Little Change in Gender Wage Gap over the years

According to new statistics released by the Census Bureau, American female workers continue to make less money than males for the same amount of work. In short, California employment lawyers find that there hasn't been much change in the status quo as far as gender differences in wages over the past decade are concerned.

According to the statistics, women continue to make 76.5 cents for every dollar, in male wages in 2012. A male worker enjoyed median annual earnings of approximately $49,398 last year, compared with median annual earnings of $37,791 for female workers. The previous year, women earned approximately $.77 for every one dollar men did for the same work.

It wasn't always like this. Back in the 1980s and 1990s, there was significant progress made in narrowing down the wage gap between the genders. However, in the early 2000s, that momentum stalled and there hasn't been a lot of progress since. According to some experts, this is probably because some of the initial factors that were credited with narrowing down the gender differences in wage, including education and legislation, have lost some of their potency.

In other words, female education levels now are very much on par with male education levels, but that fact on its own does not seem to be sufficient to change wage trends, which currently dictate that males get paid more for the same kind of work.   Even so, there has been sufficient progress since the 1980s, when women were paid 60.2 cents for every one dollar that males did.  

There is some good news in the statistics. There seems to have been some progress made in narrowing down the gender gap among younger workers. In 2012, women in the 15 to 24 age group made $ .88 for every dollar that males did. Among women in the 25 to 44 group, the amount fell to $ .81, and in the 45 to 64 group, the amount was $ .74 for every dollar.

Is a Prenuptial Agreement for You?

You don't have to be a multimillionaire or a celebrity to get a prenuptial agreement. Any person who earns well or believes that his potential to earn significantly will increase in the near future, should get a prenuptial agreement to protect his interests.

Prenuptial agreements are also highly recommended if you own your business, or are part of a business, or have other assets that can be at risk of division in the event of a divorce.

Ideally, a prenuptial agreement is highly recommended if one of the partners has a vastly different financial situation from the other. In other words, if your partner or spouse earns much less than you, then a prenuptial agreement will protect your financial interests.

Prenuptial agreements are not just for those who want to protect their rights in the event of a divorce. It is also for those who want to outline and define their financial obligations and responsibilities over the course of the marriage. For instance, you want to divide how the bills will be paid, and a prenuptial agreement can help you do that.

You also need to get a prenuptial agreement if this is your second or third marriage, and if you are bringing children from a previous marriage, or your assets that were accumulated previously into your current marriage.

If your partner has any kind of debt, you may want to consider signing a prenuptial agreement, in order to avoid being saddled with his or her loans in the event of a divorce. This can happen very easily, and a prenup can help protect against any liability from the debts that a spouse brings into the marriage.

Growing up with Siblings Lowers Risk of Divorce

If you have been lucky enough to grow up with multiple siblings, it lowers the risk of filing for divorce later in life. That finding comes from a new study that was conducted by researchers at Ohio State University, which also finds that the risk of divorce drops with the number of siblings that the person has.

The researchers found that there was no difference in the divorce risk of a person with just one or two siblings, and only child. There was no difference in the risk of divorce among these people. However, the picture changed dramatically when more siblings were added to the picture. When the researchers compared children brought up in large families with those who were only children, they found a significant gap in the likelihood of divorce.

This difference in divorce rates depending on the size of the family is not exactly surprising to Los Angeles divorce lawyers. If you have been brought up in a large family, you are used to frequently sharing space and attention with other siblings in the family, and will probably find it easier to navigate the sometimes difficult and muddled waters after marriage. You're probably more likely to compromise, and more open to looking at another person's point of view. That makes for a more successful marriage and a lower risk of divorce.

The researchers however were surprised at how significant the difference was between people, who have large families, and those who were only children or had just one or two siblings. The research was based on more than 57,000 adults across the United States.

