This is a Multi-District Litigation (MDL) involving various defendants such as Meta Platforms, Inc., Instagram LLC, Snap, Inc., TikTok, Inc., ByteDance, Inc., YouTube LLC, Google LLC, and Alphabet Inc. Plaintiffs have alleged that the defendants’ social media platforms are defective because they are designed to maximize screen time, which can encourage addictive...
The Legal Consequences and Defense Strategies of White-Collar Crimes
Criminal activity covers a range of actions beyond the common conception of violent actions. White-collar crimes are one such example of nonviolent crimes, centering on deceitful tactics carried out by individuals or businesses with the intent of obtaining money or avoiding monetary losses.
It is a common misconception that...
The Role of Miranda Rights in Criminal Cases and What You Should Know
Criminal activity is a wide subject that includes violent altercations, property damage, white-collar offenses, and organized crime, as well as acts that are categorized as victimless or consensual. In most cases, authorities will attempt to determine who is at fault, charge them with the crime, and obtain either a conviction or a...
Self-Defense: When Is It Justified in Violent Crime Cases?
Your attempts to defend yourself against attack can land you in legal trouble. Overzealous law enforcement officers or aggressive prosecutors can charge you with committing a crime if they believe your response to an attack was disproportionate to the threat. Depending on the situation, you could face prison time and a felony...
Dissecting a Search Warrant: What You Should Look For
A search warrant is a powerful legal document. It grants law enforcement officers the authority to access your home, computer, or other property to look for evidence of a crime. If you are later charged with a crime based on evidence found during the search, the search warrant becomes an essential part...
Traffic Stops Involving K-9s: When Is It Legal for an Officer to Use a Drug Dog?
Seeing flashing lights in your rearview mirror during a traffic stop can be intimidating, especially if you were pulled over for a minor traffic violation. In these situations, it may be daunting to assert your rights — especially when drug dogs are involved.
While trained K-9s can be a...
Field Sobriety Tests: What They Are and How They Affect Your Case
Over 13,000 deaths occurred in 2021 alone as a result of drunk driving. Adherence to DUI laws could have prevented thousands of such incidents where drivers and other pedestrians got hurt or worse.
Cops know that there are many potential reasons for traffic violations. When...
Can Social Media Be Used Against You in a Criminal Case in Greenville County, South Carolina?
Now more than ever, people have easy and instant access to the internet. However, since many people use the internet to share their thoughts and feelings without a filter, it can often come with significant legal risks. Social media and criminal cases do not play well together, and posting frequently online and...
Understanding Probable Cause for Car Searches
Police use many tools to uncover evidence of criminal activity. Search and seizure is one such avenue, but under the law, it must be conducted with either a search warrant, the consent of the property owner, or enough probable cause that neither is required.
What is probable cause...
State vs. Federal Drug Crime Penalties: What You Need to Know
The U.S. war on drugs began in 1970, with the passage of the Controlled Substances Act. However, it wasn’t until President Richard Nixon stated to Congress that drug addiction had become “a national emergency” that America kicked off a campaign of criminalizing drug use. This campaign has persisted...