The hottest Legal issues Substack posts right now

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Top U.S. Politics Topics

Reports and lawsuits allege UnitedHealth uses AI algorithms to cut off care for the elderly and disabled

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 699 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
🏥 Health Politics Health care Insurance Medicare Regulation Legal issues
  1. UnitedHealth is accused of using AI to deny necessary care for elderly and disabled patients. Some families have filed lawsuits claiming that these algorithms lead to severe treatment cut-offs.
  2. Employees at UnitedHealth face pressure to deny care based on algorithmic targets, which can lead to risky patient outcomes. Many fear losing their jobs if they do not comply.
  3. There is concern about the partnership between UnitedHealth and AARP, especially during Medicare open enrollment. Ads promoting these plans often do not mention the potential dangers of enrolling in private Medicare plans.

Trump in the Dock

OLD GOATS with Jonathan Alter • 805 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legal issues Media influence Political Campaigns Judiciary Government Ethics
  1. Fewer people protested than expected at Trump's arraignment, potentially due to deterrence from aggressive prosecution of insurrectionists.
  2. Trump's dwindling support is reflected in his fundraising challenges, which could impact his future campaigns.
  3. Judge Cannon's actions in the Mar-a-Lago documents trial could significantly influence the outcome, with potential for a change in venue.

Can You Resell An Illumina Sequencer?

ASeq Newsletter • 29 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Biotechnology Legal issues Market Dynamics Consumer Rights Intellectual Property
  1. Illumina has faced accusations of anti-competitive behavior, especially towards companies reselling their sequencers. They reportedly pressured customers with high fees to avoid sales from third parties.
  2. The lawsuit between International Equipment Trading and Illumina ended in a settlement, leaving questions about legality unanswered. However, it appears Illumina has softened some of their policies regarding support for secondhand equipment.
  3. There's an increasing number of used Illumina machines for sale online, often with their software removed. Users wanting to reinstall the software might need to contact Illumina for assistance and potentially pay for a service contract.

Cleverly avoids contempt proceedings

A Lawyer Writes • 373 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Legal issues Immigration Policies Public interest
  1. High Court judge refrained from launching contempt proceedings against the home secretary despite serious errors in handling an entry clearance application.
  2. Home secretary acknowledged major errors made in the case and offered a sincere apology to the applicant and the tribunal.
  3. Decision was made not to initiate contempt proceedings due to acknowledgment of breaches, apology, unintentional nature of breaches, and measures taken to prevent recurrence.

The Loser Triad

Thinking about... • 304 implied HN points • 19 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Political Behavior Legal issues Campaign Strategy Political violence
  1. When Trump loses, he has a pattern: he claims he actually won. This usually happens soon after the votes are counted.
  2. He often files lawsuits against the election results, sometimes even before the election is over.
  3. Trump might encourage violence around election day. If he declares victory early, it's a sign he likely lost.
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Election Countdown, 262 Days to Go: Do ‘Turning Points’ Exist Any More?

Breaking the News • 602 implied HN points • 17 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns Political Figures Legal issues Public Opinion
  1. Damaging news does not necessarily decrease support for politicians like Donald Trump, and good news doesn't always increase support for politicians like Joe Biden.
  2. Events like the death of Alexei Navalny or legal judgments against Trump have the potential to be pivotal moments, but whether they truly become turning points remains uncertain.
  3. The argument that President Biden is too old is being questioned and examined for its relevance and accuracy.

Stop asking women to provide ‘evidence’ for why we don’t want men in our spaces.

A B’Old Woman • 579 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gender Rights Legal issues Public Policy LGBTQ Rights Women's Rights
  1. Women shouldn't have to prove why they want single-sex spaces. Their feelings and experiences matter and should be respected.
  2. There are laws passed based on feelings and stories from one group, but women's concerns are often ignored. Everyone's feelings deserve to be heard.
  3. When it comes to policies about women's spaces, it's unfair that the stories of women are dismissed while others' stories are accepted. Everyone's experiences should be considered equally.