Delayed Licenses Allow Teenagers to Bypass GDL Laws

According to a AAA study, the number of teenagers who choose to delay getting their driver’s license is increasing. That means that these teenagers will be able to bypass the provisions of the Graduated Driver Licensing Program when they do decide to get a license. That raises questions about the safety of these drivers, considering that they're able to speed ahead towards a driver’s license without going through any of the normal steps that are included in the California graduated driver’s licensing program.

California has some of the toughest Graduated Drivers Licensing laws in the country. Those laws establish strong guidelines and set restrictions for young novice drivers for night time driving and driving with teenage passengers in the car, besides other restrictions. Many accidents involving teenage motorists occur during nighttime, or when teenage motorists are driving with other passengers of the same age in the car. GDL programs have been widely credited for a drop in the number of teen driver car accident fatalities across the country over the past few years. 

However, in the case of a teen who decides to delay getting a driver’s license till after he finishes high school, many of those restrictions may no longer apply, because he may not be covered under the Graduated Driver Licensing program. An 18-year-old teenage driver may be able to get a license without going through any of the nighttime driving or passenger restrictions. That means that he doesn't have to go through the various steps in the process of obtaining a license, and is not subjected to any of the normal safeguards that the Graduated Driver Licensing program provides.

That could be dangerous, and therefore, the AAA is calling on all states that have graduated driver’s licensing programs to include older novice drivers also under this program.

New Bill to Help Employees Fight Age Discrimination

A new piece of legislation that has recently been introduced aims to modify a Supreme Court decision that made it very difficult for older workers to prove that they were discriminated against based on their age.

The bill is called the Protecting Older Workers against Discrimination Act, and has been sponsored by Senator’s, Tom Harkin, Democrat-Iowa, Chuck Grassley Republican-Iowa and Patrick Leahy Democrat-Vermont. The bill is designed to modify a critical Supreme Court decision that came in 2009 in Gross vs. FBL Financial Services Inc.

Prior to that Supreme Court decision, if a worker could show that there was at least one other motivating factor in a discrimination-related action in the workplace, then the employer had to prove that he would have taken the very same action even in the absence of the discrimination. However, after the Supreme Court 2009 decision, employees are now required to prove that the employer would not have taken the adverse action had it not been for the   employee’s age. That means a significantly higher burden of proof on the employee to prove age discrimination.

This makes it harder for older workers to be able to make their case when they want to sue their employer. The number of lawsuits being filed by older workers is only likely to increase as the senior workforce in the country increases.

The incidence of workplace-related age bias is especially high in California’s Silicon Valley, where employees in their 40s are judged to be aged, and therefore behind the times. According to some estimates, by 2016, as many as one- third of the American workforce will be above the age of 50.

Cohabiting Couples Show Lower Level of Commitment than Married Couples

The number of people who choose to cohabit without getting married has been on the increase several years now.  However, if you are part of a couple that currently lives together or co-habits, then you must know that your relationship has a higher risk of failure compared to married couples.  New research finds that unmarried cohabiting couples may not necessarily have a long-term commitment to each other.

The study by the Rand Corporation finds that unmarried couples living together have much lower levels of commitment to each other, compared to married couples who live together. 

That is definitely bad news for persons who are in cohabiting relationships.  These relationships can offer very low levels of protection and security for the partners involved, and if the relationship breaks down, the cohabiting partners may be at huge risk of financial stress and struggle, especially if they have not bothered to sign a cohabitation agreement.

It is highly recommended that you and your partner sign a cohabitation agreement that clearly outlines all your rights, obligations and duties in black and white.  A written, legal document like this is enforceable, and can help protect your rights if the relationship ends.

For instance, one of the more common issues that arise when a cohabiting relationship ends is the division of any assets that were accumulated by the couple during their relationship together.  Other issues may have to do with the custody of children that were born during the relationship.  These issues must be addressed much in advance, and San Jose family lawyers recommend that you deal with these matters in the form of a cohabitation agreement.

