Ohio Court Ruling Highlights Financial Risks of Age Discrimination in Employment Decisions

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A recent appellate decision has raised alarms among business leaders regarding the implications of workforce management. In a ruling vacating the employer’s claims, the court affirmed a jury’s $2.1 million award to Cheryl Shephard, a former senior accountant at CrossCountry Mortgage, after they found she was dismissed due to age discrimination. Shephard joined the company in 2016 and consistently received positive reviews and salary increases through her tenure. However, her position dramatically shifted after the hiring of a much younger account manager in 2022. Following her assignment to train him, her responsibilities … Read more

Texas Enacts New Alcohol Law After Heartbreaking Loss: Mother Advocates for Electronic Age Verification to Prevent Underage Drinking

DALLAS — A new Texas law mandates electronic age-verification scanners at cash registers in convenience stores and retailers selling alcohol, a measure spurred by the tragic loss of a young man in a drunk-driving accident. The legislation emerged from the efforts of Charlotte Stephens, a North Texas mother whose son, DeShawn Jagwan, died after consuming alcohol purchased without identification checks. Jagwan was just 18 years old when he died in a single-car crash shortly after attending his high school prom. On April 9, 2022, Stephens sent Jagwan off to Plano Senior High School’s prom. Described … Read more

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Texas Law Mandating Age Verification on Porn Sites, Enhancing Child Protection

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Texas law mandating age verification for users accessing pornography, allowing the measure to remain in effect. In a ruling delivered on June 27, the Court voted 6-3, asserting that Texas has the right to implement such regulations to protect children from exposure to explicit material. Justice Clarence Thomas, who authored the majority opinion, emphasized that allowing minors to access sexual content online without age verification poses significant risks. He noted that unlike a retail clerk, a website operator cannot visually assess a user’s age. The ruling … Read more

Navigating Love in the Digital Age: San Antonio Lawyer Explores the Legal Implications of Virtual Infidelity

San Antonio, Texas — As the digital age reshapes interpersonal relationships, the implications for family law are becoming increasingly complex. Divorce and family lawyer Linda Leeser is addressing the emerging questions surrounding online behavior and its potential influence on divorce proceedings in Texas. In her recent article, “Is Virtual Infidelity a Ground for Divorce?”, she provides an insightful perspective on how emotional and intimate online connections may affect legal outcomes. Lesser emphasizes that Texas law differentiates between emotional and physical infidelity, which is crucial when determining the grounds for divorce. While the state’s statutes define … Read more