✨ How an AI technopanic begins

Faster, Please! • 91 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Chatbots Mental health Legal issues Social Impact
  1. People worry that AI will take all the jobs and cause harm, similar to past fears about trade. These worries might lead to backlash against technology.
  2. A tragic case involving a teen's death highlights the potential dangers of AI chatbots, especially for vulnerable users. It's important for companies to take responsibility and ensure safety.
  3. Concerns about AI often come from emotional reactions rather than solid facts. It's crucial to address these fears with thoughtful discussion and better regulations.

Coinbase v. SEC: Will the COIN Shorts Win?

DeFi Education • 959 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🔮 Crypto Regulation Market Analysis Legal issues Trading Industry Trends
  1. Coinbase is fighting back against the SEC, arguing that the digital assets they trade aren't securities. They believe the legal tests applied to these cases might not even fit.
  2. The SEC has raised concerns about Coinbase's business practices, particularly regarding staking services and crypto wallets. Coinbase argues that these services are more like IT support than investments.
  3. If Coinbase's legal arguments are successful, it could change how the government regulates crypto. This could provide much-needed clarity in the industry and potentially protect users and businesses.

A Disturbing Lack of Faith

Disaffected Newsletter • 659 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Commentary Legal issues Mental health Cultural critique
  1. The legal actions against Trump are seen as extreme and unfair, based on opinions rather than real crimes.
  2. Sinéad O'Connor's passing highlights the struggles of those with Borderline Personality Disorder, showing the dual nature of her life as both a victim and a strong figure.
  3. Recent cultural events reflect tensions around gender and identity, with some individuals pushing back against current norms in schools and policing.

VyStar Invested $20M Into “Dysfunctional” Nymbus; “Botched” Transition Led To Consent Order, $1.5M Penalty

Fintech Business Weekly • 59 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
💼 Business Fintech Investments Banking Legal issues Consumer Protection
  1. VyStar Credit Union faced major issues after investing $20 million in Nymbus due to a failed transition to a new online banking platform.
  2. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered VyStar to pay a $1.5 million penalty for unfair practices during the transition process, which left customers unable to access their accounts.
  3. Nymbus is currently involved in multiple legal disputes with clients, claiming it failed to deliver promised services and is now reportedly trying to extort money from a former customer.

Fending off the Regulatory Barrage

DeFi Education • 559 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
🔮 Crypto Regulation Investing Market Analysis Legal issues Decentralization
  1. Grayscale recently won a court case that could lead to the approval of a Bitcoin ETF. This is important because it could help investors get better prices for their Bitcoin investments.
  2. A court ruled that Uniswap, a decentralized exchange, is not responsible for scams involving tokens traded on its platform. This is good news for developers in the DeFi space, as it shows they can’t be held liable for the actions of others.
  3. The SEC has confirmed that some NFTs can be considered securities, as seen in a case where a company settled for not registering its NFT offering. This emphasizes that just because something is digital doesn't mean it escapes regulation.

Of course Donald Trump can (and should!) fire the federal prosecutors WHO TRIED TO SEND HIM TO PRISON

Unreported Truths • 79 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Legal issues Government Political parties Law enforcement
  1. Donald Trump has the right to fire federal prosecutors who worked against him. No one should be forced to keep workers who openly oppose them.
  2. The actions of special counsel Jack Smith were seen as aggressive and politically motivated, raising concerns about fairness in law enforcement.
  3. Prosecutors should have resigned in protest if they disagreed with the political tactics used, but since they stayed, they may have lost their right to work in a future Trump administration.

Global Village of the Damned

Disaffected Newsletter • 679 implied HN points • 11 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Child welfare Legal issues Gender Issues
  1. Some people believe that the process for getting gender surgeries is too easy and lacks proper evaluation. They feel that quick approvals, like 22-minute Zoom calls, might not be safe for individuals making such big decisions.
  2. In California, there's a new proposal that says not supporting a child's gender identity could be considered child abuse. This means courts could take kids away from parents who don’t agree with their child's feelings about gender.
  3. A judge in Washington allowed a spa to change its rules on who can use its women-only space. This decision upset the owner, who has run the spa for a long time, and could lead to the closure of his business.