Age Discrimination Laws Failed to Protect Older Workers during Recession

Workplace anti-discrimination laws protecting older employees in the workplace failed to protect these workers during and after the recession.  That information comes from a new study that was released by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

According to the study, workplace anti-discrimination laws protecting older employees did nothing to protect these employees from unfair treatment during the recession.  In order to study the impact of federal anti- discrimination laws protecting older employees, the researchers focused on unemployment and job offers involving candidates aged 55 and above.  They looked at the data in various states before, during as well as after the recession.

They found that while there are federal anti-workplace discrimination laws protecting senior employees, many states have laws in place that do a much better job of protecting older employees from being fired.  They therefore focused on those states that, at least in theory, did afford better worker protections to older employees.  They found that although the laws were very effective in helping protect senior employees from age-based employment discrimination during normal times, they did not seem to work as well during a recession. 

At a time of recession, during large-scale layoffs, and massive job insecurity, these laws did not protect older employees from discrimination.  In fact, in some states, older employees seemed to be much worse off compared to before the recession, in spite of their state having laws protecting them from unfair firing and other wrongful practices.

Moreover, such unfair treatment often led to devastating consequences for the seniors.  When senior employees were fired because of large-scale layoffs, they were less likely to find another job after the termination.

University Of Southern California Professor Indicted on Sex Crime Charges

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Recently, the Federal Bureau of Investigation named a former University of Southern California Professor as one of the 10 most wanted fugitives in America. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has now announced that the man, Walter Lee Williams has now been captured in Mexico.

64-year-old Williams was arrested in Playa Del Carmen recently by Mexican authorities.  He has lived extensively abroad, spending most of his years in Polynesia and Southeast Asia.

He faces serious charges upon his return to the United States. He now faces charges related to the sexual exploitation of children, travel with the intent to conduct illegal sexual conduct, and engaging in illicit sexual relationships in foreign places. The Federal Bureau of Investigation says that it has identified as many as 10 victims who were exploited by Williams.   The victims are believed to be between the age of 10 and 17. Many of these victims are believed to have lived in foreign countries at the time that they were allegedly molested or abused by Williams.

The Federal Bureau Investigation says that Williams had very easy and convenient access to children, especially vulnerable children who are highly at risk for abuse.

Many of the sex crime charges against Williams are related to the collection of sexually explicit material involving children. For instance, he is accused of going to the Philippines in January 2011, and committing sexually explicit conduct with young boys, after which he took photos of these incidents with the boys. These photographs were then brought back to Los Angeles County. He fled Los Angeles soon after he was questioned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Williams has had a long, impressive career at the University Of California, and is a former Fulbright award winner and an author. That accomplished career looks set to be destroyed by these allegations.

Troubling Increase in Dog Bite Claim Values

While the numbers of dog bite claims that have been filed over the years have remained more or less constant with slight fluctuations, the value of these claims has increased substantially. 

According to the Insurance Information Institute, over the past decade, the value of dog bite claims has skyrocketed, accounting for $489.7 million in value in 2012 alone.  According to the data, which was released to time with National Dog Bite Prevention Week in May, over the past 10 years, the number of dog bite insurance claims has gone from 16,695 in 2011 from 16,459 in 2001.  That is hardly a statistically significant difference.  However, the picture is markedly different when you consider the value of the claims. 

In 2012, the value of dog bite claims accounted for approximately $489.7 million, accounting for more than one third of all homeowner’s liability insurance claims that were paid out in 2012.  In contrast, in 2003 the value of dog bite claims was approximately $324.2 million.  This is in spite of the fact that in 2003, there were actually a few hundred more dog bite claims than in 2012. 

The average claim payout increased from $19,162 in 2003 to a $29,752 in 2012.  That is an increase of 55%.

The Insurance Information Institute advises dog owners to be responsible with their dogs to avoid claims. Don’t assume that small dogs don't bite, and may not be involved in a vicious incident, resulting in a claim against you.  Even dogs that are normally docile can bite when they are disturbed, when they feel threatened or when they feel hungry.  Many owners of dog unfortunately get pets without bothering to understand responsible ownership practices.  This often has devastating consequences.

