publiclawlibrary.org

Alabama Medical Cannabis License Saga Advances: Judge Greenlights Commission’s Investigative Hearings

by

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A significant development unfolded in Alabama’s capital on Tuesday as legal representatives of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission and various license applicants convened for a pivotal hearing. The focus: moving forward with the distribution of medical cannabis licenses that have been stalled by ongoing legal challenges. Up until now, the commission has been unable to issue the awarded licenses due to a series of legal injunctions, leaving applicants in a state of uncertainty. However, recent decisions by Judge James Anderson have paved the way for the commission to proceed with investigatory hearings. … Read more

Veterans Affairs Employee Sues Over Allegedly Inaccessible Electronic Health Records System

by

WASHINGTON — A lawsuit has been filed by Laurette Santos, a Department of Veterans Affairs employee, against the VA concerning its implementation of a new electronic health record system which she claims is not accessible to users with disabilities, particularly affecting employees and veterans who are visually impaired. The litigation, initiated last month in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, centers on the system’s failure to integrate with screen readers and other assistive technologies. Santos, who has served as a licensed social worker at the VA for over a decade, currently works … Read more

Grand Jury Exposes Governance Flaws in Antioch, Urges Leadership to Respect Boundaries and Fill Staff Vacancies

by

Antioch, CA — A recent investigation by the Contra Costa County Grand Jury into Antioch’s City Council activities under Mayor Lamar Thorpe has unveiled significant operational and managerial issues. The findings revealed probable violations of the Brown Act, which mandates transparency in public agency meetings, and inappropriate interventions in hiring and other administrative functions typically reserved for the City Manager. The turmoil includes a notably high turnover among city managers and an alarming 21.6% vacancy rate in city employment as of February 2024, starkly contrasting the national average of 5.3% for local and state government … Read more

Supreme Court’s Decision on Purdue Case Likely to Have Narrow Impact, Experts Suggest

by

Washington — The recent Supreme Nourt ruling on Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy settlement has sparked widespread concern, hinting at potentially far-reaching implications for the opioid crisis and corporate accountability. However, legal experts suggest that the impacts of this decision may be more limited than initially feared. Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, reached a bankruptcy settlement that partially shields the Sackler family, who owns the company, from future opioid litigation. This provision has been controversial, as the Sackler family has been widely criticized for their role in the opioid epidemic, which has claimed over 500,000 lives … Read more