Fraudulent DMCA Takedown Submitted to Hide Details of Felony Domestic Violence Arrest of Premise CEO Delwin Maury Blackman

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 590 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
📰 News Legal issues Crime Journalism Ethics
  1. A fraudulent DMCA takedown request was submitted to hide details of a CEO's felony domestic violence arrest.
  2. The fraudulent request involved purposefully sloppy English and impersonation of the author.
  3. Despite the request's clear falsity, the hosting service complied to minimize legal liability.

University of San Diego Retracts Illegal Job Posting Following Karlstack Inquiry

Karlstack • 476 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education Gender discrimination Legal issues Investigative Journalism
  1. A professor posted a job ad requiring the postdoc to be a woman but later retracted it, claiming it was open to everyone.
  2. The story highlights the importance of investigative journalism in exposing deceptive practices and holding people accountable.
  3. Transparency plays a crucial role in preventing illegal actions, and it is essential to call out such behavior to pressure institutions into more ethical practices.

EMERGENCY: VT to Legalize Child Abuse

Disaffected Newsletter • 699 implied HN points • 15 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Rights Abuse Child welfare Legal issues
  1. House Bill 89 could allow parents to kidnap their children and take them to Vermont for gender transition without facing legal consequences.
  2. The bill groups gender-affirming care with abortion rights to create confusion and manipulate emotions.
  3. It also lets anyone in Vermont sue those who try to prevent a child from being transitioned, calling such attempts 'abusive litigation'.

Does standing follow the merits?

Adam's Legal Newsletter • 359 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legal issues Supreme Court
  1. Plaintiffs need to establish standing to file lawsuits in federal court, showing a concrete injury caused by the defendant.
  2. In the Supreme Court, controversial cases may involve standing disputes unrelated to the main merits issue, like determining if plaintiffs have the right to sue.
  3. Justices' views on standing may not always align with their views on the case's merits, leading to intriguing discrepancies in their decisions.

The Full Audio Recording Of Judge Kyle Duncan At Stanford Law

Original Jurisdiction • 679 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legal issues Free speech Protests Judiciary Controversy
  1. Debate about Judge Duncan's appearance at Stanford Law and the disruption he faced from protestors.
  2. The audio recording captures Judge Duncan's interactions with students, criticisms, and responses to questions.
  3. The event ends with Judge Duncan thanking the Federalist Society and making a closing remark to the audience.

Weekly Round-up: Another Interesting Transition Week

Who is Robert Malone • 17 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Debate Free speech Legal issues Elections Government actions
  1. Doctors in Washington State are facing investigations for speaking out against COVID-19 policies. They argue that their free speech rights should be protected, even if they have medical licenses.
  2. China has imposed new export restrictions that specifically target the United States, impacting critical technologies and resources. This action is part of an escalating trade war between the two countries.
  3. After recent events, the declining birth rates in countries like Singapore are highlighted as a serious concern. Experts warn that if trends continue, it could negatively affect the future of society.

How to do things with style

On Looking • 199 implied HN points • 11 Nov 23
🎨 Art & Illustration History Legal issues Creativity Education Style
  1. Style has always been a critical aspect of the creative industry, influencing how artists are perceived, hired, and valued.
  2. Historically, debates around copyright, art, and market trends have shaped the concept of style and its significance in creative work.
  3. In today's context, the value of style is shifting towards more internal, unique concepts like vision and voice, as illustrators adapt to technological advancements and changing market dynamics.

ALL the criminal cases against Donald J. Trump must be dismissed with prejudice

Unreported Truths • 70 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Legal issues Criminal Justice Government Political Commentary
  1. All criminal cases against Donald Trump should be ended for good so he can focus on his presidency. It's time to move on from past legal battles.
  2. Recent decisions by prosecutors show a lack of understanding of public sentiment, as many people support Trump despite his legal issues.
  3. Continuing to pursue these cases may backfire politically, as Trump's supporters are energized by the legal challenges he faces.