Steroid Injections Could Increase the Risk of Spinal Fracture.

According to a new study that was published recently in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, a common steroid injection that is used in the treatment of back pain can actually increase the risk of spinal fractures.

The study, which was published recently specially focused on one type of treatment for back pain.  This treatment involves the use of lumbar epidural steroid injections, and the researches focused on the effect of this therapy on bone fragility and the risk of spinal vertebral fractures.  The researchers found that persons who received a higher number of these injections definitely had a higher risk of a vertebral fracture. In fact, according to the researchers, over a period of time, continuous administration of lumbar epidural steroid injections may lead to severe deterioration of bone density, and increase in bone fragility. 

That doesn't mean that these injections have no value at all.  They have been found to be useful in at least some cases, but the researchers advise that doctors should cautiously approach the administration of these injections, especially in those patients who may already be at a much higher risk of fractures due to osteoporosis and other causes.

As a person ages, bone mineral density may deteriorate, placing him at risk of a condition called osteoporosis.  Persons who suffer from this condition may be at a much higher risk of suffering from fractures.  For instance, older women may be at a much higher risk for vertebral fractures.  Persons who have suffered an earlier fracture, smokers and those who are underweight, may also be at a higher risk of fractures.  Although these lumbar epidural steroid injections may, under the right kind of circumstances and in the right patient, provide relief for symptoms of back pain, excessive use or use that is inappropriate could actually increase the risk of a spinal fracture.

Surprising New Findings about Brain Cells after Injury

The role of neurons in the repair of damaged brain tissue after an injury has been the subject of extensive research in this field.  California brain injury lawyers have always known that certain types of brain cells have the ability to exacerbate the injury.  However, a new study finds that these brain cells actually play a much more complex role in brain injury than earlier thought.  The study finds that certain kinds of brain cells are actually needed to help stop bleeding and help rejuvenate the cells.

These particular brain cells are known as astrocytes, and are believed to rush to the site of the injury after one has occurred.  However, their role is now believed to be much more beneficial than previously thought. 

The new study that was published in the journal Nature recently, especially focused on the replacement of damaged or lost brain neurons after an injury, to restore the function of the brain.  Once brain cells have been damaged, they cannot multiply.  Therefore, the focus of many studies has been to trigger the production of brain stem cells, in order to produce new neurons to replace the damaged cells.   

This process has been difficult because the brain stem cells also produce astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.  These cells together are known as glial cells.  Although these cells are beneficial, the increased number of astrocytes after a brain injury has been considered to have a negative effect on patients’ chances of healing after a brain injury.

However, the researchers found that astrocytes that are produced in one particular niche of the brain, called the sub ventricular zone, are different from those that are produced in other regions of the brain, in that these astrocytes rush to the injured area to stop bleeding, reduce scarring and allow recovery.

Older Workers Continue to Face Age Discrimination

The number of older workers in the workforce has increased since the economic downturn, as many older workers postpone their plans for retirement.  However, many of these workers also face increasing bias from colleagues and employers, and this discrimination can range all the way from lower pay and promotion opportunities, to insults, and jeers on the job.

A new study recently found that approximately two thirds of workers between the age of 45 and 74 admitted to having either seen or experienced age bias in the workplace.  The study, which was conducted by the AARP, found that a majority of senior workers believe that age discrimination is not only alive, but also thriving in the workplace.  Out of these, two thirds of seniors who admitted that they saw or experienced age discrimination in the workplace, as many as 92% said that it is very or somewhat common.

According to the study, the earliest point at which a worker can begin to experience age-related bias is when he enters his 50s.  However, many respondents in the survey also believed that age bias can be seen much earlier.  As many as 20% of the respondents said that they had experienced or seen workplace age-based discrimination when a worker reaches his 30s or 40s.  The majority of opinions however was that age bias creeps in when a person enters his 50s.

