Revival of Lawsuit Against Lexington-Richland Five School District Casts Renewed Spotlight on Public Records Access

LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. — A significant legal battle involving the Lexington-Richland Five School District and allegations of violating the state’s Freedom of Information Act has been revived by a South Carolina appeals court. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2021 by a state newspaper editor, challenges the transparency of the district’s actions during a controversial period. The conflict began when the newspaper requested public records from the school district in May 2021, which they claim were never provided. The denial of these documents prompted the lawsuit, which seeks to address what the plaintiffs describe as clandestine … Read more

Albuquerque Takes on Auto Giants: Files Lawsuit Against Kia and Hyundai Over Missing Anti-Theft Features

Albuquerque, N.M. — The City of Albuquerque has initiated legal action against automotive giants Kia and Hyundai, accusing them of deliberately omitting essential anti-theft technology in their vehicles. This lawsuit places Albuquerque among numerous U.S. cities that have recently pursued claims against these manufacturers for similar grievances. According to the lawsuit, this purported cost-cutting measure has resulted in Hyundai and Kia vehicles becoming a prime target for thefts. Vehicles produced between 2011 and 2021, the city alleges, lack engine immobilizers, a critical component that prevents the engine from operating unless the correct key is present. … Read more

Ultramarathon Runner Wins $13 Million in Landmark Sidewalk Safety Lawsuit After Career-Ending Injury

SEATTLE — An ultramarathon athlete has been awarded $13.1 million in damages after suing over an injury she sustained in 2021 due to a poorly maintained sidewalk in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood. Lesley Mettler Auld, 53, experienced a fall that profoundly impacted her physical abilities and effectively ended her running career, her attorneys reported. The decision, delivered by a King County jury, assigns joint financial responsibility to both the city of Seattle and the owners of the nearby apartment building. According to legal documents, the sidewalk where Mettler Auld fell had been waterlogged and prone … Read more

Discrimination Lawsuit Against St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell Delayed Until Next Year, Amid Congressional Run

CLAYTON, Mo. – The much-anticipated discrimination lawsuit trial against St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell has been postponed until next year. The trial, which was originally scheduled to begin on Monday, will now take place on January 27, according to St. Louis County Circuit Judge Bruce Hilton. The delay comes after lawyers Jerome Dobson and Gregory Rich, representing Susan Petersen, a former longtime prosecutor who was fired by Bell in October 2019, requested more time. Petersen filed the lawsuit in October 2020, claiming that she worked in the prosecutor’s office for 21 years before … Read more