Colleague on Jennifer Friedenbach: 'She doesn’t want to kill the goose that lays the golden egg'

Gotham by Susan Dyer Reynolds • 196 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Homelessness Transparency Funding Advocacy Legal issues
  1. Jennifer Friedenbach is the executive director of Coalition on Homelessness and has faced criticism for her lack of qualifications and questionable financial decisions.
  2. The Coalition on Homelessness lacks transparency in their financial reports, with questionable classification of expenses and no clear demonstration of results.
  3. Friedenbach's involvement in conflicts of interest, such as granting her own nonprofit a large grant from an oversight committee she chairs, raises concerns about ethical practices in addressing homelessness issues.

11 Things I Learned About Fraudsters

European Straits • 27 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
💼 Business Corporate ethics Risk management Legal issues
  1. Always check the facts. Fraudsters often lie about who they've talked to or what approvals they have, so it’s important to verify their claims.
  2. Be careful of boundary violations. Fraudsters are great at manipulating people to help them, often by exploiting their weaknesses or feelings of loyalty.
  3. Don't ignore warning signs just because things seem chaotic. Fraudsters can use disorder to divert attention from their actual wrongdoings.

The Three Musketeers

Diane Francis • 499 implied HN points • 24 Nov 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media Regulation Legal issues Disinformation Free speech
  1. Tech companies have legal protections that allow them to avoid consequences for harmful content. This has created a chaotic online environment full of hate and misinformation.
  2. The EU has stricter rules for online content, which hold companies accountable. In the US, there's a push to change laws that protect social media from being sued for the things users post.
  3. Upcoming Supreme Court cases could change these protections, leading to more accountability for tech giants. Many believe this is necessary to combat harmful online behavior.

We have filed our responses to the defense motions to dismiss in Berenson v Biden

Unreported Truths • 59 implied HN points • 17 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legal issues Civil Rights First Amendment Lawsuits Government Accountability
  1. A lawsuit was filed to challenge how the government, Twitter, and Pfizer worked together to ban someone from social media. One email showed direct communication between these parties about that ban.
  2. There are important legal questions about whether people whose First Amendment rights were violated can sue the government for money. Currently, federal law doesn’t clearly support this for First Amendment claims.
  3. Another key point is if unvaccinated people are considered a protected group under the law. This case argues that their rights as individuals should be protected, rather than focusing on their vaccination status.

Why Roger Ver Deserves a Presidential Pardon

Who is Robert Malone • 10 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legal issues Civil Rights Government Power Political Advocacy Criminal Justice
  1. Roger Ver is facing a long prison sentence for following his lawyers' advice, which raises serious concerns about attorney-client privilege. If this case succeeds, it could put anyone who seeks legal counsel at risk of prosecution.
  2. Ver’s situation highlights a broader issue where being successful and questioning state control can lead to persecution. His story emphasizes the need for freedom of speech and the importance of standing up for one's principles.
  3. The fight to defend Roger Ver is not just about him; it's about protecting the rights of everyone who relies on legal guidance. Supporting him means advocating for the rights of all individuals to seek advice without fear of punishment.

Innovation In Execution: Disrupting Death?

The Frontier Psychiatrists • 78 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics Medical Ethics Capital Punishment Legal issues
  1. In the US, only amateurs are involved in the process of execution since physicians are not allowed to put humans to death.
  2. Using nitrogen gas for execution is a novel and horrible method that can lead to suffering.
  3. Creating new ways to end human life is questioned as unnecessary, given the existing death penalty methods and the suffering involved.

From the Precipice, Nitrogen Asphyxiation Looks a Lot Like Lethal Injection Did

The Medicine & Justice Project • 79 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics Capital Punishment Legal issues Ethics Public Health
  1. Alabama is attempting an unprecedented execution method using nitrogen asphyxiation, which has never been intentionally used to kill prisoners before
  2. Lethal injection and nitrogen asphyxiation methods for executions both originated from unlikely sources, with unexpected individuals pushing for more humane practices in capital punishment
  3. Despite opposition from medical associations and lack of certainty regarding effectiveness, nitrogen asphyxiation as an execution method is spreading among states like Alabama, Oklahoma, and Mississippi

Record Labels Panic as A.I. Generated Song Becomes Hit Single

DARK FUTURA • 120 HN points • 20 Apr 23
🕹 Technology AI Copyright Music Industry Legal issues Ethics
  1. Record labels are panicking over an AI-generated hit single that sounds like famous artists.
  2. The use of AI to replicate voices of famous personalities is raising legal and ethical concerns.
  3. Generative AI advancements are changing industries, from music to content creation, leading to concerns about job displacement and ethical boundaries.