The types of discrimination vary.  About one in five said that that they had not been hired for a job that they were qualified for based on their age, while 12% were passed up for a promotion because they were too old.  About 9% of the people were fired because of their age.

Entertainer Andy Travis Sues Texas Agencies for Releasing DUI Arrest Footage

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Country music star and entertainer Randy Travis is upset with Texas agencies who recently ordered footage from his arrest for DUI last summer, released to the public.  The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Office of the Attorney General are now being sued by the entertainer.

The Office of the Attorney General recently ruled that some evidence about the DUI arrest of the entertainer must be retained, and the rest of information can be released to the public.  The information is being released under a public information act request.  Some important information like medical records and motor vehicle records will be retained.

Travis has filed a lawsuit against the TexasDepartment of Public Safety and the Office of the Attorney General, seeking $100,000 in damages.  The lawsuit is also seeking to protect all evidence about his DUI arrest from being released under the request.

The footage is related to the entertainer’s DUI arrest on August 7 just outside Dallas.  Travis was found naked after an accident involving his Pontiac Trans Am.  He was arrested, convicted, was fined $2,000 and received a 180-day suspended jail sentence.  He was also sentenced to two years probation.  He completed 100 hours of community service, and was also ordered to spend 30 days at an alcohol treatment facility, and get an ignition interlock device installed in any vehicle he drives while he's on probation.

At the time, his defense attorneys asked that the evidence of the arrest, including the video and transcripts not be released to the public.  The judge ruled that the video evidence should not be released, but the Attorney General later issued a ruling saying that some evidence could be released under the public information request.

Los Angeles Leads in Number of Dog Bites Involving Postal Employees

Mail carriers in the city of Los Angeles have more reason to be nervous about dog bites, than any other city in the United States.  The City of Angels leads the list of the most inhospitable cities across the country compiled by the U.S. Postal Service. 

According to the list, last year alone, approximately 69 postal employees were victims of dog bite attacks in Los Angeles.  The data clearly places the city of Los Angeles at the top of the list as far as dog bites involving letter carriers are concerned.  Across this country, there were 5,839 dog bites involving postal employees last year. 

The acting postmaster of Los Angeles is warning that if a letter carrier sees a particular dog as a threat, the owner of the property will be asked to collect mail from the post office until it is deemed safe to deliver to the house.  The postmaster is also asking residents to make sure that their dogs are locked up at the times that mail is due to be delivered to the home.

Los Angeles dog bite lawyers recommend that you inform your local post office about the time you would like the mail to be delivered, and take measures to restrain your pets appropriately so that the letter carrier can deliver the mail safely.

Letter carriers are the number one victims of dog bites across the country.  Nationwide, more than 2.5 million children every year are injured in dog bites.  In fact, children are some of the biggest victims of dog bites.  The U.S. Postal Service as well as veterinarians and insurers are collaborating in an effort to celebrate May19 to 25 as National Dog Bite Prevention Week

Female Anthropologists Face Widespread Sexual Harassment

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For many young women looking to make a career for themselves in anthropology, it seems like a very exciting career, and rightly so.  There’s the feeling that comes with gaining a deep and intimate knowledge of a culture, and long field trips on remote locations, trying to understand what made a people tick.  However, the field of anthropology also seems to have a darker side that not many people are aware of.  There have been widespread incidents of sexual harassment, including rape and sexual assault that have been perpetrated on young females in this field.

A group of female anthropologists have conducted a study that shows a very high incidence of sexual harassment.  More than 20% of the female anthropologists who took part in the study reported that they had experienced some kind of sexual harassment on the job.  This includes physical harassment or unwanted sexual contact.

The team of female anthropologists conducted an online survey.  They contacted female colleagues using Facebook, e-mails and via blogs.  The results of the study were presented recently at the American Association of Physical Anthropologists.

