personal information on 143 million Americans. Computer hackers gained access to consumers’ names, addresses, social security numbers and dates of birth from Equifax files, creating serious potential problems for consumers.
The New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act of 2013, also commonly known as the “NYS SAFE Act,” was signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo on January 15th, 2013. The legislation has resulted in some important changes to the regulation of firearms in New York State. The SAFE Act includes these new provisions:
After five years of litigation, a HoganWillig client was finally compensated by the State of New York for the nearly fourteen years they were imprisoned for a crime that they did not commit. The client’s 2.7 million dollar settlement with the State of New York stemmed from a claim under Section 8b of New York’s Court of Claims Act. The client became eligible to file a claim under Section 8b after their conviction was overturned in 2007.
Statistics show that workplace bullying affects 1 in 6 American workers. Despite such startling statistics, there is presently no law on the books which protects employees from an abusive work environment. Yet, there may be hope! Since 2006, a New York grassroots organization, New York Healthy Workplace Advocates, has been lobbying New York Congress to pass the “Healthy Workplace Bill.” The Bill can be read in its entirety at http://nyhwa.org/bill.html.
A battle now rages in our own United States District Court for the Western District of New York to defend the precious right to free speech that is once again being attacked. It is in the context of religious expression, also protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Take Notice: The case of Owen v. City of Buffalo is nothing less than a test of strength of the guarantee to the people that we may speak freely and responsibly without fear of arrest.
New York does not recognize an action for wrongful termination. It is an employee-at-will state, meaning that your employer can fire you for any reason or no reason, and you can quit your job for any reason or no reason. You may, however, have a claim against your employer if, for example, you have a written Employment Agreement, or your employer has an Employee Handbook which specifically addresses termination procedures and your employer did not follow those procedures, or you are protected by a union under a Collective Bargaining Agreement, or your civil rights have been violated.