The judgement is out for Sall Grover’s ‘Tickle v Giggle’ court case, and it means that Australian women have NO female-only sanctuaries anymore.

A B’Old Woman • 3 HN points • 23 Aug 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gender Rights Legal issues Judiciary Women's Rights Trans rights
  1. A court ruling in Australia has decided that women can no longer have private spaces just for them. This means any man can say he's a woman and enter those spaces.
  2. The judge in this case ruled that a person's legal paperwork can change their identified sex, even if their physical traits do not match. This has raised concerns about how this affects the safety and rights of women.
  3. There are ongoing debates about gender rights and safety for women. Some argue that this ruling could set a precedent for similar laws in other countries, prompting calls for action to protect women's rights.

Major Gas Suppliers Are Backing out of Executions. Will It Matter?

The Medicine & Justice Project • 39 implied HN points • 20 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Capital Punishment Legal issues Justice System
  1. Major gas suppliers are refusing to provide nitrogen for executions, affecting the availability of the gas and raising concerns about the humanity of alternative execution methods.
  2. States might not be deterred by the lack of gas suppliers' support, as demonstrated by historical cases of proceeding with execution methods despite opposition.
  3. The resistance from gas suppliers sheds light on the lack of interest in ensuring humane executions and may challenge the perception that lethal injection is a humane method of capital punishment.

Ko charged and out on bail

Taipology • 27 implied HN points • 29 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political corruption Legal issues Public Opinion Political parties Elections
  1. Ko Wen-je, the chairman of the Taiwan People's Party, has been charged with bribery and corruption, facing a possible 28-year sentence. He is currently out on a high bail after being detained for four months.
  2. Evidence against Ko includes a questionable Excel spreadsheet and a merchandising company that paid him a licensing fee, which prosecutors argue is evidence of corruption. However, many feel the evidence is weak.
  3. The case has caused damage to Ko's reputation and his party, raising concerns about the public's trust in the legal system and whether the case is primarily driven by political motives.

🔅 Africa's Wealth Gap & Shell's Nigerian Exit

baobabnewsletter • 58 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Oil industry Legal issues Elections
  1. Africa's wealth gap is severe, with the richest individuals holding more wealth than millions of people.
  2. Shell is exiting its onshore operations in Nigeria after a long history and facing pressure to address past environmental issues.
  3. Isabel dos Santos, once the richest woman in Africa, is facing numerous legal charges and financial struggles.

ONT Suing BGI Again!

ASeq Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Biotechnology Intellectual Property Legal issues Product Development
  1. Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) is taking legal action against BGI in the UK. This follows their earlier decision to pause a lawsuit in the US.
  2. Users of Oxford Nanopore products might face limitations due to user agreements, which could affect their ability to develop competing technologies.
  3. Currently, there isn't concrete evidence proving that BGI has violated ONT's patents, suggesting that the situation could require more careful consideration and evidence before further legal actions.

Thank you for your trust and support!

Unreported Truths • 46 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Censorship Legal issues Government Public Health Social media
  1. The lawsuit Berenson v Biden is about claims of censorship by the government, particularly involving Twitter and vaccination discussions.
  2. There is evidence suggesting that officials pressured Twitter to silence Berenson’s views on Covid, raising concerns about free speech.
  3. The case is still in the early stages, and more evidence is expected to come to light as it progresses, focusing on whether the censorship violated rights.

The Sign of the Times

Technically Optimistic • 59 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Legal issues Data Privacy Innovation Regulation
  1. Media companies like The New York Times are suing AI firms for using their content without permission or payment, which could lead to a shift in how AI models are trained on data.
  2. The lawsuit brings up concerns about the accuracy of data used to train AI models and the need to respect intellectual property rights to ensure creators are compensated for their work.
  3. Efforts are being made to find solutions like machine unlearning and data deletion techniques to address issues raised by the lawsuit without completely starting over.