According to the study, as many as 30% of the respondents reported that they faced verbal abuse very often, or frequently.  Another 60% of the women reported that they had been the target of inappropriate sexual remarks and other jokes, compared with 39% of males.  There were 20% of the women who reported having suffered some kind of physical sexual harassment or unwanted social contact on the job.

It is not surprising to Los Angeles sexual harassment lawyers that most of these cases seemed to involve female victims, while the perpetrator was almost always a male colleague with higher professional status.  In this field, it's common to have mentors and protégés, and very often, the perpetrators of the harassment were found to be the mentors.

Reese Witherspoon, Husband Arrested for DUI, Disorderly Conduct

Actress Reese Witherspoon has a prim and respected reputation in Hollywood.  However, that reputation is likely to be somewhat tarnished after the actress's recent arrest for disorderly conduct.  Her arrest coincided with the arrest of her husband for DUI.

The incident unfolded when police officers pulled over Witherspoon‘s husband, Jim Toth after spotting his car driving in the wrong lane.  He was pulled over by the cops, who proceeded to administer the actress's husband a sobriety test.  However, by time, Witherspoon was beginning to get very frustrated with the delay in letting her husband go, and did something that no LosAngeles DUI lawyer would recommend, she began to interfere with the proceedings. 

Her husband rated a .139 on the test, which is more than the legally permissible alcohol level of .08 in California.  At this point, Witherspoon got out of the car, and began arguing with the cops.  According to reports, she seemed very upset, and asked the cops if they knew who she was, and warned them that within the next few hours they were going to be on national news, because of their conduct with her.

Both she and her husband were taken to jail, he for driving under the influence, and she for disorderly conduct.  Both of them were handcuffed and taken to jail, and were released on bond a few hours later.

Since the embarrassing arrest, the actress has released a statement saying that she was unable to comment on the legal situation, but she was embarrassed about the things that she said during the arrest.  She also clearly admitted to having had too much to drink.

Man Acquitted of Sex Crime after Claiming Sleep Sex Disorder

A Danish court has cleared a man who had been charged with sex crimes involving molestation of 2 teenage girls, of all charges because he suffers from a condition called “sexomnia.”  This is a condition in which a person engages in sexual activities during sleep. 

The charges stem from an incident that occurred in 2011.  The man was at a party with the teenagers, and all of them had gone to sleep.  According to the charges against him, he fondled the teenagers in his sleep.  When the girls woke, they found the man molesting them, and immediately reported this to the police.  The man denied all knowledge of the acts, saying that he did not remember anything.

He was charged with several sex crimes, but the court has now cleared him of those charges, saying that doctors have confirmed that he suffers from this rare sexual condition. 

According to the court, medical tests have confirmed that the man suffers from a condition called sexomnia in which a person engages in sexual activities even during sleep.  This disorder isn't as bizarre as you would suppose.  In fact, according to doctors, it is a fairly rare sleep disorder, but is definitely a genuine disorder.  In fact, Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys have come across research that sufficiently establishes the presence of such a condition. 

Sexomnia is also known as “sleep sex,” and actually impacts far more people every year than is known.  Some experts describe this condition as “sleepwalking through sex” in which the person continues to indulge in all kinds of sexual activities, just as he would have in an awakened state, in a state of utter and absolute sleep.  Upon waking, the person may have no memory of what happened.

Distractions during Left Turns Can Be Deadly

Los Angeles car accident lawyers have always known that left-hand turns, especially at intersections, can be challenging maneuvers with a high accident risk.  According to a new study, the brain is put under a great deal of pressure and strain, when a person is navigating a left turn while driving.  When there are distractions during a maneuver like this, a person's risk of an accident increases.

Canadian researchers who found that motorists required greater brainpower when they were making left turns at intersections, than when they were making other types of maneuvers conducted the study.  Intersections are already accident magnets, and when a person is distracted by a cell phone conversation when he's making a left turn at such dangerous areas, the risk of an accident, which is already high, is magnified further.

