States weaken child labor laws, putting kids at risk By Brian Kabateck “A troubling trend is brewing underneath America’s strong employment market: more children are working in dangerous jobs, violating the nation’s labor laws and putting their lives at risk,” CBS News reported in July. In just ten months, the

By Brian Kabateck As climate change brings on more frequent and severe natural disasters, homeowners in several hard-hit states, including Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, Colorado, Oregon, and California, are facing a related crisis: difficulty getting and renewing insurance coverage for their property. Over the last few years, California has endured the

By Brian Kabateck Hammers, knives, saws, axes, scissors, matches—so many tools we depend on to make basic tasks more straightforward and faster. Tools help our species survive and advance. Early adopters of innovative new inventions and technologies often gain an advantage and get ahead. When you’re hungry and need to

By Brian Kabateck On June 22, the California Supreme Court unanimously overruled a decades-old lower court precedent that has shielded California police from civil suits involving misconduct during investigations. Under the Government Claims Act, California law grants police immunity for harm inflicted during prosecution, even if an officer acted “maliciously

By Brian Kabateck School’s out! For many teens and young adults, that means a summer job. Whether they’re saving up for college or a car, starting to take responsibility for some of their expenses, or just earning a little fun money—getting that first job is an exciting rite of passage.

AI-generated images and videos could wreak havoc as the legal field struggles to keep up with emerging technology. By Brian Kabateck Doctored images are nothing new. The first known manipulated photo dates back to the mid-1800s, only a few years after the invention of photography itself. Back in the day,

By Brian S. Kabateck A recent lawsuit filed in Santa Clara Superior Court underscores the pressing problem of elder abuse and neglect in California and the country. The family of Richard Van Truong is suing a Bay Area nursing home for wrongful death and medical negligence. In December 2021, 71-year-old

By Brian S. Kabateck A whopping 31 atmospheric rivers hit California this winter, delivering epic floods, record snowfall, and what seemed like endless wet, chilly weather. Then an early heatwave simultaneously brought Southern California’s first wildfire and the threat of flooding as the snowpack melts. These extremes and seeming contradictions