The research involved hooking subjects on to digital MRI machines, which were then used to scan brain images when the persons were making left turns.  The researchers studied the brain areas that were activated when the person was driving straight, and when he was making simple left turns.

They found in their analysis of the scans, that when a person made a left turn in traffic, there was dramatically increased activity in the area of the brain that is involved in spatial navigation, visual processing and motor coordination.  In other words, this area of the brain is under great stress or pressure when the person is making a left turn, because he has to look out for pedestrians, and keep a watch for other cars that may pose an accident risk.  In contrast, a person is not under such great stress when he is making a right-hand turn.

The researchers found that if the motorists were distracted while they were making a left turn, there was a dramatically increased risk of an accident.  They found that a motorist, who was having a cell phone conversation when making a left turn, was at a higher risk of being involved in an accident.

iPhone Breathalyzer Helps Prevent DUI

The launch of a breathalyzer device that can be plugged into a smart phone to give you an instant reading of the alcohol in your system could signal yet another way for motorists who have had a few drinks to avoid getting arrested for DUI.  Los Angeles DUI lawyers believe that this device could be useful to determine whether a motorist can drive safely after having had a few drinks.

The breathalyzer device is called a breathometer, and can be plugged into your iPhone.  The device was launched recently, and has been designed to be plugged into both android and iPhone handsets.

According to the designers of the breathometer, the device allows a user to check his breath alcohol level at any given time and at any given place.  The device determines your breath alcohol levels and gives you an accurate reading, so that you can avoid being arrested for DUI. 

The developers also plan on developing software that will enable the program to offer to call a cab for you if it determines that your breath alcohol level is much too high for you to be driving safely.

The device is small, and convenient enough for you to carry around in your pocket.  Now, with this device, all that you need to check your breath alcohol is to plug in the device into your iPhone, and get a fairly accurate reading of the alcohol content in your breath.  That means that you have a fairly good idea of whether you're risking a DUI arrest, by driving after having a few drinks.  The device is activated by launching a special app on the smart phone, and then blowing into a small grill that has been placed on top of the device.

The device has only now been introduced to the public, but production has not begun yet.  The device is expected to be made officially available to the public over the next few months.

Los Angeles Building Small Parks to Keep Sex Offenders Out

More discrimination against persons who have been convicted of sex crimes is underway in the city of Los Angeles, where city officials have announced that they will establish several small parks, in order to keep people with sex crime convictions on their records out of the neighborhood. 

According to Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino, the large population of persons convicted of sex crimes in Los Angeles has created uneasiness among residents in the city.  Two districts- Harbor Gateway and Wilmington - will be the site of the proposed new parks.

In fact, according to the New York Times, such plans are being made across the country and not just in California.  Many cities are in the process of building small parks, with the exclusive purpose of keeping sex offenders out of these neighborhoods.  These parks are very tiny, and in some cases, they measure just a few hundred square feet.  For instance, one of the proposed parks in Harbor Gateway is just about 1000 ft.², which makes for a really small play space, and is unlikely to be of much use to children.

However, Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers find that this hasn’t fazed city officials, who openly declare that the only reason they're building these parks is to keep persons with sex crime convictions on their record out of the neighborhood.  All these plans are being made under Jessica's Law, which requires persons convicted of sex crimes who have been released on parole to live more than 2,000 feet away from schools, parks, playgrounds and anywhere children gather.

At least 2 parks are being planned for Wilmington which happens to be an industrial district, and 3 parts are being planned in Harbor Gateway.

Judge Rules Xbox Does Not Infringe Google Patent

Fans of Xbox can relax.  A US judge has ruled that Microsoft's Xbox system does not violate Google's Motorola Mobility patent.  The decision was made by the US International Trade Commission Judge David Shaw, who decided to take Microsoft's side in this case.

The Xbox is the most popular game console in this country, reporting higher sales every year than Sony PlayStation or Nintendo’s Wii.  Last year alone, the Xbox generated more than $9.6 million in sales, and accounted for 13% of Microsoft's revenue.

In 2010, Motorola Mobility filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission, in retaliation for a demand made by Microsoft for royalties on Motorola cell phones that used Google’s Android Operating System.  That led to allegations by Microsoft as well as regulators that Motorola Mobility was abusing its patents to limit competition. 

In January, Motorola Mobility dropped at least 2 video-decoding patent lawsuits.  That decision came after Google settled with the US Federal Trade Commission, and reached an agreement regarding how the company would deal with patents related to standards applied to the industry. 

In April last year, the judge decided that 4 out of the 5 patents in this case were infringed.  However, the International Trade Commission asked him to review the case again.

Patent infringement litigation is a complicated area of law, because it includes not just legal aspects but also technological aspects.  These lawsuits revolve around which individual or which company is the legitimate owner of the patent, and has the right to use the ideas included in the patent. 

If you are a patent owner, who believes that his property has been wrongfully infringed on by the use, distribution, manufacture and sale of a product that uses the patent, contact a California patent infringement lawyer to learn how you can protect your rights.

Record Highs in Workplace Disability Discrimination Claims

The number of workplace discrimination claims alleging disability-based bias skyrocketed last year, touching record highs.  According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, it received more complaints of job bias related to disability, than ever before. 

In 2012, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the agency received 26,379 claims that alleged workplace discrimination based on disability.  That was an increase from 25,742 claims filed in 2011.

Out of all the disability-related workplace discrimination claims that were filed last year, the agency found meritorious allegations in about 5907 of the claims.

The increase in disability-related workplace discrimination claims filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission came even though there was a decrease in the overall number of discrimination and workplace bias complaints filed with the agency.  Last year, there was a significant decline in the number of job bias complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission with a total of 99,412 complaints filed.

The sad part of the matter for Los Angeles employment lawyers is that the number of disability discrimination complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was high not just in 2012, but has been consistently high and increasing every year.  Since 2005 at least, the number of employment claims alleging discrimination based on disability, have continued to increase.

That is an extremely sad situation because it indicates that even with the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act employers continue to discriminate against people who face physical and mental challenges.  These persons may find that they are not considered for promotions, and not considered for certain jobs even though they are physically and mentally capable of performing those jobs.

Nike Wins Supreme Court Victory in Patent Infringement Lawsuit

The United States Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Nike Inc. prohibiting a smaller sneaker manufacturer from suing to void Nike’s Air Force 1 sneaker trademark.

In a unanimous court decision, the Supreme Court ruled that because Nike had promised not to proceed with a patent infringement lawsuit against Texas-based Already LLC, which manufactures the Yums sneakers, Already cannot proceed with its own infringement lawsuit.  The decision upheld a ruling by the 2^nd US Circuit Court Of Appeals in New York in November 2011. 

In 2009, Nike had filed a lawsuit that claimed that two sneakers, Sugar and Soulja Boy manufactured by Already infringed on Nike's trademark.  The company claimed that they were infringements on a number of features including stitching, and eyelet panels. 

However, Already then filed a lawsuit to void the trademark.  Soon after, Nike dropped the lawsuit, and promised under a covenant not to file a lawsuit against Already.  But Already refused to drop its lawsuit, accusing the bigger sneaker manufacturer of dropping its lawsuit to avoid jurisdiction.

The Supreme Court has ruled that allowing the Already lawsuit to proceed would encourage other companies to use the threat of lawsuits as a weapon, instead of a final resort for settlement of disputes.  In the future, Los Angeles patent infringement lawyers would likely find larger companies filing intellectual property infringement lawsuits against smaller companies, not because of any threat from these companies, but merely because they are competitors.

According to the Supreme Court, it was not possible to rule for Already in this matter, because doing so would mean similar standards for other smaller companies in the future.